Flight 27 Alpha: A Flight Jacket for Bobby

© 2012 by Russ Offutt. All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means without the written permission of the author.

Published by AuthorHouse 07/28/2012

ISBN: 978-1-4772-4376-3 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-4772-4373-2 (hc)

ISBN: 978-1-4772-4374-9 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2012912421

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Contents

INTRODUCTION

FACT AND FICTION

White Script on Black Screen

Opening Scene

Background

Scene

Cedar Creek Apartments just outside Shaw Army Air Field, July 7, 1943, a weekend.

Scene

0600 Hrs., July 9, 1943, Monday, Shaw Army Airfield, Flight Operations Ready Room.

Scene

0700 Hrs., Monday, July 9, 1943, Colorado Belle cockpit

Scene

1100 Hrs., Monday, July 9, 1943, Shaw Army Airfield Flight Operations Command.

Scene

Actual Date & Year 0930 Hrs., Monday, July 7th, 1993 Colorado Belle cockpit

Scene

Shaw Army Airfield, Flight Operations Center, Thursday, July 12, 1943

Scene

Shaw Air Force Base, 1300 Hrs., Monday,

July 7, 1993

Scene

1630 Hrs., Monday, July 7, 1993, Shaw Air Force Base Operations Center conference room.

Scene

1800 Hrs., Monday, July 7, 1993, Operations Center Conference Room.

Scene

Cedar Creek Apartments, Sumter, South Carolina, August 6, 1943

Scene

Shaw Air Force Base, Tuesday morning, July 8, 1993, 0800 Hrs., Office of the Commanding Officer.

Scene

0930 Hrs., Tuesday, July 8, 1993, Base Operations Center conference room

Scene

Barracks Area, Shaw Air Force Base, 1300 Hrs., Tuesday July 8, 1993

Scene

Shaw Air Force Base, 1800 Hrs., Tuesday evening, July 8, 1993, General Hayes’ Office

Scene

0900 Hrs., Wednesday morning, July 9, 1993, Operations Center Conference Room

Scene

Barracks Area, 1430 Hrs., Wednesday afternoon, July 9, 1993

Scene

Colorado Springs, Colorado, Labor Day, Home of Bill and Julie Honneywell

Scene

Shaw Air Force Flight Operations Maintenance Facility, Hanger Bay 4, 0800 Hrs., Thursday, July 10, 1993

Scene

1300 Hrs., Saturday, July 12, 1993, B-17 crew barracks

Scene

Shaw Air Force Base, 0700 Hrs., July 13, 1993, a quiet Sunday morning, Runway 18R

Scene

Shaw Air Force Base, 0830 Hrs., Sunday morning, July 13, 1993 Commanding Officer’s office conference room

Scene

1430 Hrs., Sunday afternoon, July 13, 1993. east coast time, aboard the Colorado Belle

Scene

1600 Hrs., Monday, July 16, 1943… . A rural farmhouse near Stralsund, Germany on the North Coast

Scene

October 1945, somewhere in the forests and backwoods of Germany.

Scene

March 1946, West Berlin

Scene

Colorado Springs, Colorado, Summer 1957, Air Force Academy

Scene

Shaw Air Force Base, South Carolina, August, 1993, main gate, 1500 Hrs.

Epilogue

About the Author

This book is dedicated to Justin, Michael, Alyssa and John in addition to Julie and Cindy and all the veterans from all the wars

John Russell and Michael Joseph, the authors grandchildren

Standing in front of a restored World War II B-17 Bomber

At Mesa, Arizona, Falcon Field in July 2011

The author posing for a picture in the cockpit of a restored World War II

B-17 called "Sentimental Journey at Mesa, Arizona

Falcon Field in July 2011"

