We figured there was gasoline in the cockpit and he must
have lit a cigarette as he was always doing that (against
regulations). When we flew low formation and came to any body of
water, I always went up a lot higher than the rest and then dropped
down again into formation. I wanted to make sure that I could glide
to land if the engine quit. I hated water as I didn't know how to
swim. Some of us had cameras and would fly close to each other and
take pictures. I took a lot of pictures when I first entered the Army
and don't know why I didn't take any all through my flying. I did
take a lot while in England. Oakland was just across the bay from San
Francisco and I used to take the "A" train across the bridge to see
Lettie. This was the "A" train that the song was written about and it
was the best way to get to San Francisco in a hurry.
While flying formation with these planes we would practice
crossovers. The middle plane was a leader with a plane on either side
and slightly behind. When crossing over the plane on the left would
go under and the one on the right would go over when the leader gave
the signal. It was Just changing positions. At this time it was early
in the war and it was after learning more from combat experience that
a flight was changed to four planes. One day I was flying the lead
plane and I called for a crossover. The next thing I know the two
planes came up right in front of me with pieces flying off in all
directions.
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