Gary Whitmore
This story is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to events or places or persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.
Copyright 2011 by Gary Whitmore
Copyright: http://www.123rf.comprofile_icholakov/
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Image courtesy of Serge Bertasius Photography at FreeDigitalPhotos.net
It’s a beautiful sunny Thursday morning over the countryside west of Pine Cove, Florida. It’s June 1978.
Today was a perfect day for flying with scattered puffy clouds at six thousand and two hundred feet, and the winds were around eight knots from the northeast.
A white with red Piper Warrior Cadet airplane, with the tail number of N986ZT, flew straight and level at three thousand five hundred feet just west of Lake Downing.
Inside the Warrior Cadet was Jason Jenkins, a fifty- seven-year-old certified flight instructor, and owner of the plane. Jason was distinguished looking with a three-inch-long scar above his left eye and had salt and pepper hair. He is still a looker as lots of women agreed.
Jason was the owner of the High Flying Adventures aviation services company located in the north area of the Sandbar Island Airport. Jason’s business was small, and only had two employees. He has a female office manager and a part-time mechanic.
Jason had dreams of expanding his business with more instructors and more planes, which included a Piper J-3 Cub seaplane. He submitted a request from the airport authority to build a small restaurant, with docks, just north of runway 29 by the Indian River. Besides, he went to the bank to secure a loan.
In the pilot seat of the Warrior Cadet was a student pilot named Kimberly Brookes. She’s thirty-five years old and a beautiful chubby blonde with blue eyes and spoke with an English accent.
Jason kept a watchful eye on while Kimberly made a shallow turn to the right with the Warrior. “You’re doing great Kimberly,” he praised.
She flashed a proud smile while glancing over at him.
“Now, let’s perform a power-off stall,” he stated.
Kimberly’s proud smile quickly vanished, and suddenly looked nervous and hesitated.
Jason noticed her hesitation in performing this required maneuver. “You can’t be a private pilot by being afraid.”
Kimberly took a deep breath for courage and decided to be brave.
She performed a clearing turn to the right in the Warrior.
She performed a clearing turn to the left in the Warrior.
“Excellent, Kimberly. I’m impressed you remembered the clearing turns this time.”
She flew the plane straight ahead then she took many deep breaths.
She pulled back on the throttle to the idle position.
She cringed while she pulled back on the control yoke.
The nose of the Warrior rose upward.
She continued to pull back on the control yoke.
The nose of the Warrior rose higher.
The stall alarm soon blared from the console indicating the wings of the Warrior were stalling. The sound of that alarm scared Kimberly, and she shut her eyes. “Ahhh!” she lightly screamed out and let go of the control yoke the second the plane dropped.
The second Jason saw her hands let go of the controls, he quickly sprung into action, and he grabbed his control yoke.
Jason resumed control of the plane and recovered from the stall.
“Okay, we’ll have to do more work on these stalls,” he calmly stated while he flew the plane straight and level.
“I’m never going to get the hang of performing that maneuver,” she replied feeling ashamed with her recent performance.
He looked over at her and gave her a warm
smile. “Don’t worry, you’ll be mastering them after some more practice. And there’s one thing you have to remember, this Warrior Cadet is a very stable airplane. Watch this,” he told her.
Jason made a right clearing turn, and then he made a left clearing turn in the Warrior.
He pulled back on the throttle to idle and pulled back on the control yoke. The nose of the Warrior rose higher. The stall alarm blared. He let go of the yoke.
Kimberly’s eyes widened with fright thinking they were going to crash to the ground. But she watched while the plane eventually settled into a straight and level configuration all by itself.
“See, I told you that this plane is very stable,” Jason said while he grabbed his control yoke and pushed in the throttle to the proper setting.
“I see what you mean,” she replied and looked surprised at the performance of the plane.
The plane was soon flying straight and level at three thousand and four hundred feet.
“Okay Kimberly, she’s your plane and let’s call it a day.
Take us back to the airport,” he told her.
Kimberly felt better while she grabbed the yoke and took control of the plane.
Five minutes later, Kimberly descended and flew the plane at one thousand feet and was five miles southwest of the Sandbar Island airport.
“Okay, Kimberly, make your calls,” he told her.
“Sandbar Island traffic, this is Warrior nine eight six Zulu Tango, five miles southwest of the airport. Inbound for a forty-five degree downwind entry for runway two niner, Sandbar Island,” she said into the radio.
Jason looked satisfied with her radio call and watched while she flew into a forty-five-degree entry into the downwind leg for runway 29.
“Sandbar Island traffic, Warrior nine eight six Zulu Tango making a forty-five degree downwind entry for runway two niner, Sandbar Island,” Kimberly said into the radio after she made the forty-five-degree entry into the downwind leg of runway 29.
A few seconds later, Kimberly configured the power and flap setting when she was abeam the numbers for runway 29.
“Sandbar Island traffic, Warrior nine eight six Zulu Tango turning left base for runway two niner, Sandbar Island,” she said into the radio when she turned onto the base leg of the pattern over the Indian River.
She configured the flaps while she was on the base leg of the pattern.
“Sandbar Island traffic, Warrior nine eight six Zulu tango turning final for runway two niner, full stop, Sandbar Island,”
she said into the radio when she turned onto the final leg of the pattern.
Kimberly configured the plane and power was at idle when she knew the plane could make the runway.
While the Warrior glided down over the Indian River to runway 29, Jason looked out the front window and glance at the spot where he wanted to build his restaurant. “It’s going be nice!” he thought to himself while looking at the area by the river and runway 29.
Kimberly leveled out the Warrior once she was in the ground effect over the runway.
“Fly me down to the end of the runway,” Jason told her.
She pitched up the nose of the plane, and it floated a little, but eventually, the plane landed after a few bounces.
“Good landing, Kimberly,” Jason praised her.
She taxied the plane off to the right at the nearest taxiway.
Kimberly parked the Warrior next to Jason’s other airplane, which was a light brown Cessna 172.
After the Warrior was parked and secured, Kimberly and Jason, with small flight bags in hand, walked to his small office that was next to his small hangar. He also had a clipboard and the keys to the plane in his other hand.
Jason’s High Flying Adventures building was small and consisted of a counter, his office, bathrooms, and a pilot’s lounge.
Behind the counter, was Mandy Jepson, a twenty- seven-year-old female where she greeted the pilots, issued the keys to the planes, and processed all the required paperwork. She has worked for Jason since the first day he opened up his business
three years ago. She sang along to Rod Stewart’s The First Cut Is The Deepest song that played on the radio while she completed filing some maintenance paperwork.
She heard the bell ring indicating someone entered the building. She stopped singing when she noticed Kimberly and Jason enter the lobby. Mandy smiled at Jason while he walked up to the counter and dropped off the clipboard and keys to the Warrior.
He walked Kimberly to the small pilot’s lounge to the left of the counter.
The pilot’s lounge consisted of a small cubbyhole with a snack vending machine, couch, two chairs, a table, and magazine rack will current and old issues of Plane and Pilot and Flying magazines.
Kimberly removed her logbook from her flight bag and handed it to Jason.
He opened up her logbook and annotated today’s one-hour lesson.
“Okay Kimberly, next time, I really want to concentrate on those power-off stalls. I know you can handle them, so don’t be afraid. The Warrior won’t crash,” he said with a comforting tone and a warm smile.
“I know Jason. I’ll get the hang of them soon,” she replied, as Jason always made her feel at ease when her flying wasn’t going smooth.
He handed her back her logbook, and she placed it inside her flight bag.
Kimberly and Jason stood up from the couch. She glanced at him, and her eyes indicated there was something personal she wanted to ask him. She hesitated for a few seconds while she debated in her mind. After flip- flopping for a few seconds, she decided to go ahead and ask him. “Jason, I’ve meant to ask you something,” she said.
“Ask away,” he replied.
Kimberly fidgeted for a second while she wondered if she was making a mistake. “Ah, my mother’s a private pilot and owns a couple of planes, and I would love it if you would meet
her. She lives about eighty-five miles southwest of here down in West Haven,” she finally blurted out with hopeful eyes.
Jason cringed a little while he looked at Kimberly’s hopeful eyes and hesitated on answering.
“She’s beautiful, and I have a picture,” Kimberly replied while she reached inside her flight bag and pulled out her wallet.
Jason placed a hand on her hand and stopped her from opening her wallet. “Thanks for the offer, Kimberly, but I’ll pass. I really don’t care to date right now since my business keeps me extremely busy,” he stated.
“I understand,” Kimberly replied while she hid her disappointment behind her fake smile then placed her wallet back into her flight bag.
Jason walked her to the counter where Mandy had her bill ready.
Kimberly paid for her lesson by personal check. “I’ll see you on Tuesday,” she said while she dropped her checkbook into her flight bag.
“Next Tuesday it is,” Jason replied then escorted her to the door to show her he wasn’t upset with her offer to date her mother.
Jason opened the door and watched while she stepped outside.
He closed the door then walked over to the counter.
“Has she shown any improvement?” Mandy asked while she got up and walked to the coffee pot on a credenza behind the counter.
“Mandy, let’s say I felt safer when the Germans were shooting at me when she first started. But she’s slowly showing signs of improvement,” he told her while she poured him a cup of coffee.
Mandy chuckled while she walked back and handed him his coffee.
“But I remember my niece being the same type of challenge,” he said then sipped his coffee.
Mandy smiled then she reached down by her paperwork.
She set an invitation to her wedding on the counter in front of Jason. “ Speaking of a challenge, I really wish you would reconsider coming to my wedding, Jason,” she said with a warm smile.
Jason frowned while he looked down at the
invitation. “No offense, but I don’t do weddings. But I would like to give you a little fatherly advice about your present. Stay single!” he said then winked at her, grabbed his coffee cup, and walked over to his office, located to the right of the counter.
Mandy was hurt while she removed her wedding invitation off the counter. She set it down by her paperwork then saw two letters that came in today’s mail.
She grabbed the letters and walked away from the counter.
Jason sat behind his desk in his small office and stared out his small office window while sipping his coffee. His mind wondered while he thought about his future then his mind wandered off in another direction, and he thought about his past. “I forgot these letters came for you today,” Mandy said while entered his office.
She walked up to his desk and dropped off the two letters.
“Your next lesson is in twenty minutes with Doctor Elroy. You have a cross-country trip with him,” she reminded him while she walked out of his office.
Jason looked at the letters, and his eyes widened with anticipation of good news.
He opened up the first letter from Sun Bank and read it.
“Dear Mister Jenkins, we’re sorry to inform you that your loan request for expanding your aviation business at the Sandbar Island has been disapproved,” he read from the letter signed by Bobby Wilson, Loan Manager.
He looked disappointed then quickly opened up the other letter from the local airport authority.
“ Dear Mister Jenson, we’re sorry to inform you that your request on the building of a restaurant on Sandbar Island airport property has been denied,” he read from the letter from Kent Guise of the local airport authority.
Jason was disappointed while he crumpled up the two letters then tossed them into his trash can.
He heard the bell ring when someone entered the building.
“Good afternoon, Doctor Elroy,” Mandy called out from behind the counter.
Jason got up from behind his desk and walked out of his office.
Jason walked up to Dr. Elroy, who waited at the counter by Mandy. “Hey doc, are you ready for our little cross-country trip?” he asked Dr. Elroy.
“I’m ready,” Dr. Elroy replied with a look of confidence.
“Great, go out there, and preflight the one seventy-two and I’ll be out shortly,” Jason responded.
Mandy handed Dr. Elroy the clipboard and keys for the.
Cessna 172.
Dr. Elroy took the clipboard and keys and headed to the front door.
While Dr. Elroy went outside to preflight the Cessna 172, Jason went off to the bathroom.
Twenty minutes later, Dr. Elroy and Jason took off from runway 29 and made a left crosswind departure to the south and headed to Vero Beach.
Later that day, Dr. Elroy performed a touch-and-go at the Vero Beach airport then they headed northwest to West Haven.
Later that afternoon, Dr. Elroy made his final approach to runway 5 of the West Haven Gillis Field airport and flew over Lake Jess.
“Keep an eye for seaplanes taking off or landing with the lake down below. They shouldn’t be a threat since they maintain a five hundred foot traffic pattern,” Jason warned Dr. Elroy since there was Jack Brown’s seaplane training base there at the north end of the lake.
“Dr. Elroy saw a seaplane on the lake, but it wasn’t a threat to their approach to the runway.
Dr. Elroy made a smooth landing and taxied over to the FBO and parked.
After they refueled the plane, they took a bathroom break, bought some cookies and candy bars from a vending machine.
They sat down in the small lounge and ate their snacks while they relaxed.
After ten minutes had passed, Dr. Elroy performed a quick preflight on the Cessna 172.
While this was being done, Jason looked around the airfield. He thought this would be a good location for a business. In fact, he felt the one end of the airport property by Lake Hartridge would be a perfect location for his restaurant.
Jason then looked over at another area of the airport near Highway 292 and saw a large hangar and a smaller hangar that was a new aviation museum. He thought nothing of it and while he walked over to Dr. Elroy and the Cessna 172.
A little while later, and Dr. Elroy took off from runway 5
and headed back northeast to Sandbar Island.
After his workday of instructing was done, Jason went home.
He went into the kitchen, where he made a pot of coffee.
He walked over to the phone and saw he had a message from his answering machine. He played back the recorded message from the machine.
“Jason, it’s me, Katie. I haven’t heard from you since our date in two weeks, and I was wondering if you wanted to go out tomorrow night. Maybe dinner and a movie? Call me,” Katie’s message stated from the tape.
Jason erased her message.
While the coffee was brewing, Jason walked over to the refrigerator and opened up the freezer. He removed a frozen dinner and walked over to the oven.
It was later that evening, and Jason relaxed in his den while he drank some more coffee.
The walls of his den were decorated with numerous pictures from his thirty-year Air Force career, as a pilot. He retired in 1973, as a Colonel and used the money he saved for years to start up his aviation business.
While he sipped on his coffee, he looked over at his blueprints for his restaurant he called High Flying Eatery. The main building had twenty tables, and he wanted to decorate the walls with numerous pieces of airplanes.
There was an outside wooden deck with tables where some people could eat outside and enjoy the view of the Indian River or watch the airplanes take off or land on the runway.
He looked disappointed while got up and folded up his blueprints.
He walked them over to the closet. He opened the doors and placed the prints on the top shelve for good.
His phone rang in the kitchen, so he walked out of the den. He walked into his kitchen and picked up the phone.
“Jason Jenkins residence,” he answered the call.
“Hey, Uncle Jason, it’s me, Robyn,” his niece answered the call. “Hey baby,” he replied with a smile.
“I should be landing tomorrow morning at around ten in the morning. I’m so looking forward to spending the weekend with you,” she said.
“Me too and I’ll see you tomorrow at the airport,” he replied with a warm smile then he hung up the phone.
Jason left the kitchen and retired to the living room to watch TV for the evening.
It’s Friday morning.
Jason woke up bright and early at six for the start of another day of flying. But this time it would be for pleasure and not for business.
After he took a shower, he made scrambled eggs and drank his morning cups of coffee to get things started.
Jason closed down his business today and for the weekend so he could spend time with Robyn. Mandy loved having these days off with pay, as it gave her additional time to work on her wedding plans.
After breakfast, Jason drove to his office to take care of some paperwork while he waited for Robyn.
A few hours later, and it was now nine fifty-two that morning.
Jason was finishing his third cup of coffee while he reviewed some paperwork at his desk He had on the radio so he could listen to the radio calls made by the pilots.
"Sandbar Island traffic, this is Piper Arrow eight seventy-four Alpha Hotel, five miles to the southeast of the airport.
Heading for a forty-five-degree entry for downwind on runway two niner, Sandbar Island," Robyn called out from the radio.
Jason smiled after hearing her radio call, and he got up from his desk with his coffee cup and walked out of his office.
He walked to the door and stepped outside, keeping the door open while he looked to the south of the airport.
"Sandbar Island traffic, Arrow eight seventy-four Alpha Hotel entering downwind around mid-field for runway two niner, Sandbar Island," Robyn called out from the radio.
After a few minutes of scanning the blue sky from his office window, he saw a Piper Arrow heading downwind for runway 29. He smiled, watching the Piper fly down the downwind leg of the pattern.
Jake watched while Robyn turned her Arrow on the base leg of the pattern after making her call on the radio.
He watched while she turned her Arrow on final approach for runway 29 after making her call on the radio.
