The L-19 Courier Run Experiment
by J. Charles Cheek (ASA Korea member)
Someone said, “Flying is hours, and hours, and hours of complete boredom,
interspersed with brief moments of stark terror!� I can personally attest to the
truthfulness of that statement. Here’s why.
For a time during the Korean War, I ran the message center and mailroom
at the headquarters of the 303rd Communications Reconnaissance Battalion.
One day the CO, Major "Head Honcho," had a brilliant idea for an experiment.
He decided that I should fly the mail and classified material to our Detachments
located in each Division on the front line. I was relieved when he informed me
that I would be riding in an L-19 airplane rather that being fired from a 155
howitzer. Major HH didn’t care much for me and later shipped me off to
Detachment #1 in lieu of a court-martial. But I digress, that’s another story
that I told in my novel “Stay Safe, Buddy.�
We landed at one airstrip that had boulders in the runway the size of cantaloupes
(OK, apples). The runway ended at the edge of a cliff along the Imjin River. The
pilot was a redheaded cocky devil-may-care fellow who delighted in scaring the
hell out of me. He would aim at the cliff then pop the L-19 airplane up at the last
few seconds and drop onto the runway.
Then he would taxi the airplane down the runway, turn around and pause briefly
while I exchanged packages with a man from the Detachment. He said we
couldn't stop long for fear of getting some Chinese artillery zeroed in on us. Then
he'd charge down the runway and drop over the edge of the cliff as we went
airborne.
He also liked to skim along the ground to give me a good view of the terrain then
pull up suddenly and hang the L-19 on its prop for awhile. Then he'd dive at the
ground and skim the surface again. Laughingly, he claimed these maneuvers
were necessary to avoid being shot at by infiltrators. After a few white-knuckle
flights I decided to "share" the scenic flying duty with rest of the men in Battalion
Headquarters and sold the idea to the Major Honcho.
Later, I just transferred up to (OK, ordered up to) the front and observed the
war from a bunker. I don't think it was any more dangerous than flying in the L-
19 with that wild red headed pilot and it paid much better - $50 a month extra
for combat pay.
ASA Korea Member, John Cheek, is a retired engineering manager who
mastered golf (Yeah, right!) then turned to writing. Hi novel “Stay
Safe, Buddy� is based on his experiences in the Army Security
Agency. Click here to view other writings by John and to obtain more
information on submitting your stories. Use your brower BACK feature
to return here.
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Hello Fellow Korean War Vet:
I too am a Korean War Veteran (Jan '53 - Mar '54). I told my story
based on my army experiences in a novel titled Stay Safe, Buddy. Now I'm
interested in your story. Here's why.
I'm trying to help keep this so called "Forgotten War" from being
forgotten. So, I'm gathering material for a book of short stories by the men
who participated in the war. Each story will be around 500 words long.
Most folks will never write a book based on their experiences in the
service during the Korean War era but most everyone can write a short
story about one of their favorite (or not so favorite) memories. Each
person will be shown as the author of their article. I'll help you write it if
you wish.
Let me know if you're interested in participating?
Please pass this along if you feel it is appropriate.
Thanks,
John
Stay safe, buddy.
J. Charles Cheek
Author of "Stay Safe, Buddy"
A Novel about Humor & Horror during the Korean War