From Chapter 2: COMBAT TRAINING

WING IT

By E. John Knapp
                A sample from POET FLYER.

B-17 Flying Fortress

A peacetime B-17 Flying Fortress parked in the Jefferson City, Missouri

airport in 2006. Many veterans and civilians came to see this beautiful

old fighting airplane. Many crawled inside and saw the cramped spaces.

Not much space but we all did our job without complaining.

We wondered what would happen

at our newly assigned Nebraska Army Air base

We wondered where

in the world was our destination

We were full of anticipation

of the battle to come

Were ready now to encounter WWII

A good bye was squeezed out 

to wives and family

Late one night

Our big bird’s four engines

were roaring to go

with ten flyers a ready team

The big bird would take off and

Head east a thousand miles and greater

Eastern Canada, the first stop

But we had an important detour

The wives were quartered a couple miles

            Off the runway

They had enjoyed our last kiss and smile

But now we would bestow

a last goodbye signal

We buzzed over their hotel, low

Wagged our wings up and down

As they waved back

Over their hotel,

Over the air base

Over the USA

Over the Atlantic

The stars above looked good along our course

Guiding our flight

The moon above smiled

Divulging our flight direction

So did the low clouds

for England’s clouds were our goal

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