The Pink Bomber - Cockpit Memories

[WolfeTone]

The Pink Bomber

Cockpit Memories


Robert A. Spelman



Preface
​

We all have memories. This book reduces to print many events that I experienced or observed at close hand in the years when I dreamed and lived flying. It was my great good fortune to be able to transform my love for flying into reality as a civilian and military pilot. I first learned to fly as a college student, continued to learn as a U.S. Army Aviation Cadet, then as a combat pilot, then as an instructor of pilots who were to go to combat, and finally as a pilot for one our country's great airlines. Learning, and reflecting on experience, is a major part of a pilot's job description.
The idea of a book based on my aviation experiences developed out of a newsletter I issued to keep in touch with family, former business associates, and other friends. Those letters dealt with events I had observed, or in which I had shared. Often those events were related to flying. Some of the events were themselves "historical", such as the first (accidental) bombing of Rome during World War II. A plane from my medium bomb group avoided Mount Etna and bombed the Eternal City! Some themes revealed themselves: the tragedy of "friendly fire", for example, or the unusual experience of an American bomb group that served under British overall direction in the North African campaign. Some readers of the newsletter asked for more, and I responded with letters dealing with other events or situations I has seen in Africa, Sicily, and mainland Italy, such as the first missions flown by our black pilots, the Tuskegee Airmen.
The idea of assembling the articles into a book was broached by several friends. Translating the scattered letters into a book was a tremendous challenge. I avoided this until persuaded by one friend and college classmate who even promised his help in the process. After Air Corps service in World War II, Joseph F.X. McCarthy had earned a history doctorate, and followed a career in education, ending as Academic Vise President of Fordham University. He had published extensively in history and education. He argued that the observations and anecdotes would be very helpful to those studying World War II, or the development of aviation in the 1940s and 1950s as well as those of us whose lives were so influenced by the events of that period. Now I am happy to acknowledge his help and the commitment of time and energy that he made, together with Marge, his lovely wife and partner.
I have divided the materials into three general headings, which corresponded to the three major divisions of my life and work as a pilot. Within these three general sections there are a number of relatively brief treatments of specific events or topics. I have included a number of "Snap Shots", which are quite brief. They are the kinds of material one might find in a diary, or photo or souvenir album.

Robert A. Spelman
my grandfather​

 

[RACISM]

Looks like your grandfather was as boring and longwinded a nigger as you.

 

[Just A Butt]

Spelman

that sounds like a jewish name to me
ETA:

 

[WolfeTone]

