45

Tom was walking with hesitation his commanding officer knew. Neither knew of the news they would get. Tom, really didnt care. At the end of that day Tom had lost two men. He wept for them. Two others would never rejoin the unit due to injuries. An aircraft capable of delivering great injury to the enemy had been lost. And, Tom had stripped of his flying credentials for almost three months while the burns on his hands and arms healed the Army Air Corp inspector general investigated the events of that day. This was a time when no lawyers were to be found. There was no protection for a pilot, a commander at that, who lost a ship and two crew members.

Tom was wearing his class A's with everything spit shined and every crease pressed. Despite his injuries he was an impressive figure. Standing 6 feet 2 inches tall, dark brown hair and the ironically german jaw bone structure he garnered a lot of respect.

"what if they dont let me back?" Tom said to his commanding officer. Thinking through the many options the inspector general's review board could issue him. In the cases of extreme negligence the board could order him cort martialed and even sent to the brig.

"lets not worry about what we dont know Tom", said Jake. Jake Hoffman was a midwesterner too, and a great pilot. Most of his time now was spent on logistics and scheduling crews. He had great respect for Tom and his crew. He knew Tom was busted up over the accident and he knew even if restored to flying status he would have a tough time recovering. Some guys simply could not take command of another aircraft after loosing a crew members for any reason. There was always tremendous guilt. In this case it was Tom's hands on the yoke when the heavy bomber hit the pavement. Despite their best efforts Tom and his crew could not get the failed gear in to a locked position. The left main gear collapsed almost immediately. The bomber yawed left and the nose gear collapsed under the strain. The aircraft left the runway and skidded off the runway at nearly 100 mph weighing 40,000lbs.****

As soon as the nose gear caught the soft pavement it dug in followed by the nose turret of the aircraft which smashed the glass front of the plane. The soft ground dug in and the mass of the plane being slowed too fast forced the tail of the aircraft in to the air and the whole thing came crashing down on the left wing which seperated immediately with large section forcing their way through the fuselage. Inside that portion of the fuselage were Gary Rezdig or Toledo, Ohie and Jim 'baldy' durrant from Nebraska. They were crushed by the meshing metal structure.

A fire erupted from the unused fuel and one other guy, Bob Selis was trapped. The cockpit remained undamaged and Tom and Jack were able to get our their escape windows****. Realizing Bob was trapped and a fire approached they both went to free him. The fire began raging as oil from one of the engines began flowing into the blaze. Bob was screaming for help and Tom and Jack were working fevriously to free him. Finally the steel pinning him in was pulled free and he was drug out from under the craft. Only then did Tom see that he was so close to the blaze that the tops of his sleaves were scorched and his arms burnt.

"enter" announced someone from inside the room when Jake knocked. Tom and Jake walked in about ten feet standing ten feet from the table where three officers sat. Tom and jake stood at attention stiff as two fence posts looking straight ahead.

"adease" said a man with colonel's cluster on his shoulder. Tom and Jake stood at parade rest with their hands clasped behind their backs.

"Captain Tom Kruger." Tom did not respond this was not a question a simple stating this is the guy we are dealing with right now and he dang well better listen up.

"This board of inquiry, having been commission by the commanding General of Allied forces Dwight D Eisenhower, has investigated the events of Septemer 16th, 194X has found the commanding officer of the Cornhusker, Captain Tom Kruger, missed a key option in attempting to lower the gear on the aircraft which might have resulted in a successful landing." Tom's stomach had a pit in it. He felt like throwing up. His brain scanned the aircraft manual for any option he had missed despite having done so ten thousand times since the accident.

"This being said. It is understood by this board, as a result of our inquiry that air crews have not been trained on this option. In addition, we have found the post crash actions of Captain Kruger to be nothing short of heroic risking his own life to save that of one of his crew members. We therefore agree that Captain Kruger should be absolved of any wrong doing, he should be recommended for the Army's Distinguished flying cross, and restored to flying status immediately." The colonel smiled as he looked up, closed a leather binder from where he read and stood up. When he did so the other two officers at the table also stood. As soon as the last was on his feet all three snapped a sharp salute looking Tom square in the eyes.

Tom and Jake jumped to attention and returned the salute. Tom thought he would be brought to tears. First the pronouncement he had missed something then, complete absolution. The three men shook both men's hands and exited the room. Tom slumped in to a chair. He was overwhelmed by relief, and guilt. He would be returning to flying status and two fellows had gone home in flag draped caskets.