He watched while Robyn landed the Arrow on the runway.
A few minutes later, Robyn parked her Arrow in a spot next to Jason's Warrior Cadet.
After she shut off the engine, Jason walked over to her airplane.
"Robyn!" he called out when she stepped out of the airplane and walked down the wing.
Robyn White was a beautiful twenty-eight-year-old brunette with soft brown eyes.
She rushed over and immediately gave Jason a hug and kiss on his cheek. "It's so good to see you, Uncle Jason," she said.
She went over and opened the baggage door and removed a small overnight bag and set it down on the tarmac.
Jason tied down her plane while she went inside her plane and finished securing the cockpit.
Fifteen minutes later, Jason drove Robyn to his house, in Waterway Heights, which was located off Courtney Parkway.
Meanwhile, back at the West Haven Gillis Airport, the Spencer's Aviation Museum was about ninety-eight percent ready for its grand opening tomorrow. It was located on the airport property situated on the main entrance from Highway 292. The museum contained numerous vintage aircraft in the main room of the twenty-eight thousand square foot hangar.
Located along the side walls were multiple smaller rooms that housed various pieces of aircraft and other World War I and II military items and uniforms.
In the Bombers Room, there were various pieces of the insides of different bombers in this five thousand square foot room. There were consoles, seats, radios, bombardier equipment, etc., salvaged from World War II bombers that crashed. Each display had a display board that provided information about the particular item and the bomber.
The various items were laid out in a maze in the room.
Cindy Grant Spencer was fifty-three years old and still a beautiful blonde with blue eyes and spoke with an English accent. She kept in shape by jogging and spending time at the gym. Kimberly Brookes was Cindy's daughter, and she drove down here to spend the day with her mother.
Cindy and Kimberly walked around the maze of items while she looked at her clipboard double-checking that the items were in their proper place.
"You'll have to keep working at it. Power-off stalls aren't that difficult, Kimberly," Cindy told her while she checked off some of the items on her checklist.
"I know, and having a patient instructor is helping,"
Kimberly replied.
"He sounds really nice," Cindy said while she checked off some more items on her checklist.
Kimberly took this as her opportunity. "Jason's great and about your age and his only defect is a scar above his eye. I asked him if he wanted to meet you. I think you two would get along great."
"Kimberly, please don't try to fix me up," Cindy said with a frown.
"But there's something about him. It's like I've known him all my life. Plus he was a pilot in the Air Force. Retired as a Colonel," Kimberly responded, hoping that would change her mother's mind.
"Honey, I really don't want a relationship right now. What I really want is a grandchild to keep me busy," Cindy said to throw that out as a hint. Again.
"I know. Rob and I will work on that after I get my pilot's license."
"Do it before I'm put in an old folks home and forget who I am," Cindy jokingly replied.
"I know," Kimberly said while she chuckled.
They walked over to a huge wooden crate with "Sweet Bird" stenciled on it located in the center of the maze.
Cindy got a little nervous seeing that crate and worried it wouldn't be ready by tomorrow.
Kimberly saw at the crate. "You got a new piece. Where did it come from?"
"Germany," Cindy replied while she looked around the room. She felt relieved when she saw Lenny and Henry, two museum workers, walk over with some crowbars in their hand.
Lenny and Henry walked over to the Sweet Bird crate and started prying it open with the crowbars.
"Let's put some fresh flowers on dad's grave," Cindy told Kimberly while the workers continued to tear apart the wooden crate.
Cindy and Kimberly turned around and walked toward the exit. Back over in Sandbar Island, Jason and Robyn jogged south down the sidewalk along Courtney Parkway.
"I wish Jerry and Patty could have come along."
"He couldn't get away from work since he has this court case on Monday and Patty had a birthday party to attend on Saturday. But they both wanted to wish you a happy birthday,"
Robyn replied.
"That's too bad he had to work," he said.
"How's the business going?”
"Great. My female student yesterday freaked out and took her hands off the controls during a power-off stall," he told her.
"I remember getting us into some pretty scary moments when you taught me," Robyn added.
"Well, the real scary moment came when she asked me to meet her mother.”
Robyn's eyes lit up after hearing about him, potentially meeting another woman. "Are you going to take her out for a date?'
"I politely declined, my dear.”
Robyn looked disappointed. "I don't understand you.”
"Strange thing is that I have this weird feeling I've known Kimberly all my life, and I don't know why.”
"You know, I've never seen you in a relationship with a woman. I've seen you date lots of women, but you soon dumped then when it got serious," she said then paused. "Are you secretly hiding the fact you're gay?" she jokingly said.
Jason playfully stuck his tongue out at her. "I was too busy raising you to bother with women!"
"You did a fine job, Uncle Jason. And I can imagine that mom and dad agree up in heaven," she said while she looked up at the sky up at heaven. "But now you have all the time in the world for a nice relationship," she added.
"How're the plans on expanding your business?"
"I got turned down for another business loan, and the airport authority denied my restaurant proposal," he sadly replied.
"I'm sorry to hear that."
"I'm afraid my dreams of expanding my business is spinning to the ground," he added looking depressed.
Robyn looked like she was scheming something. "Come on, Uncle Jason, don't give up now. Maybe you can move to another airport and expand your business."
"Naw," he said while they turned around on the sidewalk and jogged back in the direction of his home.
Over in Plant City, Cindy, with a potted plant in hand, and Kimberly walked through a Cemetery.
They stopped and looked down at a headstone.
"Peter Spencer. Born May 20, 1921. Died November 2, 1970,"
the headstone stated.
Cindy knelt down and placed the potted plant by the headstone.
There was something that Kimberly always wanted to ask her mom. "I'm curious, was dad your first and only love?" she asked while she looked down at the headstone.
Cindy fiddled with the potted plant while she debated in her mind on how to answer that question. "I lost my first love during the war," she explained while she stood up.
Kimberly got surprised by Cindy's response.
"I was devastated by the loss of him. But I've been thinking about him during the past couple of years," Cindy told Kimberly with sadness in her eyes.
"What about dad? Did he know?”
"Your father knew about him but never met him." "This is exciting, as I never knew of your first love.
What's his name?”
Cindy fidgeted, as she really wanted to put that part of her life out of her mind.
"His name is not important. But why don't you come back to the museum before you drive back to Sandbar Island? I'll show you a picture," Cindy replied.
"I would love that," Kimberly curiously replied.
Cindy and Kimberly walked arm in arm and headed back to the parking lot.
Back in Sandbar Island, Robyn and Jason got cleaned up from their jog then headed out for an early dinner down at a Mexican restaurant south of the town of Stoneway.
Back at West Haven, Cindy and Kimberly went back into her museum.
As soon as they got inside, Cindy walked Kimberly over to the Bombers Room.
Cindy and Kimberly walked through the bomber room and got to the display for the Sweet Bird, which was half of the smashed nose section of a B-17 Flying Fortress.
Kimberly looked the nose section over.
She noticed the faded and scratched nose art of a sexy female blonde cartoon under the "Sweet Bird" words.
"Cindy, we're ready to finish with the display board. Do you have that picture ready?" Lenny one of her workers asked.
"I'll bring it down in a second, Lenny," Cindy told him.
Lenny walked away to the Sweet Bird display.
Cindy and Kimberly walked away and headed out of the Bombers Room.
A few minutes later, Cindy walked Kimberly into her office and walked up to her desk. Cindy sat down and opened the
middle drawer and removed an old black and white photo taken during World War II in England.
"Here's Jay Jay," Cindy told her while she got up from her desk, walked over and handed Kimberly the photo.
Kimberly looked at the old photo that showed Jay Jay, in his Army uniform with his arm around Cindy, who was in her late teens.
They stood under the nose of the brand new Sweet Bird B-17, with that nose art of a sexy blonde, at an Army Air Corp field in England.
"His name was Jay Jay?" Kimberly curiously asked.
"Jason “Jay Jay” Jenkins," Cindy replied while her eyes looked sad with the memory of her love.
Kimberly's eyes widened, as this sounded all too familiar.
"My flight instructor is named Jason Jenkins," she told Cindy.
"That's nice. I can imagine there are thousands of Jason Jenkins in America. My Jay Jay died while in a German Stalag.
The Nazis captured him after his B seventeen was shot down.
This is part of the remains of his plane," Cindy told her while her eyes watered. She wiped away some tears that flowed down her cheek.
"You could be right. I've never heard my instructor being called Jay Jay and don't know if he was in the Second World War," Kimberly replied, then handed the picture back to Cindy.
She glanced at her watch. "I better hit the road," she said then leaned over and gave Cindy a kiss on her cheek.
Cindy walked Kimberly out of her office.
Cindy then walked Kimberly to the front door of the museum where they gave each other kisses on the cheek.
Kimberly went out of the museum while Cindy walked to the Bombers Room with that old photo in her hand.
Later that night, Jason and Robyn relaxed in his house while she prepared for a short cross-country flight tomorrow morning.
Cindy relaxed in her home while she double-checked her checklist to ensure everything was ready for tomorrow's grand opening.
It was Saturday morning and the start of another beautiful sunny day across Florida.
Jason and Robyn got up early.
She made his breakfast to start off his birthday. “Happy birthday Uncle Jason,” she said while she placed a plate of her famous French toast in front of Jason then she kissed his cheek.
“Thank you, baby,” he said, then took a bite of his French toast.
After breakfast, Jason drove Robyn to the Sandbar Island Airport.
Jason helped her pre-flight her Piper Arrow, and they were soon inside ready for a short trip.
Robyn started up the Arrow and taxied over to runway.
After her ground check was completed, Robyn taxied her plane to the hold-short line.
“Sandbar Island traffic, Piper Arrow eight seventy-four Alpha Hotel departing runway one one, Sandbar Island,” she said into the radio then taxied her plane onto the runway and lined up with the centerline.
After a quick glance at the console gauges, Robyn gave it full throttle, and she rolled her Arrow down the runway.
She was soon airborne and then made a right crosswind departure out of the traffic pattern.
Robyn banked her Arrow and headed southwest.
In West Haven, Cindy woke up and after her breakfast, she left her lovely house on Lake Hartridge and headed to the airport.
Up in the sky inside Robyn’s Arrow, she was straight and level at two thousand feet.
Jason glanced over at her and looked the console. “You haven’t forgotten what I taught you.”
“How could I, with your nagging voice seared in my brain.
They chuckled.
“Where are you taking me for my birthday?” he asked while he looked at the compass heading and the ground down below.
“It’s a surprise,” she said while she scanned her console gauges.
Jason looked curious as to his birthday surprise while he glanced out the window and enjoyed the scenery.
In West Haven, Cindy arrived at her museum and conducted a short meeting with all her employees and volunteers. They all indicated they were ready to work the grand opening that was about to start in thirty minutes.
Back up in the sky at two thousand feet, Robyn started her descent to the West Haven Gillis Field.
The clouds were starting to build up, and she could see a thunderstorm off about ten miles to the southeast.
Jason saw the airport up head, and he knew where she was landing. “Why are you taking me to West Haven?” he curiously asked.
“I wanted to take you this new aviation museum that’s having their grand opening today,” she told him while she monitored her descent, which was now at eighteen hundred feet.
“Robyn, I really don’t want to see some aviation museum.
Can’t we go to Disney instead?”
“I thought you would love this place since they have some World War two planes and other items,” she replied.
“I don’t know, Robyn,” he said and didn’t look thrilled with seeing old World War two stuff.
“When I saw the ad in the Flying magazine, I had this good feeling about this place,” she replied with a gleam in her eye.
“Turn us around, and we’ll go grab my car and drive down to Disney,” he replied.
“Gillis Field traffic, Piper Arrow eight seventy-four Alpha Hotel, five miles to the southeast of the airport. Heading for a forty-five-degree entry for downwind on runway five, Gillis field,” she talked into the radio.
Robyn flew her Arrow at a thousand feet and entered the downwind traffic pattern for West Haven Gillis Field. “I’m the pilot in command, so you just settle back and trust me for once,” she replied with a tone of authority. “Besides, there’s a storm to the southeast so we might as well wait it out in the museum,” she added.
Jason watched while she flew her Arrow in the downwind leg for runway 5. He decided to go ahead and go to the museum since Robyn had her heart on taking him there for his birthday.
A few minutes later, Robyn taxied her Arrow over to the area for airplanes visiting the museum. She shut down the engine then secured the cockpit.
After they tied the Arrow down, Jason and Robyn walked over to the museum. The sound of thunder of the approaching storm was heard.
Jason held open the museum door for Robyn then he entered.
The grand opening was a success so far, as there were approximately one hundred folks inside the large building.
Big band music entertained the guests from the numerous speakers located throughout the building. At the moment, Glenn Miller’s In the Mood song played from the speakers.
Robyn walked over and paid the five dollar entrance fee for the museum for Jason.
After they got their tickets, they looked the area over and saw numerous vintage airplanes on display in the center of the room.
On the other walls were entrances to other rooms with different displays.
One room included a souvenir shop where you could tell by hats, tee-shirts and numerous aviation books.
“Are those planes bringing back old memories?” she asked him. “A few,” he replied while he looked at some of the nearby planes.
“Great. Maybe I’ll finally hear about your experiences over in England,” she responded then placed her arm around his arm. “Like I’ve told you before, I flew, the Germans shot at me, then I came home. The end,” he told her.
“There has to be more to it than that, Uncle Jason,” she replied disappointed.
“That pretty much sums it up,” Jason replied while he looked over at the airplanes.
Robyn looked determined while she placed her arm and walked Jason over to the first airplane, which was a PT- 17
Stearman Kaydet.
“I love the Stearman,” Robyn said while they walked around and admired the plane that was painted to its 1941 Navy color scheme.
“I learned how to fly in a Stearman during my Army flight training,” Jason said while he peeked into the rear cockpit. “I would sit in the back with the instructor in the front. He would talk to me using a rubber tube, called a Gosport, connected to my helmet’s earflap. But that wasn’t a good way to communicate, so our instructors would use hand signals,” he said while he walked around the plane. “There’s nothing like flying in an open cockpit,” he smiled remembering those early Army Air Corp days.
Robyn smiled over him telling that bit of information.
“There, that didn’t hurt, did it? I had no idea you flew in a Stearman during your training.”
They walked around and admired the Stearman a few more times then Robyn walked Jason over to a P47 Thunderbolt.
Jason smiled while he walked around and admired the P47.
“The P forty-sevens would escort our B seventeen bombers to Germany. They saved my butt numerous times from the German Messerschmitt’s,” he told her while he looked at the engine of the P47.
Robyn kissed Jason’s cheek. “You’re on a good roll,” she said with a warm smile.
“That’s about all there is, except for all the destruction our bombs did. But that’s nothing to brag about.”
Robyn walked Jason over to an Army L-4 Piper Cub.
They walked around and admired the olive green drab painted Cub.
“These were also called Grasshoppers and were used for observations or transporting supplies. And as you can tell, it’s just like the civilian Piper J three Cub,” he told Robyn while they peeked inside the cockpit.
Robyn looked elated Jason was finally opening up about World War two items.
Then her eyes scanned the room when she saw the Bombers Room sign on the wall nearby. A curious feeling overcame Robyn when he glanced at the Bombers Room sign.
“Let’s check out that Bombers Room,” she told Jason and grabbed his arm and walked him away from the L-4 plane.
Jason looked disinterested while Robyn escorted him over to the Bombers Room.
Robyn and Jason entered the Bombers Room and saw it was filled with various pieces of the insides of different bombers.
There were consoles, seats, radios, bombardier equipment, etc., salvaged from World War II bombers.
Duke Ellington’s Take The A Train song started to play from the loudspeakers.
Jason listed to that song, and it brought back some happier memories of his time in World War II. So he loved but hated that song.
Robyn and Jason walked around and saw a display of ten Norden bombsights salvaged from some B-17, B-24, and B-25
bombers.
They read the display board that provided information on which airplane the bombsights were installed, the names of the Bombardier’s, and when the plane crashed.
He walked Robyn, and they walked over to a part of a vertical stabilizer for a B-24 bomber called Hitler’s Worst Nightmare.
They walked down the maze and saw pieces of B-25 wings, B-17 landing gears, B-25 pilot and co-pilot’s seats, the console to a B-24 and numero machines guns.
Robyn walked to the center of the maze where part of the Sweet Bird nose section was on display.
Robyn saw the faded and scratched nose art of a sexy female blonde cartoon under the “Sweet Bird” words.
