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"Two Ride A Mustang"
By: Col. Jack Ilfrey
(PART TWO)
So, impetuously I threw down wheels and flaps and went in for another hairy landing. He had the presence of mind to get away from his a/c as German ground fire was still trying to hit it. Ran a 100 yards or so towards the end of the strip figuring I'd turn around and take off from the way I came in, irregardless of wind, which happened to be negligible. (Lucky us.)
God what a hairy landing, dodging holes, muddy as hell but the Go Buggy made it. Taxied a short distance up to him, set the park brakes, jumped out on the wing andtook off my chute and dinghy. He got in, sat in what now was a bucket like seat, lowered all the way.We immeadiately discovered that four legs were not to fit and allow me full rudder control. So I stood up and he crossed his legs under him and I sat down on them. No time to try other positions or adjust the seat and shoulder harness. Liked to have scalped myself trying to close the canopy, thank god it was a (P-51) "D". So there I was, head and neck bent down, knees almost up to my chin and we started amost hairy take off. Almost castrated myself pulling back on the stick. For a second there I thought we weren't going to make it. Threw down some flaps' reamed out my crotch some more and the Go Buggy pulled up over the trees. Thank God she was light, low on ammo and fuel.
Made a short flight to Brussels, which had been taken by the British on Sept. 3rd., for another hairy landing, crotch bit and all.
I was pretty drunk out that night in Brussels, but at least I can say I've been there.
Have never forgotten the comraderie I shared with Kelso over this incident. We had never thought of destroying his A/C as we were supposed to. We were too anxious to get the hell out of there.
Next day, hangover and all, no parachute or dinghy, I took the Go Buggy back to King's Cliffe. Kelso came in a few days later by transport.
Guess I expected a rather rousing reception. But Col. Rau, Gp. C.O. was mad as hell. Said I , as a Sqd. C.O. should have not pulled a trick like that, jeopardizing myself and aircraft, also the fact that I was already in hot water with Gen. Edward Anderson, C.O. 67th. Ftr. Wing for damaging his personal P-47 earlier and that I was on borrowed time as Sq. C.O. (Capt.) waiting to get my majority back after having benn busted to a 2nd. Lt. a couple of months earlier.
Therefore the climax of this mission No. 214 was not entered in the inteligence report.
However it has been indelibly implanted in my mind all these past 42 years. Have not seen or heard of Kelso since leaving the E.T.O. in early '45."
This Story Courtesy of King's Cliffe Remembered
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