Art Kramer

ART KRAMER'S WWII STORIES

FIGHTER COVER: RAF STYLE

Most of our missions were flown "bare back"; no fighter cover at all. When we did have fighter cover, it was either USAAC Mustangs or RAF Spits. And for me, this was a study in differing operational tactics and defensive philosophy of the two air forces. Fighter cover would always join us as we crossed out own troop line, went over the bomb line and headed East into Germany. When we had P-51's, they would form a covering blanket over us, sweeping back and forth as though we were flying under big protective blanket, It made us feel great.

The RAF did it differently. They would sock in tight all around us. I could almost see the faces of the RAF pilots they were so close. It is as though we were flying in a clamshell of protective Spits. Made me feel good all over. But when even a single burst of flak came up, a Spit would peel off and go down after that flak battery. As I sat in the nose of "Willie" would silently cheer as that Spit peeled off and went down to kill the flak. It gave me a special warm feeling for the RAF guys that I still have to this day.

I still remember the first time I walked into an English pub in London. It was full of RAF blue. A few were on canes, some on crutches. But they were all still on flying duty and had lost count of their mission at about 250. Some looked no more than 14 years old, other looked 40, but it turned out they were only about 25, but had been on combat duty since 1941, and this was 1944. That much combat can age a young man and keep him old for the rest of his life.

When I think of the RAF as it was back then, the words Shakespeare wrote for Henry the V before the battle of Agincourt come to mind, " We Few. We happy few, we band of brothers". Americans and Brits were indeed brothers in arms. And I hope we always will be.

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