Michael G Skidmore: 2020

WWII GLIDER PILOTS

THE SILENT WARRIOR

Written by:

Michael G. Skidmore

Michael G. Skidmore

mskids001@aol.com

(918-455-0808)

WW II GLIDER PILOTS

FADE IN:

1 EXT. Lawrence Kansas, City Airport - Day

It’s June 14, 1941 and a car turns onto a dusty road towards the airport.

OVER, we hear the voice of Chuck Skidmore talking with his college

Roommate Johnny Parker.

CHUCK

Well, today is the day I guess, I will

Take-off by myself and land

Or I take off and crash Land.

(They both Laugh….)

JOHNNY

Are you scared?

CHUCK

Yes some times, but Capt Wilkes my

Flying instructor says I am a good

Pilot and will do fine.

(Capt Wilkes is a WW1 veteran and a retired US air mail pilot, who

Still wears his white WW1 flying scarf).

JOHNNY

I know I would be scared for sure,

Why do you want to fly anyway?

CHUCK

Well, after we graduate from KU next week

I report July 15, to King City

California for Air Cadet Training School

And 4 months later I will have

A Silver wing on my chest,

A set of bars on my shoulders,

with a girl on each arm.

JOHNNY

Yes, but you can get the girls here in Lawrence.

Besides I thought you wanted to be a writer- editor and

Work for a newspaper like your father. (CONTINUED)

1 2.

CHUCK

I did, but the flying is more exciting,

And the pay is better.

(They both look at each other and smile)

1A CHUCK’S POV

Standing in front of the airport office is Capt Wilkes with his arms folded on his

Chest, He doesn’t look happy.

CHUCK

Capt Wilkes is mad at me.

JOHNNY

For what?

CHUCK

His number one rule is “always be on time”

And I am 15 min late.

1B EXT. Aircraft sitting next to the office – Day

Capt Wilkes walks towards the aircraft, then stops turns around.

CAPT WILKES

You going to solo today?

CHUCK

Yes Sir, I am ready

(Chuck walks towards him, takes his jacket off)

CAPT WILKES

Then let’s do this, you take off climb to 300 feet

Make a slow turn to the right over the river,

Then head back west, when you’re ready

- turn back into the wind and land.

1C EXT. DAY the aircraft makes it to the grassy runway, powers up and

Slowly starts moving, gaining speed and then lifts into the air.

FADE IN:

Lawrence Kansas City Airport:

camera moving towards the trainer that is flying among some cumulus clouds and will continue the movement to the trainer until both pilots are seen and can be head over the loud engine noise.

Wilkes:

Ok, put her in a steep climb, stall, and recover, don't forget

Wings level on pull out!

Chuck:

Yes, Sir!

The plane is shown to do a steep climb, enter in to a stall and nicely recovers.

Wilkes:

Head back to the airport and land!

Chuck: (with a somewhat concern on his face)

Yes, Sir!

The camera shows plane on short final and landing. The plane taxies back, and the Wilkes steps out of plane.

Wilkes: Ok, Chuck, take her around the field three times!

Chuck:

Yes sir!

As Chuck nodes his head and taxies out.

Camera view.

Shows Chucks take off, close up view of Chuck working the control and views final approach from pilot view, plane stops and takes off again.

EXT. DAY

Standing on the flight line, is CAPT Wiles and Johnny.

Chuck taxies back to the flight line.

Wilkes and Johnny both can see a big smile on CHUCKS face.

As Chuck gets out of the plane, Johnny runs up to meet Chuck and gives Chuck a big bear hug.

Johnny:

You did it man! You soloed!

EXT DAY Inside the Hangar Office,

CAPT WILKES signs CHUCKS

Airman’s Certificate License and CHUCK

Fills out his log book.

CAPT WILKES

CHARLES Don’t you forget to write

Me and Let me know how

You’re doing in your Army Air cadet training.

CHARLES

I won’t and I want to thank you for all

You have done for me these past months.

(They shake hands and hug each other)

EXT DAY CAPT WILKES waves to CHUCK and JOHNNY his college

Roommate at Battenfeld Hall – Kansas University.

As they drive away down the

road and they wave back.

(that afternoon Chuck prepares for a 2 day train ride to

start his 10 weeks

Of primary Flying training at the Polaris Flight Academy –

At War Eagle air field. This will be 60 hours of flight

Time in a Ryan PT 13 primary trainer and completing

His ground school courses, which included, math and

Navigation with daily physical training)

EXT. King City California Train Station - DAY

CHUCK

CHUCK’S POV

Chuck gets off the train and sees the sign (AAC office),

He walks up to the window and a Staff Sergeant – looking impeccably

Dressed in his uniform looks up.

STAFF SERGEANT

Need to see your orders

CHUCK

Sure is hot today

(CONTINUED)

STAFF SERGEANT .

. (He doesn’t look up, stamps chucks orders, signs the copy)

Then he looks up and hands back the paper.

STAFF SERGEANT

Walk to the end of the ramp and the bus will be

Leaving in 15 min to the Palo Alto Airport cadet flight school.

NEXT,

We see chuck look towards the end of the ramp.

Then we see the Staff Sergeant get’s up from his chair and lean out the window and with

his index finger point’s, down there.

LAST, we see chuck look down towards the end of the ramp, then he looks back at the

Staff sergeant and with his index finger he points, Got-cha and walks away.

At the Primary Pilot training course Chuck would train in a Stearman PT13 bi-plane and get 60-65 hours in the air before graduation.

9 weeks later

CHUCK

(Lights are out in the barracks and Chuck is under his bunk

Writing a letter home to his parents, with his flash light)

. EXT. BARRACKS - NIGHT

CHUCK

Dear Mom and Dad, I graduated today from primary flight school and have

my orders to report September 29, at Moffett Field, California for my

advanced training courses where I will be flying a PT-16,

it’s a plane with a 450 horsepower

engine in it. I have some sad news to tell you,

my friend Shorty, the one from Texas was killed 2 days ago

while landing. There was a cross wind when he tried to land

and the wheels hit the ground hard and his plane

bounced and cart wheeled and ended upside down

on him, and he broke his neck. He was so funny all the time,

everyone including the training officers would tease

him all the time, asking how anyone that short

could get into the air corps. He always was the

first in line for anything. Everyman in the company,

including the camp commander signed a card to be

sent to his parents. Don’t worry about me,

I am being very safe and always listen to what

the instructor tells me. Your loving son Chuck.

______________________________________________________________________

5 weeks later Moffett field, California (CONTINUED)

Chuck is given a flight requirement “Check Ride” and fails 5.

Skidmore- PV-

Leaving his training class bunk mate Bob Maze, Skidmore walks out to his plane, passing other planes and trainees talking to their ground crew....

Skidmore reaches his plane.

" Good morning Phil ( ground crew finishing preflight )...looks like this is my day to stay in or get washed out "

Phil:

Don't worry Skidmore, you'll do fine and she's already to go "

Skidmore:

"Thanks Phil."

Phil:

" Looks like your instructor is here , Mr. Marshall

Skidmore , PV, looks around and finds Mr. Marshall putting on his parachute.

Scene: view of a Sterman PT-13 trainer.

Mr. Marshall:

" Mr. Skidmore, let's get on board and see how you do"

Skidmore:

" Yes, Sir!"

Skidmore , some what concerned expression, gets into the front cockpit and goes thought the prestart check list before start.....

Skidmore: reads prestart check list to himself........

" Throttle cracked, mixture full forward, prop low pitch, mags off, master off, fuel on left tank, stick moved in clock wise motion to check all surface controls.

Skidmore:

" Clear prop !"

Skidmore turns master on, engages starter, prop turns four blades, Skidmore turns mags on engines comes to life......

Instructor:

" Ok, Skidmore, let's taxi and see what you can do, after take off, we'll head out Southwest to 4,000 feet and start off with two 60 degree turns left and right, maintain altitude and roll out on the same heading

you entered your turns.

Skidmore

" Yes sir "

The take off scene shows some action in side the cockpit, ie, throttle advice, stick and rudder movements, aircraft lifting off....

" Name "

Ok, we're at 4,000, start your turns......

Skidmore:

" Yes sir "

Skidmore's
PV.

Skidmore starts the left turn, having trouble in turn with altitude, shot of altimeter closing altitude.

Name :

" You have to hold your altitude ! "

Skidmore:

PV....having trouble with right turn as well......

Name:

" Skidmore ! head back to the field ...."

Chucks classmate and friend Bud Hamer and Bob Maze a class bunk mate are standing in front of hangar 1 watching the horizon for Chuck’s plane to come in view. Bud Hamer is another Kansas farm boy from Parsons Kansas about 20 miles from Columbus where chuck lives.

PV: the cockpit of the plane: Chuck has the field in view and starts his landing procedures.

Bud and Bob hear the planes motor and sees the plane dip down thru the clouds just south of the airport, coming in from the west to land on the field. Bud watches eagerly, he thinks to himself… looks good wings level, the plane lands with a slight bounce and powers down making its way towards the hangar area and comes to a stop.

HAMER

Bob, have you ever had Mr. Marshall for any flying?

MARSHALL

Only on one flight and I didn’t like it, He enjoys telling you how bad you’re doing, even when I thought I was doing just fine.

HAMER

That’s too bad Skidmore had to get him, he didn’t think Mr. Marshall likes him and that’s why he is always marking him down for bad flying.

PV: Bud and Bob watches as Chuck gets out of the plane and talks with the instructor and then signs the flight log, the instructor gives chuck a paper and they part with Chuck walking towards Bud and the instructor walking towards the flight tower building.

HAMER

Everything ok Skids. (Chucks nickname).

SKIDMORE

Chuck isn’t smiling and takes off his parachute and drops it on the ground in front of Bud.

MARSHALL

Well…. You make it? You passed didn’t you? Thumbs up…

PV: Bobs hands go up…..WHAT….what happen. Your flying looked just fine to Bud and me.

SKIDMORE

No… he didn’t pass me, I get an honorable discharge and leave tomorrow morning unless the Major overrules him. Come with me, I am going to the Majors office right now.

HAMER

What did the instructor say to you?

Scene: Bud picks up Chucks parachute and the 2 men walk off towards the headquarters building.

SKIDMORE

The instructor said I didn’t have a feel for the airplane and that he didn’t think I would make a good pilot with any amount of flying time.

Bud waits outside the Majors office for Chuck to reappear from his meeting.

SKIDMORE

Scene: From the look on Chucks face Bud knows he didn’t make it.

Bud, Looks like you will be going on without me, the Major said based on the instructors remarks, he would not overrule him. I need to go over to the administration office and get my Honorable discharge papers and travel voucher for my train ride home.

HAMER

Let’s go clean up and get some dinner.

The mess hall that evening: SKIDMORE

I can’t imagine why we didn’t pass paths at some time, were you at the football game when Columbus high school beat Parsons 36 to 0 and they had the big fight at the end of the game.

Bud laughs…

HAMER

I played in that game that was a tuff loss, Columbus had a really good team. I ended up under the pile with someone standing on my head during the fight.

SKIDMORE

Bud have you received your orders?

HAMER

They were posted on the bulletin board today, I am to report to Sheppard Air Force base in Texas in 5 days for advanced Multi-engine training. I will miss you Skids, let’s try and stay in touch.

__________________________________________________________________________

The next morning Chucks has his luggage in hand and makes his good byes to his friend Bud and boards the bus for the train station and the long train trip back home and an uncertain future.