“Sweet Bird, that’s a cute name, she said while Jason was nearby looking at some machines guns from a B-17.
Jason’s ears perked up when he heard Robyn.
“What did you say?” he curiously asked while walking over to Robyn.
“I said, Sweet Bird is a cute name for a B seventeen,” she replied.
Jason looked, and his jaw dropped in shock the second he saw the Sweet Bird display. “I don’t believe it! How can this be possible?” he said in disbelief while he hurriedly rushed around the piece of the nose section of the Sweet Bird.
Robyn looked a little puzzled with Jason’s behavior, so she ran after him.
She followed Jason then he suddenly stopped at the display board where she slammed into his backside.
He looked stunned while he stared at the display board.
“What’s the matter?” she asked and looked concerned with his stunned look.
She looked at the display board and saw information about the B-17 called the Sweet Bird.
Her eyes widened in shock when she saw “1st Lt. Jason
“Jay Jay” Jenkins listed as the Commander of the Sweet Bird.
“It’s you!” she cried out in excitement when she reread his name.
Jason stared at the display board then started to get upset.
Robyn saw him staring at another section of the board, and she looked, and her eyes widened when she saw the black and white photo of Jason and Cindy under the nose section of the Sweet Bird.
Robyn’s eyes lit up with joy at the sight of that picture.
“Oh, my God! It’s about you, Uncle Jason!” she cried out.
Then she looked at the Sweet Bird display. “And that’s part of your B seventeen!” she added.
Jason shook his head in agreement while he glanced at the piece of the Sweet Bird.
Robyn touched his scar above his eye. “Did you get that scar from the crash?”
“That happened somewhere else,” he replied and started to get more and more upset.
While Jason stared at the nose section of the Sweet Bird, a few people nearby inched closer, hoping to hear a real-life war experience.
“I’m ready to go,” Jason said then he walked away upset.
Robyn stopped Jason by a bench close to the Sweet Bird display.
“What’s wrong?” Robyn asked with concern in her eyes.
“I only wanted to forget about that part of my life forever.”
While Robyn looked back at the old photo, more people inched closer in hopes of hearing a story.
“Damn it!” Jason said a little loud.
“Who’s the girl?” Robyn curiously asked.
Jason hesitated for a few seconds. “ Someone I wanted to spend the rest of my life with. Then, someone, I’ve blocked out of my mind!”
“You were in love? I don’t believe it!”
“I’ve seen enough! Let’s go home,” he said. Robyn pulled on his arm and sat him down on the bench.
“I had my heart broken once, then I met Jerry. You would have found another love,” she replied.
“Not after what this woman did,” he responded and looked madder.
On the overhead speakers, the Take The A Train song finished. Then Glenn Miller’s Moonlight Serenade song started.
That song caught Jason’s attention, and he stared back at the nose section of the Sweet Bird.
“Tell me what happened, please!” Robyn pleaded with Jason.
He looked back at the picture then back at Robyn’s pleading eyes.
Loud thunder was heard outside the museum while the storm approached the airfield.
“It’s thundering outside, so we’ll have to wait out the storm anyway,” Robyn told Jason.
Six people inched closer to Robyn and Jason hoping he would tell his story.
Jason looked back at Robyn’s pleading eyes and nodded in agreement. “It all started back in October nineteen forty-two.
After I graduated from college, I decided to serve my country.
So I enlisted in the Army Air Corp in hopes of becoming a pilot,” Jason began his story.
There were now eight people that gathered near Robyn and Jason to listen to his story.
Jason told his story about his World War II experience.
It was 1942, and Jason was a handsome twenty-two old and didn’t have his scar above his left eye.
He lived in Glen Burnie, Maryland with his parents Wilma, fifty-four years old, Hank, fifty-nine years old and sister Wendy, sixteen years old in a row home.
He just recently graduated from the University of Maryland in the spring of 1942 with a business degree.
Jason’s girlfriend was Peggy Moore, also twenty-two years old, and they had been dating since they were in tenth grade in high school.
They were inseparable during the summer of 1942 and spent numerous weekends at the shore at Ocean City, Maryland.
They even started talking about plans on getting married the next year.
Peggy even got Jason a job at her father’s plant called Moore’s Industries during the summer. This was the same plant that Jason’s father, Hank, had worked for the past twenty-five years, and she wanted Jason to spend his career at the same plant.
Moore’s Industries assembled refrigerator and some other kitchen appliances, but there were rumors the plant might be assembling military equipment for the war effort.
But after the summer months passed, Jason was restless and bored and wanted some adventure. So Jason went down to the Army recruiting office and enlisted in the Army Air Corps.
He had dreams of becoming a pilot, and the Army offered him that opportunity. Plus he wanted to serve his country and fight in the war.
Of course, Peggy hated the idea of him joining the service and going to war but realized it was his civic duty.
Jason’s mom, Wilma, was upset, but Hank was proud his son serving his country.
Wendy was upset but also proud of Jason for joining the Army.
Then in September 1942, Hank, Wilma, Wendy, and Peggy took Jason to the Mount Royal train station in Baltimore.
After Hank, Wilma and Wendy said their good-byes to Jason, they walked away so Peggy and Jason could spend a few minutes alone.
Peggy’s eyes welled up while she placed her arm around Jason’s arm. “I’m going to miss you terribly,” she said while she wiped away some tears that ran down her cheek.
“I know, but this war will be over soon, and then we can move on with our lives,” Jason replied while he wiped away her tears. “All aboard!” the conductor yelled from the train.
Peggy hugged Jason so tight that he wondered if he was going to have to take her with him.
“I have to go,” he said, then pulled away from her grip.
She planted one last kiss on his lips then watched while Jason boarded on the train.
Inside the train, Jason sat by a window and watched while Wilma, Hank, Wendy, and Peggy waved while the train pulled away from the station.
Jason completed his classification training and made it as a pilot. He then went on to his pre-flight training at Maxwell Field in Alabama. This training taught him aeronautics, deflection shooting, and how to think in three dimensions.
His next step was primary pilot training where he was taught basic flight in a PT-17 Stearman Kaydet.
After that, he went onto basic pilot training where Jason was taught how to fly in formation, flying by instruments, aerial navigation, flying at night then flying for long distances.
Jason’s next step was advanced pilot training where he received multi-engine training in the Cessna AT-17 Bobcat.
After completion of his advanced pilot training, Jason attended transition training for the B-17 bomber in Sebring, Florida.
Meanwhile, Peggy went off to Nursing School in Baltimore while Jason was off playing Army.
Jason was now a 2nd Lieutenant, also humorously known as butter bars, in the Army Air Corps and was a changed man.
During all this training, he got a taste of the party life and loved his time away from Glen Burnie. He even earned the nickname Jay Jay, as what his Army buddies called him.
During the thirty-eight weeks of training, Peggy wrote at least four letters a week where Jason initially wrote one a week then it drifted off to a letter once every two weeks.
It was now the middle of May 1943 and Jason took the train back to the Mount Royal station in Baltimore for some leave at home before heading off to England.
Wilma and Wendy watched while the train pulled into the station that morning.
Jason stepped off the train in his Army Air Corp tunic uniform and duffel bag in hand.
He saw his mom, and sister on the platform and waved at them.
Wendy ran over to Jason and immediately hugged him. “I missed my big brother,” she said while she hugged him tight then kissed his cheek.
Wilma walked up to Jason.
Wilma’s eyes welled so happy to see her son again.
“Welcome home son,” she said then hugged him. “Peggy’s back from nursing school and is going crazy waiting to see you. She’ll be over later this afternoon,” she added.
Jason looked disinterested at the thought of seeing Peggy again while they walk away from the train.
Wendy noticed and looked concerned while they walked out of the station and headed to the parking lot.
The Jenkins home was a charming row home but in dire need of a coat of paint.
The living room window was open, and the radio played the Big Band song On The Sunny Side Of The Street. Wendy sat on the couch and did her homework while listening to the music.
On the front porch, Peggy cuddled with Jason, still in his uniform, on the porch swing. They listened to the radio. Jason sipped a bottle of Arrow beer while Peggy rested her head on his shoulder.
“But Jason, my darling, I’ve been waiting for our wedding since I was sixteen years old. After all, you proposed and I remembered how your mom had tears of joy,” she said with sadness in her eyes.
From inside the living room, Wendy looked up from her homework. She leaned closer to the window, as their conservation was far more interesting than geometry.
Jason felt a little bad while they swung on the porch. “I know Peggy, but since I’ll be in combat, I thought we should wait,” he replied but deep down inside, he had serious second thoughts.
Jason took a swig of beer while Peggy pouted with her arms crossed.
“Why would anybody want to fly an airplane? And your aviation business idea is also stupid,” she said with pouty lips.
From inside the living room, Wendy rolled her eyes, as she really didn’t care very much for Peggy.
“Are you kidding? There’s nothing like soaring in the sky like a bird,” he replied and sipped on his beer.
“Okay, but no more flying after we’re married,” she said with serious eyes.
Jason felt trapped while he took another swig of beer.
Peggy snatched the beer out of his hand and placed it down on the porch. “I don’t want you becoming a drunk like Uncle Harvey.”
Jason looked irritated with Peggy controlling his life.
“Anyway, I have good news. Dad wants me to be the plant nurse, but I’ve decided that while you’re flapping your wings in England, I’m going to be in Army Nurses Corps.”
Jason looked surprised with her news, then he smiled. “I think it’s great you’re serving our country.”
Peggy got a smirk, as she had something up her sleeve.
Hank Jenkins walked up to the walkway with his lunch pale in
hand. He was dressed in dirty work coveralls and looked exhausted from a grueling day’s work at the plant.
He walked down to the bus stop every morning and took the bus to work since he couldn’t afford a car.
Hank walked up on the porch, and his eyes lit up with joy the second he saw Jason on the porch swing. He immediately snapped to attention and saluted Jason to show he was proud.
“Welcome home, son!”
Jason got off the swing, walked over to Hank, and they hugged.
Hank saw Peggy on the swing. “How’s my future daughter-in-law?” he beamed.
“Fine, Mister Jenkins. How was work at the plant?” she replied while she got up off the swing.
“We’re busy making more engine parts for the airplanes that our brave pilots will fly,” he responded while he patted Jason on his shoulder.
Peggy walked over to them. “I better get home.”
Peggy gave Jason a kiss on his cheek. “I love you,” she said to him.
Peggy and Hank waited for a response.
“I love you,” he replied with a little reluctance. Peggy smiled then she walked off the porch.
Hank and Jason watched while Peggy walked down their walkway and headed to the sidewalk.
Hank cringed in pain and placed a hand on his back for support.
Jason noticed and looked concerned. “Get some rest, dad.” “I can’t. I’m working the graveyard shift,” he replied.
“Slow down. You’re killing yourself,” Jason responded getting concerned.
“I can’t. I still have to pay back that loan for your college tuition,” he responded.
Jason looked guilty for his dad working so hard for his college. He placed an arm around his shoulder and walked him to the front screen door.
“Besides, mom wants to eat out at a restaurant to celebrate you coming home,” Hank responded while he opened the screen door.
Jason felt even guiltier while they went inside the living room.
Later that night, Jason walked arm in arm with Wendy while Hank and Wilma walked behind them.
They walked down a sidewalk and headed home from a nice dinner at the local diner.
“Dad, you didn’t have to spend your hard-earned money at the diner on my account,” Jason said.
“Don’t worry about it. I saved some of the money you’ve been sending us. So in reality, dinner’s on you,” Hank replied with a warm smile.
They walked by a lovely Victorian home with a wrap-around porch. A “For Sale” sign was out front, and Jason’s mom eyes lit up when she saw it. “The Whitson home is for sale,” Wilma said while she drooled over the thought of owning that home.
“Oh, before I forget Jason, Mister Moore wants to see you tomorrow,” Hank told Jason while they walked down the sidewalk.
Jason frowned at that thought of seeing Peggy’s father, and Wendy noticed.
They walked farther down the sidewalk with Wilma taking an occasional glance back at the Victorian home.
It was later that night, and Jason’s neighborhood was quiet.
Jason sat on the front porch swing, and he was in deep thought while he sipped on his a beer.
Hank was in bed, getting a few hours of sleep before he started the graveyard shift. Wilma was in the kitchen, making chocolate chip cookies for Jason’s coming home.
The front screen door opened and closed. Wendy walked over on the porch and sat down on the swing next to Jason. He placed his arm around Wendy.
“It’s hard to believe you’re graduating high school in three weeks,” Jason told her.
“I know, I’ve been waiting for this day for a long time,” she replied.
“What are your plans?”
“I’m an average student, so college is out of the question.
I’ll probably go to typing school then get a job as a secretary,”
she replied.
She looked at Jason and noticed he looked troubled while he sipped his beer.
“What’s wrong, big brother?”
Jason hesitated, but he and Wendy were tight and always confided in each other. “I can’t marry her, Wendy. I don’t love her anymore.”
“I was starting to sense that earlier,” she replied with a little smile.
“I don’t know what to do. Mom and dad are dreaming of the day I marry Peggy.”
Wendy thought of a response for a few seconds. “You have to go with your heart. And I have to be honest. I was never fond of Peggy. She’s too spoiled and too bossy.”
Jason kissed the top of Wendy’s head. “I love you, sis.”
Wendy cuddled next to Jason. “I’m always here for you.”
They cuddled while they swung on the porch swing enjoying the quiet evening.
It was the next morning, and Kenny Moore, sixty years old, worked on reviewing some progress reports at his desk. His office door opened and Peggy glowed while she entered with Jason, who wore his Army uniform.
Kenny saw them and looked proud. He got up from behind his desk and walked over to Peggy and Jason. “Welcome home, Jason,” Kenny greeted Jason and stuck out his hand
“Thank you, sir,” Jason replied while he shook Kenny’s hand. Peggy smiled and straightened out Jason’s tie, which irritated him. Peggy smiled at Kenny, who winked back.
“Listen, I’m going to get to the point, Jason. I’m an old college buddy with General Winston. Therefore, I can arrange for you to be transferred closer to home,” he said while he
placed an arm around Peggy, who looked happy. “You can be stationed with Peggy after she gets her first nursing assignment.
Maybe you can get married right away,” he added.
Jason looked at Peggy’s hopeful eyes. “I appreciate the offer, sir, but I have to go overseas. I can’t leave my buddies behind. It wouldn’t be right,” Jason replied.
Peggy crossed her arms, pouted and lightly stomped her feet. “I can respect that. I remember never wanting to let my buddies down during World War one,” Kenny replied while he noticed that his little girl pouted. “There’s something else. I’m going to promote your father to a vice president’s job with a sweet raise. It was all Peggy’s idea,” he added then gave Jason a serious stare. “But if you don’t marry her, I’ll fire him in a heartbeat.”
Jason got worried, and Kenny noticed. Then he chuckled and smacked Jason on his shoulder.
“I’m just messing with you, son. I know that’ll never happen,” Kenny replied.
Jason faked a chuckle.
“Jason has a harebrained idea of having his own flying business. But after we’re married, he stays safe and sound on the ground,” Peggy told Kenny.
Jason felt trapped and hated this feeling.
“I can make him production manager when he comes home from the war,” Kenny responded and patted Jason on his shoulder.
“Well, I have tons of work, so take care Jason, and dodge those bullets,” Kenny said then stuck out his hand.
“Yes sir,” Jason replied while he shook his hand.
While Kenny walked back to his desk, Peggy walked Jason out of his office.
A little while later, Peggy and Jason walked to her 1939
Ford convertible in the parking lot of her father’s plant.
Jason got behind the wheel, and Peggy scooted over and sat by his side. She kissed Jason’s cheek while she unbuttoned
his uniform shirt. She stuck her hand inside his shirt and started to rub his chest.
“We could sneak into old man Adam’s barn just like we did for our first kiss. We could make something else our first,” she said in a romantic tone.
He pulled her hand out of his shirt. “I’m not in the mood right now,” he told her.
Peggy got upset. “What the hell do you mean you’re not in the mood? How can our marriage survive with an attitude like that?” she said in a raised voice.
“I promised dad I would paint the house before I left for England,” he replied, then started up her car.
Peggy scooted across the seat to the passenger door and pouted with her arms crossed while Jason drove out of the plant parking lot.
Four days passed and after some tearful good-byes at the Mount Royal train station, Jason was on his way to England.
