What did you put in that Coffee:By Howard Hughes

A Tow Pilot's Memoir

or

What Did You Put In This Coffee?

Excitement shatters the morning stillness as 1400 horses spring to life from the snarling Rolls-Royce Merlin engine, belching smoke and shouting flame. Seated in the cockpit, I ponder what the day holds in store as I adjust my harness and gaze out across the pastoral countryside surronding Caddo Mills Aerodrome, somewhere near the English coast. The engine settles into an angry growl as I release the brakes and taxi to the edge of the tarmac for engine run-up. Engine: 1800 RPM, Mag Check: OK, Supercharger - Select High..... Where the heck is the supercharger selector switch? Hey, whats this placard doing here..."Piper PA-25"....must be my mechanic's attempt at humor. Insubordinate groundling!

Taxi into position and hold on runway 31 to await signal from the Lineboss for formation takeoff. Another aircraft will follow in my six o'clock slot on this mission. My mind wanders as I set waiting: Why does a man do this to himself? Will there be flack over Royce City? Will Rockwall send up resistance? Must concentrate on task at hand!

The signal to go! My guts tighten! Full power! Faster, faster, finally, just in time, with only inches of runway remaining and almost sixty knots indicated, the wheels of my eager machine slip the surley bonds of Caddo's hayfield haven. Will I ever see her again?

Settle down. Check mirrors. Aircraft trailing well in slot position. Doesn't he realize that if they come from behind, out of the sun, he'll be the first to get it? Poor devil. Up ahead, I can see the channel Code name - Ray Huddard/Lavon.

Suddenly! Angles three and a sharp snap resonates throughout the airframe as my craft suddenly lurches briefly ahead! Have I received a hit?? Check mirrors!! A flash of red! Reflection?.....or Fokker?? My slot man pulls up abruptly and banks right! I immediately initiate a tight split-s to the left in a desparate evasive manuever! Where the devil are they?!?! I press the stick mounted trigger button to check my guns but it only activates the radio transmitter! Electrical system damage! Unable to fire! Helpless! will I ever make it back to friendly soil?? Wait! Look - there on the horizon!! A Bucolic Beacon of Hope.... Caddo Mills Aerodrome!!

Steady....steady as she goes.... let the struggling craft settle onto the runway. Thank God the bomb craters have all been filled in! Touchdown! Home safe! Time to unscramble my knotted nerves, get debriefed by Col. Smith and drive into the village for a cool beer and warm companionship. What????.........NOOOO!!!!....Another urgent assignment to the same target!!!......continuous missions till dusk!!!! Where is the glory in this maddness?!?! When will they ever learn?? Tow is hell!!!!

The Aviator