Ending
It with A Bang
Dal
wondered if they'd see each other when they went back
to the states. Ellegood was firm about going to the University
of Oklahoma. Dal knew he wouldn't go there. He'd seen
U.C.L.A. and fallen in love with the campus and the weather.
But U.C.L.A. was iffy. Enrolling there would mean leaving
his elderly grandparents - the people two raised him and
if something happened he'd be over two thousand miles
away. So Ohio State was a more likely option.
"Donovan,
are you awake?" The intercom message from his airplane
commander overrode Miss Holiday and jarred him out of
the daydream. Dal switched back to intercom and answered,
'"Yes Sir. We're right on course. Our E.T.A. is 2300 hours.
The
Piledriver started a slow descent and an hour from base
leveled off at five thousand feet. Occasionally the big
bird took a small bump from a cumulus top that got in
its way but otherwise it was like gliding on ice. A phenomenal
aircraft, only once were they forced to come back on two
engines but this splendid machine was easily up to the
task. Thanks not only to the people who designed and built
it but also to John Sapuder, John Downey and the rest
of the ground crew who took exceptional pains with the
maintenance. As much as Dal hated killing people, even
an enemy who wouldn't hesitate to do the same to him -
he would miss the flying. And even more, miss the friends
he would remember a lifetime.
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