Ike's Journey: A Novel of World War II by Robert Kofman

Author:Robert Kofman [Kofman, Robert]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Lion Valley Publishing
Published: 2022-09-13T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 28

On January 15, 1943, Eisenhower boarded his B-17 to fly to Casablanca, accompanied by his diplomats, Murphy and Macmillan. A few hours into the flight, there was a deafening boom that sounded like exploding dynamite. Eisenhower looked out a window; one of the engines was blown apart! The plane rocked and pitched for two minutes before the pilot controlled the huge machine—it still had three working engines—and the flight became steady again.

Eisenhower knew the bomber could fly just fine with three engines, and soon dozed off.

A loud noise, like a crack of thunder, awakened the general. Eisenhower looked out a window—an engine was on fire!

The plane began flying erratically like an out-of-control roller coaster, inducing nausea in its passengers. Within ten minutes, the flight smoothed out, but the plane was gradually losing altitude.

The copilot came back and shouted, “Everybody needs to put on a parachute and stand near an open exit! We’re unlikely to make it to Casablanca!” The copilot swiftly opened the exit doors and returned to the cockpit.

Eisenhower wriggled into his parachute. He gripped the fuselage and stared out at the craggy, snowcapped Atlas Mountains.

He didn’t relish the opportunity to jump into the rugged landscape. Would his bad knee buckle when he hit the ground? Eisenhower reached in his pocket and rubbed his lucky coins.

Murphy was standing at the opposite door. “Ike, I’ve been saying my Hail Marys. If your religion has any special invocation to God, I suggest you use it.”

“Good idea, Bob.”

Eisenhower thought of his upbringing in the River Brethren Church, an offshoot of the Mennonites. While it was a pacifist religion, he felt certain God was on the side of the Allies. He lowered his head and closed his eyes. Please, God, allow me to survive this flight so I can help the Allies rid the world of evil dictators.

Eisenhower didn’t fear dying; he was a soldier, and facing deadly risks was part of the job description. But how will my death affect my wife and son whom I love with all my heart?

Mamie was close to her parents and remaining sister; they would assuredly give her love and support as would Johnny.

He trusted Johnny was maturing into a self-sufficient man at West Point. He should be mentally tough enough to handle the death of his father.

His thoughts moved to Kay. He couldn’t deny that she aroused in him immoral feelings of desire for a woman other than his wife. Thank God he hadn’t broken his marital vows.

For the next hour, the stricken flight continued to jangle the nerves of all on board, but no command to jump came. Finally, the B-17 cleared the mountains and approached Casablanca.

The copilot came back and shouted, “Take your seats. Make sure your shoulders are in the restraining harnesses. We’re coming in hot and fast!”

As the bomber approached the runway, it pitched up and down erratically. Panic overtook Murphy, who yelled, “We’re going to crash!”

A minute later, the B-17 violently hit the ground, the force so hard it crushed the plane’s landing gear.

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