Keynote
​

The Front Office

​

Is it human nature to want to be a leader. Military life stresses leadership. Civilian life does too, perhaps not so dramatically. God endows some individuals from birth with intelligence, personality, and ambition. Experience and training refine and develop these traits . All are essentials for the role of leadership. Such gifted people show their ability at an early age, becoming stars in one or in many fields, almost effortlessly. They are Class Presidents, Team Captains, Valedictorians, Most Valuable Whatevers; they become wealthy, powerful, and so on. Then there are the "wannabes", us common folk. We may bust our butts to achieve, to attain some level of respect as pretenders. We're happy to use the Lords "left-overs" -the assets we find as our endowment. We strive, stumble, strive some more, and gradually achieve. We seem forever in the shadows of those "Super People" whom we try to emulate, some of whom on occasion we may despise, but all of whom we secretly admire and envy.
We had more than one of the endowed leader type in my Aviation Cadet Class of 42-J. Joe Corwin was an outstanding example. He had attended The Citadel, where he absorbed a good deal of military style and tradition, items that most of his classmates lacked, coming as they did directly from civilian life. He became the "spit-and-polish" Commander of Cadets, who led us onto the parade ground at Maxwell Field Pre-Flight, wearing a sash and carrying a sword. He performed the prescribed gyrations before the reviewing stand, using the steel foil to "present arms". This and other exotic maneuvers left us former civilians in awe and admiration.
Joe was among the very first cadets to solo in Primary Flight School. Later, Lt. Colonel Cochrane chose him to lead our class drills in Basic Flight School. In Gunnery School at Eglin Field, he scored highest in aerial marksmanship. Joe was an excellent pilot, and an extremely likable person : the silent type, quiet and competent, but unassuming. He was always one of the guys, never lording his superior skills over me or any of his peers. He could not be but admired. Several members of my class ended up with the 12th Bomb Group, Joe among them. He and I were assigned to different squadrons, though. He was in the 434th, and I was in the 82nd.
Any organization, civilian or military, has both a formal and an informal pecking order. Of course, the informal order is a bit less evident in the military. Military rank is signified by the hardware worn on shoulders or collars, and it always indicated a degree of respect which the wearer was entitled. A lowly Second Lieutenant's gold bar shows that he is the lowest-ranking company-grade commissioned officer. A full, or "bird" Colonel, is the top ranking field-grade officer: his insignia is an eagle, although barracks humor often called it a "chicken". Rank doesn't grant actual authority automatically. As a simple example, an Artillery Colonel would recieve all the respect coming to his rank, but would have no operational authority over an Air Corps Lieutenant piloting a plane in which the Colonel was a passenger.
Within the same organization, it is quite possible that the highest-ranking officer had not "earned" the respect of those under his command. A lower ranking officer might well be viewed as braver, fairer, more worthy of imitation. A major element in respect is performance, especially performance under pressure. This brings us to the nub of this yarn.

 

[Gravemind]

We all have memories.

Rather trite way to make an opening statement.

This book reduces to print

Already this makes me not want to read the book's contents because the author is discrediting the value of the written work from the very start. Poor way to introduce something you intend for other people to read.

It was my great good fortune

Redundant word choices.

I first learned to fly as a college student, continued to learn as a U.S. Army Aviation Cadet, then as a combat pilot, then as an instructor of pilots who were to go to combat, and finally as a pilot for one our country's great airlines. Learning, and reflecting on experience, is a major part of a pilot's job description.

Not the most apt or engaging way to describe the continual learning experience that comes with the career. Gives absolutely no credit to one's own personal progress. Sure, it makes it SOUND humble to implicitly say "I was still learning even as an instructor", but the way it was phrased there leaves more of an impression of incompetence rather than humility.

Also, learning and reflecting on experience is integral as a general life and wisdom sort of thing, not just limited to piloting. Not so sure I would attribute it as being a "major part" specifically to that particular career path.

After Air Corps service in World War II, Joseph F.X. McCarthy

Typically, you shouldn't just namedrop someone without any prior context given as such. This was another point in which I was just taken out of the reading of this by stopping and going "Wait, who?"

Academic Vise President

"Vise" President, huh? Not a "Vice" President. Sure. Sounds legit.

Now I am happy to acknowledge his help and the commitment of time and energy that he made, together with Marge, his lovely wife and partner.

You mean he wasn't happy at the time he was receiving the help? Only "now"? Also, why does it sound like he's simping for another man's wife?

I have divided the materials into three general headings, which corresponded to the three major divisions of my life and work as a pilot.

But you listed four major divisions of your life and work as a pilot originally.

Within these three general sections there are a number of relatively brief treatments of specific events or topics.

"Treatments" is an odd word choice here and feels ill-suited. This man sounds like he could've benefited greatly from a thesaurus instead of rattling off whatever words came to mind.

I have included a number of "Snap Shots", which are quite brief.

Again, needless redundancy. It was already established literally a sentence prior that each described highlight would be brief.

They are the kinds of material one might find in a diary, or photo or souvenir album.

And... That's the note you leave off on with opening your book? You couldn't think of any other way to smooth your readers into the full reading experience?

I will say this much after having read this drivel: If this really is Nate's grandfather, being confidently illiterate sure seems to run in the family.

 

[RACISM]

I will say this much after having read this drivel: If this really is Nate's grandfather, being confidently illiterate sure seems to run in the family.

