V1945-01KS.DOC

Engineering Officer Dodge City KS 1945

10 Day Furlough Upon graduation from Cadets I as given a 10 day furlough to my home in Oberlin, KS, en-route to my first assignment as an Engineering Officer at Dodge City KS. I rode by train to McCook NB where I was met by my parents who drove me the 28 miles south to Oberlin.

Left Rell Landau WW1 Mid left My parents and sisters, Ila, Marjorie, Phyllis & Rell Landau, Rell headed Draft Board when I volunteered. Mid right Ray, Barton, Edith, Marba & Geraldine Bobbitt. Max not present was a Medic with Army Engineers landing the third day in Normandy. Right Ray Bobbitt WW 1.

Left Max Bobbitt WW 2 medic, Mid left Warren, Jack, Hazel, Don & Lee Kump; Warren was in Medical School during WWII and later served as a Medical Dr in the Marines. Mid right Margaret, Dick, Chuck & Francis Barclay Right Earl Bobbitt WW 1

Mothers side of Family Photos above are of mothers side of the family: Landau, Bobbitt, Kump and Barclay. We cousins had been together each week end since our beginning. My father Rell was in the Infantry, uncle Ray was in the Navy and uncle Earl Bobbitt in National Guard during WWI.

Slow train across NB I rode a low priority train from Omaha west, that pulled off on sidings to let other trains pass while we picked up 100 lb cans of cream and left off the empties. I'd loaded many such can's on trucks to be hauled to Cudaha Packing Co, Beatrice NB. The route paralleled the Republican River and adjacent highway. We were stopping at towns who's names and places grew more familiar.

Red Willow NB 10 miles East of destination McCook NB we pulled off on a siding by what had been the town of Red Willow, only a large grain elevator remained. While we waited for a train to pass I got off and looked about, I'd worked there in 1940, it seemed a world removed. The Oberlin Milling Company bought the town of Red Willow and tore down the abandoned lumber yard. I hauled 2x12 beams to Oberlin for building a 20,000 bushel wheat storage bin – the load was tail heavy, front wheels were airborn for 100 feet when crossing a creek bridge dip. I could see breezeway between the old office and elevator. I’d clean and made repairs to this elevator, in fact almost fell to the bottom when a top ladder rung broke, a good thing arm rungs are redundant to feet rungs. I'd learned to roll my own cigarettes by observing the technique and skill of others – then changed to cigars. I wondered if wheat I'd hauled there in 1941 was still in storage? The new 20,000 bushel bin in Oberlin had broken, I left off a load of wheat in this elevator enroute to Kearney NB for steel reinforcing to repair the broken bin.

Grassy Spot Looking south I could see the road pathway that led to a grassy pasture spot near the Republican River. I had taken a date there before going into service, Stars illuminated the depths of space, we could hear sounds of locust and the river, see the shadowy silhouette of grazing cows and smell fresh cow dung as we talked of the war in Europe and uncertain future – a setting unknown to city folks. The train whistle sounded, ending my journey back in time. On board I said nothing to temporary companions – my nostalgia had no meaning to them.

Visiting Relatives Most of my furlough was spent visiting relatives and friends -- most boys were in service, some girls were school teachers,

Left Landau Home Place, 1919, first family auto, photo to Rell Landau, then in service WWI shown are Oscar, Byron, ?, Dora, ?, Nancy, Nina, Neva, Earl, William Landau Right William Landau 1920 at Oberlin Grain Elevator

School Teachers Girls I’d known well in high were school teachers now rooming in a nice basement apartment. I had dated four of the six at one time or other, and felt both at ease and uncomfortable, they knew everything about each other – and me. Most were married, engaged or committed to fellows in service. High School was our common denominator and had a wonderful time visiting of old times – they were wonderful girls and close friends,

Dine and Sing On the prior furlough Mother invited all those “school teachers” to our home for dinner. Kreble the new music director played piano while we sang contest songs we'd learned in high school. That time I took one, a classmate, to a movie. This time I found she was engaged to a friend of mine then in service – a few months later they were married.