SKIDMORE

Bud you have been a good friend, I hope things turn out for you Ok.

HAMER

You take care yourself you hear.

Little did Chuck ever think that in 5 weeks he would re-enlist in the Army Air force for the 2^nd time in a year as a bombardier cadet with the start of World War II.

______________________________________________________________________________Chuck would be destine to cross paths with his friend Bud Hamer again in Sept 16, 1944 for the invasion of Holland mission .

. EXT, WESTERN UNION OFFICE - TELEGRAM - DAY

CHUCK

Dad, washed out of flying cadet training,

Arrive Columbus Kansas by train

November 6, 7am, love Chuck

On December 7, 1941 Chuck was home in Columbus Kansas, when Japan bombed Pearl Harbor-

On December 30, Chuck would enlist in the Army Air Corps for the second time at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, this time for bombardier training. He was ordered to the Air Crew Replacement Training Center at Ellington Field, Texas, for his initial training. His training continued there until February 24 1942, at which point he was transferred to Victorville Army Air Field, California, for advanced training. He began training there on February 28, 1942 as a member of an 80 man class. He failed to satisfactorily complete the course and was eliminated as a trainee. He was honorably discharged for the second time on April 25, 1942.

Shortly thereafter back at home in Columbus Kansas, he was working for his father at the daily newspaper and read a Associated Press wire about the Army needing Volunteers for the newly formed Air Force Glider Program , Charles immediately wired Washington DC, volunteering for the program.

On July 13, 1942, for the third time in a year Chuck enlisted in the Army Air Force at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, this time as a private. Eleven days later, on July 24, 1942, he was ordered to Sherman Field at Fort Leavenworth. He remained there until August 24, 1942 when he received movement orders transferring him to the Lockbourne Army Air Base, Ohio for pre-glider training.

On September 7, 1942, chuck and his classmates were relocated to the glider pilot student pool at Randolph Field, Texas. Chuck remained at Randolph until October 6, 1942 when orders finally came through transferring him to the 21^st AAF Glider Training detachment at Pittsburg Kansas, for pre-glider training, which was located a few miles from Chuck’s birthplace Columbus.

Chuck received 30 hours of pre-glider training at Pittsburg, completing his flying requirements on November 2, 1942. Chuck continued with another 40 hours of elementary flight training and 15 hours of dead stick day and night landings. Chucks class was held at Pittsburg until December 28, 1942 because there no openings in a basic training school. To pass the time the students were given close order drill, daily calisthenics and classroom instructions in military discipline and hygiene.

On January 3, 1942 chucks detachment received orders transferring them to Vinita Oklahoma, assigning them to the 27^th AAF Glider Training Detachment. The following day they were assigned to Class 43-3. Because no military facilities were available the students were billeted in the courthouse annex in town, a single story brick building that had been converted into an open bay barracks to accommodate 200 students. The student’s mess hall was a converted café in town. On January 4, 1943 Chuck and his classmates were promoted to staff sergeant, which helped their morale considerably.

(CONTINUED)

Day 1 Glider Training – Burke Flying Service – Vinita Oklahoma .

( Basic glider training at Vinita was conducted by Burke Flying

Service under contract to the Army Air Force. Ironically the airfield

Was located next to an insane asylum, a coincidence that elicited a

Chuckle from the students. Glider students at Vinita received 30 hours

Of flight training in the Frankfort TG-1A, a civilian glider known as

The “Cinema II”, and the three-place military TG-5, an Aeronca

Defender that had been converted into a glider. Flight training took

Place at the airport, 3 miles north of the town. Chuck recorded

4 hours and 13 minutes in the TG-1a and 25 hours and 56 minutes

In the TG-5 while at Vinita. He successfully completed the flying

And ground school training on February 3, 1943. Four days later

on February 7, he and his classmates were off to South Plains Army

Flying School at Lubbock, Texas, for advanced glider training.)

. EXT. Day training class arrive on the bus

NEXT, men line up outside the bus for formation.

CHUCK

Hi my names CHUCK, what’s yours?

JOE

I’m Joe ……Wonder where the gliders are?

CHUCK

That’s them over there.

JOE

(Laughing) that’s nice, but those don’t have engines in them….

CHUCK

What do you think a glider is?

JOE

We take off and fly to the battle,

then we turn off the engine

and glide in and land so

they don’t hear us..

CHUCK

Where are you from, you volunteered and you

didn’t know what you were going to be flying? (CONTINUED)

. JOE .

I am from West Virginia, Valley of the

4 Rivers, Franklin County ……but how do we get off

The ground.

CHUCK

They attach a nylon rope and another plane

Pulls us off the ground and in the air.

JOE

Smiling…..another plane …with a big engine….

Is going to pull the glider up.

CHUCK

Yes, won’t it be exciting.

JOE

Do we have guns on the plane,

to shoot at the enemy?

CHUCK

No, but maybe you can use your 45 sidearm

And shoot at them out the window.

The good news is, we do get a Parachute,

But I have heard that no

One has ever made it out of a glider and

Have the chute open before

You would hit the ground.

JOE

(Has a worried look on his face as they come to attention)

(While Chuck was at Vinita it was not uncommon for Gliders to be released

Prematurely because of broken tow lines. When this occurred the

Student pilot simply looked for an open field large enough

To accommodate the glider and landed there. On this day

While waiting his turn to fly, Chuck noticed one of his

Classmates being towed off on a sole flight. The flight was brief

Because hardly had the Glider become airborne than

The tow rope broke. Because of the low altitude the pilot

Could only continue straight ahead and land, which in this case

Was on the grounds of the insane asylum

(CONTINUED)

3 weeks into glider training – .

EXT. OPEN FIELD DAY student glider practice session

CHUCK

Who is flying?

SSgt STUDENT PILOT

I think its Joe’s turn

(The glider is yanked off the grassy field and into the air.

Then a load POP, the tow line has broken. The glider disappears beyond the trees. )

GLIDER – JOE and co-pilot

JOE

Oh no, the tow line has snapped,

look for a place to land… fast.

C0-Pilot

Watch the air speed.

JOE

I see a spot straight ahead.

C0-Pilot

Watch out for the tree tops…. There I see an open

Area straight ahead. Watch it, were going to

Hit the trees.

(The Glider skims the tree tops and heads for a empty grassy area on the grounds of a

large white building-The Oklahoma State Insane Asylum, coming to a stop just short of hitting a elderly man sitting on a bench, - The man is dressed in a white gown reading a newspaper and causally turns around to see the front of the glider 2 feet from his bench, he gets up and looks at the pilots through the cockpit window and smiles. As the pilot gets out of the gilder to check for damage the elderly man in the white gown is looking the glider over wing tip to wing tip.)

EXT. - Asylum front yard – Day

ELDERLY MAN

Where is your engine?

JOE

The planes I fly don’t have engines.

(CONTINUED)

ELDERLY MAN

ELDERLY MAN (CONTINUED)

. (Motions towards two hospital staff members) .

I have another one for you….Come on in Brother….

(On April 1, 1943 chuck was assigned to Class 43-8 and the next day began

Advanced flight training in the big 15-place Waco CG-4A glider. He

logged 48 minutes on his first flight with an instructor. Gliders at

Lubbock were towed by twin-engine Lockheed C-60 Lodestars.

Chuck completed his flight and classroom training on April 27, 1943,

Having logged a total of almost 16 hours and 22 landings in the CG-4A,

almost half of it as first pilot. He was discharged as a Staff Sergeant on April 29

for the purpose of accepting an appointment as Flight Officer on April 30, 1943.

The Flight officer rank was new in the Army Air Corps, and was the equivalent to a junior

Grade warrant officer. The pay was the same as a second lieutenant, with an 20%

pay for overseas duty. The insignia of rank was an oval bar, the top surface of which

was Bristol blue with a gold border around the edges and across the center of the bar.

Flight Officers were addressed as “Mister” rather than by their rank. Of Course,

Glider pilots also received hazardous duty pay, i.e., flight pay, which amounted to

50% of one’s base pay.

Chuck looked resplendent in his officer’s pinks and greens on graduation day. He

was in high spirits as he marched across the stage in the base theater, saluted the

School commander, and was presented with his sterling silver glider wings. He

Was now officially a glider pilot, a member of a very unique group of fliers, and

proud of it. Paragraph 59 of Personnel Orders No. 7, dated April 14, 1943, officially

Rated him a glider pilot, effective April 30, 1943, and Paragraph 60 of the same

Order required him to participate in regular and frequent flights upon entry into

active duty. From that date forward, when someone ask him what the “G” in his

wings stood for, he usually answered, “Guts.”

On April 30, 1943, special orders were issued transferring the newly promoted Flight

Officer to Louisville, Kentucky, with the assignment to the 27^th Base Headquarters

And Air Base Squadron at Bowman Field. Officially, the base was known as the

Glider Pilot Combat Training unit (GPCTU), but unofficially it was called the “Home

of the Winged Commandos.” Chuck would undergo additional flight training at

Bowman and would be introduced for the first time to ground combat training.

Because of the lack of CG-4A gliders for tactical training it was necessary for glider

Pilots to train in light aircraft. Chucks first flight at Bowman was on May 11, 1943 in an

Aeronca L-3C in which he logged three hours, half of it as first pilot. Dead stick spot

Landings were practiced regularly, frequently over two sets of 50-foot barriers placed

Close together to teach glider pilots the technique of short field landings. The object

Was to just clear the first barrier, land the glider, and stop it before reaching the second

Barrier. When glider pilots weren’t flying they were taking 20 mile hikes with full field

Packs, practicing hand-to-hand combat and learning ground fighting tactics.)

(CONTINUED)

NOTE**** 1943 June Chuck actually meets Norma at the Fountain Ferry park when

She is roller skating with her best friend, chuck is on a pass from his ww2 glider pilots

Training at Bowman field.

. EXT. American Legion Hall Dance - Night JUNE 1, 1943 .

( Chuck meets his soon to be wife Norma Lee)

. INT. NIGHT - In line American Legion Hall – Chuck and friend Leon

CHUCK

Leon, after a month of nothing, its

Wonderful to see so many girls in

One place isn’t it?

LEON

Man, you got that right.

. INT Dance line

CHUCK

Excuse me, you too girls by your selves?

GIRLS

Yes we are….My name is Norma and this is Betty

CHUCK

My name is Chuck, this is my friend Leon.

Would you like to sit with us?

NORMA

Yes that would be nice, thank you

. INT Front Door

CHUCK

How much, I am paying for the girls.

. INT Table NORMA

Wow, the music is really good tonight.

CHUCK

Let’s dance

CHUCK

Leon, when you catch the waiter, order

us a round beers…Ok.

CHUCK

Norma did you come here often?

NORMA

I try to come every week end, but my (CONTINUED)

. NORMA (CONTINUED) .

Parents will only let me come if my

Girl friend is with me.

CHUCK

Where do you live?

NORMA

I live about 3 blocks away…..Tell me what do you

Do in the Army?

CHUCK

I am in the Army Air Corps, I am a glider pilot.

NORMA

What’s a glider?

CHUCK

It’s a plane without a motor in it.

NORMA

Laughing……That’s a line I haven’t

Ever heard…..that’s funny.

What do you really do?

CHUCK

I really fly a glider, we take men and supplies

In, sometime’s behind enemy lines.

NORMA

And how do you do this without a motor in your plane?