An hour later, Jason stood in his uniform with his duffel bag, on the rear platform of the last passenger car. He watched the countryside go by, then he removed and looked at a black and white photo taken two years ago of Jason and Peggy.
Rick Sanders, a twenty-five-year-old Captain, entered the platform from the passenger car. He stood next to Jason and fired up a cigarette then offered one to Jason.
“No thanks, Rick,” he said while he stared at his photo.
Rick looked over at Jason’s photo. “Girlfriend, Jay Jay?”
“Fiancé.”
“She’s beautiful, buddy. Why didn’t you marry her before leaving for England?”
“I fell out of love,” Jason replied while he stared at the photo.
Rick looked baffled while he glanced at the picture. “Fell out of love with a beautiful girl? Are you nuts?”
“Maybe. But she’s spoiled, too controlling and wants me to stop flying after we’re married,” Jason replied while he ran a hand through his frustrated with his life. “I’m in a pickle. Dad works for Peggy’s father, who gave him a loan to pay for my
college. Dad will get promoted, and if I back out of the marriage, he might get fired. And he’s so in debt.”
“Sounds like you don’t have a choice. Marry Peggy,” Rick replied while smoked his cigarette.
Jason looked at his photo, and he let it slip out of his fingers, and they watched it fly away.
“Or not,” said Rick while he watched the photo fly away.
Jason and Rick went back inside the passenger car. The photo landed in the grass.
Jason’s story about his World War II experience continued.
The months had passed, and it was now early August 1943
over in England.
Jason was assigned to the 990th Bomber Group where Colonel Franklin was the Commander.
His group operated out of Chipley Springs airfield, just outside the quaint town of Chipley Springs. The town was located about fifty miles northeast of London and thirty miles from the coast.
Chipley Springs airfield consisted of a two-story building with a balcony so the incoming B-17s could be counted after coming back from a mission.
There was a two-story building for the hospital, another Quonset hut for the briefing and debriefing of the pilots.
There was a large hangar for repair work on the B-17, an Administration building, a smaller building for the Group Commander, and smaller Quonset huts for barracks, chow hall, latrine, and other necessities.
Jason was on a mission over Germany with the B-17 called the Nazi Crusher, and they flew in formation with other B-17s in the high squadron. The nose art for the Nazi Crusher was a goofy cartoon character of frightened Hitler with a bomb penetrating his chest.
Inside the Nazi Crusher, it was a bouncy flight while flak exploded all around the bombers.
His buddy Rick Sanders was the Air Commander of the Nazi Crusher, and Jason was his copilot.
Their B-17 continued to shake while flak exploded all around them.
“Okay bombardier, we’re approaching the target,” Rick said into the radio net.
“In work,” Greg Cooper, the twenty-two year old 2nd
Lieutenant Bombardier replied from the radio net. Jason and Rick looked out their side windows and watched for a few minutes.
“Kaboom, Mister Hitler!” Rick said into the radio net.
Their bombs exploded a plant that assembled bombs.
Jason and Rick congratulated each other.
“Okay Nazi Crushers, the beer’s on me, tonight,” Rick said into the radio net.
The cheers from his crew members were heard coming from the radio net inside the plane.
More flak exploded outside their plane, and it violently shook.
“The Vivacious Vicky got hit!” Lester Paul, an eighteen-year-old Sergeant who was one of the Waist Gunners called out from the radio net.
From Jason’s cockpit windows, he saw the Vivacious Vicky nose dive with three of its engines on fire. Then it exploded into a fireball, instantly killing all the crew members.
Jason and Rick looked fearful at each other, thinking they could go at any second.
It’s quiet on the radio net inside the Nazi Crusher while all the crew members were saddened about their friends on the Vivacious Vicky.
Back to present day in 1978 at Spencer’s museum.
More people gathered around and were captivated with Jason’s World War II story.
Robyn and Jason noticed the crowd that gathered. “You have an audience, Uncle Jason,” Robyn told him. Jason got embarrassed when he noticed about fifteen people standing by him. “We should move on,” he said then grabbed Robyn’s hand.
The thunder got louder, and lightning was also heard cracking a few miles away.
“Please continue, sir. After all, we have a storm to wait out,” a man in the crowd called out.
In the crowd, a young girl around seven years old looked up at her mom and dad. “This is better than daddy’s bedtime stories,” she confessed to her parents.
Everybody in the crowd chuckled at the girl’s comment.
Her father gave Jason a bow to the master storyteller.
Jason looked at everybody’s hopeful eyes that he would continue his story. “Well, that night, we all did our usual way to relax from the war, and we all headed to the dance hall located on the airfield,” Jason said while he looked at everybody. “And buying his crew a beer was a tradition of Captain Rick Sanders.
But on that night, I met my soul mate.
Robyn’s eyes widened with curiosity, as did all the other eyes of the women that listened.
Jason’s story about his World War II experience continued.
At the Chipley Springs airfield, the Let’s Boogie Down dance hall was packed that night. A band was comprised of soldiers where they had a trumpet player, clarinet player, stand-up bass, saxophone player and a set of drums. These instruments were purchased from the local English community and paid for by the soldiers on the airfield contributing.
The band was playing their version of Duke Ellington’s Take The A Train song.
Army soldiers swing danced with female soldiers, and some guys danced with the local English women on the dance floor.
Other guys and gals sat at tables while they drank and chatted while they listened to the music.
Cindy Grant, a nineteen-year-old, chubby beautiful blonde English girl entered the dance hall with her friend Amy Goodrich, a nineteen-year-old English girl with brunette hair.
At the bar, Rick and Jason waited while the bartender, Russell Knowles, a twenty-eight-year-old Staff Sergeant that was a mechanic on one of the B-17s, brought them ten bottles of beer. Amy headed to an available table while Cindy headed to a bar. Jason saw TSgt Robert “Rocky” Romano, a thirty-year- old mechanic who sat at his nightly spot at the bar.
“Hey, Rocky,” Jason said.
Rocky nodded Jason’s greeting while he sipped his beer.
Cindy walked up behind Jason and waited her turn at the bar. Rick paid the bartender for the beers then he and Jason each grabbed five bottles.
Jason turned around, and his beer bottles clanged while he almost bumped into Cindy. They gazed into each other’s eyes for a brief moment. The sight of this young and beautiful blonde English girl immediately smote Jason.
“Hi,” he said to Cindy.
Cindy gave Jason a bashful smile, and she stepped aside so he could head to his table.
Jason and Rick walked away from the bar.
They headed to their table located about in the center of the dance hall.
The Nazi Crushers crew members anxiously waited at the bar for their brew. The Crusher crew members consisted of, Greg Cooper, 1st Lieutenant Raymond Adams the Navigator, SSgt Billy Donner the Flight Engineer/Top Turret Gunner, TSgt Charlie Hampton the Radio Operator, Sgt Willy Bright the Ball Turret Gunner, SSgt Steve Maryande the Tail Gunner, Lester Paul, and Sgt Ernie Toole the other Waist Gunner.
Crushers quickly snatched their beers the second Rick and Jason placed them on the table.
Rick and Jason sat down at the crowded table. Jason suddenly became captivated the second he spotted Cindy while she walked back to Amy’s table with two soda bottles in her hands.
The band ended their song and started up their version of Duke Ellington’s Mood Indigo song.
Couples started slow dancing on the dance floor.
Rick noticed Jason while he looked interested with Cindy, and he leaned over. “She’s fat, which means she’s really desperate,” Rick quietly said in Jason’s ear.
Jason frowned at Rick’s crude comment. “That’s not nice.”
“Go for it, Jay Jay. Our lives may not last long over here,”
Raymond said then he eyed another potential girl to pick up for the evening.
Jason stood up to go to Cindy, but he sat back down, disappointed. “Someone beat me to her.”
Everybody at the table looked and saw TSgt Gus Sampson stand at the table by Cindy and Amy.
Amy got up from the table and walked with Gus to the dance floor.
“Your opportunity still waits,” Charlie said while they saw Cindy sitting alone.
Jason smiled while he stood up then he walked over to Cindy’s table.
He walked past by a table of rowdy enlisted men and one of them stretched his left leg out.
Jason accidentally tripped over the man’s leg, and he fell toward Cindy.
Jason’s head plopped in Cindy’s crotch the second she went to take a drink of her soda.
“Ahhhh!’ she screamed out at the sight of Jason’s head in her crotch and poured her soda down her cleavage, her dress and the back of Jason’s head.
She jumped out of the chair, and Jason landed on the floor on his back.
Jason immediately sprang up startled and saw the soda on her dress and cleavage. He quickly removed his handkerchief and soaked up some soda near her cleavage. Cindy freaked out when she saw his hand by her breasts, and she slapped him across his cheek.
Jason rushed away embarrassed while everybody nearby laughed.
Jason rushed back to his table where some Crushers taunted and mocked him.
Ernie rubbed the back of Jason’s wet head and chuckled.
The band stopped playing their song and placed their instruments down indicating they were taking a fifteen break.
They wanted some much-needed beer.
Jason watched while Gus escorted Amy back to her table.
He watched while Gus walked away from the girl’s table.
He watched while Amy looked down at the wet spot on Amy’s dress. Then he watched while Cindy pointed at Jason and that made him even more embarrassed. “I better go,” Jason told everybody at the table.
All the Nazi Crushers watched while Jason rushed out of the dance hall.
Later that night, Jason paced outside the dance hall and watched while soldiers exited the building. Most of them were drunk, and they were arm in arm while they sang out some of the songs the band played while they staggered away.
After a few more minutes of pacing, Cindy and Amy finally exited the dance hall.
Jason rushed over to Cindy the second he spotted her.
“I’m so sorry. Someone tripped me and caused me to land in your lap.”
“That’s okay,” Cindy replied while she walked away with Amy. “I wasn’t trying to feel your breasts. I was trying to be a gentleman and wipe up the soda,” Jason said while he followed her. “That’s okay.”
“I would love to pay to have your dress cleaned,” Jason offered.
“You don’t have to do that,” Cindy replied while she continued to walk away with Amy.
“Please let me make it up to you. May I have the honor of taking you out for dinner or go dancing?” Jason asked.
“That won’t be necessary,” Cindy replied and looked away from Jason.
Jason realized he was fighting a losing battle, so he turned around and moped back to the barracks.
Cindy and Amy walked away into the darkness.
“He’s cute, Cindy,” Amy said while she glanced back at Jason.
“And sweet, Amy, but he’s probably just lonely and will soon disappear after a one night stand,” Cindy replied then glanced back at Jason a little interested, while they walked away.
Later that night in Jason’s barracks, he lay in his bunk in deep thought with a pad of paper on his chest.
There were a few other officers in their bunks that slept or wrote letters home.
Rick, Raymond, and Greg entered the barracks drunk, and they staggered down the aisle.
“Jay Jay!” Rick yelled out the second he saw Jason in his bunk.
Rick plopped down at the bunk next to Jason. He snatched the pad of paper off Jason’s chest and saw that he only wrote “Dear Peggy” on the letter.
Rick noticed that Jason was in deep thought.
“A penny for your thoughts,” Rick slurred out to Jason. “I can’t get that girl at the dance hall out of my mind.”
“You’re loony. Peggy’s beautiful,” Rick slurred out then he closed his eyes and drifted off to sleep. His hand relaxed, and the pad of paper fell to the floor and landed under Jason’s bunk.
Jason just stared at the ceiling while he thought about Cindy.
It was the next day, and everybody had time off since there weren’t any missions being flown.
Jason got in his tee-shirt and sweat pants, and he jogged out of the barracks.
A little while later, Jason jogged through the quaint town of Chipley Springs.
Jason huffed and puffed while he jogged down one of the streets of Chipley Springs.
Jason jogged then turned down another smaller street.
Cindy suddenly rode her bike out of a side street and smacked into Jason.
He tumbled down the street and landed face down.
Cindy screeched to a stop, jumped off her bike, and ran to Jason. “I’m so sorry!” she cried out the second she arrived at Jason.
Jason rolled over in pain, and the second he saw Cindy, his pain vanished. “I guess this is payback for last night?”
Cindy looked clueless for a few seconds then she remembered and chuckled.
“I’m Jason Jenkins, but everybody calls me Jay Jay. And again, I’m extremely sorry,” he said while he sat up.
“I’m Cindy Grant and last night is forgotten, and please forgive me for hitting you with my bicycle,” she said then noticed his knees were bloody from scrapping on the road when he tumbled. “You’re hurt.
Jason looked down at his knees. “Oh, it’s nothing.”
She helped Jason up to his feet. She looked down the street with an idea then back at Jason. She hesitated for a second wondering if her idea was a good one, then she smiled. “We better take care of that before it gets infected. I live just down the street,” she said.
“Okay,” Jason replied with a smile, then he walked over and picked up Cindy’s bike.
He pushed her bike with a limp while Cindy walked by his side. “Why were you running down the street? Were you late for something?” she curiously asked.
“I was on the cross-country team during college, and running helps keeps me alert. I’m a pilot,” he replied.
“A pilot, I’m impressed,” she responded then glanced at her chubby body. “I guess I should run down the street myself,”
she added with a bit of frown.
“I don’t think you’ll need to run that far,” he replied as a compliment.
Cindy smiled and blushed deeply while they walked closer to her two-story apartment building.
Later that day, Jason sat in the small living room of Cindy’s one-bedroom apartment on the second floor of the building.
He had a bandage on his knees while he sat on the couch with Cindy. They drank hot tea.
“Where do you work?” he asked Cindy.
“I’m a typist at the Administration building. My father’s an Air Commodore in the Royal Air Force and got me the job. I
work for Sergeant Wilson. He’s shady and does favors for money,” she replied.
“After the war, I want to own a couple of planes and start my own aviation company,” Jason said.
“I would love to learn how to fly and perhaps own an airplane. When my work allows, I watch your B seventeens take off and land,” Cindy said with a gleam in her eye.
“A woman that loves flying. I ’m impressed. Maybe I’ll take you up sometime. I can give you some lessons.”
“But there’s a war’s going on?”
“Wars don’t last forever,” he replied.
Cindy smiled at his offer. “It’s a date!” She noticed his teacup was empty. “Would you like more tea?”
“I’d love some more,” he replied, wanting to stay longer with her.
Cindy grabbed his teacup and stood up.
Jason watched with love in his eyes while Cindy walked over to her small kitchen.
It was later that night, and it was quiet in Jason’s barracks except for the occasional snore while men sleep in their bunks.
Jason entered the barracks and whistled a happy tune while he strutted down the aisle.
He got to his bunk where he noticed that the mail arrived.
He picked up a letter off his bunk and noticed it was from Peggy.
Rick woke up and squinted his eyes at Jason. “Where did you run to? Scotland?”
“I was with her,” Jason replied while he looked at Peggy’s letter.
“With who? Betty?” Rick responded perking up on his bunk.
“No. I was with Cindy.”
“Who?”
“The girl from the dance hall that I accidentally tripped then slammed my face into her lap.”
Rick looked at Jason’s bandaged knees. “Did she beat you?”
“She sure sounds like a sweet girl,” Rick replied with a yawn. “I think she’s the one,” Jason said with a warm smile. “I thought you were engaged?”
Jason looked at Peggy’s letter in his hand and frowned. “I know, but, when I’m with Cindy, I feel so alive. I feel like we belong together.”
Rick yawned again. “Yeah, whatever,” he replied, then went back to sleep.
Jason got in his bed and opened up Peggy’s letter. “My love, my nursing training is complete, and I’ll be getting my first assignment soon. When I get home for leave, my mom and your mom will discuss our wedding plans,” Peggy’s letter stated.
Jason crumpled up her letter and tossed it on the floor. He lay on his back and stared at the ceiling and smiled when he thought about Cindy then frowned when he thought about Peggy.
Jason’s story about his World War II experience with Cindy continued.
For the past two days, Jason spent his free time with Cindy in the town of Chipley Springs or out in the countryside. He was in heaven and loved the war so far.
It was nighttime, and the Chipley Springs airfield was quiet with a sky full of stars and a full Moon.
Cindy and Jason held hands while they walked around the B-17s that were parked in the field.
“Dinner was great. Where did you learn how to cook?” he asked her while they walked under the nose of a B-17.
“I learned from helping mum do her magic in the kitchen.”
“My mom’s a great cook,” Jason replied while he smiled thinking about his mother.
Cindy looked a little nervous, and there was something that bugged her for the past two days. “Do you have a girlfriend back home?”
