Did you ever dream of being a pilot?

With Christmas just past, no doubt there are a lot of youngsters who are all excited about their brand-new bicycles.

Once they get the hang of riding, how many of them imagine that they\’re a cowboy (or cowgirl)? Or a race-car driver, or an airplane pilot? Maybe even a World War II fighter pilot?

If you can get past the off-color word \”bastard\”, there\’s a book about B-17 crews and their missions over enemy territory. Crewmen who survived all their required flights became members of The Lucky Bastard Club. 

Incidentally, if you happen to be a WWII buff, and come to visit New Orleans, your might want to include the D-Day Museum in your itinerary. It\’s been many years since my one visit there; but it was interesting. On display was a vehicle called a halftrack. It had regular tires in front; and bulldozer-like caterpillar treads in the rear. Now I know where General Halftrack comes from!

Getting back to bicycles, how many young \”fighter pilots\” on two wheels are aware that bicycles were used in war? It just goes to show how versatile the bicycle is. Come to think of it, now \”road warrior\” has another meaning!