CHUCK

Another airplane pulls us off the ground and takes

Us to where we need to be and then I disconnect the

Tow line and we glide in, so the enemy doesn’t hear

Us, or we hope the enemy doesn’t hear us….

See this silver wing on my chest, with the big “G” that

Stands for Glider or some say it stands for Guts.

NORMA

Yes but isn’t that dangerous?

CHUCK

Yes it can be, that’s why it’s for volunteers only. (CONTINUED)

. CHUCK (CONTINUED) .

Besides its only dangerous if the enemy shoots at

me, and I try to land before they can see me.

That’s why they call us the “Silent Warriors”.

NORMA

You must be a brave person…..

CHUCK

Oh yes, very brave, handsome and strong……smiling…..

(The band is playing Glenn Miller music and the dance floor is over filling -

Over the next 8 weekends many spent at the Red Devil Tavern, just across from

Bowman Field or taking in a movie Chuck and Norma are always together and after a very

Short courtships are married on August 3, 1943. The couple set up housekeeping

at Norma’s Parents house in New Albany for the duration of Chucks training.)

. EXT - DAY

. INT. Cockpit

Chuck –Co Pilot and First Pilot Flight Officer McNally are on participating in a low level

Tactical training flight in a Aeronca L-3C aircraft. McNally who is flying the aircraft, strikes an auxiliary power line damaging the aircraft, the propeller, the landing gear and the engine, with the cockpit windscreen being broken. The accident review board determined that the

Accident was 100% pilot error, and was duly noted on McNally’s next performance report.

McNally

Chuck, check the map and see how much further we need

To go in this direction.

CHUCK

Looks like another 10 miles or so; it shows here, power lines

But I haven’t seen any, be sure and watch for them. What’s

Your altitude? The Capt said to stay about 500 feet.

McNally

Were at 200 feet

CHUCK

Pull up fast. (CONTINUED)

. McNally .

OhOh is that a power line? Hold on…..he powers up the engine as the plane skims the power line.

MvNALLY (CONTINUED)

And immediately starts down towards the ground.

CHUCK

Over there to the right, looks like a corn field.

(The aircraft engine sputters and the plane continues in

A steep dive, just leveling out as they land in the corn field,

Fortunately neither man was injured).

. Screne: EXT. DAY Bowman Field Louisville Kentucky

Captain

Addressing the men: this training flight will be a round robin flight from Bowman field to Lexington and back, if anyone has an engine problem and has to make an emergency landing, look for a field or road to land on and then call the base and report where you are. If anyone sees a plane leave the formation, report to me via the radio. Under no circumstances is anyone to leave the formation in case they see an accident, just report what you see. Is that understood: men….Yes Sir.

_________________________________________________________________________

Scene: We see the Bowman Field and the 30 - L2 planes on the grassy flight line preparing for takeoff, the planes receive the radio alert for takeoff sequence .

___________________________________________________________________________

September 10, 1943, this morning a flight of 30 - L2 Grasshopper single engine

light aircraft take off in trail.

On a round-robin flight to Lexington, Kentucky and return. It is listed on the

Training report as a simulated glider combat mission. Both legs of the flight

Will be flown at 700 feet. The Bowman to Lexington leg was uneventful, but

On the return flight tragedy strikes. During a left turn directly into the sun,

Two aircraft in the middle of the formation collide, doing major damage to

Both aircraft. The first aircraft went into a flat spin and crashed in the field

Below. The pilot died from blunt force trauma when the aircraft impacted the

Ground. The other pilot fared no better. He was able to exit the aircraft and

Pull his ripcord, but was too low to the ground for his main parachute to deploy.

He was killed instantly on impact with the ground. His aircraft crashed nearby

And burned. Chuck flying near the end of the formation sees the 2 planes

go down and immediately pulls back on the stick to gain altitude and instantly

sees a clear field he can land in just ahead.

As Chuck runs onto the adjacent field he sees another aircraft making a

Landing but suddenly it makes a violent pitch downward and crash into the

Ground, hitting a fence and then a ditch before coming to rest on its side. As

Chuck gets to the aircraft he sees two young men trying to get the pilot

Out. Also arriving are two other glider pilots that have landed to help. Chuck

Looks in the cockpit and realizes it’s his friend Spencer.

. Scene: INT FIELD DAY - DAMAGED AIRCRAFT , The aircraft motor has been ripped from its mounting And has been pushed back through the instrument panel and

is resting on the pilot (Leon Spencer) whose flight suit is soaked with leaking fuel.

. Aircraft Cockpit

CHUCK

Oh My God , Spencer can you hear me. (CONTINUED)

SPENCER .

(Unconscious and moaning)

CHUCK

Speaking to the two young men, (get back immediately, and

CHUCK (CONTINUED)

Get rid of those cigarettes. There is leaking fuel all over here

And the ground, you will start a fire and kill us all. )

GLIDER PILOT 1

We have got to get this engine off of him, hits burning him

And it’s going to catch this fuel on fire.

GLIDER PILOT 2

(Takes off his flight jacket) cover his legs so they don’t get

Burned and let’s rip the back of the seat off and use it

To lift the engine up so we can get him out.

CHUCK

(For the second time chuck tells the two men to move back

And put out the cigarettes.)

Hey I just told you two to get back and put out the cigarettes, NOW

CHUCK

Looks like his leg and arm are broken, be careful when you lift

The instrument panel up.

CHUCK

(Chuck looks up and around to see the two men still

Looking into the aircraft, he stands up,

and draws his 45 cal sidearm out and points it at the two men.)

CHUCK

You two back up real slow and don’t drop those

Cigarettes on the ground or I will shoot you

Both.

(The two men backed up slowly and then run away)

. DAY INT OPEN FIELD

(After thirty minutes or so they are able to get the engine off of Spencer, freeing his legs and arms and removing him from the aircraft still unconscious. He

Was placed on a blanket that someone had provided. Shortly thereafter a

Military ambulance carrying a doctor arrived from Bowman Field. The

Doctor examined Spencer, started a IV to prevent shock, and we help put him into the

. Ambulance for the trip back to the base hospital. Spencer’s .

Injuries included a brain concussion, and crushed right foot, lacerations

And puncture wounds all over his arms and legs, and abrasions galore. He

Remained semiconscious for two days, suffered partial amnesia and was

A patient for eleven months in three different military hospitals. He was placed

Back on flying status on August 5, 1944.

. EXT DAY BARRACKS

ORDERLY

Skidmore your to report to the

Base Commander’s Office Immediately.

The Sherriff is there, says you threaten to

Shoot 2 men yesterday.

. INT HQ OFFICE BASE COMMANDER

Sir reporting as ordered.

BASE COMMANDER

Flight Officer Skidmore these men say you

Threaten to shoot them yesterday, is

That true?

CHUCK

Yes Sir I did.

BASE COMMANDER

For what reasons?

CHUCK

During a flight training accident

yesterday, I landed my aircraft

and was helping get Flight Officer

Spencer out of his plane. These two men were

the first to arrive at the crash site, but when

I arrived they had cigarettes dangling

from their mouths. I immediately ask them

to put out the cigarettes

and to back up because of the fuel

leaking from the wings. A few

minutes later I ask them

a second time with no results.

My third request I drew my side

Arm and told them

to slowly move away or

I would shoot them. (CONTINUED)

. BASE COMMANDER .

Sherriff please get these two idiot’s out

of my office. It’s a good thing I

wasn’t there, because I would ask

them one time….then I would

of shot you both in the Ass.

Flight Officer Skidmore, you may

Return to your duties.

(Chuck completed his training at Bowman, now called the Glider Crew Training

Center, in Mid October 1943. On October21, the 1^st Troop Carrier Command

Issued orders assigning Chuck and 227 other Bowman Field graduates to the

38^th Troop Carrier Squadron at Camp Mackall in Hoffman, North Carolina.

Everyone departed the following day by rail, bus and private conveyance,

Each granted five days leave before reporting to their duty station on

October 29, 1943. Their reassignment orders specified that’s friends or

Relatives were prohibited from either accompanying or joining them at their

New base. Everyone was certain that upon completion of tactical training they

Would be headed overseas. Chucks wife, Norma, would remain at her parents

home during his absence. Foe the next several weeks Chuck underwent

intensive combat training, usually hauling glider troopers, airborne weaponry, or

vehicles of the 101^st Airborne Division from nearby Fort Bragg, North Carolina.

On November 26 1943, his combat training at Mackell completed, orders were

Issued transferring Chuck and a large contingent of glider pilots base there to the

439^th Troop Carrier Group temporally based at nearby Pope Field, North

Carolina. When Chuck reported to the 439^th he was assigned to the 91^st Troop Group

Squadron, which promptly divided the glider pilots into 50-man flights for training

Purposes. Chuck was assigned to flight “C”. Many of the C-47 pilots had little or

No experience towing gliders so they practiced day and night doing just that until

Mid-January when the Group began to prepare for overseas movement. Much of

their training at Pope Field was conducted at nearby Laurinburg-Maxton Army base,

North Carolina.

In early February, 1944 the air echelon of the 439^th was ordered to Baer Field, Fort

Wayne, Indiana, the aerial port of embarkation, arriving there on the 14^th of the

Month. The ground echelon would follow by ship to England. The advance parties

Of the 439^th and two of its squadrons, the 91^st and 92^nd, departed Bear Field in their

C47 transports on February 19, 1944. The remaining two squadrons, the 93^rd and

The 94^th, did not arrive at Balderton until March 6, 1944. The airdrome was located

2 miles south of Newark, England in the midlands. Chuck and the ground echelon

Of the 439^th TC Group and its four squadrons left New York aboard the U.S.S George

Washington, a converted 1930’s transport ship that was used to ship Bananas from South America to the United States but which was now an Army Troop carrier,

on February 28, 1944. After eleven days at sea Chuck was ready for dry land,

with the convoy changing course every 7 minutes because of the

threat of German submarines.

(Continued)

A. 17.

The ship arrived at Liverpool, England on March 10, 1944. From there they traveled

By rail to Balderton where they would remain until April 26, 1944. On that date

The group was relocated to the airdrome at Upottery, England.

After the Group arrived in the United Kingdom the training continued unabated

In preparation for the invasion of the continent. Several maneuvers were held

To further Hone the skills of the C-47 and glider pilots. About a month before the

D-Day invasion of Normandy, France the 439^th was relocated to Taunton in

Southern England.

May 1944 Southern England

Scene: London –Kings crossing train station London, G.P. Skidmore exits to the street level, lots of people of the street. He looks both ways and at a paper he has with directions. He walks to the corner and stops asking man selling flowers for directions to the Foleys book store…the man snipes back at him: “I don’t get paid to give direction to yanks “ and turns around quickly. Chucks continues on down the sidewalk and feels a tap on his shoulder.

Englishman with umbrella

Officer can I help you, please forgive his rudeness not all English people are like him. Where do you want to go?

Chuck

I am trying to find the Foleys book store.

Englishman

Ah yes, a very fine book store indeed, it’s on my way.

The two men walk away together chatting.

Englishman

I see you are an Army Glider Pilot.

Chuck

Yes Sir.

Englishman

That’s a very dangerous profession.

Chuck

Smiling, yes sir, but these days any military job can be dangerous for sure, some more than others.

They come to the end of the street and the Englishman points, one more block and it’s on the left, you can’t miss it.

They shake hands and part, Chuck continues on walking and sees the store sign.