Jason squirmed a bit when he heard her question. “No,”
he lied through his teeth.
Cindy looked sad. “I only had one serious boyfriend. It was great until I caught him kissing another girl.”
Jason looked a little guilty. “I’ll never break your heart.”
Cindy looked at the Nazi Crusher while they walked up to the plane. “It must be scary up there.”
Jason looked up at the Nazi Crusher, then back at Cindy.
“Only when they start shooting, and you wonder if you’re next.
Wonder if you’ll never see that special someone again.”
Cindy gave his cheek a lovingly touch, and he loved the feeling. “Let’s have some fun, as our lives could be cut short,”
he said then they walked away and headed to the dance hall.
Later that night, Jason and Cindy slow danced in the Let’s Boogie Down dance hall while the band played Glenn Miller’s Moonlight Serenade song.
They gazed into each other eyes, then kissed while they danced across the dance floor.
Rick was in the dance hall, and he walked up to a beautiful English woman. He whispered in her ear, then nibbled on her ear lobe. She got mad and slapped Rick’s face then stormed off.
Rick moped away with his standard of being rejected.
The next day came, and Jason and Cindy took a walk in the English countryside outside Chipley Springs.
Cindy and Jason held hands while they walked upon a field of beautiful white wildflowers. Jason quickly picked a bouquet of wildflowers and handed it to Cindy. She sniffed them and smiled while they walked away.
Later that night, Jason sat in his bunk and read Peggy’s letter that arrived earlier that day.
”My Darling, I’m thinking of you every day. Why won’t you let daddy arrange to get you sent back to the states? That way, we can get married right away,” Peggy’s letter stated.
Jason placed the letter down on his bunk and looked worried.
The next day, Cindy and Jason slowly jogged down the streets of Chipley Springs. He had Cindy on his mind with every step.
Later that evening, Cindy and Jason ate dinner by romantic candlelight.
After dinner, Cindy and Jason sat in the cockpit of the Nazi Crusher. Cindy sat in Rick’s seat with her hands on the yoke. Jason spent the last twenty minutes and explained the fundamentals of flying an airplane.
It was the next day, and Cindy and Jason had a romantic picnic by a small creek outside Chipley Springs.
Later that night at the Let’s Boogie Down dance hall, Cindy and Jason slow danced while the band played the Moonlight Serenade song again, per Jason’s request.
While they danced, Rick walked up to another beautiful English woman while she drank a soda at a table. He whispered
into her ear then kissed her neck. She got furious and slapped his face.
Rick walked away, feeling rejected again.
Later that night, Jason was in his bunk and wrote a letter.
“Dear Peggy, the war is keeping me busy, so I’m sorry if my letters are short and infrequent. And I should stay here with my buddies, so I can’t be transferred back to the states,” he wrote in his letter.
The next day arrived, and the B-17s returned from a mission over Germany.
The Nazi Crusher B-17 landed and soon parked.
After the engines shut down, the doors opened, and the Crushers all got out of their plane.
Rick, Jason, and the rest of the Nazi Crusher’s walked away from their plane happy they survived another mission.
Then the Tantalizing Tina B-17 was on final approach for the runway with three engines on fire and landing gear up.
The Tantalizing Tina turned away from the runway and landed belly up in a field.
Then its nose furrowed into the ground and the plane exploded. All crew members were killed.
Everybody on the ground ran to avoid being hit by the flying debris.
Over by the Administration Building, Cindy took a break and stood by one of the corners of the building to watch the B-17 land.
Cindy saw the billowing black from the crash of the Tantalizing Tina bomber. She looked scared to death, and her eyes welled up, thinking it could be the Nazi Crusher.
She looked relieved the second she saw Jason walking toward the briefing building with the other Nazi Crushers.
She went back into the building and returned to her desk.
It was the next day, and the sun was out, and the birds sang out a beautiful song.
All the B-17s were parked in the field, and all the crew members lounged by their planes.
Some of the guys read letters, some guys napped, some threw a football while some milled and chatted.
Rick, Jason, and the Nazi Crushers lounged by their B- 17.
Jason leaned against one of the landing wheels while he read a letter.
Rick lay in the grass and looked up at the sky while he smoked a cigarette.
“Cindy sounds like a wonderful girl, and I can’t wait to meet her. How are you going to break up with Peggy? Mom and Dad will be furious, but I’m behind you all the way. I love you,” Wendy’s letter stated.
Jason shoved Wendy’s letter into his shirt pocket with a smile. He opened up another letter then frowned.
“My Love. Your letters are still too short and infrequent.
I’m worried about you. But I do have good news, I bought a wedding dress and father can have General Winston arrange some R&R for you here in the states and then we can get married,” Peggy’s letter stated.
Jason banged his head in frustration against the wheel while he looked at her letter. “Let me see your smoke,” he asked Rick. Rick handed Jason his cigarette. Jason lit his letter on fire with the cigarette then he dropped the burning paper into the grass. He watched it fade away to ashes. He handed Rick his cigarette.
“What’s wrong?” Rick asked while he took a drag on his cigarette.
“Peggy bought a wedding dress, and her father can have a General friend arrange some R&R if I marry her now.”
“Are you going for it?”
Jason opened his mouth to respond but Albert Yount, an eighteen year old pimply faced Private, drove up in a Jeep and stopped by their B-17.
“It doesn’t look like the weather will clear up over Germany, so today’s mission has been scrubbed. And Lieutenant Jenkins, Colonel Franklin needs to see you.
Something about your own plane,” Albert spilled the beans.
Jason looked proud while he got up.
Rick jumped up and gave Jason a congratulations pat on the back while Jason headed to the Jeep.
Jason got in the Jeep, and Albert drove off.
Five minutes later, Albert dropped Jason off at Colonel Franklin’s building.
Jason jumped out of the Jeep and went inside the building.
Jason walked through a small area where Sgt Joe Burroughs worked as Colonel Franklin’s administrative assistant.
“Colonel Franklin wanted to see me. I’m Lieutenant Jenkins,” Jason told Sgt Burroughs.
“He’s waiting for you in his office,” Sgt Burroughs replied.
Jason knocked on the Colonel’s door then stepped inside his office.
Jason walked up to Colonel Franklin’s desk and stood at attention. “Lieutenant Jenkins reporting as ordered,” he said while he saluted.
Colonel Franklin returned a salute. “At ease, Lieutenant,”
he replied.
“Jenkins, we’re getting in some replacement B-17s, and I want you to be the Air Commander of one of them,”
Colonel Franklin said while he stood up from behind his desk.
Jason looked proud he would be the Air Commander of his own plane with his own crew.
“I had some glowing comments from Captain Sanders on his recommendation for you taking command of your own bird,” Colonel Franklin said while he walked over to Jason.
“Thank you, sir,” Jason replied with a huge grin.
“And of course, this comes with a promotion,” Colonel Franklin stated while he removed two 1st Lieutenant bars from his shirt pocket. He removed Jason’s exiting butter bars from his uniform and replaced them with the shiny silver 1st Lieutenant bars.
“Your plane arrives in two days.”
“Yes sir,” Jason replied with a salute.
Colonel Franklin returned a salute then walked back to his desk while Jason headed to the door with a spring in his step.
That night, Cindy and Jason celebrated his promotion and getting command of a B-17 by dancing at the Let’s Boogie Down dance hall.
For the next two days, Jason had light duty while he waited for his plane to arrive.
Then that special morning arrived.
Jason watched from the tower building while two other pilots landed his B-17 on the airfield’s runway.
While his plane taxied to the parking area, Jason thought about what he should call his plane. Then his eyes widened with a great idea the second he thought of Cindy.
He rushed away from the tower building.
Later that day, Jason brought Cindy out to show off his B-17 bomber.
While he walked her around the plane, Carl Morgan, a nineteen-year-old mechanic with fantastic drawing ability, walked up to the B-17 with a wooden case, and a step ladder.
“Sir, you wanted some nose art for your bird,” Carl asked while he walked up to Jason.
“You bet,” Jason replied.
“What are you going to name her?” Carl asked.
Jason looked at the B-17, then looked at Cindy. “I’ll call her Sweet Bird after this beautiful girl,” he said while placing an arm around Cindy’s shoulder.
“Do you want a sexy lady under those words?” Carl asked while he looked up at the nose of the B-17.
“You bet, and she’ll pose for it,” Jason answered with a smile while he looked at Cindy.
Carl looked doubtful of Cindy being the model for the cartoon.
Cindy suddenly got nervous when she heard Jason’s suggestion. “What do you mean, I’ll pose?”
“I’ll use you to draw a cartoon of a sexy blonde under the Sweet Bird words,” Carl replied.
“This will be great, because every time I fly her on a mission, I’ll be thinking of you,” Jason told Cindy then kissed her cheek.
Cindy pondered Jason’s suggestion for a second while she looked at the nose of the B-17. “Okay, it would be my pleasure.”
Cindy stood there with her hands by her side.
Carl rolled his eyes at the sight of her pose. “I need something sexier.”
Cindy looked shy with doubts on posing, and Jason noticed.
“It’s all right honey. Think of me when you pose and forget Carl’s here,” Jason replied.
Cindy looked at Jason then she mustered up some courage, and she got into a sexy pose.
“I guess this is the best I can work with,” Carl said while he opened up his wooden case, which contained various paints and brushes.
Carl climbed up the ladder and started on the nose art for the Sweet Bird.
Cindy stayed in her pose while Carl started drawing the nose art.
A couple of hours passed and Carl finished the nose art for the Sweet Bird and Jason slipped him twenty dollars for his time.
Carl walked away with his ladder and wooden case.
Jason admired his Sweet Bird nose art with his arm around Cindy.
Jason and Cindy walked away holding hands.
An hour later, Jason, with a camera in hand, and Cindy walked back to his Sweet Bird with Raymond, the navigator of the Nazi Crusher.
“She’s a beautiful bird,” Raymond told Jason while he walked around and looked at the Sweet Bird.
Jason handed Raymond the camera.
Jason walked Cindy under the nose of the plane, and he placed her arm around her shoulder.
Raymond stepped back and snapped the picture that would later end up on the display board at the museum in 1978.
“Thanks, buddy,” Jason told Raymond.
“I’ll leave you two love birds alone and get the pictures developed,” Raymond said.
“Make me two copies. One for me and one for Cindy,”
Jason responded to Raymond.
“You got it,” Raymond replied then he walked away. “I’ll take that picture with me on every mission,” he said while he gazed into Cindy’s eyes.
Cindy looked a little worried when she glanced up at the Sweet Bird. “ My stomach’s always a mess when you’re up there,” she said then her eyes welled up.
Jason wiped away her tears then gave her a kiss on the lips.
Sidney Carter, a thirty-year-old Captain who was one of the three airfield’s doctors, rode up on a bicycle. He glanced up at the Sweet Bird. “She’s a beautiful plane, Jay Jay. How about taking me up on a short flight sometime? I want to fly so bad,”
Sidney asked.
“Sorry Sidney, but the Army will have my butt if I take unauthorized personnel up in the Sweet Bird.”
“I won’t tell,” Sidney replied.
“I know, but it’s too risky. Besides, isn’t being the supervisor of those nurses enough of an adventure?”
Sidney frowned with disappointment. “Ah man,” he said, then rode his bicycle away.
Albert drove a Jeep up to the Sweet Bird with nine guys shoved inside and sitting on the hood.
Albert stopped the Jeep. “Here’s your crew, Lieutenant Jenkins,” he said then everybody got out of the Jeep.
Albert drove the Jeep away.
Andy Watkins, a twenty-two-year-old 2nd Lieutenant, walked up to Jason. “I’m Andy Watkins, your copilot,” he said while he stuck out his hand.
Jason shook Andy’s hand then looked at his other crew members.
“I better get back to work before Sergeant Wilson fires me,” Cindy said then kissed Jason on lips.
Jason’s new crew members watched while Cindy walked off and headed toward the Administration Building.
After ten minutes of introductions, he met 2nd Lieutenant Frank Kirby, a twenty-three year old Navigator who was fluent in German, 2nd Lieutenant Gerard Barrett, a twenty-three year old Bombardier, Sgt Jerome Sampson, a twenty-two year old Tail Gunner, Sgt Don Adamson, a twenty-one year old waist gunner, Sgt Mark Woodbury, a nineteen year old Waist Gunner, Sgt Warren Stevens, an nineteen year old Ball Turret Gunner, TSgt Robbie Noone, a twenty-eight year old Radio Operator, and SSgt Mike Dawson, a twenty-five year old Flight Engineer and Top Turret Gunner.
After more discussions, Jason learned they were all experienced and were reassigned for various reasons. Rick walked up to the Sweet Bird and checked her out. “She’s a nice bird,” he said then walked up to Jason. “Guys, this is Rick Sanders, commander of the Nazi Crusher,” Jason introduced his friend.
Jason’s crew members all shook hands with Rick then they all walked away toward the buildings of the airfield. “I’m curious, have you dumped Peggy yet?” Rick asked Jason while he eyed the nose art while they walked away.
“Not yet.”
“I wonder how Cindy will feel at the end of the war when you go home without her?” Rick asked.
“I’m not going to do that,” Jason replied and looked serious.
“Then you’re going to break up with Peggy?”
“I will. When the time is right.”
“And when is that?” Rick curiously asked.
“After dad gets out of debt with Mister Moore.”
Rick looked jealous of Jason. “You know, every dame I ask out refuses. And here’s you with two drooling all over you.”
“Maybe if you quit treating them like a piece of meat, then one might date you,” Jason replied with a scolding tone.
Rick thought about Jason’s comment for a second. “Okay, that’s fair.”
He patted Jason on his shoulder. “See you up in the air, my friend.”
Rick rushed off toward the briefing hut.
Jason and his new crew members walked toward the briefing hut.
The next day, Jason flew the Sweet Bird on his first mission with his new crew members.
They flew in close formation over Germany with eleven other B-17s in the low squadron.
A formation of P47 Thunderbolts flew with the B-17s for protection.
Inside the Sweet Bird, Jason sat in the commander’s seat while Andy sat in the copilot’s seat.
Jason looked and saw some Messerschmitt’s heading in their direction. “Get ready guys, the sky has now become extremely dangerous,” he said into the radio net.
The P47s all broke formation and headed after the Messerschmitt’s.
The sound of machine guns firing was heard from the rear of the Sweet Bird, while they shot at the Messerschmitt’s.
Flak exploded in front of the Sweet Bird, and the plane shook.
Jason looked out his window and saw the Nazi Crusher flying close by.
More flak exploded, and the Sweet Bird shook.
“Hey Jay Jay, I have two more missions, and I’m going home, buddy. When I get back, want me to marry Peggy? I won’t treat her like a piece of meat. I promise,” Rick said from the radio net.
“She’s all yours, my friend,” Jason replied then he waved at the Nazi Crusher from his window.
Jason watched while a Messerschmitt raced after the Nazi Crusher and fired its machine guns.
While Jason’s crew members fired their machine guns at the Messerschmitt’s, Jason watched while a P47 raced after the Messerschmitt coming after the Nazi Crusher.
“I got one of those krauts!” Mark called out in joy from the radio net.
Jason watched while the P47 fired its machines guns at the Messerschmitt.
The Messerschmitt smoked, dived, and then it clipped the right-wing of the Nazi Crusher. The wing of the Nazi Crusher broke off from the fuselage.
Jason watched in horror while the Nazi Crusher spiraled down to the ground with only one wing attached.
“Please, God! I don’t want to die!” Rick pleaded from the radio net.
The crew members of the Sweet Bird and the crew members of all the other B-17s listened while all the crew members of the Nazi Crushers screamed from the radio net.
There was an eerie silence on the radio net.
Jason looked straight ahead, and his eyes well up, knowing his good friend was spiraling down to his death. After the mission was completed, three other B-17s were shot down, but the remaining bombers hit the target, which was a factory that made German tanks.
Over by the Administration Building, Cindy paced by one side of the building while she eyed the airfield.
She watched with fingers crossed while the B-17s took turns landing on the runways.
Her eyes lit up with joy the second she spotted the Sweet Bird land on the runway.
A little while later, the Sweet Bird was parked, and the crew members walked away and headed to the briefing hut.
Jason walked away from his crew members when he saw Cindy by the side of the Administration Building.
Cindy saw his grim look while he approached. “What’s the matter?”