Left 1918 Landau photo take for Rell the missing one then in service. Right Older Landau Cousins 1942: Darrell (AAC), Bob (Engineer B-29’s Boeing Wichita , Harold (farmer), Lemoin (state champion wrestler, AAC gunnery instructor), Jarrell (Union Pacific RR), Vince (Navy pilot), Myron (Patton 3^rd Army, (French, not present, Corp of Engineers Far Pacific) Vincent and I were classmates playing football together, Myron, a year younger, and I sang the Misquitos Song: Zing Zang Zung, Zoon in the Boys Quartet.

Lemoin Landau, Vincent Landau killed Aug 9, 1945 off coast of Japan. Vince and Dorren (Paddoc) Landau, French Landau

Picking Corn I visited Myron Johnson and helped he and his father Oscar pick corn. I'd never pick corn before. A team of beautiful large black horses pulled a wagon with high far side boards. Without commands the team would keep the wagon parallel and even with us as we walk down the rows of corn pulling off ears and throwing them into the wagon using the far high side as a back board. I enjoyed doing this as I was on what had been my Grandfathers homestead, My father was born in a Sod House within sight of where we were. I wondered how Granddad would adjust to the change in times and technology. As I worked on this land I felt a link between granddads mode of life and the new one emerging.

Known as The Kid In the 5th grade riding my bike I was attracted by Friday activity at the livestock sale pavilion, and explored the pens in back before the sale started. I watched a man in a suit filling a water barrel -someone yelled he was wanted on the phone. Seeing him wondering what to do with the hose of running water, I took the hose, saying, I can do that while you answer the phone. When a barrel was full. I moved to the next. The man came back, seeing me at work said, "Thanks kid, here's 50 cents to finish them. I asked who was that guy, and was told that's Fred Slake, half owner of the place. The next week, I arrived early and I soon had all the water barrels filled. Fred saw me, grinned and said, "Thanks kid, here's your 50 cents." I soon learned how the place operated and assigned myself to chase cows from the scales back to the pen they came from. Adult workmen recognized a good thing and let the kid do the work. Fred saw and indicated approval by waving "hi kid," with a smile. By the second week of chasing cows, I felt I knew Fred well enough to speak up. I said, "Fred, I don't mind the men sitting on the fence while I do the work, but they make 25 cents per hour and you're paying me 50 cents a day. Fred grinned and said, "OK Kid, I'll put you on the payroll." The following week before the sale started, I saw Dad, who clerked the sales, talking with Fred while walking toward mc. As we passed I waved, "Hi Dad," observing a surprised look on Fred's face. Dad later told me Fred had just told him to put "The Kid" on the payroll, when passing he said that's the kid. After you passed, Fred said he had no idea the kid was my boy. Thus old timers only knew me as The Kid.

Innovations In 1939 Doc Hughes and I had a Model T Ford – with little money we had to improvise, the car cost $5, sported a $4 car tag and used gasoline at 13 cents per gallon. We used free used oil and replaced short life fabric transmission bands with Model-A brake lining. We found a truck tire, good except of a blowout, and patched it with a piece bolted in place with carriage bolts – round head on the inside with washer and square nut on the outside. It worked great, at our speed out of balance was not evident. Every few days, we'd pull into the curb in front of the post office and be scrutinized by those occupying the front bench, we called them the "spit-n-whittle club". These fellows observed how our Model T bands didn’t slip and called out, "How did you kids get that T model to respond like that? I started to say. "Yagotta hold your mouth right," but didn't, I said we use Model-A brake lining on the bands. "Ah, so that's how ya done it." After installing our patched truck tire, we paused to watch them study what was poking out. One calling to the those on the bench, why thems "stove bolts poking out!" We'd wave at the fellows, grinned and drive off relishing their curiosity.

The Kid that made good On this Dec 1943 furlough I was in my new second lieutenant's uniform when I went to the post office. I saw and waved to the guys on the bench, the same fellows, just a bit older. As I went in, I heard one say "Aint thet the Kid?" (They spoke eloquently in fractured English.) When I came out, I heard one say to the others "1 alus knowed The Kid ud make good." As I drove away, I felt affection for those fellows I only knew by sight. They only knew me as the Kid who chased cows and resurrected junked Model Ts -- I was honored to be known as The Kid that made good.