It's so similar in style to his long winded pseudo messiah-philosopher DMs he sends people I would not be surprised if this was an exercise in uncreative writing.

 

[Negrate]

this is a moving peice of literture i did not read anything but the title though

 

[Ed Weed]

that sounds like a jewish name to me
ETA:
View attachment 5140806

Could be German, Jewish, or German Jewish.

His family might have anglicized it from "Spielman" once they immigrated to the US

 

[Gravemind]

Is it human nature to want to be a leader.

Poor punctuation usage. You're asking a question, not making a statement.

Military life stresses leadership. Civilian life does too, perhaps not so dramatically.

I dunno about that, chief. Military life seems to stress adherence to orders – you stuff yourself into this mold until you fit and you stay as part of that mold – while most civilian jobs stress leadership qualities as a necessity for a career, if not basic day-to-day conduct.

Such gifted people show their ability at an early age, becoming stars in one or in many fields, almost effortlessly. They are Class Presidents, Team Captains, Valedictorians, Most Valuable Whatevers; they become wealthy, powerful, and so on.

No? There's a lot of people who work very hard (or gaslight themselves very hard) into positions of esteem. And you have the common trend of "gifted people" either burning out completely or pissing away all of their potential as soon as they get out from under mommy and daddy's guidance and enter into the real world.

We seem forever in the shadows of those "Super People" whom we try to emulate, some of whom on occasion we may despise, but all of whom we secretly admire and envy.

Sounds like a personal problem to me, sauce boss.

He had attended The Citadel, where he absorbed a good deal of military style and tradition, items that most of his classmates lacked, coming as they did directly from civilian life.

So you're saying Joe had the privilege of being groomed for a position of prestige ahead of time. That doesn't necessarily correlate to natural, God-given talent. Hell, even a "naturally talented" person has to bust their ass in some way in order to stay on top of things. Something never comes from nothing.

He performed the prescribed gyrations before the reviewing stand, using the steel foil to "present arms". This and other exotic maneuvers left us former civilians in awe and admiration.

How are they "exotic" if they're supposed to be uniform, practiced motions in keeping with a military parade demonstration?

Of course, the informal order is a bit less evident in the military.

You know, other than the fact that the social pecking order often gets played up in the media and through word of mouth from people who have actually been in the military.

 

[draggs]

I would like to know more

 

[Maskull]

Holy shit, lmao.

 

[WebLurker]

I don't know why Wolftone is sharing his grandfathers memoirs but I think it's interesting to occasionally get an insight into the lives of those generations past.

 

[Your Starter for 10]

Finally a fucking sequel to the Tuskegee Airmen.

 

[Just A Butt]

for sake of accuracy i looked into it a little more and found out that Nate wasn't lying about his deadass grandpa being at arlington

my bad, i guess their search is gay, like your dead grandpa

Robert A. Spelman, Sr., 91, A Community and Church Volunteer died February 11 at Halifax Hospital Daytona Beach of complications from pneumonia, following a short hospital stay. He was 91. Mr. Spelman flew 53 combat missions as a bomber pilot in the Mediterranean Theatre during WWII, was awarded The Air Medal with 7 Clusters and The Purple Heart. A New Jersey Native he moved to Daytona Beach in 1991. He was a member of the board of trustees of The Family Life Community, a Lay minister of The Volusia County Prison Ministry, St. Paul's Parish Lector, Eucharistic Minister, Team Member Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults, Prince of Peace Parish, and Member of The Military Order of the Purple Heart. Mr. Spelman was a Chartered Association Executive, Board Member of the American Society of Association Executives, President of The National Association of Executives Club, and Vice President of The Washington Society of Association Executives. He was the prime founder of The American Furniture Hall of Fame, High Point, NC. He will be buried with Military Honors at Arlington National Cemetery. He was a loving father, grandfather and great-grandfather. Survivors are 2 sons, Paul of Fulton, MD and Douglas of Danbury, CT; 2 daughters, Patricia Mathews of Merritt Island, FL and Mary Ellen Munck of Woodbridge, VA; nine grandchildren and 9 great-grandchildren. He was predeceased by his son, Robert A. Spelman, Jr. in 2009.