INTRODUCTION

"Flight 27 Alpha is the compelling story of two men, father and son, tragically separated by an incident officially termed as an unexplained military accident. Father and son were brought together again 50 years in the future. Follow Captain Robert E. Hayes, the father from World War II in 1943 and General Robert E. Hayes Jr., the son from 1993 as they meet face to face once again, this time, in a very unusual way and get to know one another in a bizarre twist of fate that cannot be explained. With the help of a military historian, and their attempt to challenge what appears to be the impossible, father and son, along with the military historian, devise and attempt to carry out a mission that, if successful, would utilize the technology of 1993 on an aircraft from 1943 and alter the course of World War II and thereby save millions of lives in the process. In the end, follow four generations of Hayes men as they love and honor one another over a span of 68 years, Lieutenant Berry Hayes, World War I Curtiss H-16 bomber pilot, great grandfather, Captain Robert E. Hayes, World War II B-17G Flying Fortress pilot, grandfather, General Robert E. Hayes, Jr., Vietnam Veteran F-4B pilot, father and Lieutenant Colonel Edward Berry Hayes, F-16 Fighting Falcon, great grandson, grandson and son.

Did you ever think you could play a role in winning World War II, 48 years after it ended

"Major . . . . if this plan will get me off this base and back in the war . . . I’m on board!"

"There is a great possibility that I’m your son . . . Captain!"

"Closer . . . . Closer . . . . Now! . . . . Morgan calls out . . . . Brooks releases the bomb . . . . Bomb away Brooks calls out . . . . lets get the hell out of here!"

FACT AND FICTION

This story strives for an honest blend of historical fact and fiction, and the reader is entitled to know which is which

Fictional Persons in order of appearance

Captain Robert Edgar Hayes, pilot of the Colorado Belle

1st Lieutenant James Preston Jimmy Mathas, co-pilot of the Colorado Belle

Berry Hayes, father of Captain Robert Edgar Hayes

Wilma Hayes, mother of Captain Robert Edgar Hayes

Foster Hayes, brother of Captain Robert Edgar Hayes

Robert Edgar Bobby Hayes Jr., son of Captain Robert Edgar Hayes

Rebecca Ann Hayes, Daughter of Captain Robert Edgar Hayes

2nd Lieutenant Kyle Cowboy Pierson, navigator on the Colorado Belle

2nd Lieutenant John Big John Morgan, bombardier on the Colorado Belle

Sergeant Kenny Beach Bum Brooks, flight engineer on the Colorado Belle

Staff Sergeant Murray Sparky Walker, radio operator on the Colorado Belle

Staff Sergeant Walter Gunner Brown, waist gunner on the Colorado Belle

Sergeant John Chief McAdams, waist gunner on the Colorado Belle

Corporal Wilmot Will Zukermann, ball turrent gunner on the Colorado Belle

Sergeant Peter Pete Lowery Jr., tail gunner on the Colorado Belle

Ruth Ann, Honneywell, Hayes, wife of Captain Robert Edgar Hayes

William Honneywell, father of Ruth Ann Hayes

Julie Honneywell, mother of Ruth Ann Hayes

Major Aaron Bellows, Air Traffic Control Officer, Shaw Air Force Base

1st Lieutenant Charlie Meadows, pilot of Air Group 27 Bravo

Major Richards, Flight Operations, Shaw Army Airfield

Colonel Mark Severs, Chief Of Staff to General Robert Edgar Hayes Jr.

Lieutenant Colonel Westley Crawford, Air Traffic Control Officer, Shaw Air Force Base

Captain Lewis Mays, Base Chaplin, Shaw Air Force Base

Major William Longworth, Base Physiologist, Shaw Air Force Base

General Robert Edgar Hayes Jr., Commanding Officer, Shaw Air Force Base

Major General Arthur B. Jonas, Chairman Of The Joint Chief’s of Staff

Major William Shockley, Operations Maintenance Officer, Shaw Air Force Base

Captain Walter Brennon, Ordinance Officer, Shaw Air Force Base

Master Sergeant Corry Billings, Maintenance Facility Officer, Shaw Air Force Base

Anita Hayes, Wife of General Robert Edgar Hayes Jr.

Lt. Colonel Edward Berry Hayes, USAF, youngest son of General Robert Edgar Hayes Jr.

William Foster Hayes, 2nd son of General Robert Edgar Hayes Jr.

Robert Edgar Hayes, 3rd, oldest son of General Robert Edgar Hayes Jr.

Lt. General John Russell Clark, career friend of General Robert Edgar Hayes Jr.