Scene: Floyles book store, chuck looks around and sees no one behind the counter, so he walks by and into the first row of books.

Salesgirl

Good morning, may I help you.

Chuck turns around to see a young beautiful curly auburn/red headed girl smiling at him. Ahhh he forgets his train of thought and what is he looking for…

Chuck

Hummm yes, I am looking for a first edition the “Adventures of Robin Hood”

Salesgirl

What is it with you Americans, everybody ask for robin hood or king Author books.,

Chuck

Guess I always wanted to be Errol Flynn.

Salesgirl

Smiling, I have never met a Glider Pilot with a sword before, do you carry one with you?

Chuck

No I left it back at the base today, smiling. My name is Chuck Skidmore , What’s your name?

Salesgirl

I’m Mary Ann Archer, they shake hands, very nice to meet you. And where are you from Chuck Skidmore, American Glider Pilot?

Chuck

I am from Columbus Kansas, it’s a very small town.

Mary Archer

Kansas that would be in the Middle of the United States…correct.

Scene, large wall map with small pins in it.

Mary Archer

Not many pins in Kansas, show me where you live.

Chuck points out the town on the map, Oh that’s next to Oklahoma where the Indians live isn’t it. Chuck smiles and says they have a few Indians in Oklahoma.

Mary Archer

I was told that’s where all the Indians live

Chuck

No that’s not right, they live in many states.

Mary leaves Chuck to attending to other customers, Chuck watches her thru the book stands as she walks back and forth, thinking to himself, she must not weigh 100 lbs dripping wet and smiles. Chuck looks for a book he likes until she comes back to see how he is doing.

Chuck

Well I can’t decide, how about having some coffee with me to help with my pick?

Mary Ann

Isn’t your wife going to get mad if she finds out your asking out a book store sales girl? Lifting his hand with the wedding ring on it and starting to walk away when Chuck steps in front of her.

Chuck

Please… I am on a 24 hour pass, my first in 2 weeks….it’s just a cup of coffee.

Mary Ann

I get off in 2 hours, can you keep yourself busy until then?

Chuck

You bet your bottom dollar….

Mary Ann

What’s a Bottom Dollar?

Chuck

Its like,,, he thinks. If I only had 1 dollar left in the whole world and I made a bet with someone that I would be here in 2 win. then it’s like a sure thing…. I would win….. I am not going anywhere for any amount of money…

Mary Ann

She shakes her head, I think you made that up.

Scene: Chuck and Mary Ann walk into the Hotel dining room across the street and sit down.

Waitress

What can I get for you?

Chuck

One coffee and 1 tea

Waitress

I am sorry sir we are out of coffee , rations…

Chuck

Then 2 teas will be perfect.

Mary Ann

Where do you and your wife live?

Chuck

We lived mostly in Hotels while I was training. I haven’t been married for long.

Mary Ann

Should you not be asking young girls out for coffee then?

Chuck

Well to be honest when you think you might not come back from war you make decisions that you wouldn’t have ordinarily made and getting married was one of those.

Chucks looks down at the small teas cups and comments:

Chuck

Very small cups, this is my first hot tea, kinda of taste of hot water. Why don’t English people like ice in anything you drink?

Mary Ann

We don’t feel the need to have ice in everything we drink, it taste fine without it.

Chuck

I don’t know I am still trying to get used to drinking warm beer, they guy that guards the beer rations on base sure makes a lot of money on the side. After a hard day training you want an ice cold beer.

Mary Ann

What does your family do in Kansas?

Chuck

My dad is a newspaperman and a writer. He is editor of the town newspaper, and I helped him when I came home from college during the summers. My mother works for the town lawyer as his secretary and I have a little brother who is in air cadet training at the moment.

Mary Ann

What college do you attend?

Chuck

I went to Kansas University Home of the Jayhawks

Mary Ann

What is the world is Jayhawk?

Chuck

It’s a mighty bird

Mary Ann

Really…

Chuck

Chuck shows her his college ID card with the Jayhawk on the back.

Mary Ann

Laughing…it’s a bird with shoes….

Chuck

You see those spurs on his shoes, that’s for our sports opponent, if they get close he will stick them…

Mary Ann

Your funny… that’s not true. But I like him…..A Kansas Jayhawk . I will look in the book store and see if I can find a picture to put up next to your pin on the map.

Chuck

Are all the foleys salesgirls as beautiful as you?

Mary Ann

Mary Ann smiles but says nothing

Chuck

Let me get you more tea

Mary Ann

She says nothing, then smiles ….Ok…excuse me I need to call home so my mother isn’t worrying about me.

Mary Ann comes back from making her phone call

Chuck

Tell me about yourself

Mary Ann

I was born in London and lived here all my life. The book store hired me 2 years ago and I like working there a lot. I also have a little brother, who is 12, I pray that the war is over before he has to fight. My father was called up 2 years ago and we have only seen him once in that time. I worry about him every day and when the phone rings my heart shakes with fear that something has happened to him. My mother trys to not show it but I hear her crying sometimes at night. Are you stationed near London?

Chuck

No I am about an hour ½ train ride away, I usually get a day off every 2 weeks between glider training. Sometime sooner, because I am also the information officer for the squadron and have to come to London on official business.

Mary Ann

Tellme more about Kansas….tell me more about where you live…

Chuck

Are they Hazel Blue?

Mary Ann

What?

Chuck

You have the most beautiful blue eyes, they glow like the morning sun light against that pretty auburn-red hair

Mary Ann

She looks down at the table …I need to go, your married …I shouldn’t be here…I am sorry

Chuck

Don’t go

Marry Ann

She gets up and rushes out of the hotel with chuck rushing after her. He stops her as she runs for the bus stop,

Chuck

Will you please see me again?

Mary Ann

I can’t, I shouldn’t, they embrace, she gets on the bus and he watches as it leaves

Scene: The sirens go off and chuck looks to the sky and the search scanning the sky for German planes, people are running, he backs up into a doorway and hears an explosion and looks toward the direction the bus was going. He runs down to the next street corner and looks the bus is parked on the side of the street and its empty, Chuck looks for Mary Ann franticly but does not see or find her. Chuck stops a police man asking where the nearest shelters are, he runs until he finds the underground shelter sign and enters. People are crowded in all around, it’s very noisy, and you can still hears explosions above. He looks and looks as he walks down the long underground tunnel, he is worrying that something has happened to Mary Ann, then he sees her here holding a little boy on her lap, he calls her name and she runs to him, they embrace and kiss for the first time.

Scene: as they exit the bomb shelter with his arm around her shoulder they see the destruction from the bombs, injured people in the street and buildings on fire.

Mary Ann

I have to go now, please…let me go.

Chuck

Look I want to see you again….I should get time off in a week maybe. I will come to the store

Mary Ann

No….I don’t know what I want

Chuck

I tell you what, we will go on a picnic….somehow I will send word to you. I can spend the day telling you about my family, we had a famous indian fighter……he smiles at her and gently holds her face in his hands. He kissed her hands and then kisses her lips. They part hands and she walks away, stopping to turn around to say, “Good Bye Chuck” be careful.

The next week Chuck got word to her at the store to meet him the following Saturday at the main entrance to hyde park where he will be waiting. But that meeting will have to wait with the Invasion of France June 6, 1944.

Scene: On June 3, 1944 everyone was herded into barracks and

Hangars that were surrounded by barbed wire. Everyone knew that they would

Soon be facing the enemy. Finally, the day that every Allied soldier looked

Forward to had arrived. You could feel the tension in the air. Chuck would not fly

The D-Day mission on June 6, 1944, but would fly in glider trooper

Reinforcements of the 101^st Airborne Division the following day, D-Day + 1.

. EXT JUNE 7, 4:00 AM Awakened by CQ (charge of quarters

CHUCK

Let’s go guys, Mark, JC, Ken get up,

Let’s get to the chow hall while

The line is short and the

Food is hot, wonder what they

Are serving us for our

Last meal…..

MARK

I don’t care what it is as long

as I get Large portions.

. EXT 4:30 AM Mess Hall Line

CHUCK

I can smell fried Eggs….we haven’t

Had Eggs since we left the USA.

Look….Chocolate Cake, well

I would not of thought of

That combination….but it

Smells good doesn’t it.

. EXT 5:15 AM - Glider Pilots Briefing Room

Company Commander

Things got better last night, the Germans

Haven’t brought up their tanks yet and

And our units are holding their ground. (CONTINUED)

. COMPANY COMMANDER (CON’T) .

There is still a lot of confusion though,

Many of the paratroopers were dropped

In the wrong zones, so were not

Sure where everybody is located at.

Your mission is the same as always,

get your gliders to the assigned

Landing zones and unload your

Men and materials as quickly

As possible.

GLIDER PILOT

Sir; what do we do after we land

Our gliders,

Where do we go?

COMPANY COMMANDER

(A Brief period of silence)

I don’t know, I guess we never

Really thought of that.

(All glider pilot volunteers were told

When they enlisted that on

Combat missions the

Casualty rates were expected to

be 50%)

GLIDER PILOT

(“RUN LIKE HELL”)

Laughter from the group…….

COMPANY COMMANDER

Make it back to the coast

As best you can.

Also…. all the C-47 crews have

been told: The Glider Pilots will

will release when the pilot of

C-47 Leading the formation

Starts a gradual turn to the

Left to return to the coast.

“If any C-47 pilots cuts his

Glider off during an

Invasion without sufficient (CONTINUED)

. .

COMPANY COMMANDER (CON’T)

Reason, and there shouldn’t

Be any, he’d better keep on

Going because if he comes

Back here, I’ll be waiting for him”

God bless you all, it’s been a

Honor to be your commander.

. EXT 5:45 AM Flight Line

(A Long line of Gliders on the sides with a C-47

Aircraft moving onto the

Center of the runway ready

To hook up to the front glider.)

. INT - CHUCKS GLIDER – Paratroopers were already seated on both sides of the cabin

As Chuck and his Co-pilot – JC make it to their seats.

AIRBORNE LIEUTENANT

There’s no use of you too

Fastening on those

Parachutes because we’ll

Never let you use them.

CHUCK

Don’t worry Lieutenant we

Only bring them on board

To use them as seat cushions.

(Chuck drapes the shoulder

straps over the back of the seats)

A. INT. Glider Cockpit Day-Morning - (Approaching the Normandy Peninsula)

GLIDER IN BOUND OVER THE CHANNEL…..

________________________________________________________

Scene: aerial view of hundreds of aircraft flying over the English channel and you can see the fighters dropping there fuel drop tanks into the ocean as well and seeing hundreds of artillery shells hitting the ocean and some of the landing craft. Also you can see the battle ships, heavy cruisers and destroyers shelling the coast line above the landing zones inland.

_________________________________________________________

PILOT: P/V C 47 troop carrier entering low ceiling and toll rope starts to go down as the C 47 starts to descend to get to better visual conditions.

GLIDER Pilot:

James, looks like we’ll be dropping down to the tree tops…..leaving 500 feet to treetops it looks like. If we don’t break out soon, we have to return to base.

GLIDER CO PILOT:

Looks that way…….I’m starting to pick up some tree tops now….looks like we’ll level out at 100 feet……

GLIDER PILOT:

Really don’t like this, only gives us a minute to find our landing zone….

GLIDER CO PILOT:

If that that!

GLIDER PILOT P/V…..cloud cover start to lift and visibility increases….

