by NICHOLX, 11.25.2023
5.8K words
July 1950, a mild Sunday near Horham, England. The air was cool and crisp and clear. The sun rose with a soft orange glow in the gray morning sky.
Except for the whir of my bike tires, all was quiet as I peddled along the narrow dusty road. Five years after the war ended, I felt strangely drawn to this place that held many fond memories, and many sad ones. I was looking for the airfield of my old squadron, the ninety-fifth bomber group. After an hour of pedaling, I came to a signed tee in the road. The road left led back to Horham, the right led to the site of the ninety-fifth. Another half hour of pedaling and I came upon a large yellow sign with black boxcar lettering:
"WELCOME TO THE SITE OF THE UNITED STATES AIR FORCE 95th BOMBER GROUP. THIS B17 AIRCRAFT, BEARING THE SCARS OF FIFTEEN COMBAT MISSIONS FLOWN OVER GERMANY, STANDS IN HONORED REMEMBRANCE OF THE BRAVE MEN WHO FLEW THESE PLANES AND FOUGHT AND DIED TO DEFEAT THE NAZI SCOURGE, SO THAT WE MAY LIVE IN PEACE AND FREEDOM. OF 12,732 B17's PRODUCED, 4,735 WERE LOST DURING COMBAT MISSIONS. A DONATION BOX IS PROVIDED. THE FUNDS WILL BE USED FOR THE PRESERVATION OF THIS GALLANT AIRCRAFT. THANK YOU FOR VISITING."
The only remaining barrack had been converted to a restaurant/souvenir shop. A chill went down my spine as I realized this was the very plane I had flown for ten bombing missions over Germany. On her nose was painted a naked buxom blonde with a plump derriere, straddling a bomb and holding a machine gun. The plane was cordoned off by chain-link fencing so that the only access to it was through the restaurant. I parked my bike and went in.
In Paris I'd bought each of the girls a beret, but I also wanted some funny little doodad to take back to them. Browsing the souvenirs, there were knives, caps, medals, belts, helmets, and the like, but one thing caught my eye: a dartboard with a comical caricature of Hitler, captioned 'HEIL, HEEL.' Its eyes were crossed, a bullet hole was in its forehead, and its nose was a bullseye. The girls might get a kick out of it. I tagged the man behind the counter, "How much for the dartboard?"
"Four dollars U.S. sir, or seven dollars with a set of five darts," he said.
"How did you know I was from the United States? I'll take the full set," I said, handing him a twenty. "The extra is for the NAKED LADY," I smiled.
"Thank you, sir." He looked at me questioningly. "Uh, beg pardon sir, but...are you related to Billy Jones? The resemblance is uncanny."
"Yeah, he was my dad. He passed away in 'thirty-seven. I'm Bobby Schultz, former bomber pilot, now civilian. Born in France, I never knew my dad."
"Aha, I knew it!!'m Cookie. I was your dad's cook when he flew for Lafayette. He was a great guy and a great pilot, and a double ace when he left the service."
"Glad to meet you, Cookie. I read my dad's old letters, and he thought very highly of you. He said if he was ever in another war, he hoped you would be there," I smiled.
"Aw, thanks Bobby, that was very kind," wiping his eyes. "Tell you what, you gotta be hungry after that long bike trip. Why don't you spend a few minutes with the NAKED LADY, then come back in and Daphne here will have a nice plate of ham and eggs and coffee for ya, on the house," he smiled. "Daphne Moreau, meet Bobby Schultz."
"Mon plaisir, monsieur," she smiled.
"EnchantΓ©, Mademoiselle," I replied.
**********
I stepped outside and scanned the horizon. The only remnant of the old airfield was a tattered wind sock, flapping in the gentle breeze. After the war, the airfield had been turned to farmland. Once a parking place for B17 bombers, it was now overgrown with waist-high golden barley as far as I could see, in all directions. All was eerily silent as I gazed, then the wind moved, and I beheld a vast rustling, rippling sea of gold. I closed my eyes and felt their ghostly presence: they were all here, smiling, my dear old friends, General Black, Colonel Harvey, Scotty, Tommy, Ralph, Sparky, all waiting for me. I shook my head and returned to reality. Walking slowly around the LADY, I counted the bullet holes in her, most of which had been patched. I stopped counting when I got to one hundred. Once she bristled with thirteen machine guns, which were now removed. But this poor old gal gave as good as she got in her day, and then some.
Cookie was right, I was pretty tired. The sun was high in the sky now, so I sat in the shade of the LADY's wing, my back against a tire. I didn't mean to, but I quickly drifted into sleep, and my mind drifted back, across an ocean of time... back...
October 1943. A dark and cold stormy morning. It was my first combat mission. Our primary target was the ball bearing facility at Schweinfurt, and our bombing altitude would be nine thousand feet, weather permitting.
I strapped into the copilot's seat and began instrument checks. There was a clatter from the entrance hatch, then General Black cLimbed up and into the pilot's seat. I was rather surprised to see him.
"Good morning Lieutenant, ready for some fun and games with Jerry?" he smiled.
"Uh, yes sir. Sir--," I stammered.
"Call me Blackie. I know, you're wondering why your general is flying. Truth is, the brass has ordered me to not fly. And truth is, I don't really give a goddamn! I'm disobeying a direct order! The war is starting to end, and before it does, I want a crack at these sons of bitches myself! And that old codger Colonel Harvey back there is tired of flying a fucking desk and he wants to play too; he just kicked out a waist gunner! Verstehen Sie?" he smiled.
"Understood clearly, sir!" I smiled."
"Okay, start three, four, two, one, then taxi out when ready. You take her up. We are the flagship." he said. "Navigator ready?"
"Ready, sir," Sparky reported.
The four huge radials thundered to life. I was nervous as a cat. My hands trembled as I grasped the throttles and yoke, but I quickly settled down as soon as we were airborne; it was like a sexual release. The ground fell away, and soon we were climbing above the Channel. Depending on the wind, we would be over the target in about two hours. As we crossed the Channel, we were joined by three other groups, making up a strike force of seventy B17's.
Blackie looked at me, "This mission is super-critical, it's our second attempt at Schweinfurt, a difficult target. Taking it out will badly cripple Jerry, because anything that rolls or flies or floats needs bearings," he said. "This will be no cake walk, flak and fighters will be on our asses like flies on...fruitcake," he smiled. "Gunners, test your guns!"
**********
An hour later, we entered the flak box, and flak shells began bursting all around us, above, below, on all sides. Focke-Wulfs and Messerschmitts riddled us from above and below, then had to careen away sharply to avoid their own flak. The plane on our left took a flak hit in mid-belly. Both its wings were blown off and the fuselage, engulfed in flames, broke in half as it plummeted to earth. We instinctively yelled "BAIL OUT!" but no one could. Holy Christ! Ten men gone, just like that! And many others soon followed.
The fighters were all over us, relentless, firing cannon and 50-caliber machine guns. Within minutes, five of our group were shot down or disabled.
As we neared the drop point, Blackie seemed oblivious to the danger, then he clicked on the intercom.