It does not take a war-nor a sudden turning point- nor a critical moment to determine a course of action...courage and sacrifice were inherent in the men who gave their lives that others may live. Could we ask them today what they were fighting for, few could define it. We all knew when we departed for overseas that some of us would not come back and each man, whether consciously or not, set up a mental barricade to stem the first shock of realization that a friend had been lost. It was not easy, we learned to lose a friend. Suddenly, strangely he was no longer opposite you the mess table, his cot was empty, his letters arrived from home unopened- the letter he was waiting for. And then you

It does not take a war-nor a sudden turning point- nor a critical moment to determine a course of action...courage and sacrifice were inherent in the men who gave their lives that others may live. Could we ask them today what they were fighting for, few could define it. We all knew when we departed for overseas that some of us would not come back and each man, whether consciously or not, set up a mental barricade to stem the first shock of realization that a friend had been lost. It was not easy, we learned to lose a friend. Suddenly, strangely he was no longer opposite you the mess table, his cot was empty, his letters arrived from home unopened- the letter he was waiting for. And then you

In March 1944, Stillwell and Merrill’s Marauders decided that in order to get supply’s into China that what they needed to do was to get someway back on the Burma Road. To get to it they had to come down the valley. To debark they started down from Ledo. We provided close air support and top cover, air transports dropped supplies to them. We flew the hell out of missions down there dropping all kinds of bombs, anywhere from three hundred and fifty-two pound land mines to one that was twelve hundred and four pounds. That thing would blow the wings off your airplane when it went off if you were below one thousand feet. It sure raised cain with the japs on the ground and just hell in general. O

In March 1944, Stillwell and Merrill’s Marauders decided that in order to get supply’s into China that what they needed to do was to get someway back on the Burma Road. To get to it they had to come down the valley. To debark they started down from Ledo. We provided close air support and top cover, air transports dropped supplies to them. We flew the hell out of missions down there dropping all kinds of bombs, anywhere from three hundred and fifty-two pound land mines to one that was twelve hundred and four pounds. That thing would blow the wings off your airplane when it went off if you were below one thousand feet. It sure raised cain with the japs on the ground and just hell in general. O

Four Warhawks strung out and put their noses down through the clouds. The Kamaing bridge was going down. Lt. Adair was leader and he is a bridge buster. Down they go and it is bombs away. As the run was completed four Japs flashed into them. Touch and go everything happens in a hurry. A Jap - sight him - lead – fire – Break away– look around – pull up - look around -line up your Jap -Dive - lead - fire- Break away – pull up - look around- join anywhere near you. Add this confusion to throttle settings – watch your airspeed – look around – emergency power – look around – evade that flock of tracers – look around – look around- look around. They’re gone - No there is a lone one just below the

Four Warhawks strung out and put their noses down through the clouds. The Kamaing bridge was going down. Lt. Adair was leader and he is a bridge buster. Down they go and it is bombs away. As the run was completed four Japs flashed into them. Touch and go everything happens in a hurry. A Jap - sight him - lead – fire – Break away– look around – pull up - look around -line up your Jap -Dive - lead - fire- Break away – pull up - look around- join anywhere near you. Add this confusion to throttle settings – watch your airspeed – look around – emergency power – look around – evade that flock of tracers – look around – look around- look around. They’re gone - No there is a lone one just below the

Come to Chino and see Lulu Belle. Steve and Diane Maier will debut Lulu Belle at the Chino Air Show May 5th and 6th. Fresh off her transport from England and reassembled and flight checked, Lulu Belle will grace the skies once again,this time over California. In May 1944, Lulu Belle would see her second encounter with Japanese aircraft and claim two more aerial victories: " So, I see some zeros heading towards me, by this time the flights had pretty well broken up and they were more or less flying individually. I could see an airplane that had spotted me and headed towards me, I headed towards him he kept coming and coming, when he got pretty big in my sights I figured he’s well within range

Come to Chino and see Lulu Belle. Steve and Diane Maier will debut Lulu Belle at the Chino Air Show May 5th and 6th. Fresh off her transport from England and reassembled and flight checked, Lulu Belle will grace the skies once again,this time over California. In May 1944, Lulu Belle would see her second encounter with Japanese aircraft and claim two more aerial victories: " So, I see some zeros heading towards me, by this time the flights had pretty well broken up and they were more or less flying individually. I could see an airplane that had spotted me and headed towards me, I headed towards him he kept coming and coming, when he got pretty big in my sights I figured he’s well within range

XVI NAGAGHULI AND MOKELBARI May 1944 One. Organizational changes: In the early part of the month the detachment of the Squadron which had been stationed at Sadiya, comprising some 67 enlisted men and 14 officers, was transferred to Mokelbari, the former home and headquarters of the 88th Fighter Squadron. Although Mokelbari boasts of a grass strip only about two miles south of Nagaghuli, operations of the flight station there will be carried out, at least during the monsoon season from the new metal strip at Nagaghuli. It is also hoped that facilities will become available at Nagaghuli whereby the entire Squadron personnel may ultimately be quartered at the latter base. During the month offic

XVI NAGAGHULI AND MOKELBARI May 1944 One. Organizational changes: In the early part of the month the detachment of the Squadron which had been stationed at Sadiya, comprising some 67 enlisted men and 14 officers, was transferred to Mokelbari, the former home and headquarters of the 88th Fighter Squadron. Although Mokelbari boasts of a grass strip only about two miles south of Nagaghuli, operations of the flight station there will be carried out, at least during the monsoon season from the new metal strip at Nagaghuli. It is also hoped that facilities will become available at Nagaghuli whereby the entire Squadron personnel may ultimately be quartered at the latter base. During the month offic