Project Seven Alpha: American Airlines in Burma, 1942 by Leland Shanle

Author:Leland Shanle [Shanle, Leland]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: history, Military, World War II, Aviation
ISBN: 9781844687442
Google: p2PNDwAAQBAJ
Publisher: Casemate Publishers
Published: 2009-04-20T23:25:43.829950+00:00

Finally, the runway revealed itself through the haze. J.T. imperceptibly eased the flight 20 degrees to the left, to line up with the runway. He glanced over his shoulder to the right; Charles Henry had put his division on line. Eight shiny, silver DC-3s in tight, right echelon parade formation, accelerated toward redline speed and the duty runway at RAF Dum Dum.

J.T. turned to Jon.

“Call the tower,” he said, “and tell them we have eight pieces of screamin’ American steel for the overhead pattern. Also, flash a three-second interval to our wingmen. With eight in a line, we will have to tighten up the interval.”

Jon made the radio call to the tower, then flashed a three to the echelon. The actual pace would be set by dash two; if he was late and followed at four seconds, the rest of the flight would match his interval. This would keep their spacing uniform for safety reasons, but more importantly it would look shit-hot.

Two Dogs went at two seconds.

Eight DC-3s charging over the field at full power were hard to ignore. By snapping onto their left wings in two-second intervals, each aircraft peeling from the pack precisely and aggressively, they sent a message: American Airlines was here to save the day. It was a message J.T. wanted sent loud and clear.

The message had been received. The career British officer stood outside base operations, glaring at the impertinent colonials. J.T. and Jon walked up to the Major, after checking with weather and filing a flight plan for the final leg of their journey.

“Must they sleep there?” he asked.

J.T. followed the starched major’s glare. There, on his finely manicured lawn, lay a litter of mutts. They were unshaven, dirty, wrinkled and not without a distinctive scent.

J.T. smiled and winked at Jon.

“Yes, they must.”

“Yes, quite.” The Major cleared his throat. “Well, Lieutenant Colonel, this is Flight Lieutenant Quigley. He will navigate to the Assam Valley for the flight. He’s a little scruffy; I should think he will fit right in.”

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