June 5th, 1944
Upottery, Airfield
D-Day had to be the worst day for me really since I knew I was going to fly that night.
I could feel it.
The rest of the men were on edge, meeting up in their Company out on the airstrip as I was meeting with the other pilots, going over coordinates and where we are going to drop off the men in our planes. I had one-half of Easy in my own plane, whereas another British officer had the other half of Easy in his plane. I would rather have them all in my plane and know that they were under my care, but then again I was not going to go against the rules already since it was rare enough for me to be there as one of the sole female pilots. I remained professional about it when we were all meeting together in one of the conference tents that they set up for us since the sun was dying down slowly and we had to make haste with the weather.
"Drops are going to happen here, along here, and here as well," Our pilot commander was explained to us as we were huddled around one of the main tables with a map of Normandy spread out in front of us now, "We have the Yanks coming in along the beach there, so we need to make sure we get our men safely to their drop zones, understand?" He asked all of us now as we were standing there in out combat gear.
"Yes, sir." we all replied to him.
"Good, head out to your planes and get ready to fly our boys out to battle. May God be with you all." He said to all of us, then saluting us as we returned the gesture. Most of them were excited about flying out now onto the eve of battle, others looked more hesitant and reserved. I didn't know I was fitting in that category to be honest. It was still surreal for me to think about it, even with me being in my jumpsuit and my equipment was prepped and ready to go. All I had to do was fly a plane and make sure my boys weren't going to die.
That was what I was there for, Right?
I walked out of the ten and along the top of the airstrip, seeing companies talking to each other and checking their equipment on one another as I was trying to find Easy Company and see if they were ready. I was still trying to make sure I was going to be okay, flying for the first time into the real battle, was I going to make it alright? I had to, I had to try and get in and out alive and in one piece. Since I was one of the only sole females that as going to be flying one of these planes, there was more at stake with me since I was pretty much representing the WASP part of the Air Force, and America for be honest. That was a lot to put on my shoulders, a bit too much for anyone.
"O'Malley, we need to talk for a second." I looked behind me to see the officer coming over to me with a pep in his step and a stern look on his face.
"Yes, sir?" I asked as he approached me now, standing in front of me.
"The commanders and other officers are a bit more concerned about flying our boys over the drop zones." He explained to me now, having me nod in agreement since I knew this kind to talk was coming.
"I understand, sir." I agreed, seeing him sigh and scratch the back of his head.
"I was told to explain to you the protocol for you if you were ever caught and capture by the enemy." I froze in my spot there, not even considering that part of this whole situation. To be a female in the army was already a rare thing, but a female pilots, flying in enemy territory, could mean serious trouble if I wasn't careful.
"They think it's best for you to try and dress as close to a male as humanly possible in order to not be seen by the enemy and not become a Prisoner Of war. It's better for you to hide that you are a female in this war when it comes to combat than anything." He explained to me calmly now, having me drink in that piece of information. If my life was going to be at risk because I was a female flying a plane, then I would have to be far more careful than I was before. It was going to be a pain to hide that I was, in fact, a woman, but then again I would rather live and go home than die at the hands o Germans, or worse.
"Yes, sir." I replied to him, seeing him smile and nod his head.
"Glad to know you're on the same page, O' Malley." He said to me now with the smile back on his face, "Have a safe flight, may God be with you." He saluted me and I saluted back, seeing him walk off now and having me grasp the straps that were on my chest now in worry. This was far riskier than I thought, and I somehow wished that I was just a driver up at that point. Not only would I be risking the lives of my Company men, but also my own life because of my gender. My life was no hanging in the balance far more delicately than it should have been before.
I started to walk again, back on the strip now as I finally saw some of the guys talking together and getting their own combat gear ready to go since they were all putt in airsickness pills in their mouths now. I smiled from seeing them, trying not to really think about the worst that could happen since I was more along the lines of being the hopeful optimist than a Debbie downer.
"Adaline." My name was called, having me notice that voice now as I turned to see George walking over to me now. He was in his own gear, ready for the jump now as they placed some grease on his face and his helmet was there to cover his floppy soft hair. I grinned at him, both of our gears were such a contrast then. My own hair was dutch braided back into a bun on the back of my head now though my bangs were small enough to hang loose in front of my eyes.
