We left landfall at Houston and crossed the Gulf of Mexico without incident. However, as we touched down at Batista, things began to happen. The runway was sort of "dipsy-doodle" terrain, it's hills and valleys rather tricky for a Superfort landing. As we touched down, two tires blew on the right side and the plane lurched off the landing strip, passing over several runway marker lights. It took the efforts of both Col. Thompson and Lt. Spaulding to restrain the big bomber. Together they wrestled the controls to keep it partial on the blacktop and finally bringing it to a stop. Scattered on the runway in back of us were varied sized of remnants of the shredded tires. We left the plane on the end of the runway and disembarked as two twin engine aircraft of the Cuban Air Force passed overhead.

Before leaving Cuba, we managed to procure several cases of tax-free V.O., which we carefully stowed away in the bomb bay for future consumption back in Salina. Liquor prices were about half the stateside cost, so this was incentive enough for the crew to stock up generously.

When we landed in Galveston, our concern was focused on customs inspection. Fearful that our sixteen cases of booze in the bomb bay would be discovered and confiscated, we held our breath and hoped that "Lady Luck" would smile on us. Fortunately, the inspecting officer had either impaired vision or was extremely lenient. Whatever the reason, we sailed through customs with wares intact.

On 10 February, we were granted ten-day furloughs prior to leaving for overseas. Upon return, things began to happen fast. On 11 March, the first Air and Flight Echelon departed Smoky Hill for overseas destination. Six days later, Colonel George W. Mundy became 39th Bomb Group Commander.

On 17 March, Crew 5 moved over to Wichita for a few days to pick up it's airplane, and then on to Herington, Kansas for staging. On 3 April, we lifted off for Sacramento - our Aerial Port of Embarkation.

We had barely enter California when, without warning, it seemed like all hell had broken loose as we were beset with one of the most feared of all mechanical problems - a "runaway propeller." If the pilot could not feather the spinning prop quickly there was a possibility of it tearing loose and slicing through the fuselage, with grave consequences to plane and crew.

Glade Loy, Flight Engineer