UNITED STATES AfflY RECRUITING SERVICE May 25, 1942—— —KOIN 1G|45 P.M.

SOLDIERS OF _THE AIR

ANNCR: KOIN presents —  --------------------*—  —— Scldiors of the Air I

MUSIC; THEME "SECOND CONNECTICUT REGIMENT" (475) UP AND FADE TO BACKGROUND ANNCR: Young man, have you heard the thundering thousands vdnging across the skies to crush our enemies? Has your heart beat a little faster, a little prouder knowing that our air armada is topping the rising sun? Have you envied those young pilots with the gold bars on their shoulders, with courage in their hearts, and the controls of a fighter plane in their hands? Well, you can do what they have done: enlist in the Air Force, train eight months, — eight months in which you will be paid, fed, clothed, insured,— and then you can step out and do an intelligent job of fighting, Why, even if you are as young as eighteen, like Phil Raymond, the fellow who is just now walking down the hall at three twenty three Main Post Office, you can enlist* That tall fellow with Phil is Sergeant Joe Burns. Yes, you’re right. They're the two you read about in the newspapers,— Sergeant Joe Burns, home on a three day leave, and Phil Raymond, who never even considered enlisting until last night* Vihat happened last night? ViTell, (FADING) let’s get it as the boys tell it to Sergeant Harris-—

BILL: Well, Joe Burns I Sergeant Joe Burns, Am I glad to see you?

JOE: Thanks, Bill, I'm pretty happy being home a few days. (PAUSE) This

is is Phil Raymond—

BILL: How are you, Phil? Quite a splash you and Joe made in the headlines

this morning, How does it feel to be a hero?

PHIL: (BOYISHLY) Gosh, Sergeant Harris, I'm no hero. It was Joe here who

trapped those Nazi spies, honest it was,

BILL: (LAUGHING) Not from what the newspapers sai.d, They said you—

LIBRARY ASSOCIATION OF PORTLAND. W

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PHIL: (DOGGEDLY) They said what Joe—what Sergeant Burns told them—and he says —

JOE: (INTERRUPTING) Phil wants to enlist.

BILL: Well, now, that's fine. Here, take this application blank. (WITH EN- THUSIASM) The army can use a few more guys like you, Phil,

PHIL: Look, Joe. Can't you make Sergeant Harris see I'm just scared and not a hero? If I’m going to be a soldier, I want to be an honest onel

JOE: Take it easy, Phil. (PAUSE) I've been trying to explain that it doesn’t make any difference what a fellow was or has been, it's what he is now, what folks believe him to be, that he's got to live up to.

PHIL: But folks are believing something wonderful about me, and it isn't so.

BILL: Then make it so.

PHILL: (SERIOUSLY) Do you really think I could?

JOE: I know you could.

PHIL: I'll try, (PAUSE) You know, Sergeant Harris. I was sure a crazy kid, just yesterday, with nothing on my mind but eloping with—

JOE: (INTERRUPTING) Do you have to go into all this, Phil?

PHIL: I guess I do. I want Sergeant Harris to understand. (PAUSE) You see, I didn't havo enough to do. I got to hanging around Jake's Place and talking rd th Gerda Lachnor and the first thing I knew—well, I thought I was in love with her. And when I asked her to run away id th mo, she said she would. That is, she would if I could got Joo Burns to take us

) across the border in his plane. I ought to havo suspected something then, but— well, I know Joo was home on. leave and— I know I was crazy,

but I wont over to see him, and there he was out washing and polishing his plane. (FADING) So I walked over by the gas pump and——

JOE: (ENTHUSIASTICALLY) Moll, dog gone if it isn't Phil Raymond.

PHIL: Hi-ya, Joo.

JUL 2 7 1942

JOE: Come on over and help mo polish my crate. If I cun't use it I can at loast keep it clean and —

PHIL: Can’t use itl What do you moan, can't uso it? Horo, give mo one of those rags.

JOE; (CHEERFULLY) Nope. Can't use it. Not even on a throe day leave. All civilian pleasure pianos are grounded. Here's a rag, Hop to the polishing.

PHIL: I don't see any sense in polishing your plane if you can't take it up.

JOE: (LAUGHING) Can't fly, can't drink, can't got sugar----

PHIL; Can't, can't, can'tJ Isn't there anything a fellow can do now-a-days?

JOE: (PUFFING WITH EXERTION AS HE UiORKS) Sure, he can enlist in the amyl

PHIL: Sure, and get bumped off'. Go out in a blaze of glory I Well, as for me Gosh this piano is dirty’. As for me (PUFFING) I've got a coupl< of years to play around in yet. Give me another rag, will you?

