T/SGT Orvil Lindsey
I saw a fort knocked out of its group,
Afire and in despair,
with Nazi fighters surrounding her,
As it flew alone back there.
The Messerschmitts came barreling through,
throwing a hail of lead
at the crippled Fort that wouldn't quit,
Though two of its engines were dead.
But a couple of props kept straining away,
and her guns were blazing too.
As she stayed in the air in that hell back there,
and fought, like Fortresses do.
Four times a fighter belched fire and smoke.
Four times a fighter went down.
As the Fortress kept on winging home,
and the nerve of the crew stayed sound.
But time after time the fighters came,
and attacked the lagging plane.
I knew she couldn't last for long,
and my heart was touched with pain.
Her gunners fought a bitter fight,
but now the guns were still.
And a fighter seeing the time was ripe,
came in to make the kill.
A stream of lead ripped into a tank,
and the Fort exploded in two.
And somewhere the angels prepared a place,
for a weary Fortress crew.
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