The quiet and friendly town in the Cumberland Mountain area had mushroomed into a Metropolis during the weekend, with traffic wall-to-wall, and hotels filled to the max for the big event scheduled for the next day, Saturday the 26th. Many of the people who swarmed around the serene valley seemed to be the "over 40" crowd. I say this lovingly,the men with graying hair presumably arriving there to await the big event with memories, and maybe total recall of events during World War II.

The weather was touch and go on Saturday but the takeoff started with very little delay. Each onlooker made sure to get a spot and stay there. Cameras were clicking and flickering, some positioned and ready to shoot.

At 3:30 p.m. or so, the old war bird taxied down the runway, complete with its GLACIER GIRL logo and red, white and blue star emblazoned on the fuselage. The aircraft was escorted by a W.W.II Navy plane which we guessed would fly with the P-38 and film the historic flight. We were too far from the main ceremonies to know exactly what was happening.

When the impressive airplane sped down the runway and streaked into the mountains, you could feel the excitement. It was truly a moving experience. I would imagine a few good men would shed a tear or two or at a minimum, get the proverbial "lump in the throat" feeling. For nearly a half hour it seemed, the plane circled the airport, sometimes out of sight and would sweep past the cheering crowd and soar up into the slightly overcast sky.

When the pilot brought the plane in for the landing, we could get a real good view of the beautifully refurbished machine. Description is not possible to convey on this simple narrative.

We were lucky enough to meet several P-38 pilots who flew the vintage aircraft in the Pacific Theater during the war. One man, Skinner, hailed from Bluffton Ohio, the other came from Philadelphia. The latter veteran remarked that he was going down to the airport and ask if he could sit in the cockpit, a seat he held for 27 missions in the war. He said to us "I loved that airplane". We had to leave the next day so we will never know if he succeeded in climbing into his familiar surrounding of nearly 60 years ago. We sure hope so.

Since you missed the Big Day, not to worry, The HISTORY CHANNEL will show the whole story, 90 minutes worth, in March 2003.

Rose Pranger