"You look ready to go there, Luz." I commented to him, wanting it to be light more than anything. He smiled at me, looking at me up and down and I could see something was bothering him about it. I didn't know what, and that was making me scared since he looked a bit sick in the stomach from just looking at me.
"Same to do, almost like they'd expect you to go out there and shoot up from Germans from the plane." He said to me now in almost a grimaced manner, having me sigh and shake my head. George was concerned about me, now it all made sense really.
"I'm just flying the plane, Luz. I promise, I won't be fighting today." I reassured him, taking another step over to him and feeling bad that I couldn't reach out to hold his hand. We were still out in the open, and the last thing I wanted to do was to no bring him comfort and peace about this.
"It's almost the same thing, you flyin' out to be where their planes will be, and I thought I had to bad by just jumping out of a plane and hoping to land on my ass." He replied back to me, having me smile at him and hope that would make him feel better.
"If you land of your ass, how are you gonna be able to fight the good fight?" I joked, seeing a small glimmer of hope back there on his face again. It was still not enough for him since he still looked a bit out of it really in how he was gazing at me in worry.
"Where are you gonna go after you drop us off?" He asked me now.
"I'm coming back here first, and then they'll gonna get me over to where you guys are as soon as you guys make it safe." I answered, seeing him eye me then.
"By plane or by car?" He questioned.
"Who knows, probably by plane. I do have my own wings, so I'll have to jump in as well as you guys."I explained, and it made me see that I hit a hard spot in his chest when I told him that, already having me hate myself for mentioning that there might be a possibility for me to jump out of the plane myself. I had to make sure he knew I was going to be okay, but not out in the open like this. So I grabbed his jacket sleeve, not wanting it to be his hand and have someone see us holding hands and think something odd about it.
I pulled him along to an isolated part of the airstrip where no one was, a small shaded area behind one of the bigger planes that were going to be used for supply raids. Once we were within the shadows and were no longer going to be seen by anyone out there since they were beyond too occupied getting ready for the big jump, I grasped his hand tightly within my own hand and I was about to say something to him to calm him. But he pressed his lips to my own, having me freeze within my spot as his other hand was pressing into my neck to hold me there. This was not the kind of kisses we would share in the past, this one had emotion and feeling behind it. He had to find a way to show his feelings for me, and I was not going to deny him what he wanted and what he needed to go.
Once he pulled away from me, I could see the pain in his eyes, thinking that this was going to be the very last time we would end up together, or at least for a short while. I didn't want to think that, but I could see it on his face that it was what was on his mind. That kiss alone gave me goosebumps, not only was his lips so soft, but they were fierce and stern against my own.
"I know this is going to be a shitty time to tell you this," George said to me now, out of breath and sounding a bit urgent, "But I was kind of hoping that you would be my girlfriend."
"You picked a great time to ask me something like that, you fool." I teased him, out of breath myself and seeing him give me a grin now and those pearly white teeth that he would show me when we would be together.
"Better late than ever, bit honestly though. I know I can be a bit of an idiot to deal with and a handful, but you should really know that you make me beyond happy." He explained to me, my grin was hurting my cheeks now since I was smiling so widely that I felt like I was floating on air from what he was telling me, "And maybe…who knows…I can take you out on a proper date."
"Since when do I want proper?" I asked him in almost a teasing manner.
"Since your deserve much more than I could ever give you." He replied, having me sigh and frame his face within my hands.
"I don't want to be with anyone else but with you, Luz." I reassured him in a loving tone now since he wasn't really acting like himself there in front of me before we were going to jump into the war that is going to change our lives forever.
I wanted this with him, this relationship that is good and true. We grew as friends throughout the past two years and had good moments with each other. I never really saw our relationship blossoming beyond that, yet he did. He was more confident in what we had than I was, and I felt bad for not seeing it right in front of me. I reached up to move the helmet out of his face to see him better, the grease on his face and his hair how visible again and it made me smile. I wonder how I fell head over heels for him and how this was making me feel beyond giddy to just being there with him. I only wanted to make sure I was going to take this slow, and hopefully George knew that too.
"How about I take you out on a real date as soon as we both make it past D-Day?" George suggested to me, having me smile at him and blush there was spread onto my cheeks. Of all places to blush and feel young again, it had to be now.