Jason looked at her, his eyes welled up, and his lips quivered. “Rick, ah Rick, didn’t make it, he died!” he painfully told her. Then he stared deep into her eyes. “I don’t want to die!” he said while his eyes welled up.
Cindy hugged him tightly, as she didn’t want him to die since she wanted to spend the rest of her life with Jason.
Back to present day in 1978 at Spencer's museum.
Jason wiped away tears from his eyes while talking about that day stirred up some emotions. "The hardest part of that war was watching your friends die before your eyes. The other was lying to your soul mate," he told his crowd.
"Why lie to her?" a woman in the crowd asked him.
"I lied because I was scared of losing her if she knew the truth. And still scared of what would happen to my parents if I dumped Peggy," he replied.
"That's still no excuse for being dishonest," another woman in the crowd said.
Robyn and a couple of women near that woman nodded their heads in agreement.
Jason looked ashamed. "That's fair."
Meanwhile, up in Cindy's office, she worked on some paperwork at her desk satisfied that her grand opening day was a success.
The phone on her desk rang, and she picked up the receiver. "Spencer's Aviation Museum, how may I help you?"
she answered the call.
"It's me, mom, what time do you want me to come down to the museum?" Kimberly replied from the phone.
"Oh, I have a meeting with a woman that's interested in renting an office and hangar space, so meet me outside the bomber room in three hours."
"Okay. I'll be there," Kimberly replied, then disconnected her end of the call.
Cindy hung up her receiver then went back to her paperwork.
Back in the Bomber Room, the crowd's eyes were still captivated on Jason's story.
"So there I was, falling deeper in love with Cindy, while still engaged to Peggy. And I was terrified my next mission would
be my last day in this world. But then it got even more dangerous, and I don't mean in the air over the German countryside."
Robyn and everybody looked curious about Jason's last comment.
Jason's story about his World War II experience with Cindy continued.
It was four days since the Nazi Crushers perished to their deaths in the German countryside. Jason read the official report that all crew members died after the B-17 slammed into the middle of a field.
Jason and all the other eleven B-17s just returned from another mission, and today nobody lost their life.
After Jason parked the plane and shut down the engines of his bomber, he and his crew members all got out of the Sweet Bird. Andy and Jason, with hat and tie crooked, walked away from his plane while his crew members trailed behind them all exhausted.
"First we'll need a hangar and a long field," Jason told Andy, as they've been talking about his dream of starting up an aviation company.
"I have an uncle with an old crop-duster. I'm sure he'll give it to us, but it might need repairs," Andy replied, as he was interested in becoming partners with Jason.
"Rocky said he would work as our mechanic."
Andy nodded in agreement then looked curious. "Are you still stringing this other broad along?"
Jason hesitated, then he looked brave. "I'm about to write Peggy and break it off. Dad will be out from under Mister Moore's debt soon. And I can cover him until he gets a new job." "Did she get her first assignment yet?"
"I guess. I haven't heard from her in a while," Jason replied with a smile.
Jason, Andy and his crew members headed to toward the briefing hut.
Jason eyed the Administration Building and saw Cindy wasn't waiting by the sidewall. “Where is she?” he asked himself a little disappointed, as she was always there before.
"Jason, my darling!" Peggy's voice called from behind Jason and his crew members.
Jason's ears perked up, and he stopped, unsure, as that voice sounded so familiar.
Andy stopped and curiously turned around and looked at Jason.
"What's wrong?" Andy asked while the other crew members stopped and looked at Jason.
"I heard a familiar unpleasant voice," Jason said then shrugged it off, and started to walk away.
"Over here, Jason!" Peggy yelled out again.
Jason, Andy, and the other crew members all looked in the direction of her voice.
Jason's mouth dropped open in shock the second he saw Peggy, in an Army uniform with 2nd Lieutenant bars standing twenty feet away. She waved at Jason with a huge loving smile.
"Please shoot me," Jason leaned over and quietly asked Andy.
Andy and the other crew members watched curiously while Peggy rushed over to Jason.
"What the hell is she doing here?”
"Who is she?" Andy asked.
“Peggy!"
"She's beautiful, and you want to dump her?" Warren said while he drooled at the sight of Peggy.
Peggy glowed with an ear to ear grin when she stopped at Jason. “Surprise!"
"Ah, Peggy, ah, what are you doing here?" Jason said while he pulled Peggy away, then discreetly looked over at the Administration Building for Cindy. He noticed she still wasn't at the side wall. He was relieved yet also nervous.
Andy and the other crew members watched this awkward moment for Jason.
"Since you wouldn't come to the states, I've made daddy have General Winston pull some strings, and got stationed here with you," she said so proudly.
Peggy gave Jason a hug then a long kiss on the lips.
Jason pulled away, scared of what Cindy would think if she saw them kissing.
"You're a nurse at the hospital? This airfield's hospital?"
"Yes, but you'll always be my number one patient," she cooed, then placed her arm around Jason's arm.
He squirmed out from under her embrace. But it didn't work, as she gripped tighter.
"Could you guys please show Peggy the Sweet Bird while I go to the debriefing?" he asked his crew members with pleading eyes then he looked back at Peggy. "Sorry Peggy, we always get debriefed after a mission."
Jason discreetly begged at Andy to help him get Peggy off his hands.
"Sure, we'll give you the nickel tour of our beautiful machine," Mark said while he placed his arm under Peggy's arm.
Mark and the guys walked Peggy away from Jason, and he was relieved.
Peggy pulled her arm out from under Mark's grip and rushed over to Jason.
She removed a letter from her uniform pocket and handed it to Jason. "Here's a letter from your mom, hand delivered with love," she said then gave Jason another kiss on his lips.
Jerome quickly placed his arm around Peggy's right arm.
Mark quickly placed his arm around Peggy's left arm.
Jerome, Mark and the other enlisted turned Peggy around.
"Let's show you our beautiful B seventeen called the Sweet Bird," Jerome told Peggy while all the enlisted guys walked her away from Jason.
Jason opened up his letter and read it while he walked away.
"Son, I'm so happy Peggy will be there to watch over you.
She's going to make a wonderful daughter, in-law. Before she left for England, we reminisced, and she told me how awkward
you were during your first kiss. Too cute! More good news, dad and I will," Jason's letter from Wilma stated.
Jason stopped dead in his tracks and looked upset while he read the rest of his letter.
He continued to walk to the Administration Building after Andy, Raymond and Greg joined him.
While Jason, Andy, Raymond, and Greg walked near the Administration Building, he saw Cindy rush out of the building's side door. He glanced over his shoulder and saw the guys take Peggy inside the Sweet Bird from the rear door.
Her eyes lit up happy that Jason survived another mission.
Jason shoved his letter in his pants pocket. "I'll meet you in the briefing hut in a few minutes," Jason told Andy.
"Okay," Andy replied, then he walked away with Raymond and Greg.
"I'm happy that my love made it back from another mission," Cindy said then she placed her arms around Jason's neck and kissed his lips.
While he kissed her, Jason peeked over with one eye at the Sweet Bird and noticed that the guys just still had Peggy inside the plane. He felt relived Peggy didn't see him with Cindy.
"Listen, I need to run and take care of some important business right after our debriefing. I'll come by your place later tonight," he said when he pulled away from her arms.
"What kind of business?"
Jason hesitated and fidgeted while he thought of a good response.
"Ah, hospital business.”
"Oh, okay. I'll be waiting at my apartment," she said. He gave her a quick kiss on her lips then he sprinted off to the debriefing hut.
Cindy looked a little suspicious while she watched him sprint away.
After the debriefing, Jason rushed over to the hospital building.
He rushed inside and ran down the main hallway while he looked for someone.
He stopped and peeked inside a room and saw it was empty.
He ran down another hallway and ran down to the nurses'
station where Sidney chatted with a nurse.
Jason stopped by Sidney. "Doctor Carter, may I have a word with you in private?" he said in a rush. "We'll discuss this later," Sidney told the nurse who then walked away.
Jason pulled Sidney into a nearby examination room. "Do you still want to fly?" Jason quickly asked. Sidney's eyes lit up with joy. "You bet!”
"Good, but I need a huge favor in return.”
"Name it," Sidney replied.
"You have a new nurse named Peggy Moore. It's a matter of life and death that you keep her on the night shift," Jason pleaded with Sidney.
Sidney thought about his request for a second, and then it dawned on him. "Is Peggy an old flame?"
Jason nodded in agreement.
"Ah, so you would rather have the Army on your butt than her?"
Jason nodded in agreement with pleading eyes.
"We have a deal," Sidney replied, then stuck out his hand.
Jason smiled while he shook Sidney's hand.
He left the room and smiled while he walked down the hallway, figuring out this would buy him some more time.
It was later that evening, and Jason managed to avoid seeing Peggy by staying in Chipley Springs.
He sat in Cindy's kitchen, and they had a nice romantic dinner, but his mind started to drift into a trance.
"I was thinking, maybe you could get a weekend pass, and we could visit my parents?" she said.
Jason didn't respond, and Cindy noticed then she got concerned. "You don't want to meet my parents?"
Jason snapped out of his trance. "Oh, ah, sure, I would love to meet them."
"Then what's the matter?"
Jason pondered an excuse, as he couldn't tell her about his dilemma. "Today's flight exhausted me. That's all."
Cindy looked worried while she picked at her food with her fork. "Are you upset with me about something?"
Jason looked at Cindy's worried eyes. He got up, walked over, and offered his hand, and helped her up. He hugged her.
"No. I could never be upset with you. You're my ray of hope during this war. I'm just scared I'm going to lose you. You're everything to me," he told her.
"I'll always be here waiting for you," she replied, then hugged him hard.
Later that night, Jason walked back to the base.
Jason got within twenty feet from his barracks when his eyes glanced over, and he spotted Peggy.
She paced back and forth by the barracks door waiting for his return. He cringed at the sight of her but knew he had to face her sooner or later.
Peggy saw Jason, and she rushed over to him. "What the hell is wrong with you?"
Jason stopped in his tracks. "What do you mean?" he answered, as he's heard that tone in her voice before and knew it was trouble.
"My first day here and you shrug me off the minute I see you. Where have you been all night?" she snapped at him while placing her hands on her hips.
Jason hesitated for a few seconds while he pondered an excuse. "Ah, I was working with my mechanic, Rocky, about some issues with my plane. After all, I'm the commander of my B seventeen," he lied.
Peggy looked suspicious. "You expect me to believe that story when your uniform isn't greasy, and I searched every inch of this base for you," Peggy replied in a raised tone then she crossed her arms and glared at him.
Jason fidgeted while he pondered an excuse. "We, ah, we were inside the cockpit, and I was consulting on how my plane reacted during our mission."
Peggy glared into Jason's eyes.
He sweated, wondering if she bought his story. She thought about his alibi for a few seconds. She smiled, then hugged Jason. "I missed you, my darling. My first day here and we didn't have a minute alone," she said then gave Jason a kiss.
He didn't pucker, and she pulled away.
"Why the cold kiss?" she asked and looked a little upset.
"I'm sorry, I'm not in a romantic mood with this war going on." "Not in a romantic mood? What the hell do you mean, you're not in a romantic mood? I'm your fiancé, so you should always be in a romantic mood with me!" she yelled.
Jason glanced around to make sure nobody heard her while she glared at him. "It's hard with the continuous threat of not knowing if I'm going to survive a mission," he responded.
Peggy pouted. "I also found out I'm on the night shift.
How can we spend time alone if you're flying during the day and I'm working at night?" she said and pouted.
"Sorry, but sacrifices have to be made during war times.
But don't worry, we'll find the time," he said then kissed her cheek. "It's late, and I have a busy day tomorrow ."
"Come by the hospital tomorrow night and see me," she said. "Okay," Jason replied then faked a yawn then he headed to the barracks door. He stopped, turned around, and watched while Peggy moped away, disappointed.
He stepped inside his barracks.
A few minutes later, the barracks door creaked open and Jason's head poked outside.
He stepped out of the barracks, and when he saw that the coast was clear of Peggy, he ran off in another direction.
A few minutes later and Jason rushed into the Let's Boogie Down dance hall.
The place was quiet tonight, where only a few soldiers drank at the bar and tables.
Jason rushed inside and looked around the dance hall.
He soon saw Rocky at his usual nightly spot at the bar, and he rushed up to him.
Jason patted Rocky on his back. "Rocky."
Rocky looked up at Jason. "Hey there, Lieutenant Jay Jay,"
he said then sipped his beer.
Jason reached in his pants pocket and showed Rocky ten dollars.
Rocky looked curiously at the money.
"In case anybody asks, we were in the Sweet Bird's cockpit discussing mechanical things all night," Jason told him.
"Sure thing boss," Rocky replied, then snatched up the ten dollars out of Jason's hand.
Jason walked away and smiled, knowing his story would stick if Peggy started asking questions.
He walked out of the dance hall.
"Two more beers," Rocky told Russell the bartender and slapped the ten dollars on the bar.
A while later, Jason walked down the aisle in his barracks, walked up, and sat down on his bunk.
Andy's bunk was next to Jason's, and he saw Jason run his hands through his hair in frustration. "I'm going to hell!"
"So I take it you didn't break up with Peggy?"
"I can't. Mom wrote to me. They bought a bigger house, and Peggy's dad bought our old house, and it'll be our wedding present."
"What are you going to do?" Andy asked, concerned about Jason.
"I have to keep them apart until I figure out a way to break it off with Peggy, without dad getting fired."
"That could be more dangerous than bombing the Germans," Andy replied.
Jason stood up and paced back and forth by his bunk while he pondered a way out of his predicament. Then his eyes widened with a solution, and he looked at Andy. "That's why I need your help. You can keep her away from me to buy me some more time until I can come up with a plan," he said and sat back down on his bunk.
Andy looked leery of his statement. "My help?"
"Oh yeah. You're my copilot, and I need you to cover for me." "I don't know."
Jason pleaded with his eyes, and Andy looked doubtful.
Jason got on his knees like he was proposing. "Please!"
Andy eyed the other men in the barracks who glanced over at them, and he got embarrassed. "Okay, just get off your knees. You're embarrassing me."
Jason sat back down on his bunk and smiled, thinking Andy could help him buy him some more time.
Jason’s story about his World War II experiences with Cindy and Peggy continued.
The next day, Jason’s Sweet Bird landed from their mission.
He slipped away from the base and spent the evening with Cindy inside her apartment.
After dinner, they had a sweet, quiet romantic moment where they cuddled and listened to the BBC on the radio. Later that night, Jason rushed over to the hospital to see Peggy.
She rushed him into an examination room where she immediately jumped his bones, and passionately kissed him.
Jason accepted it for a few seconds then squirmed out of her tight embrace.
He faked a yawn. “I’m tired and need some rest for tomorrow’s mission,” Jason said with another fake yawn. “I’ll see you tomorrow night,” he said then gave her a light kiss on her lips.
She looked mad while he walked out of the room.
The next day, the Sweet Bird flew in formation with eleven other B-17s in the low squadron over England on their way to Germany.
After the mission was completed and the Sweet Bird safely landed back at the Chipley Springs airfield, he met Cindy at the side of the Administration Building for a quick kiss.
She went back inside the building to return to work and Jason headed to the briefing hut.
When Jason arrived at the debriefing hut, he saw Peggy, in her nurses uniform, while she paced by the door.
She ran up to Jason and hugged him. “I’m so happy you survived this mission,” she said then kissed his lips.
“Me too,” he replied, then pulled her away. “I have to attend my debriefing,” he told her.
Peggy pouted and crossed her arms. “I want to spend the evening with you!” she said.
“I know, but we have to do what the Army tells us.” “Why can’t I watch your plane land?” she asked. Jason thought for a few seconds for an excuse. “Well darling, I don’t want you to be there in case we crash because our plane was shot up,” he lied, but that could be a real possibility.
She thought about his response for a few seconds. “Okay,”
she replied with a tone of reluctance. Jason gave her a quick kiss on her cheek and went inside the briefing hut.
Peggy walked away and pouted while she headed to the hospital.
Later that night, Peggy paced outside Jason’s barracks in her nurses uniform. She just got off duty and wanted to see Jason for a romantic moment.
Andy peeked outside the barracks door and saw Peggy while she paced close to the door.
He stepped outside and walked up to her. “Hi, Peggy.”
“Where’s Jason?” she immediately asked and could care less about talking with Andy.
Andy thought for a few seconds for an excuse. “Oh, he’s talking with Colonel Franklin about an upcoming mission. He won’t be back until a couple of hours.”