 

[Ultrapenguin]

for sake of accuracy i looked into it a little more and found out that Nate wasn't lying about his deadass grandpa being at arlington
View attachment 5141375
my bad, i guess their search is gay, like your dead grandpa

I don't know if I respect people who flew around in planes dropping off packages as much as the guys who actually had to drop out of those planes, but I guess service is service.

Therefore I'm happy he at least he didn't have to live to see his son get cruelly beaten in his own household by a depraved lunatic.

 

[Just A Butt]

I'm happy he at least he didn't have to live to see his son get cruelly beaten

son-in-law

 

[AStupidMonkey]

So skitzo-posting runs in the family. lol

 

[Gravemind]

So skitzo-posting runs in the family. lol

I don't know if it's better or worse that it seems to specifically run in his mother's side of the family.

Maybe that's why he was compelled to strangle his father.

 

[Ed Weed]

So all those titles was this guy some big wig or something in a bunch of companies? Might explain why Wolfe acts like a spoiled brat his mom probably spoiled him like her dad spoiled her.

Maybe I'm dumb and those titles don't mean what I think they do.

 

[WolfeTone]

When I arrived in Sfax, Tunisia, I felt pretty important. I had signed for a brand new B-25. I had commanded it's crew on a lengthy expedition from Florida to North Africa. However, the moment I landed in Sfax, I was relieved of Roger the Lodger, and I was demoted to co-pilot. Joe Corwin had the same experience in combat flying, and we began to serve our apprenticeship in combat, to learn how and what to do. My first five combat missions were flown in the right-hand seat, the #2 spot in the cockpit. I watched, listened, and learned.
On my sixth mission, I flew as aircraft commander. This was not all that prestigious: I piloted one part of "Tail-End Charlie", the last three-ship element in a twenty-four plane formation. Not only that, I flew on the element leader's wing: the real bottom of the flying totem pole. It is also the most difficult position to fly in formation. On daylight missions, we dropped our bombs in formation, for maximum effect on the target. We held in formation before itself against enemy fighters much more easily than individual planes could. Keeping in formation was absolutely essential, but flying as part of "Tail-End Charlie" was the most difficult position to fly in formation.
If you've ever "ridden the whip" or "snapped the whip" on roller blades or ice skates, you can see the problem easily. Remember how the last kid in line got the real "snap" when the leader turned? On ice, "Tail-End Charlie" usually ended up on his tookus. The lead pilot in a large formation of bombers was expected to lead his planes through evasive actions. In 1943, we worried about flak, but the enemy didn't have the deadly accurate, radar-guided shells or heat-seeking missiles that developed later. As the formation approached a target, the leader's job was to change direction and altitude. All ships in the formation were expected to follow his lead, and stay in the same position relative to their comrades, whether the leader chose to roll left or right, to climb or to dive. The hind-most ships had the toughest time keeping up and in place.
After a couple of day missions, I was moved up to a wing, the first element in a "box" of six ships. This was a bit easier, but it was still difficult. If the lead ship rolls towards you, he is turning into you; this makes you cut back on power, so that you won't overrun your leader. When he reverses direction and rolls the other way, you must apply maximum power to catch up. Remember, flying is a three-dimensional activity: the leader might well be diving or climbing as he turned. Keeping in formation was difficult, wherever you flew.
Finally, one day I was assigned to lead one three-plane element. Naturally, I drew Tail-End Charlie as my element! Leading the second element in a box requires the pilot to tuck his aircraft close to the rear, and slightly lower than the lead plane. The pilot's job was to get in that position and stay there. I could go on, but two basic points have been made: formation flying was a tough job, and I was slowly making my way up the ladder of leadership.