GLIDER CO PILOT:

Well it’s clearing a little, someone up there is smiling on us…the toll rope is showing we are starting a climb.

GLIDER PILOT:

We’ll be getting our red light soon…….

2^nd Lt. makes his way up to the pilot……the Lt. appears to be uneasy with the current situation with the glider…..

2^nd LT:

We need to set down…we’ll be getting all shot up before we get down!!

PILOT:

We’ll start down when we get our green light, now go back with your troops!

2^nd LT:

I’m fine right here!

GLIDER PILOT:

Get back Lt. !

2^nd LT:

I’m staying, I’ll be alright!

The pilot looks at LT and expresses discuss……

GLIDER PILOTS P/V…….trees, farm fields shows the glider is climbing to a higher altitude…suddenly gun fire tracers start reaching up to the glider and the sound of bullets are heard hitting the gliders metal tubing.

GLIDER PILOT: Ok, there’s our green light, disconnect, here we go….

Glider makes a turn to the left, pilot seeing the C 47 making a right turn…….

CO PILOT: Airspeed, 130………

Glider levels off and making a steep descent…….and levels out just above tree level, then dips down to flare out just pass the trees.

GLIDER CO PILOT: Showing 110…….

Pilot pulls back on yoke,

GLIDER CO PILOT: Showing 90, 80

Glider shams down and is on wet grass and not slowing ….

Spoilers open….

GLIDER PILOT P/V……

Glider continues to reduce speed slowing with hegh row coming up…

Pilot pushed yolk forward to dig wheel into mud, the glider break up behind the pilot’s seat and wheel comes up and hits the Lt. between the legs and he give out a loud cry.

The glider digs in to the mud at the break and comes to a sudden stop.

GLIDER PILOT:

Ok, let’s get out of here…..

Pilot, copilot, and troops storms out the plane and hits the ground. Troops quickly disappear into the hedgerow…..

GLIDER PILOT:

Stay down, we’ll get shot…..

GLIDER Pilots PV…..

Shots being fired from various directions and from a far appears a small band of troops. As they come in closer, the troops are gun happy…

GLIDER PILOT:

American glider pilots, don’t shoot!

GLIDER CO PILOT:

Babe Routh, apple pie, don’t shoot!

Troops come running in and take a knee by the pilots……..

Trooper:

These Germans just moved into the area about an hour ago….what timing……

GLIDER PILOT:

I’ll say…..you know we got to get back to the beach area…any suggestions?

Trooper:

We’ll help you to get out of this area, then you’re on your own…let’s move…..

Pilots and troopers make their way along a hedge row and into another field.

Scene switches back to the C-47 departing the area under heavy gun fire……..

C 47 Pilot:

I’m going down low…no telling where the rest of the squadron is, damn that low ceiling, everyone one is scattered all over the area. Do you have a bearing to get us over the channel back to base?

C-47 makes turns away from gun fire tracers and takes a few rounds.

Another C-47 comes into view and is hit in the right engine by ground fire and a fire starts…pilots fights the fire,ie, fire bottle, turning off fuel , feathering prop…the plane flies for a while then takes a dive downwards and levels out, drops flaps,co pilot calls out airspeeds and crashes into flooded field….

CHUCK

(C-47 Pilot via Telephone from the Glider)

Anderson what’s making all

Those splashes?

ANDERSON

Those are P-51s dropping their

Tip tanks.

CHUCK

You’re a damn liar, (CONTINUED)

A. CHUCK (CON’T) .

There aren’t that many tip

Tanks in the whole Army

Air Force…..They must be German

Shells falling into the water.

. EXT Day - Glider landing zone, 1 1/2 Mile from St Mere Eglise

. INT Glider Cockpit

CHUCK

What’s are altitude?

C0-Pilot - JC

600 feet.

CHUCK

Cut us loose.

(the tow line is released and the glider turns

Into the landing zone)

CHUCK

There’s the field…

(Into chucks ear a loud voice is heard….BUSTER)

Chucks turns his head and shoulder for split second, then back concentrating on

Landing the glider.

Machine gun fire hits the glider passing thru the cockpit

Floor and stitching the wing to the tip.

CO-PILOT - JC

The Germans have flooded the field.

CHUCK

Hold on were going to hit hard.

(The glider lands in 3 feet of water

And quickly comes to a stop, the paratrooper’s

Exit immediately out the side door)

CO-PILOT - JC

Chuck are you hurt?

CHUCK

No, how about your?

CO-PILOT - JC

Look behind your seat….

(Behind chucks seatback is a line of bullet

Holes, just where his head was?)

You sure you OK? (CONTINUED)

CHUCK

Did you yell at me as

we cut loose from the C-47….

Calling me BUSTER.

CO-PILOT - JC

No, why?

CHUCK

BUSTER was a nickname

My grandfather called me.

If I hadn’t turned my head that

machine gun spray would

of taken my head off.

Guess my grandfather was

Looking out for me…..

Let’s get the hell out of here, fast.

. EXT DAY: Glider in the water -

NEXT Chuck and his Co-pilot quickly take off their flack

Jackets and rip a large hole in the fabric on the side of gilder and slide

Out into the water. About 12 feet away another glider is in the water

And the pilot is franticly looking for his co-pilot, seems he still

had his flak jacket when He went into the water and into a

deep hole. Only his hands were above the water, the pilot pulls

him up by the hair, as he spits out a mouth of dirty water. Bullets are flying

everywhere hitting the water and tearing up the side of the gilder.

CHUCK

Lets head for the edge row over there.

. Scene: We see chuck and his Co-pilot hitting the dirt next to 20 paratroopers

That are taking machine gun fire from a hidden bunker. After a hail of

Return rifle fire and a bazooka hit, the resistance stopped, then a

Single shot rang out from the bunker followed by laughter. Soon 12

Polish conscripts appeared waving a white flag. It seems they didn’t

Want To fight the Americans soldiers, so they shot the German

Sergeant that was in charge.

. EXT DAY - Farm House

PARATROOPER

In the house, anybody…come out

With your hands up.

AMERICAN SOLDIER

Don’t shoot; I am a Paratrooper, injured

I have a woman with me… (CONTINUED)

. INT. FARM HOUSE - DAY .

FRENCH GIRL

Hello Americans, this way…..

NEXT - BEDROOM AMERICAN SOLDIER

(Seems the paratrooper had jumped the night before

And had fractured his leg when he fell through the

Thatched roof of the farm house. The Young French

Was caring for him, so he just lay there waiting for

The war to come to him.)

. EXT Nightfall Chuck and his Co-pilot have left the Paratrooper and

Are headed back to the beach, when they decide to

Stop for the night.

CHUCK

Come on I see some people digging over there.

The two of them join the group in digging a spot

For the night to sleep in.

SERGEANT

Hey….. you two can’t dig in here.

CHUCK

Why not?

SERGEANT

Because we’re starting a temporary American

Cemetery here.

(That did it; they went elsewhere down the road

To a apple grove

At sunlight they hear people marching down the road

Ahead, Chuck takes off the safety on his Thompson Machine gun.

It’s some US Army Infantry moving up the line.

. EXT Side of the road - ( A group of soldiers yelling …. They have 6 SS German Soldiers

Lined up and are searching them, they want to know if they are from

St Mere Eglise, because they had found body’s of American

Paratroopers that had been shot before they reached the ground, many still

Hanging from trees and buildings around the town. Then American

. Cont’d .

Cigarettes and money are found on three of them. The American

Paratroopers immediately line them up and slit their throats

One by one. As the column of men marching by watched, no one stops

Or says a word, they just look ahead and move down the road.

CHUCK

Come on JC, let’s get going….

(Over the next 24 hours the two of them spend time

With a 105mm artillery crew, providing perimeter

Guard, and then with a communications outfit.)

. EXT DAY - 101^st Airborne Command post. – Captains Desk

CHUCK

-Salutes-

Sir, were Glider Pilots with the 439^th

Troop Group, were looking for

Pilots from our unit that

Might have passed here today.

CAPTAIN

Yes, some of them are here. I

Sent them next door to

Get a sandwich and something

To drink. Be sure to

Fill up your canteens, there is little

Fresh water in the area.

Your all being assigned to

Guard some German

Prisoners down at Omaha beach,

And then you will accompany them

On a (LST- Landing Ship Tank)

back to England. Report to the

Beach master.

CHUCK

Thank you Sir. – Salutes

. EXT DAY - OMAHA BEACH - BEACH MASTER

CHUCK

Salutes – Sir, We were sent down from the

101^st command post

. CHUCK (Cont’d) .

To help guard some German prisoners

and accompany them back to England.

BEACHMASTER

Ok, I need two of you to stay here

The rest of you spread out down

The barbed wire all the way

To the end. No one! is to

cross over or beyond that wire, if

they do, you shoot them, don’t kill

them just wing them, to let

the others know you mean

business, unless it’s one of

those SS Officer Bastards, then

you have my permission to

blow their Dam head off.

. EXT DAY - LCI (LANDING CRAFT,INFANTRY)

OFFICER

Ok we will take the first 50

on board out to the LST.

CHUCK

Ok, move up the first group.

Scene: (A Army Major steps up with a group of prisoners)

MAJOR

Can you take this group?

CHUCK

Salutes - Yes Sir, we have more LCI’s

On the way.

MAJOR

I will be needing all of your rifles

As you board.

(CONTINUED)

. .

CHUCK

Sir we have to turn in our

Weapons to Supply when

We get back to the Air field.

MAJOR

It doesn’t make sense to

take them with you when we

need them here. I will also

need all the extra ammo your

carrying.

(It made sense so we all surrendered our rifles,

And kept our 45 sidearms, However once we got

Back to our home base in England the Supply

Officer couldn’t see the wisdom of the

Whole thing and threatened to take

Action to make us pay for them, luckily

Our Commander vetoed that idea.)

. DAY ON BOARD – (LST) – JUST OFF THE SHORELINE

Sitting near Chucks LST is a Oil Tanker that takes

A Torpedo hit from a German E-Boat, The

Ship breaks apart and sinks within a few

Minutes. There is only one survivor

a man and his dog. A few moments later

We see a British Ground

Attack aircraft fire on and sink

The E-Boat, the GI’s on board,

Start clapping and yelling.

A. DAY -(LST) WATER RESCUE

Miraculously, the German commander of the E-Boat

Is recued by the LST: He has

A severe leg wound. Chuck helps carry him

to the operating table below deck where an

American medic tends to the wound.

When the medic wants to cut apart

The officer’s sealskin pants, he explodes

With anger, so Chuck and the medic

removed his pants which must of (CONTINUED)

A (Continued) .

Been dreadfully painful, but the German

Never uttered a sound and sat stoically

as the medic tended his wound.

. NIGHT - LST - MIDNIGHT MEAL

NAVY CORPSMAN

Handing out K-rations to the German prisoners

GERMAN MAJOR

NO, NO, says something in German.

NAVY CORPSMAN

Anybody know what’s wrong with this Kraut…..

GERMAN CORPORAL

The Major says he wants better food

WOUNDED ARMY SARGEANT

Corporal would you please tell the Major

That if he doesn’t eat our rations…

Myself and a few other men here

Will stuff them down his throat, cans and all.