Peggy walked away, disappointed, and headed over to her barracks.
Andy went inside the barracks relieved that she bought his story.
Jason had the next off since no missions were planned. He managed to slip off the base without Peggy’s watchful eyes catching him.
So Jason and Cindy had a picnic near a creek in the countryside. They cuddled while they enjoyed the peace and quiet from the war. Jason’s mind didn’t think about Peggy for one second while he was with Cindy. He was back in heaven.
Later that day, Jason and Cindy jogged down the streets of Chipley Springs.
Later that night, Peggy paced outside Jason’s barracks and looked upset.
Andy walked up to the barracks after some dancing and drinking at the Let’s Boogie Down dance hall.
“Where’s Jason?” Peggy immediately asked the second she laid eyes on Andy.
“Ah,” Andy stammered for a response. “Ah, I, ah, don’t know? I saw him this morning, but haven’t seen him since.
Maybe he’s preparing for tomorrow’s mission?” Andy lied.
Peggy stomped her feet and threw a little temper tantrum.
“I can’t believe him! The one day we can be alone, and he’s off doing stupid Army crap!” she yelled out then she turned around and stormed away occasionally stomping her feet.
The next day, the Sweet Bird was on another bombing mission to blow up a German military complex.
Inside the Sweet Bird, Jason and Andy were looking out their windows when all of a sudden, a Messerschmitt flew into view. That German plane almost clipped them, and Jason made an evasive maneuver to avoid a collision. He straightened out the plane and heard the machine guns fire from his plane while his crew members shot at the Messerschmitt.
“I got the bastard!” Jerome called out from the radio net.
Jason removed the picture of Cindy and him under the nose of the Sweet Bird from his pocket. He kissed the picture then shoved it back in his pocket.
They flew the Sweet Bird with the other B-17s to their German military-industrial target.
The Sweet Bird landed, and the group only lost one B- 17
during this mission.
After they parked and secured the Sweet Bird, Jason made a dash over to the Administration Building.
After Jason gave Cindy a few kisses, he made a mad dash to the briefing hut.
Peggy greeted him outside the briefing hut.
“I want to meet you tonight,” Peggy said and looked determined. “I have a special birthday present,” she said with a smile.
“Ah, sure,” replied Jason without thinking.
Peggy’s eyes widened with joy and immediately planted a kiss on Jason’s lips.
“I have to get inside for my debriefing,” he told her then rushed off to the door.
Peggy walked off toward the hospital with a spring in her step. Later that night, Jason rushed into Chipley Springs where Cindy baked him a small birthday cake.
They had a romantic evening eating cake, kissing, and cuddling while they listened to the BBC radio.
Later that night, Peggy looked pissed while she paced back and forth by Jason’s barracks with a small birthday cake in her hand.
Jason walked up to his barracks. He had a smile on his face while he thought about his time spent with Cindy. Then his eyes widened in a little fear when he saw Peggy, and he cringed, as he forgot about their meeting. Peggy looked pissed the second she saw Jason. She rushed up to him and smashed the small birthday cake hard into his face.
Peggy stormed away, furious!
Other officers walked by the barracks. They chuckled at the sight of Jason with cake all over his face.
After Jason went to the latrine hut to clean up his face, he retired to his bunk for the night.
A little while later, he read a letter from his mom while he relaxed in his bunk.
”Dear Son, Peggy wrote to me, and she’s upset with your behavior with her. That concerns dad and me,” Wilma wrote in her letter.
Jason lowered the letter and stared at the ceiling, wondering how he was going to get out of marrying Peggy.
The next day, Jason told Cindy that he had business to attend with Rocky, his mechanic. He also paid Rocky ten to back up his story and hated doing this but didn’t have a choice.
This allowed him to take Peggy out for a picnic in the country to calm her down a little.
While they were relaxing by another small creek outside the airfield, Peggy got amorous and started kissing Jason’s neck.
She then unbuttoned her blouse while kissing Jason’s lips.
She took his hand and shoved it inside her opened blouse and rubbed it on her bra, covering her left breast.
Jason could feel her erect nipple. He looked at his watch, and he stood up. “I have another meeting Rocky about some engine misfiring,” he said while he removed his hand out of Peggy’s blouse.
“What?” Peggy yelled a little pissed.
“Sorry honey, but we have a mission tomorrow, and I have to make sure my plane is in tip-top shape,” Jason replied.
Peggy was pissed while Jason gathered up their belonging.
The next day arrived, and the Sweet Bird was in formation with eleven other B-17s in the low squadron, while they were on another mission to Germany. The target for this mission was a factory that produced Panzerkampfwagen I tanks.
Inside the Sweet Bird, Jason and Andy watched while flak exploded in front of their plane.
Then they spotted a Messerschmitt racing after a B-17 the Courageous Cougar to their left. The German plane fired its machine guns, and two engines on the left-wing of the Courageous Cougar exploded into flames.
They watched while the Courageous Cougar tumbled down to the ground.
Everybody on the Sweet Bird fought hard to ignore the screams of the crew members of the Courageous Cougar while it tumbled down to their death. This became an all too familiar sound on the radio.
Jason and Andy heard the machine guns from the rear of the Sweet Bird while his crew members tried to get revenge with that Messerschmitt.
“We got the bastard!” Don cried out from the radio net.
The rest of the bombers continued their flight to the targets.
The mission was a success, and the remaining B-17s turned around and headed back to the airfield.
Later that night, while Jason and Cindy took a stroll through the streets of Chipley Springs, Peggy followed Andy at the airfield to the Let’s Boogie Down dance hall.
A little while later, Andy chatted with an English woman at a table while they drank some beers inside the dance hall.
While he laughed at something she said, his eyes drifted over at the door, and he saw Peggy storm inside the dance hall.
Peggy saw Andy, and she stormed after him.
Andy saw Peggy coming at him, so he quickly kissed the woman on her cheek, and he bolted to the rear of the dance hall. Peggy ran around tables in the dance hall in pursuit of Andy. “Where’s Jason?” she asked while she ran between some tables and almost tripped over a chair.
Andy ran to the back door of the dance hall and ran outside.
Peggy looked the area over once she got outside the dance hall, but Andy bolted into the darkness and wasn’t visible.
She ran off into the darkness in the direction she suspected Andy ran.
Jason was able to sneak into the barracks without being seen by Peggy. He looked frazzled while he sat on his bed and ran a hand through his hair.
Andy bolted into the barracks and ran over to Jason’s bunk.
“She’s heading into the barracks!” Andy called out to Jason.
Jason jumped up and looked for a place to hide. He looked at this bunk then got down then slide on his stomach and hid under his bunk.
Peggy stormed inside the barracks and was furious. She looked around the place for Jason.
Andy quickly reacted, and he unbuckled then unzipped his pants. He dropped his trousers to his ankles then looked at Peggy. “Excuse me, but you don’t belong in here,” he said, standing there in his shirt, boxer shorts and his trousers around his ankles.
Peggy glared at Andy then she turned around and stormed out of the barracks.
“She’s gone,” Andy told Jason then he pulled up his trousers.
Jason got out from under his bed. “Thanks,” he said, then sat back down on his bunk.
Andy looked disgusted with Jason while he started to get ready for the night.
It was the next day, and the Chipley Springs airfield was busy getting for another bombing mission.
Jason and Andy walked around the Sweet Bird and performed their preflight inspection.
“Listen, I can’t cover for you anymore. You have to decide if you want Peggy or Cindy. And I have to be honest, Peggy’s scarier than the Nazis,” Andy told Jason while they looked under the left aileron for any apparent damage.
“I know. This is killing me too.”
“What are you going to do?”
Jason thought for a second then looked brave while they walked around and inspected the tail section of the Sweet Bird.
“I’m going to,” he said but stopped when Peggy suddenly appeared.
“Going to do what?” she curiously asked while she walked up to Jason and Andy.
“Ah, finish my preflight,” Jason quickly replied.
Andy tip toed away, as he didn’t want to get involved with their discussion.
“Whatever, darling, I just love you,” she responded then she kissed and hugged Jason.
He squirmed out of her embrace. “Ah Peggy, I have an airplane to get ready for a dangerous mission,” he said.
Jason looked past Peggy and saw Cindy while she stood by her bike at the corner of the tower building.
Cindy got on her bike and rode away and was upset.
Jason’s eyes widened with fear knowing Cindy saw Peggy kiss him.
“Crap, I forgot that Colonel Franklin wants to see me for sharing some coordinates information about the mission,”
Jason bolted off to the tower building.
Peggy watched Jason then looked at Andy who pretended to check out a landing wheel, so he marched over to him.
“What’s going on with Jason?” she snapped at Andy Andy looked at Jason while he sprinted to the tower building where he saw Cindy ride her bike.
“Ah, I don’t know. The Colonel probably wants to talk about the mission. He does that with the Air Commanders,” Andy responded with his best cover story.
Peggy glared at Andy who gives her a nervous fake smile.
She eyed Jason while he sprinted after Cindy, and she got suspicious. “Who is that girl?” she asked Andy while she pointed at Cindy.
Andy looked at where Peggy was pointing. “That girl?”
“Yes, that blonde girl!”
“Ah, she works in the Administration Building. Maybe she has paperwork for Jason that the Colonel needs signing,” Andy responded with another cover story.
Peggy still looked suspicious of Jason while he chased after Cindy.
Cindy raced her bike with teary eyes away to the rear of the Administration Building that was out of view of the planes.
Jason sprinted up behind her. “Cindy! I can explain!”
“Get away from me!” Cindy cried out while she peddled away from the building.
Jason sprinted faster and got in front of her bike.
Cindy couldn’t stop her bike in time, and she ran into him, and she fell off her bike.
They both tumbled on the ground.
Jason jumped up and rushed over to her.
Cindy sat up and wiped away a couple of tears. “Do you always kiss other girls before a mission? Beautiful girls thinner than me!”
Jason helped Cindy up to her feet, and he looked nervous while he looked into her eyes. He took a deep breath. “There’s something I’ve should have told you. But first, I want you to know that you’re my whole life, and I love you with all my heart,” he said then kissed her lips.
“Jason, why are you kissing this woman?” yelled out Peggy from behind him.
Jason cringed. He pulled Cindy away from him.
He turned around in fear of hearing Peggy’s voice. He saw Peggy five feet away with her arms cross, and she was furious.
Cindy looked suspicious of Peggy. “Who is she, Jason?”
Peggy marched over with fire in her eyes.
She pushed Jason away and got in Cindy’s face nose to nose. “Who am I? Why I’m Peggy Moore. Jason’s fiancé! Who the hell are you?” Peggy barked while staring square into Cindy’s eyes. Cindy got intimidated then it dawned on her and backed away from Peggy. “Fiancé?” she asked Jason while she looked a little confused. “You said you didn’t have a girlfriend,” she said while her eyes welled up.
Jason sweated, as he prayed this moment would never happen. “I, I, was so scared of telling you about Peggy. I was scared to death of losing you,” he said with a sincere voice.
Cindy got furious, and she slapped Jason’s cheek hard, leaving a red hand imprint. She sobbed while she stormed off, leaving her bike behind in the grass.
Peggy eyed Cindy then glared at Jason with fire in her eyes.
“You bastard! Wait until daddy finds out what you did!” she yelled at Jason then slapped him hard across his other cheek, leaving a red hand imprint.
Peggy sobbed while stormed away back to her barracks.
Jason stood there in shock while he rubbed his cheeks.
“There you are, we have a mission to complete,” Andy said seeing the whole episode.
Jason looked and saw Andy, who waited with no remorse for Jason.
Later that day, the Sweet Bird flew in formation in the low squadron with eleven other B-17s on their way to Germany.
In the cockpit of the Sweet Bird, Jason piloted with a blank, emotionless stare. His mind was on Cindy and the thought of losing her forever.
Andy glanced over at Jason. “What did you expect? Hugs and kisses from both women?”
Jason continued to fly his B-17 with his emotionless blank stare. Unbeknownst to Jason and Andy, the Sweet Bird dangerously drifted close to another B-17 in the formation.
“Jay Jay, are you trying to take us out!” Wendell Browning, the Air Commander from the Boogie Bomber, yelled out from the radio net.
Andy looked at Jason’s cockpit window and saw they were dangerously close to the Boogie Bomber. He quickly banked the Sweet Bird to the right while Jason sat there with his emotionless stare.
“Jay Jay! Snap out of it!” Andy yelled.
“What’s going on up there? Are you trying to get us killed?” Kirby yelled from the radio net.
“It’s under control,” Andy replied into the radio net.
“Good, I’m not ready to meet my maker today,” Raymond responded from the radio net.
Jason looked at Andy, and his eyes welled up.
“It’s my airplane,” Andy said then he took over the controls.
Jason removed his picture of Cindy and him under the Sweet Bird, from his jacket pocket. He stared at it while flak exploded all around them, shaking the plane.
Jason's story about his World War II experiences with Cindy and Peggy hating his guts continued.
That night after that mission, Jason quickly changed his clothes and ran to Chipley Springs.
He ran down the streets and up to Cindy's apartment building.
Jason entered her building and bolted down the hallway. He slid to a stop and immediately knocked on Cindy's door.
There were a few moments of nervous silence while Jason waited.
Her door opened, and Cindy appeared with red, teary eyes from crying for the past two hours.
"Please let me explain!"
"There's nothing to explain. You just wanted some free fun. And I fell for it," Cindy replied while her eyes welled up while slamming the door shut.
Jason knocked on her door again. “No, Cindy! I'm not like that!"
"I never want to see you again!" Cindy yelled from inside her apartment.
Jason knocked a few more times on her door. He stopped when he heard Cindy sob from inside her apartment.
Jason moped down the hallway extremely depressed. Jason moped back to the airfield and almost got shot by the guard when he failed to show his identification card. Jason moped back to his barracks and headed to the door.
"Jason," Peggy called out the second he placed his hand on the doorknob.
He turned around and saw Peggy behind him with eyes full of tears.
"Peggy, I don't know what to say.”
"How about, you cheated on me with that English bitch,"
she said then repeatedly slapped Jason's head.
He cowered for cover from her beating.
She stopped beating him. "I'm going to tell daddy!" she yelled, then turned around and stormed off.
Two other officers walked past Jason with interest, as they saw the whole episode.
"I knew this would catch up with him one day," the one officer told the other officer, as most of the folks on the airfield heard about Jason's predicament.
Jason sat down in the grass and got even more depressed while he thought about his situation.
Jason sat in the grass for thirty minutes before moping into the barracks.
It was the next day, and the Sweet Bird was again in formation with eleven other B-17 in the low squadron while they headed to Germany to bomb another military target.
Today they were going to destroy a factory that was suspected of making weapons.
Inside the Sweet Bird, flack exploded in all-around their windows and shook the plane.
Jason stared at his picture of Cindy and himself while Andy flew the plane.
Flak continued to explode and shook the Sweet Bird.
Jason almost dropped his picture.
A Messerschmitt zoomed past Jason's windows with a P-47
hot on its tail.
Jason could care less while he just stared at his picture of Cindy.
Andy was getting pissed with Jason's behavior.
Later that night, Jason survived another mission, and he immediately rushed off to Cindy's apartment.
He looked nervous while he paced by Cindy's door with a box of chocolates in hand. He knew she hadn't come home from work yet and figured waiting by her door would be the only way she would see him.
After nine minutes of pacing by her door, Cindy walked down the hallway. She saw Jason and looked away while she walked to her door.
"Please talk to me!" he pleaded while he handed her the box of chocolates.
She took the box then threw it down the hallway where it smashed into a wall, and pieces of chocolate flew everywhere.
Cindy opened up her apartment door, went inside, and slammed her door shut.
Jason stared at her closed door for a second, then moped away depressed down the hallway.
Down the other end of the hallway, Albert Webb, a seventy-five-year-old lonely man, opened up his apartment door and peeked out curious with the commotion he heard.
He saw Jason while he moped down the hallway then he spotted the pieces of chocolate candy scattered all over the floor.
Albert rushed out of his apartment.
He ran up and down the hallway and picked up all the pieces of chocolate. This was a special treat for him today.
He rushed back inside his apartment with his prize.
Cindy's door opened, and she peeked out with eyes filled with tears while she glanced down the empty hallway. She closed her apartment door and wept inside.
Jason spent the rest of the day moping around the airfield.
