Above & Beyond
Above and Beyond: radio silence is a historical fiction account of an airman’s World War II
experience. While much focus is given to Generals and those who rise to glory in fierce battles, this story focuses on a select group of airmen. Those who flew in unarmored, unarmed aircraft behind enemy lines, over battles--to drop troops, supplies, and evacuate wounded. This story is based on my father’s flight records, his notes, and his stories. The events actually happened, but much of the personal detail is based on speculation and interpretation; the backdrop of war is historical.
Those who served in World War II grew up in the shadow of the great depression, many had nothing but their freedom. Freedom was enough to risk dying for, so they volunteered to go into the unknown to face the terrors of an enemy war machine fiercer than the world had ever known.
Our story revolves around the formation of the 60th Troop Carrier Group and drafting of the Douglas DC-3 into combat. The DC-3 proved very quickly to be a workhorse or flying mule and became designated in the military as a C-53. Orders soon came into Douglas to produce a military modified version, the C- 47 and C-47A. These troop transports and crews trained in the British Isles in preparation for the invasion of North Africa, Operation Torch. In North Africa the transport teams took quick training in the use of CG-4A “Waco” gliders. The combination of paratroop drops and gliders would be involved in Operation Husky, the invasion of Sicily.
The story moves on to the night missions into the mountains of Yugoslavia, where supply drops and night landings into torch-lit meadows took place.
This story follows the effects of these events and war in general on average service men and women. Real people serve, real families wait back home, war affects everyone, and it is our mission to document the sacrifices those who serve make. Never forget why we have what we have, why we are a free people.
Our current world was brought about by each individual participant, not just generals and politicians. There is more to history than dates and events, there are emotions, feelings, fear, love, and hate. Veterans will enjoy this story, as will WWII and history buffs. The viewpoint is from a young man who knew his share of hardship while growing up, as so many did during the Great Depression. It's a coming of age story in the sense that it covers major events of childhood until his return home after several years overseas.
The stories within this story are based from actual events, as told by my father. The bombing of London, singing in pubs, young couples in the midst of war, is all historical. A Sandy Creek, Penn Hills, Pittsburgh boy leaves the coal town and steel mills for the Army Air Corp and the great battles. He serves in London, in Africa, in Yugoslavia, and Italy.
The crews of the C-53s named their aircraft and loved their fellow crewmen. Beach City Baby in Franklin PA is a restoration of a C-53 aircraft used in war, complete with re-enactors. A plaque at the radio operator's seat commemmorates my father's service.