If you are wondering where my tales are coming from, I have discovered Google maps and Google earth. As I go around the earth to places I have been it brings back some really interesting memories. I highly recommend this activity to all. Any how I hope you enjoy my recollections of things that happened many years ago. But still need to be told.
As we phased out the B-26 at Laon I got to fly on Tom Mahoney’s wing across the North Atlantic along with Carl Lafoon and our navigators, I have forgotten their names but they are remembered none the less. Our flight took us from Laon to Prestwick, Scotland to Iceland to Greenland and finally to Maine where we went our separate ways because the airplanes had different destinations.
The flight to Prestwick was uneventful. We attended classes on water survival and got fitted with poopysuits that would protect us from the cold North Atlantic waters for long enough to get into our life raft. Then we waited for weather good enough to proceed. Two nights I went to the local dance hall in Ayre but Scottish dancing was so different I was reluctant to try. We were soon off to Iceland.
At first the formation flying in the clouds was a bit trying but I eventually found the power settings and trim positions that allowed only a minor adjustment every minute or so. Tom was a really smooth pilot I never knew when he made a slight turn. It was pretty cool in Iceland but we were never outside for very long. I was enamored with a dispatcher in base ops but she turned me down as not old enough to be serious about marriage. Of course she was right but I still remember her as one of the beauties I met. Then it was off to Greenland.
I think we went most of the way in the clouds but we were in clear sky approaching Prince Christian, a fishing village on the SE corner of Greenland. We climbed up to cross the Ice Cap and it was absolutely beautiful, as we approached the west coast of Greenland it was time to get ready for the letdown and approach which was a 50 mile flight between the walls of the Fjord, like flying into a picture frame. Tom led us perfectly but I was sure checking each detail just to be sure. We landed up hill. the lower end of the runway is about ten feet above sea level and the inland end is over 100 ft above sea level so the landing flare had to be adjusted a bit because the runway appeared to be racing up at you. We all got down fine. But when it came time to depart a few problems were encountered.
Normal procedure at Bluie West 1 was to land up hill and depart down hill, but on the morning we were to depart for the states there were winds off the glacier blowing down hill with gusts to 70 knots. I talked with Tom and said it was a bad idea to try to take off with more than half our stall speed on our tail, yes the uphill gradient was steeper than usual but a B-26’s climb gradient was better than that and we would be off the ground quicker and could be in a slight turn that would take us to safety much more quickly. Tom and the base ops officer conferred and it became our call so Tom said you go first and show us the way. As we taxied out two of the pins at the upper end of my navigators parachute popped out and the drag chute deployed in the cockpit. We stopped in the run up area he took it off and I re packed every thing and asked if he would like to exchange chutes with me, he gladly accepted the offer so there we were canopy open swapping and readjusting the chutes engines running and in strong winds. It only took a couple of minutes but it seamed like for ever, with everyone watching. So off we went me being the first off and all went as planned and all Tom said when we got to Bangor, ME. was “good call”.
Tom turned us loose at Bangor, Me and I opted to go on to Youngstown, Ohio where I think Nick Teteris may have been stationed at the time, it was the nearest military airport to my home town, Warren. Mom and Dad were surprised but came and picked my navigator and I up and we all had a good meal of Moms home cooking. I should mention that my navigator was from the 405th, a short black really smart gentleman from Philadelphia, PA. Will someone please help me .remember his name. Mom was a bit shocked at first but his gentlemanly manor and intelligent conversation soon won her over. We all talked long into the night.
The next day after a good rest we went on to Birmingham, Alabama where I was to deliver the airplane to Hayes Aircraft Corp. We got there in the afternoon and Birmingham being a segregated city they took us to separate motels near the airport but we agreed to meet for dinner. We went to a nice restaurant and after ordering the waiter informed us that my navigator would have to eat in the kitchen. My reaction was, well I’ll just eat there too. So we had our last supper in a kitchen, I don’t remember ever seeing him again but as you can tell I was impressed with him and remember him well.
Tom Mahoney went on to become Detachment One commander at Landstuhl AB and Carl and I eventually got checked out in B-57’s and stayed on at Laon. Just another great experience.
Till next time…. Bob