That night, he visited the Let's Boogie Down dance hall, and his prayers were answered when he saw Cindy inside with Amy. He rushed over to Amy and Cindy's table. Cindy saw Jason and immediately looked away.
"I was going to break up with Peggy, but it's a delicate situation."
"Come, Amy, this delicate air suddenly stinks." Cindy stood up and walked away.
Amy got up and gave Jason a dirty look and followed Cindy while she headed to the door.
Jason moped depressed over to the bar.
It was later that night, and most of the patrons left the dance hall.
Jason, with his hair and uniform a mess, sat at the bar in a depressed stupor.
Peggy, in a nurses uniform, entered the dance hall and walked up to Jason. "We need to talk," she told him.
Jason gulped down his beer and ignored her.
"I still love and forgive you," she replied while she stroked Jason's arm.
Jason got pissed.
"We still have a wedding in the future. I'll call daddy back and tell him everything's been worked out," she said while she straightened out his hair and uniform.
Jason shooed her hand away from his arm and ignored her comment.
Peggy suddenly got a smirk. "Let's find a private place to talk this over."
Jason looked over at Peggy. His eyes crossed, and he passed out and slammed his head on the bar.
The bartender rushed over to Jason while Peggy stormed out of the dance hall, furious.
Two days passed, and Jason didn't have any contact with Cindy or Peggy. He spent his all of his free time drinking his sorrows away at the dance hall.
The next day, Jason performed the take-off roll down the runway with the Sweet Bird.
Andy monitored the instruments on the console and didn't pay attention to Jason.
Jason continued the take-off roll with the Sweet Bird and was nearing the end of the runway where some tall trees were nearby.
The Sweet Bird finally lifted off near the end of the runway.
Andy looked out the front cockpit windows, and he leaned back in his seat while watching the tops of the trees approaching fast. "Watch it!" Andy yelled at Jason.
The sound of the treetops scraping against the bottom of the Sweet Bird was heard throughout the fuselage.
"What the hell was that?" Robert yelled from the radio net.
"I think I have a tree branch stuck up my ass!" Warren, the Ball Turret Gunner, yelled from the radio net.
"What the fuck is your problem?" Andy yelled while he glared at Jason.
"Are you guys up there trying to kill us?" Kirby yelled out from the radio net.
"Get your damn hands off the controls!" Andy yelled at Jason.
Jason removed his hands from the controls, and Andy took command. "Sorry guys," he said into the radio net.
"You pilots are scaring me," Gerard said from the radio net. Jason stared out his window and tried to get his mind on the mission, but the thought of losing Cindy forever consumed his thoughts.
The mission was over, and the Sweet Bird survived another mission despite Jason's behavior.
Late that night, Jason was able to purchase a bottle of whiskey from Russell at the dance hall.
He climbed inside the Sweet Bird and sat in his seat. He opened the whiskey bottle and took a gulp while he stared at the stars from his cockpit windows.
After ten minutes of drinking whiskey, the sound of someone entering the Sweet Bird was heard behind Jason.
Andy appeared and sat down in his copilot's seat. He watched while Jason took a swig of whiskey. "Will, that solve your problem?" Andy asked in a fatherly tone.
"It sure makes it easier to swallow," Jason slurred out his response.
"You're scaring me with the way you've been flying lately.
Do you want the Germans to knock us out of the sky?" Andy scolded.
"Cindy doesn't love me anymore!”
"You got yourself in this situation, so go fix it.”
"I tried. She hates me!" he slurred out his reply. Jason took a swig of whiskey, and Andy leaned over, yanked the bottle out of Jason's hand, and some whiskey poured down Jason's shirt.
"I'm going to talk with Colonel Franklin and recommend you be grounded. You're endangering the crew and me," Andy scolded Jason then he left with the whiskey bottle.
Later that night, Jason staggered by the dance hall and heard the band play Billy Holiday's The Very Thought Of You song inside.
He stopped and listened to the song for a few minutes. His eyes light up with an idea, and he ran off.
He got twenty feet from the dance hall, and he tripped over his feet.
He got back up and ran away into the darkness.
A little later that night, Cindy was sound asleep in her bed when from outside her window, Jason sang out loud.
Jason sang out in a key that doesn't exist to some of the lyrics to The Very Thought Of You song.
Cindy woke up and got out of bed when it dawned on her that someone was singing out her window.
Jason sang out some more lyrics from outside while Cindy walked to her bedroom window.
She looked out her bedroom window and saw Jason down on one knee on the sidewalk.
Jason sang out more lyrics while she looked out her window .
"Stop! You'll wake up the whole town," she called out from her window.
From her window, she watched while Jason stopped singing and stood up.
"I love you, and I'll never love another woman!" Jason pleaded from outside.
"But you lied about Peggy."
Jason had a guilty look. "I know. But I was terrified dad would be fired if I broke up with her. I was trying to figure out a way to break up with her. I swear! Then she showed up here,
and I didn't know what to do. I was so scared of losing you," he cried out from the sidewalk.
A Jeep with two Military Police (MP) screeched to a stop near Jason.
The MPs, Jack and Wally, jumped out and rushed over to Jason and were pissed.
"You're disturbing the peace," Wally yelled at Jason.
Wally and Jack each grabbed one of Jason's arms and dragged him over to the Jeep. They tossed him in the backseat then Wally sat behind the wheel, and Jack sat in the passenger seat. From her bedroom window, Cindy saw Jason in the back of the Jeep.
Jason turned around and looked up at Cindy. "I love you!"
Jason yelled out from the back of the Jeep.
Cindy watched while Jack turned around and whacked the back of Jason's head with his nightstick. Her eyes welled up when she saw him buckle over in pain.
A little while later, Jack and Wally got Jason out of the Jeep and walked him into the MP building.
They walked Jason over to one of the two jail cells in the hut, and tossed him onto the floor of the cell.
Jack slammed the cell door shut then he walked away with Wally.
Jason sat up off the floor then his eyes widened, and he vomited all over his pants.
Jason’s story about his World War II experiences with Cindy and Peggy continued.
It was the next morning and quiet at the Chipley Springs airfield.
Jason exited the MP hut, depressed with a bump on the back of his head and his clothes were all rumpled up.
He moped away.
“Jay Jay,” Cindy’s voice called out from behind Jason. He turned around and saw Cindy riding her bike up to him. “Do you love me and only me?” she asked when she was close to Jason.
Jason’s eyes welled up with tears. “Forever!”
“But you’ll go back to the states after the war,” she replied while she stopped her bike by Jason.
“I’m not going back there without you. I promise!”
“What about Peggy?” she curiously asked.
“We were through as a couple before I met you,” he replied with sincerity in his eyes.
Cindy thought for a few seconds while she looked into Jason’s eyes.
She jumped off her bike, and they embraced in a kiss.
Albert drove up in a Jeep and stopped by Jason.
“Lieutenant Jenkins, Colonel Franklin needs to see you ASAP!” he said.
Jason gave Cindy another quick kiss. “I’ll come to your apartment later tonight,” he said while he rushed over to the Jeep and he knew this would be about last night.
Cindy looked concerned while she watched Albert drive the Jeep away.
She got on her bike and rode off in another direction.
Later that morning, Andy waited by Albert’s Jeep outside Colonel Franklin’s building.
Jason exited Franklin’s building and looked worried.
“I could hear the Colonel yell from out here. Did fire come out of his ears?” Andy asked the second he saw Jason.
“Humongous flames,” Jason replied then he looked back at his rear end. “I hope Cindy doesn’t mind me having a flat ass, because the Colonel chewed off both cheeks to the bone.”
“What did he do to you?”
“A strong warning, that the next time, I’ll lose command of the Sweet Bird and will be demoted.”
“You got off lucky,” Andy replied.
Jason nodded in agreement while he removed his wallet and looked inside. “Do you have some dough you can lend me?” “What for?” Andy curiously asked.
“My future,” Jason replied with a huge grin.
“Tell me about it on the way back to the barracks,”
Andy replied while they walked away.
Later that day, Jason rushed into Chipley Springs and found a small jewelry store.
Andy waited outside the store by the street in a Jeep. Jason rushed out of the store with a small ring box in hand.
He shoved the box into his pants pocket while he jumped inside the Jeep with a huge grin.
Andy drove the Jeep away and headed back to the airfield.
A little while later, Andy drove the Jeep back to the barracks where Jason saw Peggy pacing by the door.
“What does she want now?” Jason said with a frown at the sight of Peggy.
Andy stopped the Jeep by the barracks, and Peggy rushed over to them.
“Good luck buddy,” Andy said while he jumped out of the Jeep and rushed over to the barracks door.
“It’s time we talk,” Peggy said with hopeful eyes. Jason took a deep breath and looked brave. “This is going to be hard but needs to be said. I can’t marry you, because I don’t love you anymore. I’m sorry and please don’t take it out on my family.”
Peggy looked stunned while Jason walked to the barracks and went inside.
Inside the barracks, a few officers milled around in their boxer shorts while Jason walked to his bunk.
He sat down on his bunk and thought about his meeting with Cindy later tonight.
The barracks door slammed open, Peggy barged inside and was so furious her face was red.
The men in their underwear dove for cover while Peggy stormed down the aisle.
She stormed over to Jason’s bunk and hovered over him.
“Break up with me? I don’t think so! Just you wait and see!” she yelled at him then she walked away from his bunk.
Jason and all the men watched while she stormed out of the barracks and slammed the door shut.
Jason wasn’t worried about her threats while he went back to thinking about Cindy.
It was later that night, and Jason was with Cindy in her apartment.
Candles were all over her small living room and created a romantic atmosphere.
Jason and Cindy stood by her bed and gazed into each other’s eyes; then, they engaged in a passionate kiss.
On the small table by her bed was her copy of their photo under the Sweet Bird.
Jason suddenly dropped down on one knee and took Cindy’s hand. “I love you so very much and want to spend the rest of my life with you,” he said while he reached in his pants pocket and removed the small ring box. “Cindy Grant, will you marry me and make me the happiest man in the world?” he added while he opened up the box revealing a small but beautiful diamond engagement ring.
Cindy’s eyes well up at the sight of the ring, and she nodded that she would marry Jason while tears ran down her cheek.
Jason placed the ring on her finger then he stood up, and they engaged in a passionate kiss.
After a few seconds of kissing, Cindy removed Jason’s shirt and tee-shirt.
Jason removed Cindy’s blouse and bra.
He removed his pants while she removed her skirt. They both removed their underwear and stood before each other naked.
They engaged in a passionate kiss and fell on top of the bed. Later that night, after an hour of lovemaking, Jason got out of Cindy’s bed, as he had to head back to the airfield. “I can’t wait to for us to have a life back in the states,” he said while he put on his shirt.
“You’ll need someone to handle the paperwork and payroll of your aviation business,” she said while she put on her bra.
Jason smiled at her suggestion. “You’ll make a beautiful secretary. And I can chase you around my desk! But keep that a secret from my wife,” he replied with a light chuckle.
Cindy chuckled then looked concerned while she slipped on her blouse. “What about Peggy?”
“I told her it’s officially over between us,” he said while he finished buttoning up his shirt. “And I’m still worried she’ll have my dad fired,” he added while he slipped on his pants.
“Is she that evil?”
“You better believe it,” Jason responded while he slipped on his shoes.
Jason walked up to Cindy after she slipped on her skirt.
Jason engaged in a passionate kiss for a few minutes.
The sun started to peek above the horizon in England.
Jason strutted back into the barracks after taking a shower in the latrine hut.
He had a huge satisfying grin on his face while he strutted up to his bunk.
Andy woke up from his bunk and saw Jason while he sat down on his bunk.
Andy eyed Jason and saw his huge grin.
“Well, I can assume that that grin on your face means she accepted?” Andy asked while he sat upon his bunk.
“You better believe it, and my life will be wonderful,” Jason replied.
“I’m so happy for you, but what about Peggy?”
“I broke it off for good,” he replied but still looked a little worried about her. “I now have the chance for a beautiful life with Cindy and this war could take all that away in a heartbeat,”
he added then looked worried.
“I know, buddy. I know,” Andy replied then he relaxed in his bunk.
Jason relaxed on his bunk and stared at the ceiling in deep thought about his future.
Albert entered the barracks and rushed over to Jason’s bunk.
“Lieutenant Jenkins, Sergeant Wilson needs to see you before your mission,” Albert said then he turned around and rushed out of the barracks.
Jason looked concerned while he got off his bunk and headed to the door.
Jason walked into the Administration Building and saw Cindy typing at her desk.
She glanced up at Jason and looked a little worried.
Jason winked at while he walked over to Master Sergeant (MSgt) Wally Wilson’s desk located over at the other end of the room.
“You wanted to see me, Sarge? I’m Lieutenant Jenkins?”
Jason asked.
“Yes sir,” MSgt Wilson replied then he looked at Jason then thumbed through some pieces of papers. “I’ve never seen orders get here so quick. Someone in high places must really love you,” MSgt Wilson told Jason while he handed him some orders.
Jason looked curious while he read his orders.
Cindy glanced up from her typewriter and still looked worried while she watched Jason.
“Transferred to Camp Springs Army Air Base in Maryland?
How can this be?” Jason asked MSgt Wilson.
“Don’t ask me, Lieutenant, I just shuffle the papers.”
It dawned on Jason who could have been behind these orders. “Damn her!” he cursed then the remembered
something, and he looked back at MSgt Wilson. “I heard you’re a man who will do favors?”
Wilson looked around to make sure the coast was clear, and he leaned toward Jason. “What do you need?”
Jason handed his orders back and leaned on the desk and got closer to Wilson’s face. “Burn this and swear you never saw it. And burn any more that come in this office for the next two months,” he said then discreetly reached in his pants pocket and discreetly slipped twenty dollars to MSgt Wilson.
Wilson discreetly slipped the cash into his pocket. Then his eyes lit up, and he quickly looked through another pile of papers. He pulled out some other orders and showed them to Jason. “What about these orders?” he asked.
Jason glanced at the orders and saw they were for Peggy with the same assignment as Jason’s back in Maryland. “Twenty dollars and she leaves,” Jason replied with a smirk.
MSgt Wilson nodded in agreement with Jason’s offer. He had also heard about Jason’s predicament.
Jason reached in his pocket and discreetly gave MSgt Wilson him another twenty dollars.
MSgt Wilson discreetly slipped the cash into his pants pocket.
Jason looked happy while he glanced over at Cindy at her desk and winked at her.
He walked out of the building.
Jason paced outside the side of the Administration Building.
Cindy walked out of the building and rushed over to Jason in a panic. “I saw your orders. I can’t believe that you’re going to be transferred back to the states. What are we going to do?”
“I know this was Peggy’s doing. I think I can slow down this transfer, but Peggy will be persistent, so we need to get married right away.”
“I know of a priest who might marry us,” Cindy said, happy to be marrying Jason sooner than expected.
Jason kissed Cindy. “Good, let’s work on getting married within a few days. I’m not going to let Peggy or this war stop me from having a beautiful life with you,” he said and looked determined.
Cindy hugged Jason, and her eyes welled up so happy to soon be Mrs. Jason Jenkins.
“I’ll talk with Colonel Franklin about our marriage after this mission,” Jason said then gave her a quick kiss and dashed off to his barracks to dress in his flight suit.
A little while later, Jason sat in the briefing hut with Andy and the other officers while they listened to Colonel Franklin talk about their mission.
Jason had a hard time concentrating on Colonel Franklin since thoughts of marrying Cindy filled his mind.
The briefing was completed, and the officers all headed to their planes to start the dangerous mission.
Later that day, the Sweet Bird flew in formation along with eleven other B-17s in the low squadron over the German countryside while they headed to a munitions factory near Frankfurt.
Jason sat in his cockpit and was on cloud nine while he thought about the strong possibility of marrying Cindy in a few days. “You’re a changed man now that you got your life back on track with Cindy,” Andy said.
“It’s going to be beautiful with her as my wife and you as my business partner,” Jason replied.
Flak started exploding all around them and rattled their teeth while it shook the Sweet Bird.
Andy’s eyes widened with concern when he saw two Messerschmitt’s racing toward the Sweet Bird.
“Two Messerschmitt’s at two o’clock,” Andy called in the radio net.
Jason looked out the windows and saw two other Messerschmitt’s racing at them from his windows.
“We have two additional Messerschmitt’s coming at us at ten o’clock,” Jason added into the radio net.
The machine guns were heard while the Sweet Bird gunners fired at these German threats.