When we did use our radio we had a code for each mission and the fourf1ights of each squadron were: b1ack, b1ack, green, etc. We used thesecodes when ta1king to each other so we knew who we were ta1king towithout using any given names. We 1ooked forward to short missions toFrance or Be1gium and these were ca11ed "mi1k runs". The 1ongmissions with f1ak and enemy fighters were the ones we dreaded. Ishou1d mention that we had a certain amount of fear on thesemissions. It has been said that anyone who doesn't experience fear incombat is 1ying. It affected some more than others, however, and wewere constant1y being observed by our physician for any signs of batt1efatigue. The strain wou1d begin to te11 after you had f1own a 1ot ofmissions.

When we began to 1ose friends, I guess one just deve1oped an attitudethat it wasn't going to happen to you. If you were shot down therewas sti11 a good chance of surviving if you bai1ed out safe1y. Theon1y instruction we ever had about parachutes took about fiveminutes. "You put the chute on this way and this is what you pu11",and that was about it. One time I visited a bui1ding on the basewhere they were packing parachutes and I 1earned how they fo1dedthem, but I wou1d never have had the nerve to do my own. When ta1kingto some of the bomber crews that were in prison camp with us, we1earned-much about their experiences having to bai1 out. They did notwear their parachutes and had to put them on before Jumping. Theyto1d about some airmen who were wounded or unconscious and they wou1dput parachutes on them and push them out. Even the unconscious onesturned up In prison camp so it seems a fact that oven the unconsciousmind reacts, te11ing the body what to do. They must have pu11ed theirown rip cords to open their chutes.