. NIGHT - LST BELOW DECK

The LST was a mess; they had 1,200 German prisoners on

board and only 4 GI cans to serve as toilets. Among the 1,200

Were several officers who were pretty well subdued, except

For one Nazi storm trooper. This lieutenant insisted that

Every German prisoner passing by him give him the

Nazi salute. CHUCK finally got tired of seeing this

And told the Corporal to tell the Lieutenant

- without the preliminary Nazi Salute - that if

He, the Nazi, saluted one more time, he (Chuck)

Intended to emphasize his point with his Combat Knife……

And that was the end of the saluting.

. EXT DAY - British Port – Unloading Prisoners

BRITISH SOLDIER

How was it over there? (CONTINUED)

. CHUCK .

It was bad….I lost a lot

Of good friends this week.

Chuck takes a few steps and turns

around and looks towards

France……And Thanks God for

Surviving his first combat mission

Against the enemy.

(JULY 5 1944, IN ACCORDANCE WITH GENERAL ORDER 33, CHUCK

AND THE OTHER GLIDER PILOTS OF THE 439^TH TC GROUP WHO

FLEW THE NORMANDY MISSION WERE AWARDED THE AIR MEDAL

FOR MERITORIOUS SERVICE IN COMBAT AND A BRONZE

ARROWHEAD TO THE EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN

MEDAL FOR A COMBAT LANDING. )

THE MAGNIFICENT SPIRIT AND ENTHUSIASM DISPLAYED BY THESE

INDIVIDUALS COMBINED WITH SKILL, COURAGE AND DEVOTION

TO DUTY IS REFLECTED IN THEIR BRILLIANT OPERATION OF

UNARMED AND UNARMORED TROOP CARRIER AIRCRAFT AT

MINIMUM ALTIDUDES AND AIR SPEEDS, IN UNFAVORABLE

WEATHER CONDITIONS, OVER WATER, AND INTO THE FACE

OF VIGOROUS ENEMY OPPOSITION, WITH NO POSSIBILITY

OF EMPLOYING EVASIVE ACTION, TO SPEARHEAD THE

ALLIED INVASION OF THE CONTINENT AND TO SUPPORT AIR

AND GROUND FORCES IN THE CRITICAL PERIOD WHICH

FOLLOWED. THEIR RESPECTIVE DUTY ASSIGNMENTS

WERE PERFORMED IN SUCH AN ADMIRABLE MANNER AS

TO PRODUCE EXCEPTIONAL RESULTS IN THE GREATEST AND

MOST SUCCESFUL AIRBORNE OPERATION IN THE HISTORY

OF WORLD AVIATION.

SIGNED: GENERAL DWIGHT D. EISENHOWER – SUPREME

ALLIED COMMANDER

Scene: 1 week after D-Day at Foleys Bookstore

Chuck

Chuck enters the foyles book store and looks for Mary Ann, he sees her talking to a customer.

Mary Ann

She sees him and ask another salesperson to help . She motions Chuck to a row of books, grabbing his hand. I told you……I am glad you are , ….she stops and kisses Chuck. Please….

Chuck

chuck interrupts her ….can you get away for lunch……I brought you something, he holds up a large bag.

Mary Ann

She shakes her head no, she looks down……

Chuck

I guess I will have to eat these Ham sandwiches by myself

Mary Ann

She grabs Chucks arm and the bag, Ham, really a Ham sandwich….she smiles

Chuck

Lets see ahhh yes ham sandwich or yes I forgot about the orange, banana, ohoh what is this…

Mary Ann

Grabs the sack and opens it and pulls out a can…..pears, her mouth drops open her eyes widen ….then she looks around to see if anyone heard or saw her. How did you get this? (All of these items have been rationed for the last 2 years in England)

Chuck

Chuck turns and starts to walk out of the store, he hears her voice …

Mary Ann

She runs to him and whispers in his ear, I will meet you at the corner by the bus stop in 5 minutes.

Scene: Hyde Park London, they look for a secluded place to put down a blanket Mary Ann has brought.

Mary Ann

This looks good, she looks around

Chuck

What are you looking for, laughing

Mary Ann

If people saw what you had in this bag it would cause a riot, we would get mugged ….smiling

Mary Ann

How can you get food like this? Amazed look on her face

Chuck

I did a favor for the Officers mess hall 1^st sergeant and he gave me these…… As he is talking Mary Ann has pulled the paper wrapper of the sandwich and he devouring the ham sandwich, she quickly looks around as if someone is going to steal it from her. Chuck smiles watching her eat it.

Mary Ann

Aren’t you going to eat yours?

Chuck

Maybe, you might not be filled up with just one sandwich. Oh look you got something on your shirt, he points down at her shirt and as she looks down he thumbs her nose….saying Gottcha….she grabs him and kisses him. She laughs.

The 1 hour lunch break goes by fast and Mary Ann and Chuck walk back to the book store, with her holding his arm.

Over the next month Chuck would meet Mary Ann whenever he got a pass and finally he ask to meet her family, she said that she thought it was a bad idea, because he was married. He said that he would take off his wedding band.

Chuck

I will bring something for dinner?

Mary Ann

What some ham sandwiches?

Chuck

I can do better than that, do you like roast….some potatoes and carrots.

Mary Ann

Oh Chuck… we could get in a lot of trouble for that, how can you get Roast.

Chuck

Don’t you worry, just tell you mother, I have a surprise.

Mary Ann

I am worried, you are not stealing things are you?

Chuck

Laughing, you know better than that.

Mary Ann

It’s really ok.

The date arrives for chuck to bring a roast and fixing.

Scene: knock at the front door,…..door opens and it’s a young boy, hi my name is roger, you must be Flight Officer Skidmore.

Chuck

Yes that’s me indeed, he shakes hands with the young man and enters the house carrying a large bag.

Roger

The boy motions to Chuck….he whispers, do you really have a roast in your bag?

Scene: at the end of the hallway Chuck see Mary Ann and her mother standing arm and arm

Mary Ann

Mom, this is my friend flight Officer Chuck Skidmore

Mother

How do you do young man, it is nice to have you in my home. Even if you had to bring the dinner, she has a big smile on her face.

Chuck

Well Mrs. Archer….

I hope you can do something with these, he hands the large bag to her and she takes it to the kitchen with Mary Ann.

Roger and Chuck sit down in the small living room. Chuck hears them talking with excitement in the kitchen about how to cook the roast and fixings. Mary Ann ask him if he would like an English beer which he accepts. Roger spends the time asking Chuck about his D-Day mission. After a while Marry Ann and her mother come in to say the dinner will be ready soon, Mrs. Archer thanks me several times for the roast, and how long it has been since they had such a good meal.

Chuck

I have been sitting here smelling it, just them her mother shouts, oh no , Mrs. Thomas, she will report that we have roast. They look out the back window and sure enough, we can just see the eyes of someone looking through the fence.

Mrs. Archer

Roger go outside and burn the trash right now and blow the smoke over the fence.

Roger

Why Mom….

Mrs. Archer

Just make lots of smoke so no one will smell what we are about to eat.

Scene: We watch as the young boy starts the fire and then a ring at the front door.

Scene: Mrs. Archer answers the front door and it’s her neighbor Mrs. Thomas

Mrs. Archer

Hello Mrs. Thomas how are you today?

Mrs. Thomas

Do you smell beef cooking?

Mrs. Archer

Noooooo, why?

Mrs. Thomas

I guess I am dreaming it….looking thru and around the door.

Mom trying to block her view>

Mrs. Archer

Well thank you for coming over, Good day to you.

They close the door and watch her walk away but she turns and looks but a few times and sniffs the air. The 4 of them are laughing and enter the Kitchen where the fine dinner is awaiting them.

Scene: Grace is said before the start, blessing the food and hoping all is protected in the war.

Mrs Archer and Mary Ann portion out the meat and potatoes and carrots, Chuck is offered the gravy bowl which he uses and comments that his mother makes some fine gravy he misses. Chuck comments on the gravy in the mess hall, and how it’s brown and that’s about all you can say about it, they all laugh.

Mrs. Archer

I hope I can do better for you today.

Chuck

Kitchen Table, Chuck takes a bite of roast and gravy, they watch him…Oh….wow, Oh this is good, this is really good, more than good, it’s great, its outstanding. (they all smile) The roast is wonderful but they gravy, I have never had such good gravy, not even from my mother. What is it a secret receipt passed down from your family?

Mrs. Archer

You are too kind Chuck, but the secret ingredient is “Bisto Gray Mix” Mary Ann laughs.

Chuck

A gravy mix, why haven’t they sold this in the United States I wonder, someone could make a fortune from selling this. I am going to check on this when I get home.

Mrs Archer

Bisto gravy mix is a staple of English cooking, and has been around for a long time.

Chuck

Well the mix is good but your cooking is what makes it “perfecto”. Thank you for inviting me for a home cooked meal.

Mary Ann

Your welcome, but we should thank you. We haven’t had such good food in a very long time. You must of done a very big favor for the mess hall cook to get all of this.

Mrs Archer

What favor did you do for the cook?

Chuck

He is always looking for things to mail home to his wife, so I get things for him.

Scene: the dinner conversation turns to the American Indians as Chuck tells the story of his great great great great grandfather who fought the Indians in 1774 at the battle of Point Pleasant in West Virginia. At the dinners end Chuck is embraced by Mrs. Archer and good byes are said. Mary Ann walks Chuck down to the train station.

Chuck

Mary Ann Thank you for letting me come and meet your family. …..You are so beautiful. They kiss in front of the train stations as passengers by them by without any notice.

Mary Ann

What will happened with us?

Chuck

I don’t know, look at you,. You’re so stunning, why hasn’t someone married you?

Mary Ann

I guess not many keepers are book readers, she smiles. They hold each other.

Chuck

I have heard that we might be transferred to france, if that happens I will get word to you at the store.

Scene: the embrace for what will be the last long kiss. They don’t want to let go, but the sound of the train bell makes them release, looking back at each other as they walk away.

Scene: July 4, 1944 Headquarters 439^th Troop Carrier Group, Col. Young’s orderly desk:

Sir, here are your special orders, hands them to Chuck. They read as follows:

F/O Charles E. Skidmore Jr., Ac T 121 691 is placed on temp duty for Approx Three (3) days, WF o/a 4 July 44 to ALG A-83 for the purpose of delivering a government vehicle to: Lt. Col. Edward Newman 9^th AF Corps of Engineers HQ., Bristol England. Upon completion of temp duty O will return to proper orgn and ata. TDN by MT or Mil acft. 60-114 P 432-01-02-02-04-05-06-07-08 A 212/50425. Auth: TWX 50TCWN 561G, HQ, 50^th Tr Carr Wg. Dated 4 July 44
Travel directed is pursuant to authority contained in Ltr, Hq, European T of Opns, USA, dated 24 May 1944 By order of Col. Young

Signed Vincent E. Miller, Captain, Air Corps, Adjutant

Scene: Foleys Bookstore, Airman leaves a letter for Mary Ann from Charles: Be ready sitting on your door stoop Saturday morning 6am,I am picking you up with transportation and were spending the weekend out of town, be back Sunday night, Love Chuck

Saturday Morning: Chuck pulls up in front of Mary Anns house in the jeep, she has a surprised look on her face but also excited, she gets in and puts a cloth bag in the back.

Mary Ann

How did you get this and for the weekend?

Chuck

It’s a special duty order, I am delivering the jeep to a Lt. Col. in Bristol and I am going to show you a special place near there. It’s a small hamlet called Mayshill. You ever heard of it?

Mary Ann

No, but I have been to Bristol area and its pretty this time of year.