"I would like that." I replied back softly to him, feeling him take his helmet back from my within his hand to have my own hands free now. It sounded like a swell plan, the both of us going on a proper date and it already gave me butterfly within my stomach, "I haven't been on a date in years."
"Then I'll try not to disappoint." He said to me in almost a joking manner, and I took the initiative this time to kiss him on the lips. It was never a real bold thing for me to do in the first place, but once again George was bring it out in me and I had an idea how it really happened.
"You would never do such a thing, George Luz." I murmured against his lips as I moved away from him slightly. He was still holding me close, his hand on my waist and refusing to let me go as he sighed there and closed his eyes. I did too, never seeing him this vulnerable before. Was I was the reason for him to act like this?
"Please be careful, Adaline." He said to me, still sounding so soft and careful about it. He wanted me to make it out of this night alive, to make it through the next month or two. Hell, he wanted me to make it through the war. It killed me to see him act like this and over me, I never wanted that at all with George.
"Don't worry about me, I'm more concerned about you, Luz." I said to him as I felt his grip on my hip tighten when I said this.
"I'm a paratrooper, I can handle what happens to me." He said with a bit more boldness to his tone now as we looked eyes at each other again. I never wanted to have this kind of conversation with him since I knew it would be tearing him up inside.
"Then we're both on the same page," I said to him now, a small smile was on his face now and the spark was back there for me to see. I didn't want him to worry about me, nor did I want to worry about him. We had to make sure we both we going to be okay where we were with each other, "Look, the way I see it, we're both going to be at risk all the time because of this war. So we might as well get over the fact that we want to protect each other."
"Sounds easier said than done." He countered back to me now since I could see he knew where I was going with this.
"We can handle this," I reassured George now as we could hear the officers calling out to their men to get ready for the jump. George had to do and I had to get ready with my plane, both of us grimacing a but since we had no idea when we were going to see each other next.
"I have to go to my plane," I said to him, and yet his hold on me was not loosening a bit. I was hating letting him go as much as the next girlfriend that was seeing her boyfriend leave her. It was funny, calling George Luz my boyfriend now since it felt more secretive than anything. I knew it was going to be frowned upon with the others, from both from the Air Force and now with the army. Would we be I trouble if we let this keep going on? I had to be rational, but then again I had to be able to make the choice myself and live with what was going to happen next.
"I'll see you soon, I promise" I reassured George once more, knowing that he had to hear it from me instead of thinking that I was going to be okay.
"Okay," He replied back, and I knew we were going to have it leave it at that before it would get any worse. I kissed him once more, feeling him kiss me back before I moved away from him, feeling slip his hand from my waist as I started to walk, thinking it would be harder for us is we stay there for more moments. I didn't want to look back since it would feel like it was break my heart from seeing him one last time before this whole night would start.
I had to do my job. I had to be a pilot.
That night was the darkest night for me, sitting behind the controls of a plane that was carrying soldier towards their drop zone. The headgear was on, my fingers around the wheel, my feet planted on the ground and my hair was hidden. Since I had that talk with the officer, I had to hide the fact that I was a woman and to protect myself from the enemy if I was going to be caught. Clad in my jump gear and ready for anything, I was now in the pilot seat now and ready to send these boys out for war.
I had half the Easy men in my own plane now, and once we took off, no one was really saying a word or two about the whole thing. I even looked back while we were on the ground, seeing each one of the Easy boys getting on the plane with their plus pounds of equipment and struggling to sit down on the small bench they were going to be on for the few hours. I had Doc, Toye, Guarnere, Muck, Winters, Grant, and a couple of others. But I didn't see George, which pained me since I would have no idea if he was going to be okay or not.
"You're doing good with your flying, keep it level and go along the clouds there." Another pilot was with me, the both of us flying together now as I was seeing the big mass of clouds ahead. The plane ride itself was jumpy and rickety because of the wind and the pressure, and we could hear the bombs going off int he distances now as we were itching closer to the drop zone. The closer we got, the more in fear I was getting because of something that could go wrong with the drop. We were ready for anything that would come, and I was keeping a cool head with my flying.
"Oh, Shit." I looked ahead, seeing what was going to be a major problem: the battle in the air. The Germans saw our planes from the ground and now they were shooting at us, yet we had plenty of planes flying around now and soldiers were now dropping in their won DZ's. I felt the wheel steady as we could see the explosions going off around us, trying to hit us and get our plane down. I knew this was going to happen, but it was one thing to be prepped on it and another to live through it. It was a reminder that I was now in a fighter plane like before in Benning or now Aldbourne for training, but this was a huge plane that was just trying to get to the right spot for the men to jump out of.