JOE: Here, I'll tear you off a chunk of this—

SOUND: TEARING OF CLOTH

PHIL: What's the matter with this one, this long stringy—-Well, of all the fool things? What you got all these pieces tied together like a kite tail for? And a pebble in a handkerchief at the end?

SOUND: TEARING OF CLOTH

JOE: There you are, a deluxe polishing cloth, straight off the tail of pop's old night shirt.

PHIL: But what's this kite tail thing?

JOE: I couldn't find tho stick I used to have to measure the gas storage tank, the underground one. So, I just tore off some strips of cloth, tied 'em together and. tied the pebble on the end and dropped it dovzn. the intake pipe. Liko this--

SOUND: PEBBLE AGAINST PIPE

JOE: —and when I draw it up, it show's how much gas I got. Simple isn't-—-

- 4 -

Hoyi Got your cigarette away from that kite-tail.

PHIL: That strip laying on top of tlio ground wouldn't ignite the tank under-

ground, would it?

JOS: It's the furies, the gas, that would burn, that explode.

PHIL: O-kay, I'll bo careful. I don't want to blow myself up on my wedding

day.

JOE: Yfoddir.g dayl Are you crazy, Phil Raymond?

PHIL: Sure, I'm crazy. Crazy about Gerda Lachncr,

JOE: That big blonde down at Jakes? Why, she's old enough to be your-------

PHIL: (INDIGNANTLY) She's only twenty-four. And she's wonderful and—

JOE: (INTERRUPTING) And she's a phonoy if ever I saw one. Wouldn't sur-

prise me if sho was one of Hitler's spies',

PHIL: VJhy, you—

JOE: And that pig-hoadod brother of hers, that Fritz. What's ho do for a

living? All he does is drink beer and listen to what folks are saying and paste his oar to the radio, end then disappear for days. Who's he

working for?

PHIL: Well, if that's tho way you feel about it',

JOE: Aw, don't bo sore, Phil, but honest, you're crazy to third-: of marrying

that woman. Besides, your father would never consent.

PHIL: (BRAGGING A LI TILE) Oh, I got that fixed up all right. Dad's boon

howling about no enlisting in the Air Corps and when ho was busy I shoved a po.por under his nose and asked him to sign a ’'consent”, ho didl Nover even road it,

JOE: (ACCUSINGLY) You tricked your father I

PHIL: You figure it out, (PAUSE) Anyhow Gorda and I thought naybo you'd fly

us across tho border and—

JOE: (IN DISGUST) Hoy, givo mo that rag. I'll do my own polishing. I toll

you this is one plane that is grounded I

-5-

PHIL: (PLACATINGLY) O-Kay. 0-kay. Then Gerda and I will drive the sedan Here, take your dad’s old night shirt and shine up your plane for— for— Uncle. Sam. A lot of good it does him here in the hangar I

JOE: I reckon it will be useful when the time comes.

PHIL: Well, I’ll be jogging along. I'll drive by tonight when we leave. Maybe you’ll change your mind about Gerda and—

JOE: Not a chance I

PHIL: (FADING) Well, you might just ride along with us. We'll see—

SOUND: AUTOMOBILE FADING IN AT SUSTAINED RATE OF TRAVEL, THEN TO BG

GERDA: (SLIGHT GERMAN ACCENT) We’re almost there, Fritz.

PHIL: Gee whiz, Gerda, I don’t see why we had to bring Fritz. Who's eloping, us or him?

FRITZ: (DECIDED GERMAN ACCENT) Let me tel' him— with this—

PHIL: Don't shove me in the back!

FRITZ: (COLDLY) That's a gun, you young fool. And it is I who elopes. And you who will help me.

PHIL: Hey, you! Your can’t—

FRITZ: (DELIBERATELY.) You will discover I can! Drive to the side of th road and turn off your motor and lights.

SOUND: AUTOMOBILE COMING TO HALT, AND MOTOR CUT

FRITZ: Now, call to your friend at the plane and reassure him.

PHIL: I won't!

GERDA: A little more encouragement with the pistol, Fritz.

PHIL: But All right. All right. Quit shoving. (CALLING) Hey, Joe! Joe I

JOE: (AT DISTANCE AND CALLING) That you, Phil?

FRITZ: PHIL: (THREATENING BUT QUIET) Tell him you're out of gas. (CALLING) I'm out of gas. Can you spare me some?

JOE: (AT DISTANCE) I was saving it for the plan® but—

FRITZ: Come, Gerda. (PAUSE) Keep moving, young fool! And keep talking'.

JOE: (FADING IN) Who's with you, — Gerda? Hello, Gerda.

