The Lobo Tank Busters
By: Stan Jordan
We four P51 Mustangs, called the 589th Fighter Wing, are more or less an experimental group. We are part of the Air Force, but work hand in hand with ordinance department as we are the first to try out some new weapons. We are the only American planes that use the new 4 inch rockets, but the English Air Force now have a few planes equipped with the Jumbo Rockets.
We, also, are equipped with the new airplane to tank radio. We have an air force officer that rides in the tank’s assistant driver seat and he keeps all the maps and overlays on his lap. If the tanks are stopped by some type of road blocks, he calls in the co–ordinance; we have the same maps and we can be there in just a little bit. This has worked out well a number of times.
A few days ago, we used our rockets on some German radar tower in southern France. We destroyed the tower and the invasion came off pretty well. The allies have a good foot hold down there.
We took off in the morning and went north to be up around the ancient city of Metz. This area has all kinds of history. It was the northern most bastion of the Holy Roman Empire. The Barge River is there and we found a busy bridge still in pretty good shape. It was an old type bridge with arches made of stone. I put a rocket into one of the arches and the dust and dirt flew, and that was about all. That arch was well made. The other pilots had about the same luck. We rendezvoused at about 1000 feet and talked on the radio, that we would go down and put another rocket into the same arch. Well, I did, and I had a lot better luck that time. A huge piece of arch fell off into the water and the bridge was listing a little.
We went on up the river, made a circle and came back. I put the third rocket in that same arch and this time the bridge span fell into the water. I guess those arches couldn’t stand all three of the rockets. We did a good job, all of the bridge spans were in the water. That bridge is out of the war now.
We couldn’t find a target worthy of a rocket, so we all brought one back to use tomorrow. The colonel came over and we had a real session of euchre.
Lt. Nelson got a package from home, Pale Moon, Montana, it had cake and popcorn in it and we had a fine evening.
See ya!
I Went Down Fighting
By: Stan Jordan
Years ago, Ben Franklin told me, “If you can’t beat them, join them.”
That is what I am going to do. I have written a few columns about this changing world and it didn’t change a thing.
Over the years, I have interviewed a few retired school teachers, and they tell me how different school is now, compared to how it was 80 years ago. Nearly all lessons are over the computer, not in a text book. Some of the business subjects Mr. Bill Fast taught years ago – typing, short hand, business english, etc., have fallen by the way side.
I have complained about not teaching the students how to make change, like a check out clerk. Well, that electric cash register will tell them what the change is and is probably more correct than the old fashion way, and I’m sure that is going to stay that way.
I learned how to spell and pronounce words by the Phonetic system. I think they now learn by memorizing the spelling of the word. Books have been the basis of learning since the Dead Sea Scrolls. It is hard for me to see a school with no books to read from.
When I was little, and school started in the fall, we got two new pairs of pants and two new shirts. As soon as you got home from school, you took off your school clothes so they wouldn’t get dirty or torn, now – a – days jeans with holes in them are the fashion. The more holes, the fancier it is. Funerals, churches, a steak house – wear those holey pants.
We had good clothes for church and Sunday school or any festive occasion when you wanted to look your best, patched maybe, but no holes. Girls dressed like girls, bobby socks and all. Now you can see a lady in a nice fashionable dress wearing flip flops. In my times, the music was soft, slow, and easy to listen to, like “Beautiful Ohio.”
Now, music is a loud ruckus, fast, and each instrument has its own amplifier to make it louder, and it is already too loud. They beat on a guitar, as fast and loud as they can. Nothing soothing about that.
Years ago, ladies had their ears pierced for earrings, now they have tattoos, pearls, barbells, etc. hanging all over, and boys are just as bad. Use to be a gold tooth was sufficient.
Yes, you’re right, I am an old fuddy. I guess I live in the past.
I have stood by the roadside and watched the world advance, but I enjoyed doing it.
See Ya!
When I’m An Old Lady And Live With My Kids:
I’ll make their life happy and filled with such fun.
I want to pay back all the joy they’ve provided,
returning each deed. Oh, they’ll be so excited.
When I’m an old lady and live with my kids.
I’ll write on the wall with red, white, and blue;
and bounce on the furniture wearing my shoes.
I’ll drink from the carton and then leave it out.
I’ll stuff all the toilets and oh, how they’ll shout.
When they’re on the phone and just out of reach,
I’ll get into things like sugar and bleach.
Oh, they’ll snap their fingers and shake their head,
and when that is done I’ll hide under the bed.
When they cook dinner and call me to meals,
I’ll not eat my green beans or salads congealed.
I’ll gag on my okra, spill milk on the table,
and when they get angry, run fast as I’m able.
I’ll sit close to the TV, thru the channels I’ll click.
I’ll cross both my eyes to see if they stick.
I’ll take off my socks and throw one away,
and play in the mud until the end of the day.
And later in bed, I’ll lay back and sigh,
and thank God in prayer and then close my eyes;
and my kids will look down with a smile slowly creeping,
“She’s so sweet,” they’ll say, “when she is sleeping!”
