Chapter 2 - 1944 Kazmer's Nevada Navy

Chapter 2 Version 1

1944

The plane came in from the north dropping down just above the water. Bombs could be dropped from a height but a torpedo needs a more gentile placement in the water. The target was just ahead. If dropped from too high above the water, the torpedo could be blown off course by the wind. Too low and the plane could hit the top of a wave. Too far from the target and the torpedo could run out of propellant fuel or miss a ship taking evasive maneuvers. Too close introduces many life threatening problems.

Holding the drop too long and the plane may not be able to avoid a collision with the target and the pilot becomes an accidental kamikaze. Banking the plane too fast without climbing tips the plane to its side. It could catch the tip of the wing on a wave and start he plane cartwheeling across the water. Banking the plane also exposes more surface area to anti-aircraft fire from the target.

When the torpedo enters the water it slows down so the pilot does not get to see if the drop was successful as the plane outpaces the slower torpedo. Part of the mission has been accomplished – the torpedo has been dropped. Getting out of harm’s way alive is the next immediate concern and only then a look back to see if the torpedo has found its mark.

The torpedo’s momentum carried it toward the target. It then slowed to a stop and just bobbed in the water joining its other torpedo friends in front of the target on the lake.

“That’s the last one this afternoon – let’s go fishin” drawled the ensign.

The sailors on the dock were a little annoyed as training runs this afternoon concluded early interrupting their afternoon snooze.

“Grabon – are you joining us for this afternoon’s cruise?” the ensign inquired.

“Yes sir” replied Kazmir in the process of regaining his consciousness.

“Then get your ass in gear sailor”

Grabon jumped down into the boat with his crewmates. The engine roared to life accelerating the boat to top speed in very little time. Out on Lake Meade the boat pulled up beside the bobbing torpedoes and hoisted them into the boat. The drill was the same day after day. An early rising was made for the morning training drops. Then the torpedoes were extracted from the lake and reattached to the training planes in preparation for the afternoon training drops.

With the afternoon’s work completed, the crew headed into Las Vegas for the end of day beers. They passed the one armed bandits as they entered the bar and Kazmir Grabon stopped to try his luck on a nickel machine with no luck today.

In the Bible, Kazmir was one of the three kings bearing gifts and riding on camels. So it was only appropriate that Kazmir Grabon was assigned to a navy base in the Nevada desert. This gives a whole new slant on the term “ships of the desert”.

“What do you think the odds are of a torpedo plane pilot coming home after the war?” asked a crewmate.

“Probably like a submariner” the ensign responded.

“That bad?”

“It all comes down to skill, training and luck.” said the ensign with wistful authority – “Sometimes it is just the luck of the draw. When your number is up, it’s up.”

‘Who is buying the next round?”