Any Similarity in name or character to any person living or dead is coincidental

Factual persons in order of appearance

Adolph Hitler, General Dwight David Eisenhower

Factual Locations

Army Air Force Training School, Shaw Army Airfield, Sumter, South Carolina. Established August 14, 1941, opened December 1941 and served as a primary flying school for the United States Army Air Corps. During World War II.

Shaw Air Force Base, Sumter, South Carolina. Shaw Army Airfield was renamed Shaw Air Force Base on January 13, 1948. It is one of the largest Air Force bases currently operated in the United States. Currently serves as the home of the 20th Fighter Wing of the Air Combat Command and headquarters of the Ninth Air Force.

Army Air Force Flying Training Command, Lowery Field, Denver, Colorado. Technical Training for bomber crews during World War II.

Air Corp. Technical School, Maxwell Field, Alabama. Provided technical training for bomber crews during World War II.

Air Corp. Army Air Forces Flying Training Command, Perrin Army Air Force Base, Dennison, Texas. Provided training for bomber crews during World War II.

First Technical Training District, Washington, D.C. Technical training for Army personnel during World War II.

Jefferson Barracks, Saint Louis, Missouri. Basic training site and technical training site for Army personnel during World War II.

Williams Air Force Base, Chandler, Arizona. Pilot training base for the United States Army Air Force and the United States Airforce from 1941 until 1993

Luke Air Force Base, Glendale, Arizona. A major training base for the Air Education and Training Command currently training pilots in the F-16 Fighting Falcon aircraft.

Army Air Force Training Command, 5th Army Air Force, Barksdale Army Airfield, Bossier City, Louisiana. Training center for air crews during World War II.

Langley Field, Virginia is fact. Established December 1916 by the Army Air Service, home to the 2nd bombardment Group, July 1922 until October 1942, currently Langley Air Force Base.

New Reich’s Chancellery, Berlin, Germany is fact. Build in January 1938, served as Headquarters for the German Reich during World War II, badly damaged during the Battle of Berlin in 1945

Officer Candidate School, Fort Sill, Oklahoma. Provided training for potential officers during World War II. Goal was to train, assess, evaluate and develop 2nd Lieutenants for the Army Air Force.

U.S. Military Hospital, Landstuhl, Germany.

U.S. Military Cemetery, Meuse-Argonne near Verdun, France

97th Bombardment Group and the 8th Air Force located in England during World War II.

Active in bombing locations in Eastern Europe and Germany during World War II.

91st Bomb Group, 323rd Bomb Squadron, Bassingbourn, Cambridgeshire, England. Active in bombing locations in Eastern Europe and Germany during World War II.

Ships and Squardons

Fighter Squadron 143 is a factual fighter squadron in 1967.

U.S.S. Constellation, CVA 64 is a factual aircraft carrier in 1967.

S.S. Texaco Starr is a fictional gasoline tanker

Colorado Belle

The name Colorado Belle is fiction, the writer has not investigated if any aircraft, in any theater of operations, at any time, ever carried Colorado Belle as a nickname.

Aircraft

Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress as described in the opening scene is fact. Retrofitting additional fuel tanks to increase the range of the aircraft is fiction.

F-16 Fighting Falcon, F-4 Phantom II’s, Messerschmitt Bf-109’s, P-51D Mustangs,

P-47D Thunderbolts and TBM Avenger Torpedo Bombers are factual aircraft from 1943 to 1993

DC-2 is a factual commercial aircraft during the early years of passenger travel.

T-34 Trainer flown by General Hayes during training is a factual aircraft

F-80 Lockheed fighter flow by General Hayes during training is a factual aircraft

F-106 Convair fighter flow by General Hayes during training is a factual aircraft

H-16 Curtiss Bomber was a factual World War I aircraft flown by Captain Hayes’s father

McDonald Douglas MD-88 is a modern factual commercial aircraft

Weapons

BLU-113 Super Penetrator Bunker Buster Bomb as described in the story is fact.

Retrofitting the bomb to a Boeing B-17 is fiction.

Browning M2 .50 cal. Anti-aircraft machine guns as primary anti-aircraft weapons on the Boeing B-17 is fact

250 pound MK-81 general purpose bombs are fact

Browning M3 .50 cal. M2 anti-aircraft machine guns are fact. Retrofitting these machine guns to a Boeing B-17 is fiction