Why We Fight This was the name of a movie series shown to all members of the armed forces. Each of us had reasons, built in as a part of growing up. When home I’d go to the Cemetery – visited annually since preschool. Prior occasions would come to mind, one being Memorial Day 1936 which began as a march from down town to the cemetery. Kids in the band join Legion members for the march, I was a sixth grade coronet player. I was caught by surprise to see people I knew, show up in the uniform of their branch of service. There was my uncle Ray Bobbitt in his Sailors outfit and neighbor Ben Miller in an Army Air Corps uniform. All but Jack Bond, had out grown their uniforms. I knew Jack from when he oversaw a pre memorial day meat roast using old rail road ties for fuel in a pit. My father always spoke respectfully of Jack, explaining his frail appearance was because he’d been wounded in WW I and wore a metal plate in his chest. I noticed it was Jack who grabbed up the flag, to be the one to carry the Stars and Stripes for the pending march. I felt concerned because the flag was large, whipped by the wind, demanding Jacks full strength to hold it upright. That was a vivid visual expression of tenacity and inner patriotism – Jack had become the young man he once was – frailty be damned. Abruptly someone called Attention! And all those middle aged guys in ill fitting uniforms rapidly formed up into straight ranks – bodily and mentally transformed as if by magic! With the command Forward March they stepped out in full military stride. Us band kids tagged along – our short rapid pace totally out of phase with their long strides – those “old guys” maintained that pace all the way. My eyes focused on Jack as he clung to that wind blown flag leading the way. At the cemetery reading the names of the war dead began with Abernethy and was followed by firing the salute. We kids were mesmerized by the display of men reliving times from their past and paying tribute to the fallen. Our emotions had been indoctrinated by the deep felt display of patriotism by those of our community paying tribute to their comrades.

Dick Grice & Ed Hale I looked up Dick Grice, a former cowboy, who had a shoe repair shop, Dick had showed me how to make a Bow-Gun – with which I punched a hole in the bottom of moms wash tub – finding it was more powerful than I thought. I also looked up Ed Hale who was caretaker at the Livestock sale barn who taught me many things about livestock behavior – and people. I had great fondness for these men, now along in years, who had taken an interest in me. They possessed alert minds, good values and a fine sense of humor, though short on formal education they extended wise council in my formative years, I valued and sought their opinions. I was touched by their obvious pride in seeing me in my new uniform.

Ed Hunt and Earl Spoul were not there, Ed had died and Earl moved to CA. Ed the Black Smith taught me how to work iron and thread bolts while I was in grade school. Earl let me drive his Chevrolet pulling, then backing, cans of butter milk to slop hogs before I was old enough to get a license to drive.

Howard Banta I’d known since preschool days, his father HQ ran the Oberlin Milling Co then and his son. At pre school age Howard permitted me access to all parts of the Oberlin Milling Co, perhaps because his mother was my Sunday school teacher. I learn much about machinery before starting school. I later worked for Howard before going into service and we always had much to talk about. Like when the original mill burned down, when the large bin broke, of when I rigged up a Model-T to drive a large wheat blower before going off to college – Howard told of how it ran day and night for about two weeks after I went off to school, It had filled all but the last storage bin before throwing a rod – more successful than expected..

Rummaging Room and Shop I went through things in my room and basement shop, items saved from adolescent and teenager years. My home made bows and arrows I reflected on how my interests had changed, my world had expanded. I looked through a set of encyclopedias I’d browsed as a kid, learning of Egyptians and Babylonians.

Rotary Club When home on furlough my father invited me to attend Rotary and I was asked to speak, as others were. I felt affinity for these men I’d known all my life, some I’d worked for. Rushong was interested in airplanes as he was a pilot.

