One time I came back from a
mission and the wind was blowing across the runway. (Planes always
landed into the wind and took off the same way) I was not lined up
correctly with the runway and was drifting to the right. It was too
late to pull up and go around again as I was down to landing speed.
This decision had to be made quickly and I decided to land. When my
wheels touched the ground I began to bounce to the right and by using
brakes and all the other controls I kept from crashing, managing to
stop Just before hitting the trees at the end of the runway. It was
the worst landing I over made, but I was relieved not to have damaged
my plane. I was very embarrassed when I got out in front of my crew.
By now some of us had flown enough missions that our papers were sent
in for review for promotion to First Lieutenant. We only had one
First Lieutenant in our squadron and it was about time we had some
promotions. I didn't get notification that they had been approved
until I was back home after the war. The year I was in prison camp
they paid me the lower wage so after the war I wrote to Washington
and received all the difference in pay that was due me. We were also
looking forward to the end of our tour of duty at this time. After
flying a total of twenty five missions you were supposed to be sent
back to the States. We were getting closer all the time and then they
changed the total to 40 missions.
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