Chuck

When my group arrived in England we were stationed near there and I saw this small inn and pub one day when we flew over it doing glider exercises. It turned out to be a fantastic place, the Inn owner is a Mrs. Hughes, I call her my Georgia Peach because she was so good to all the Glider Pilots, and I pinched her arm one …I told her she tasted sweet like a Georgia peach and she laughed and the nickname stuck.

Scene: they make the 120 miles drive with one stop eating a lunch Mary Ann brought arriving in late afternoon at the Mayshill Inn. They park the jeep and enter the Inn, its crowded with English and American military men, but he soon see Mrs. Hughes in the crowd and calls her name….Hey “Georgia Peach”, she hears him and runs over to give him a hug and a kiss on the cheek.

Mrs. Hughes

Flight Officer Skidmore, how wonderful to see you again, I missed that smile.

Chuck

Mrs. Hughes I want to meet a good friend, Mary Ann Archer.

(Mary Ann and Mrs. Hughes Hug)

Mrs. Hughes

Chuck, she is a beauty….

Chuck

I know and (winks at her….) I found her in a book store, how about that…

Mrs. Hughes

I bet he ask you about Robin Hood didn’t he?

Mary Ann

Yes how did you know?

Mrs. Hughes

The first night he was in here he ask me if this was where Robin Hood was from, I thought he was making a joke but he wasn’t.

(They both laugh)

Chuck

Mrs. Hughes I hope you can put us up for the night.

Mrs. Hughes

You can stay with me tonight, my youngest son joined up and is training to be a RAF pilot, so you can have his room.

Chuck

You sure that’s ok, he gives her a hug and a kiss.

Mrs. Hughes

You Americans are sure a bunch of kissing bandits…

(Mary Ann shakes her head to agree)

Scene: Chuck and Mary Ann are lead outside by Mrs. Hughes to her house located near the Inn behind a large row of trees and enter a small room, it’s covered with small wooden airplanes hanging from the ceiling, which she finds interesting.

Mrs. Hughes

If you both need anything just come and find me.

(Chuck and Mary Ann thank her again for the nice accommodations)

Scene: the small bedroom,

Chuck has taken off his tie and shirt and drops them on the chair near the bed. He turns around to see Mary Ann taking off her shirt and skirt gently laying them on the vanity. She turns around he is standing in front of her. He puts his hand on her breast and can feel her heart beating rapidly, she unclasp her bra and lets it fall to the floor. They look into each other’s eyes and embrace for a long kiss. Chuck takes off his pants and socks while watching her finishing disrobing until they are both nude standing before each other. Chuck gently picks her up and lays her on the bed lying beside her, they kiss and he rolls over on top of her kissing her neck and lips, she grabs his back, we can see the red marks her fingers make as she holds him tighter and tighter , they kiss many more times . As they make love we hear her whimper and moan with pleasure many times. As the love making continues we see the sweat rolling off their bodies onto the bed sheets. They make love more than once that night, Eventually they both fall asleep in each other’s embrace waking up to the sounds of birds outside the window and the morning sunlight coming into the room.

Scene: the next morning they thank Mrs Hughes and say goodbye and drive into the city of Bristol where Chuck enters the front lobby of the 9^th HQ Corps of Engineers talking to the orderly at the front desk.

Chuck

I have a Jeep transfer for a Lt. Col Edward Newman, (he hands the orderly his orders)

Orderly

The Col was expecting the Jeep yesterday.

Chuck

I wasn’t given an exact time for delivery as it states on the order. I need you to sign both copies for delivery.

Orderly

Let’s go outside so I can take a look.

They both walk out into the courtyard area and view the jeep, where the orderly signs both copies and hands them to Chuck and says “Thank You Sir”

Chuck

Can you tell me how to get to the train station from here?

Orderly

Sure no Problem, just a sec….

(The Orderly Motions to a solider standing near.) Will you take this Officer and lady to the train station and (points his finger) and come straight back…..

Chuck

Thanks a lot for the ride. (Chuck helps Mary Ann into the back seat and he follows.)

Scene: The train ride back to London. Mary tells Chuck about her family and what life was like in London before the war. Chuck talks about his grandfather the mayor of the town he grew up in.

Scene: the train enters Victoria station and they get off walking outside hand in hand to get a cab to Mary Ann’s house. They arrive home and he tells the cabby to wait, Chuck walks Mary Ann to the front door: I had a wonderful time with you, I want to be with you all the time. Mary Ann has a sad look in her eyes.

Chuck

You know I really love you don’t you?

Mary Ann

How can that be, your married

Chuck

Tell me you love me too.

Mary Ann

I do love you Chuck, but I am confused.

Chuck

I love you so much, I will get word to you at the store when I can get leave, and he touches her check and kisses her

Scene: Training accident, 1944 Uppotery Air Field England:

After D-Day the Glider Pilots training continued on a daily basis and at a morning briefing, the Major said they were going to conduct some glider snatch exercises and wanted to know if anyone in the group had done it before. Chuck looked around and no one raised their hands so he raised his, his friend sitting next to him commented that he didn’t know he had done it before. Chuck smiled and said he hadn’t but always wanted to try it.

That afternoon on the air field the glider is prepared and the tow line attached to the poles waiting for the C-47 to snatch it.

Chucks sitting inside the hot glider waiting for the C-47 to take off and make its run to pick up his Glider. He watches as the C-47 makes his turn and lines up to grab the nylon tow rope. Chuck hears the sound of the engines at full throttle, and whoosh…. They miss the tow line and roar by about 20 feet off the ground.

Chuck watches as the C-47 makes another turn around for a 2^nd try….once again the C-47 roars towards the Glider and once again misses the tow line. We see Chucks face starting to sweat… dripping down on your flight suit.

As the C-47 fly’s off chuck is wondering if this was such a good idea to volunteer for.

From inside the glider we see Chuck starting to look at his controls and the tow lines outside. Chuck also see the support men outside running and yelling about something which starts his head turning in all directions wondering what is upsetting them. Chuck strains to see the C-47 coming in and once again sees the support men waving their arms up… up, the plane is coming in too low. Chucks grip of the glider wheel is tightening and his knuckles are red and sweat is dripping off his fingers. He hears the engines and this time sees the tow line snap upward, his eyes are on the line on the ground as it snaps upward and then he feels the powerful jerk as his glider is pulled down the field and into the air. Chuck pulls on the wheel and puts pressure on the rudders and the glider levels out. The glider is rising and level and then Chuck hears a loud snap, he sees the tow line coming back and it hits the front window of the glider, his eyes glance down at the altitude gauge and it shows 400 feet, then he sees his speed dropping and is way too slow so he put the glider into a steep dive and turns back towards the field hoping to make it back. As the seconds go by he sees the field with a row of trees at its edge he must get over. As he nears the row of trees he thinks it will be ok, but unfortunately his tow line is hanging down below him and as he flys over the row of tress, the line is hitting the branches and catches a few limbs, and causes the gliders speed to slow and the nose to drop….we see the glider pancake to the ground from about 75 feet crashing hard, the right wing breaks off. The men rush over to help, Chuck is hurt and shaken up. A piece of steel is sticking through his right foot. Chuck will spend the next 5 days in the hospital and another 4 weeks on temporary duty as the 439^th group Information Officer while his foot heals.

Scene: Chuck and Mary Ann will meet many times over the next 2 months renting bikes to ride around Hyde Park having more picnics and attending many movies and plays. Until Chuck calls her one day at the store that his group has orders to go to france and all leaves are cancelled and he can’t leave the base. Chuck will write Mary Ann many times while in france.

(Training continued at Upottery until September 1944

When the 439^th was alerted to move to Juvincourt, France

(ALG A-68) as the vanguard of the 50^th troop Carrier

Wing. The movement of equipment and personnel took

Several days, but the air echelon returned to England the

Following week to take part in the invasion of Holland

Scheduled to begin on September 17, 1944. (CONTINUED)

EXT. DAY OPERATION MARKET GARDEN

Scene: the day of Sept 16, 1944 pre Operation Market Garden, Chuck goes out to the flight line to inspect his Glider, he will be carrying a trailer with 800 pounds of land mines and 2 passengers. The mission will take 4 hours flight time to the landing zone.

Chucks flags down the Captain as he passes in a jeep:

SKIDMORE

Captain, who is my Co-Pilot for this mission?

CAPATAIN

The Captain smiles ….No you’re loaded with 800 pounds of land mines and the Colonel didn’t want to lose two pilots on this mission, you will be flying lone this trip.

As Chuck talks to the Captain about his flight he hears a familiar voice,

HAMER

Skids… is that you?

SKIDMORE

Chuck turns around to see his friend Bud Hamer, what in the world you doing here?

HAMER

I am pulling you into Holland buddy.

They embrace…

SKIDMORE

Congratulations on the promotion to 1^st Lt.

HAMER

Bud smiles…. Lots of hard work and kissing up to the major.

They both laugh….

HAMER

I am glad to see your still flying, I had heard that you got into the glider pilots program and I just missed seeing you when I was training at Sedalia Army Air Field in Missouri. I had heard you were down at Miami Oklahoma doing glider training, but by the time I got some leave your squadron had been sent to Bowman field in Kentucky.

_______________________________________________________________________

4 AM the morning of Sept 17, 1944 Operation Marker Garden.

The two meet in the morning for the squadron mission briefing.

GROUP COMMANDER

This will be a long flight today, around 4 hours but we need to get into Holland un detected, and the route will be over the North Sea and then back south into Holland. You all have your landing zones. I want to make it clear that if any of the C-47 pilots cut the gliders loose early or drop them way off target, because of flak …..You had just better keep flying and not return to the base because I will be waiting for you and a courts martial. This is an important mission, we need to get the re supply’s in before the Germans can make a counter attack.

Operation Market Garden: Chuck’s takeoff and landing position will be number 19 out of 22 gliders so he is concerned about finding a clear spot for his landing.

Mission take off:

Chuck arrives at his Glider for a per flight inspection of the glider and the equipment he will be carrying and his 2 passengers, a 6ft 2, burly airborne sergeant and another soldier.

As Chuck gets into the glider carrying his parachute, the army sergeant has a few words for him.

AIRBORNE SERGEANT

HEY!!! Don’t even think about putting on that parachute, you would never get out of this plane alone.

SKIDMORE

Chuck smiles, and replies back: I never wear it, I use it for a seat cushion

AIRBORNE SERGEANT

Oh,…. just wanted to make sure you understood you weren’t leaving us here if something happens.

SKIDMORE

No problem sergeant. Strap yourself in back there.

INT COCKPIT CHUCK

(Chuck is next in line for hookup, when someone

Appears climbing over the jeep and into

The co-pilots seat. In full combat dress

And carrying a Thompson Machine gun

is Warrant Officer Walter F. Domanski,

The assistant engineering officer of the

91^st TC squadron. )

CHUCK

What the hell you doing here?

DOMANSKI

Hi, got room for one more don’t you…..

CHUCK

Yes , but you’re not supposed to be here.

DOMANSKI

I am tired of missing all the action…… Big smile

CHUCK

What happens when the Colonel finds out

Your AWOL and on the way to Holland?

DOMANSKI

Well, guess he will send someone to

come and get me. But they have to

find me first.

HAMER

Plane to Glider intercom: Were next for takeoff, everything ok with you Chuck.

SKIDMORE

Yes, I am ready, try and give me a smooth ride over the north seas.

