| The Final Briefing |
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In the words of Col. Charles H. Young: "The following is a copy of the final briefing speech I gave to our pilots at 2030, the evening of 5 June 1944. Other speakers included Operations and Intelligence, both from the 439th Group and from 50th Wing. The reader can judge from the tone of this speech that we were eager to get going, and despite rumors of the impending disastrous losses in Troop Carrier serials, we were highly optimistic. More than anything else, we wanted a chance to perform our duty and do the job we had been trained to do for so long. Of course, every man knew that this was 'the big one' for which the Western world had been waiting." |
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You men have demonstrated your ability to fly in the past months in such manner as to be considered one of the best Troop Carrier Groups in the Command. Not only do I think we’re good, but General Williams has told others and has told me that he thinks the 439th is good. The Wing told me that they were given credit for the best job in the Command on our latest combined mission, and that the 439th was the best in the Wing. If we can give the Airborne the best drop in a practice mission, I have every reason to believe we can do it on the real thing. It going to be about the same tonight as it was on the last big [practice] mission, except we’ll fly a little different course. But it won’t be so monotonous, because we’ll get to fly over some territory we haven’t seen before. There may even be some little yellow lights flashing at us from the ground—just ignore them—they’re not occults [Ed. Note: Occults were aerial lighthouses used as navigational aids.] Front to back of the formation, it is progressively more difficult to fly a good position. Each correction and change of throttle setting or of position is accentuated toward the rear. The last nine-ship flight leader has much the hardest job to do, and his element leaders and wingmen have probably an even more difficult task. You men in the rear have been put there because you’re capable pilots, and are expected to fly close positions in spite of the harder job. All of you ahead of another plane please remember that the little distance that you may be out of position is increased all of the way back through the formation, making even more difficult for the flight leaders and their pilots an already tremendous job. |
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As a double-check tonight, I suggest you write this pilot’s checklist on your overlay and use it before engine start time: ·
Correct passenger manifest The main thing we’re interested in tonight, even above our own safety—repeat—even above our own safety, is to put a closed-up, intact formation over our assigned DZ at the proper time, so these paratroopers of ours can get on the ground in the best possible fighting condition. Each pilot among you is charged with the direct responsibility of delivering his troops to the assigned DZ. Their work is only beginning when you push down that switch for the green light. Remember that. And last—keep it closed up tight on that Group leader so he can get maximum protection from your top gun turrets. [Ed. Note: This was a facetious reference to the C-47's lack of armament. In contrast to German troop carrier aircraft, both power and glider, C-47s flew into combat unarmed. Gen. Paul Williams, who had flown as an attack pilot himself, had argued this point earlier, but lost.] Go to Back-Up Lead |
