My Uncle Bob was a pilot over the Pacific in World War II. He was called to duty and wanted to take with him his Zenith radio in order to hear what was going on in the world no matter where he was. However, the pilot, navigator, and gunnery sergeant were told to take only their clothes and military equipment on their plane.
The navigator knew about Bob’s radio and took it completely apart, hiding a bolt here, a screw there, a piece of plastic under a part of the cabin’s interior, until all parts were out of sight.
As their plane flew toward its destination, one of the two motors was shot out. Bob flew the rest of the way with only one engine. When they neared Guam, Bob knew that with the one engine out, he could not safely turn and bank the plane in order to come in from the correct direction for landing. He had to fly straight onto the runway from the wrong direction.
Upon landing, the plane was instantly surrounded by soldiers, demanding why on earth he had not come in correctly. Bob replied that one engine had been shot out and that he could not safely turn the plane. The men on the ground looked at his engine and immediately told Bob, “Oh! You men go inside and have something to eat! We will take care of your plane.”
