Lord no.. never meant any of my discourse as a negative fer gooney pilots.. dammo; those boys get all the help I can give.. and deserve all they can get.
It's just that, like in all other things; when the fur is really flyin little scenes sometimes stand out and become indelibly etched in your memory. The scene at that base was one of those... and thru the carnage and mayhem comes this C47, non-plussed, unconcerned.. a stroll thru the park.
.. I was truly awestruck. Gooney pilots are obviously a breed apart; worthy of respect from the pilots of the gunned ships.. takes big brass ones to fly around without a snowballs chance in hell of makin it back without help.
I'm still smiling. And that gooney pilot learned a heluva lot that night.. it was his first night on line and he went on to make three succesful drops later.
I've said it before; I'll say it again.. Hats off to you gooney drivers; no matter what country yah fly for. Yer all aces as far as I'm concerned. So, here's a little ditty just fer you guys who fly the old Gooney.
"They say to fly a Gooney yah need flash;
..and that yer balls need be constructed of brass;
So when they jangle together;
They'll play 'Stormy Weather';
And then lightning will blow outta yer ass."
On several occasions I've caught one all alone; waiting for the call in for a drop or just en-route. I always try to call em.. say on the open channel "c47 SE field XX; dump them troops NOW and yah can go home unmolested"
None has ever taken me up on the offer; but it IS a good offer. If he unloads those troops; I'll escort him back to his airspace. Go figure.
They always try to push in tho... and try their damndest get that field.
Brave bunch; them Gooney drivers. Tried it myself a buncha times. Made it only once. I ain't brave enuff to do THAT every night. Never felt so damn helpless; 'cept when I'm inna chute myself. (Creamo Yah Bum; hope to hell yah ain't gunnin the chutes of gooney drivers.. not that I ever saw one bail..)
"We don't need no silly GUNS; we got stinking airborne DRUNKS, willin SHEEPS and NEVER have ta buy the beer."
..unknown AH Gooney driver, typed while drillin bravely thru the enemy cap..
SALUTE!
Hang
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PALE HORSES
"I looked, and behold; a Pale Horse, and it's riders name was Death, and Hell followed with him" Rev 6.8