To Dodge City in 1936 Ford I borrowed my folks car and drove to Garden City Kansas to visit Aunt Margaret and Uncle Francis Barclay before reporting to Dodge City. Chuck & Dick were still in school, Francis was a Civil Engineer and had been to the Dodge City Base as it was being built. On the trip and during the weekend in Garden City I had to made frequent trips to the John. I had the trots and was very grateful when Aunt Margaret provided some Kaopectate. She sent me off to Dodge City with a reserve supply in my coat pocket. Who would have though the young, eager, spit and polish 2^nd Lt's most prized possession was his Kaopectate and the hope it would continue to cork the dike.

No Pass Required As I approached the base I gathered my travel orders for the guard at the gate to inspect, he simply saluted and waved me on. I recover in time to salute back. I chuckled, I'd been conditioned like Pavlov's dogs to have my pass ready. I felt as chipper as a canary with an open gate to it's cage. To top it off I was free wheeling about the base in my folks civilian car, completely different than the AAC I’d previously known.

BOQ and Dusty After getting set up in the BOQ (Bachelor Officers Quarters) I located "Dusty" Roades who was in my squadron in Cadets, also assigned to Dodge. Dusty an older Cadets, had been a Cop in NY City, it still mystifies me how he got into the Cadet Program, he was certainly bright and capable. His tales of NY made me glad I grew up in Kansas.

B-26 Training Base Dodge City Air Base was used for training Martin B-26 crews. The B-26 was equipped with two R-2800 Pratt Whitney engines with electrically operated four blade props. The instrument system was unique in using 3 phase electrical generator and receiver instrumentation – there was a maze of wires. It was also equipped with hydraulics to handle powered devices as landing gear, flaps, & Bombay doors.

Landing Gears The training placed harsh demands on landing systems sometimes cracking the landing gear axle to shock strut weld. The B-26 flew hot and landed hot, sometimes flying into or dropping onto the runway, thus it was critical to inspect landing gears after any hard landing.

Martin B-26 Marauder

Assembly Line Maintenance Dusty and I were there to observe how they did Assembly Line Maintenance of aircraft and engines. The most interesting part was tear down, inspection, repair and build up of engines. They’d developed a very efficient operation and I discussed this at length with the engineering officer in charge. During these discussions he told of the FBI and AC Intelligence Section giving them a vigorous inspection. Ping pong balls had been placed in engine inlet manifolds some time after engine test and before being crating for shipment to places like Dodge City. The problem had shown up at other locations as well and traced back to an engine repair facility in FL.

B-26 Crash While we were there a B-26 malfunctioned, nosed over plunging vertically into the ground. The leading edge of the wing buried itself about a foot deep. The engines and landing gears buried them selves with the heavy tubular engine mounts wrapped around the engines as if they were lead pipes. The crew were mangled bags of flesh and bone, among crumpled metal and tangled wire.

In the way There was no planned program and we were surplus to ongoing activity – the month there we learn what we could by observing.

Buy Warm Cloths The flight line was very cold in January, prop wash over wet snow didn't help. I bought a pair of fur lined shoes, a heavy light brown short coat, and sweat pants for under my trousers – these made the cold tolerable.

K-State girl at Cimarron Dusty rode with me to Garden City and we stopped for gas at Cimarron – I was amazed to recognize a girl I’d seen at KS State – she recognized me and we arranged for a date that night. At K State we roomed at near by places and saw each other many times walking to and from classes – but had never spoken. With others she knew we went to a dance at Holcomb a small town west of Garden City.

Base Dance The next week end I took her to the Officer Club Base Dance. Long skirts were the fashion and I stepped on the hem of hers, ripping the pretty material. She was a good sport, with a pin she festooned the torn segment like a new style and we had a good time. It was about 50 miles to her folks farm after the dance. The roads were rough, drifted with snow and it was very cold. We never saw each other again. She finished college while I was still in service, married shortly after and lived on a farm in that area.

Visit Barclay and Mom Mother came and stayed with Aunt Margaret and Uncle Francis and we had a good last visit, I left the folks car with Mom and Francis drove me back to the Air Base.

To Mariana FL About a week later Dusty Roades and I parted for the last time, he shipped east and I was off to Mariana, Florida – future unknown.

“Dusty” Roades Darrell (photo taken then in McCook NB)