My friends.
"We have another few minutes until we hit our DZ, do not lose this altitude or else we will be in big trouble." I pilot said to me now as I nodded and kept our plane in the right spot, yet it was easier said than done. The more I tried to keep it level, the less control I was getting on the plane alone and It was making the plane more rocky in the air. I looked over to the left through the window out into the open air, seeing one plane already hit and spiraling down to hit the field below in a cascade of fire and fuel. I didn't want that to be our plane, I wasn't going to let me be my plane. God, I hoped George was okay.
I had to be okay.
"If we don't get any higher we're not gonna make it," One of the other officers in the cockpit explained as I did see that we were lower than we should, all because of the bombs from below were shooting up in our direction. We only had one more minute until we are at the right spot to let the men jump, and yet it was harder now. The other pilot tapped me on the shoulder now, his single for me to slide the wheel over to him now for him to take control.
"Give me a try at it." He said to me, having me look at him in shock now as another bomb went off near us and the plane shook.
"You're doing good, nothing wrong with how you're flying." He reassured me now since it felt like I was giving him a dirty look for wanting him to take over the flying. Hell, it would be better for him to fly than me anyways. He took over, having me get up from the seat and almost lose my footing from the jolt of the plane and its movements as we were close to another bombing. I stayed behind him as he was flying the plane now as he looked at the area ahead, then seeing him reach up to flip the switch, the bulb behind us going red to indicate the paratroopers to get up and prep to get ready. I heard Winters now behind me, calling out the instructions and commands.
"Get ready! Stand up! Hook up! Equipment check! Sound off or equipment check!" He was yelling these things over the loud roar of the engine that was taking over the rest of the sounds along with the bombs and explosions.
"Oh god, the other plan is hit." My head shot over to where they were talking about. I could see the plane that they were looking at in horror now, the engine was on fire and it looked like big trouble for them now as I prayed that it was not one of our planes…please God. Don't let it be George.
"We gotta get some altitude." One of our pilots said in frustration.
"They can't jump at this speed!" It was about to be beyond chaotic now since we were going to fast and we were too low. Our men were not going to survive this, I could tell and it was giving me the worst fear.
"They have to go now or else we are going to be hit with them!" The first pilot said over the engine noise as he looked over at me now, nodding at me once. I knew that they had to jump too since this was the only shot they had to ever getting on the ground. I looked over at the other switch, flicking it with my fingers and seeing the bulb going green. They were about to jump it was time. I stayed still by the chair now as I looked behind me as the men were walking over to the edge of the opening, seeing the outside world from the plane and the wind was gushing through the plane now.
Winters was the first one to jump, having me watch in both horror and in fear as he was close tot he edge of the plane and he looked at me once. I could see the leader there in his face, and he was ready to take that leap. I didn't know what else to do at that moment but see him nod at me, showing that he knew what he was doing and I nodded back. I had no words for him, since I didn't think they were going to be enough words to tell him what I was beyond scared for him and the rest of the men that were leaping into the thing air.
He gave me a small smile before he jumped, and Doc was right behind him. He looked more hesitant like he was about to he sick from what was going on. God, he looked like a timid puppy there in front of me as he gave me a small smile before jumping out too. I was about see who was behind him when the plane shook, having me almost lose my footing and the slip my grip from the back of the seat that I was in. They were all going out, one by one and descending to the earth. When w as I going to see them again? Was that my only chance to say goodbye? Before I knew it, no one was left.
They were gone.
"O'Malley, get back in the seat, we're circling back to England before we can get in any more trouble!' I had no choice in the matter really since the rest of the men were already far gone now, maybe they already landed as I got my way back in my previous seat and we started to hook to the left to get out of the way of the firing and dodge the bullets.
"What about Easy? I'm assigned to them!" I said to him over the noise. Where was I going to end up? How was I going to find my way back now?
"We'll figure something out, just hang tight and hold onto something." He explained to me now as I was feeling worse about leaving the boys behind. I was somewhat safe within my plane, yet they were exposed out in the open without anyone aiding them.
We were flying back to England, and they were stuck in France.