GOING FOR A RIDE IN AN AIRPLANE WAS THE ULTIMATE THRILL WHEN I WAS VERY YOUNG. WE SAW THE PLANES AT TULIPTIME FLYING AROUND HOLLAND, WE HAD A BIG AIR SHOW AT PARK TOWNSHIP AIRPORT BUT THE COST OF A RIDE WAS PROHIBITIVE IN THOSE POST DEPRESSION TIMES. THE BIG STINSON TRI-MOTOR THAT GAVE RIDES WAS KEPT BUSY HOWEVER.  WE ALL KNEW THE THRILL RIDE WAS IN AN OPEN COCK PIT PLANE SUCH AS THE STEARMAN BI-PLANE.  I WAS INTERESTED IN AVIATION IN HIGHSCHOOL, READ MANY OF THE AVIATION MAGAZINES, BUILT MANY MODELS, BUT THE FIRST CHILL CAME IN THE ARMY AIR CORP WHEN I WAS STATIONED AT LAKE CHARLES, LA.  IT WAS THE HOME OF TRAIN FOR PILOTS AND CREWS ON THE B-26 MARTIN BOMBER.  

I WORKED ON THE FLIGHT LINE IN TECH SUPPLY. CHECKING OUT TOOLS PARTS AND PARACHUTES.  I ASKED ONE OF THE PILOTS IF YE WOULD TAKE ME FOR A RIDE SOMETIME.  THE ANSWER WAS, "SURE, WHEN DO YOU WANNA GO?"  I WAS READY RIGHT THERE, BUT WE HAD TO WAIT A COUPLE HOURS UNTIL THEY HAD SCHEDULED A PRACTICE BOMB RUN.

SHORTLEY IT WAS "OFF WE GO INTO THE WILD BLUE YONDER."   UP THRU THE WAIST WINDOW WHERE THE WAIST GUNNER WAS WAITING FOR TAKE OFF.  I WAS ACQUAINTED WITH HIM.  WE TOOK OFF ()THE REAL THRILL) AND SETTLED ON THE CUSHIONS. I LOOKED AT THE GROUND DISAPPEAR THROUGH THE WAIST WINDOW, OUT TOWARD TEXAS.  I MOVED AROUND, TAKING A SEAT IN THE TAIL GUNNERS POSITION, WATCHING THE CLOUDS ROLL BUY.  AFTER ABOUT FOUR HOURS OF FLYING AND DROPPING PRACTICE BOMBS, WE HEADED FOR HOME.  THE B-26 HAS A FAST LANDING SPEED, SO THE PILOT KINDA DIVED AT THE RUNWAY AND THEN LEVELS OUT.  THAT WAS A THRILL.  

I HAVE RIDDEN IN MANY LIGHT PLANES SINCE, BUT IT WAS NEVER THE SAME THRILL.