PHIL: And Fritz—

FRITZ: (THREATENING) Herr Lachner to you, swine I

JOE: Well,—nice friends you have, Phil,

FRITZ: It is enough that we trusted agents of the Fuerherl We do not concern ourselves with your likes or dislikes. (PAUSE) Take the pistol, fraulein, while I examine the cockpit--(FADING SLIGHTLY) It appears in good order, but—

JOE: (BITTERLY) You'll find the plane in perfect order, Herr Lachner. I have just finished tuning it up J More’s the pity.

FRITZ: (SLIGHTLY OFF MIKE) Now if you will ascend, fraulein—

PHIL: (FRANTICALLY) Don’t let her, Joel Stop them! They're spies I

JOE: Keep quiet, Phil.

FRITZ: (AS ABOVE) The petrol tank is empty. You will fill it.

PHIL;

FRITZ: And you too, grease monkey'.

JOE: (SUDDENLY COOPERATIVE) Sure, sure, we'll fill it. (WITH MEANING) Fill the tank, Phil. Spill in the gas. Spill it into the tank. Here, take the nozzle—

PHIL: (WHISPERING) Spill it? You mean—

JOE: I'll take the cap off

SOUND: METAL AGAINST METAL

JOE: Hey, you're spilling gas all over the wing. Take it easy—

PHIL: JOE: (WHISPERING) But you said spill it— Here, wipe the gas off with this kite - tail, this rag’

FRITZ: Faster, you two I The fraulein and I have a long journey to make.

JOE: Sure—sure! (WHISPERING) Drop the end of the kite tail, the pebble, into the tank on the wing, Phil. (LOUDER AS MOTOR IS STARTED) She's full to the briml (WHISPERING) And leave the •ap off—

- 7 -

SOUND; (BPX'JTING IN BELOW TALK) AIRPLANE MOTOR GUNNED FOR TAKE-OFF

JOE: (WHISPERING ON MIKE) Lot the rag tail hang free over the wing— all

twenty feet of it.

PHIL: (SUDDENLY EXCITED) I got itl And set fire to the tail. My lighter'.

It won't workl Yes,— ah— there it blazesL

SOUND: AIRPLANE TAKING OFF RIDING TO DISL1NCE

PHIL: (FALING) They're offJ Look at that tail burnt

JOE; (FADING IN) Match outl There she goes I

SOUND; EXPLOSION Id DISTANCE

PHIL: (BROKENLY) Oh, Joo, how awful I The plane blow up’. Can’t wo save—

*

JOE; (FIRMLY) No. It’s too late. (PAUSE) Vihat a blaze I (SADLY) My plane-

died fighting for Undo San.

PHIL: Can’t wo save anything?

JOE: Liston'. There’s a sironl Someone's soon the piano fall and turned

in the alarm*

SOUND; AT DISTANCE SIREN FADING IN BUT NOT TOO LOUD

JOE: (DEEPLY MOVED) My piano ny piano wont down fighting for ny country*

(PAUSE) That's how I want to go down, Phil—for ny country.

PHIL: (VERY SERIOUSLY) Joo,— Joo, that’s what I want too. Do you think I

could enlist?

JOE; Could you I Look, Phil. There'll be fire-wagons and reporters and

ambulances hero in a minute —

SOUND: SIREN UP LOUDER

JOE; did when the reporters get through with you, you'll be a hero and can

write your own ticket—

PHIL: I'll write my ticket, Joo, and on it, it's going to read, Phil Raymond,

Application for Enlistment in the United States Amyl

MUSIC: THEME UP AND OUT

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ANNCR: Young man, you too can write your own ticket in the United States

Amy if you are under twenty, You can choose the am or service you believe best suited to your talents,— infantry, cavalry, signal corps, engineers or Air Force. You will discover your chances for advancement particularly attractive in the Air.Force as an Aviation Cadet. Call at three twenty three Main Post Office or phone Atwater 6171 for infomation about service with the colors in the United States Amy. Your country needs you'. You need your country'. (PAUSE) Listen again next Monday night at ten forty-five over this station when you vdll again hear-------

SOUND TELEPHONIC BELL AND RECEIVER LIFTED FROM HOOK

BILL: -Amy Recruiting Service, Sergeant Harris speaking.

ANNCR: Next week KOIN will present another in this series of Soldiers of the Air. Tonight's program was written by Claire Warner Churchill of the Oregon Writers' Project of the Work Projects Administration, Harrison E, Devereaux, State Administrator, and produced by members of the Portland Civic Theatre. The cast included:

MUSIC: THEME UP .IND OUT

Library association Of Portland, or£