HAMER

Will do what I can to make it smooth for you and your load, don’t want any big bumps with your load of land mines.

SKIDMORE

I appreciate that, they both laugh.

________________________________________________________________________

Scene: aerial view of the 2 troop carrier groups ( over 100 aircraft and gliders) flying in formation over the north seas with chatter between the pilots and co-pilots in the C-47’s and Glider’s

________________________________________________________________________

2 hours into the mission, talking over the intercom system

SKIDMORE

Bud have you heard if the landing zone is still clear or has any Germans around it?

HAMER

The chatter on the radio is that it’s still clear for us, they are experiencing heavy flak in some landing zones but not ours so far.

SKIDMORE

What were those ships we flew over a while back?

HAMER

2 English cruisers on the way to Holland like us.

Scene: you can see the large formation of planes starting to get into a line for the landing zone.

HAMER

Chuck were about 10 miles from the landing zone, get ready.

Tracer bullets can be seen coming from the ground.

(Near the end of the 90 mile overland portion

of the flight the glider began to take machine gun

ground fire from a windmill, as the tracer

bullets came up it look like a fiery whip coming

Towards him. Chuck sees a few bullets hit the C-47 and he looks around the cockpit

In the back we see the 2 passengers quickly moving.

Note: For the two passengers in the back of the glider to communicate to each other they must yell to be held over the sound of the wind rushing over the gliders outer canvas skin and the shaking of the plywood seats and flooring.

SOLDIER

Sergeant a bullet just came thru the floor by my foot, look.

AIRBORNE SERGEANT

Are you hurt?

SOLDIER

No, but look at the hole….(he looks up and sees the exit hole the bullet made in the top of the

Glider and sunlight is coming in) the soldier turns and looks behind him at the glider structure

And has a very surprised look on his face.

AIRBOURNE SERGEANT

If that bullet had it this trailer, filled with all these land mines…. they wouldn’t have been able to find enough of us to bury.

SOLDIER

ahaaaa… Sergeant, look at this, the glider is made up from just piping joined together.

The Soldier takes his hand and rubs it on the heavy canvas covering the shell of the Glider.

SOLDIER

This feels like the stuff my pup tent was made of back home ….wow

The Sergeant also rubs the canvas siding and comments.

AIRBORNE SERGEANT

They makes these gliders cheap, only takes them about 1 hour to put them together.

SOLDIER

Really?

AIRBORNE SERGEANT

Looking at the young soldier…..You scared?

SOLDIER

Yes I am for sure…..

AIRBORNE SERGEANT

Well I am too, anyone that’s says different when going into battle is a liar. So don’t worry, You just do what I say and we both will be ok. When we land I will get out of the glider and you will stay in here and help push out the trailer.

SOLDIER

Ok.

AIRBORNE SERGEANT

Double check your gear and rifle,… we hear the bolt check from the soldier .

SKIDMORE

Buddy thanks for the ride over, seeya in a few days hopefully….you take care and have a safe trip back to England.

Scene: view from below of the 3 formations of C-47’s pulling the Gliders.

SKIDMORE

Look…. the Germans are shooting at

The column…….Just then the C-47 Tow plane

In front of Chucks glider takes a

direct hit in the right engine

and goes into a steep dive pulling

the glider down with him.

Scene: C-47 going down engine on fire, glider still in tow.

DOMANSKI

Oh my god, cut loose, cut loose…….

(He watches the two planes as they

Plummet towards the ground)

SKIDMORE

Do you see any parachutes?

Is anybody getting out?

DOMANSKI

No, Nobody got out…… I didn’t see any chutes.

SKIDMORE

I always knew you wouldn’t have enough

Time to get out of these gliders.

I guess that’s why we use these

Parachutes for cushions…..

HAMER

Chuck, Disconnect in 5,4,3,2,1

__________________________________________________________________________

Chuck pulls the cutoff handle and puts Glider goes into a steep dive turning to the left looking for a spot to land his Glider. It’s at that moment Chuck feels someone rapping on his helmet, its

One of his passengers, the burly airborne sergeant screaming:

AIRBORNE SERGEANT

What the Hell you doing…. Slow this S.O.B. Down!!!

Not able to fly the glider and fight off the sergeant at the same time, Chuck continues the look for a landing spot….its at this moment that chuck gets some help..

DOMANSKI

Resting his Thompson Machine gun on the

The sergeants shoulders …….

If you don’t get back in the back I’ll

Slow you down permanently.

AIRBORNE SERGEANT

Since the sergeant had left his weapon

In the back of the glider, and probably

Because he sensed that discretion was

The better part of valor, he beat a hasty

Retreat to the back of the glider.

SKIDMORE

Thanks, Walter…I wasn’t sure what I was going to do.

EXT LANDING ZONE HOLLAND 1:30PM

Chuck lands the glider with no injury’s to him or

The passengers, but the field he has landed in

Is overgrown with giant Beets, which have

Torn up the bottom of the glider.

Chuck helps unload the trailer and

A few minutes a jeep arrives to tow the

Trailer away.

SKIDMORE

Walter, good luck guy, you keep your

head down and your ass further down…..

they both make a forced smile, then shake hands.

DOMANSKI

So long Chuck, thanks for the free ride…….

Within 6 hours Domanski would take out 2 German machine gun nest and kill 2 Germans in hand to hand combat, and for this action he would be recommended for the Silver Star.

Chuck starts his trek back to the

coast and then to his base in England.

Walking most of the way and

Catching a ride when he can.

The end of the third day chucks finds

A burned out farm house and

. EXT FARM HOUSE (CONTINUED) .

A collapsed potato shed with some

Empty potato sacks, which he uses to cover

himself with for the night.

CHUCK

Daylight arrives and just as chuck is ready to leave,

Germans are arriving in a truck. His

Heart is beating so fast and the sweat is starting

To run down his face into his eyes.

He doesn’t move, there is a German officer

Giving orders, then he hears more trucks. Within

A few minutes later they move out back

on the road, going in the direction chuck has

just come from.

. EXT EMPTY ROAD

CHUCK

Sounds of a vehicle coming towards him

Very fast…..he get down in the ditch…..

Its a jeep with an American Infantryman

Driving, Chuck jumps up waving….

The jeep comes to comes to a screeching halt

Raising a small cloud of dust and dirt.

JEEP DRIVER

What the world you doing out here alone,

I was ready to shoot at you …jumping

Up like that. You alone?

CHUCK

Yes I am .

. EXT JEEP - DAY JEEP DRIVER

You know the Germans are right

Down the road! Get in here…

Man you are lucky, if you had missed me

You would have been dead or in a prison camp.

(CONTINUED

CHUCK

Yes, I had a close call with some

German trucks Early this morning.

(The jeep raises dirt and gravel as the

driver takes off down the road as fast

as he can go towards the coastal area

and the American and British lines.)

. EXT DAY - AIR CORPS AIRFIELD

The driver drops Chuck off at a temporary

Air evacuation Air Field.

CHUCK

Corporal, Thanks for stopping for me…….

JEEP DRIVER

Salutes…..Good Luck Sir…..

. EXT DAY - AIRFIELD OPERATIONS SHACK

CHUCK

Salutes….Sir I am with the 439^th glider

Group, can I catch a ride back to England?

MAJOR

Are you C-47 Rated?

CHUCK

Yes Sir, co-pilot.

MAJOR

Right outside, they are loading

some wounded, you tell Captain

Fleck, I sent you to fly Co-pilot this trip. (CONTINUED)

EXT DAY – C-47

CHUCK

Captain Fleck. I am flying Co-Pilot this trip.

CAPTAIN FLECK

Welcome aboard…..I heard it was bad for you

Glider pilots…..was it

CHUCK

Well…. I saw one glider go down, still

Attached to the C-47, and had another C-47

Fly just over my landing zone on fire….I could see

The Tail Number, I knew the Pilot, there were no survivors.

CAPTAIN FLECK

It should be an easy trip back….

Will you do the pre flight check,

And we will get out of here and have a beer

At the officers club in England

In a few hours.

. EXT DAY - C-47 TAKING OFF

FADE IN COCKPIT Pilots powers up engines

TAKE OFF FADE OUT

The next group Glider Mission will be for the Battle of the Bulge and a supply mission to Bastogne but chuck will not be chosen to fly on this mission. For the remainder of the war Chuck will remain in France his only contact with Mary Ann, writing her weekly letters. The group’s glider training will continue with weekly with C-47 tow practice. The final European Glider Mission will be the Rhine River Crossing March 24, 1945. Finally at the Wars end Chuck receives his orders to go back home via the ship General William Mitchell leaving from the port Cherbourg and the ship will not stop in England, Chuck is heartbroken, he will not get to say good bye he does not know what to say to his love….. He mails her a last letter and package arriving at the book store.

Scene: foleys bookstore closing hour:

Salesgirl

Mary Ann hurry up we will miss the bus, don’t forget your package from your American, Chuck, it was late arriving today in the post.

Mary Ann

Where, where is it frantically looking around?

Salesgirl

It’s on the back counter, Hurry….

Mary Ann

She sees the large package, grabs her jacket and the package, running out the front door. Running to catch the back of the bus and a seat next to her friend.

Scene: we see Mary Ann looking at the package and tearing off the wrapping, an envelope falls on her lap which she picks up and opens. Her eyes looking at the lines on the papers, reading as fast as she can. (My dearest love Mary Ann, by the time you get this I will be on my way home on the ship, my glider group is leaving from France and will not stop in England, I ask if they had a reason for this and was told they wanted to get the men home as fast as possible. The say God has a plan for all of us, but I don’t understand, why God would make it possible for us to meet and love and not stay together. When we were together, I thought how lucky I was to have you in my life. I don’t know what is in store for me when I get back home, but I thank god for allowing me to know and love you. Some young man is out there today not knowing just how lucky he is going to be, when he has you inter his life. Thank you my Lovely Mary Ann I will never forget you. Love Chuck…. P.S. you have asked me many times what favors I did to get the things I brought you, it seems my artistic sketching abilities are better than my flying. The mess hall cook has 4 kids and I did drawings of each of his children and a nice sketch of him and his wife to mail home. He was very appreciative made sure I had some things to bring to you.

Her fingers are crimping the edges of the letter, she looks out the window with great sadness in her eyes. She drops the letter and slowly opens the package, tears start coming down her cheeks. It’s a picture double frame: On one side is a pencil sketch of her smiling, she remembers Chuck took some photos of her at the park and this is a drawing from one of the photos, at the bottom it has Mary Ann Archer London 1944 and on the other side it’s a self-portrait of Chuck, signed Flight Officer Charles E. Skidmore 91 sqdn 439^th TCG London 1944. Her friend comments with excitement how wonderful the portraits are. Mary Ann looks out the bus window as the scene fades to the blue sky and the following script below rolls onto the screen:

-THE END-

(Continued)

Of the 6,750 Men who volunteered for the Army Air Corps Glider Program, at the war’s end only 3,000 would be going home to their families.

The Life Expectancy of Pilots in Combat was:

BOMBER PILOTS – 1 HR, 46 MIN

FIGHTER PILOTS – 19 MIN

GLIDER PILOTS – 17 SECONDS

As of January 2019

less than 35 World War II Combat Glider Pilots are still alive.

(CONTINUED)

Michael G Skidmore

Thursday, June 25, 2020

Tachikawa Air Base Japan Newspaper May 21, 1968

Monday, June 15, 2020

WW2 Glider Pilot Screen Play

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