EYE FOR VICTORY

my name is Hilliard Captain Jack kill you on Leyte in October 1944 the Japanese were going all out to prevent the recapture the filter zeros I had a dangerous idea one of these planes could be used not to cost to save American lives is an instrument of flight an aerial camera and today's story tells how a photo reconnaissance pilot Captain John Hilliard used it in a daring mission of critical importance in the final Philippine campaign of the war I'll be hearing from as soon as he gets out of there I hope he gets those pictures this time I don't have to send it back again cameras rolling now only a couple more seconds now i can bring home the big should have completed his run by now birds eye's have our betrothal bird's-eye bird's-eye this is sandbar control go ahead hit by flak have to be locked position Victor 11s tomato can hold altitude another two minutes put me in the water and Ariel Victor eighth any chance of pickup birds I stretch it out as far as you can we'll try and have somebody there waiting for you Roger out by the time I got out there was much altitude despair plane went in and so did the pictures major kept his word the rescue plane picked me up five minutes after i get the one well we need those pictures half the Army's waiting for them photo recons had tough assignments before captain will never any quite like this are you telling me it can't be done no sir I'm just point out some of the difficulties difficulties is an understatement this makes four planes and three men we've lost this last week sir is there any chance intelligence would settle for those high-level pictures we took I wish we could but they didn't show the information that we needed see the plan is to have paratroopers come in here and take this bridge in order to avoid excessive casualties we've got to pinpoint the Japanese strong points and I don't have to tell you in that jungle it's rough enough to see anything well view the situation colonel why not just saturate bomb the place now the Japanese just holed up in their caves besides we want to take the bridge intact have you tried using any other type plane we've nothing better than a p38 for the job well captain I guess we have to try again eventually we'll find a way to get those victors sounds like the right on the field Japanese didn't have any trouble getting in here sounds like zero vermin are zeros maybe there is a better plan for that job I got an idea save it check the damage what about my idea sir about the pictures well those zeros I bet one of them could get over the Suzanne bridge and take pictures what about it do we have a Japanese plane handy sir or when we captured not handy know they've all been dismantled in ship stateside well those zeros just raided us they must have come from the north according to the way things are going our infantry should be there within 24 hours by then the Japanese will have flown everything out Colonel do you think we could divert paratroopers to take that few by surprise possibly paratroopers might be able to get us at zero we want sir even if we got 20 how did we get pictures with it well the Japanese convert him to photo work why can't we sure with Japanese cameras oh that shouldn't be any problem we picked up quite a bit of booty in the Admiralty's the more I think about this idea the more I like it but Colonel Jack here knows if we stick by conventional means eventually we'll get our pictures eventually that's not a good word to use in planning military operations something like this it's tricky it's never been done before that's what's good about it sir well the circumstances seem to favor your plan captain we want to take menorah field as soon as possible anyway if we can pick up a couple of zeros as dividend well it's worth a call to headquarters anyway GHQ headquarters decided that monaural field was a target worthy of care to piss off within hours the troopers were on their way one of their objectives was the capture of an intact zero the objective was accomplished major force and I landed a half hour later with us came sergeant court a top mechanic from Palo few pork had a reputation given a screwdriver a can of gasoline in a spark plug they said he could make a GI mattress for I tore one of these things down or a bull captain you won't have any trouble altimeter airspeed indicator fuel pellet control they say they'll and hot yeah sensitive don't over control together there's no you sitting here sergeant let's fire up major you passed the word that he's flying back Apollo and that thing yes sergeant baselet all fighter units are alerted still ease our anti-aircraft batteries in every GI with an m1 taking potshots at it we have enough time to notify everyone on Lady sorry the thing I've been real close I'm glad we've gotta be twenty-five of life back in after fighting him for three years I learned why we had so much trouble zero was a good ship when she got to hang up kind of like a racing car I want to I was just starting to enjoy things for the first time our troops had any aircraft to not bad by the time I landed zero and I were old friends I came right down as soon as I heard you got the plane it almost didn't get here our anti-aircraft wondering about the mission for obvious reasons we can't let it get out that i'm flying to captured zero well why don't you take a fighter pilot escort to within about 50 miles of your objective with friendly planes flying alongside our batteries won't fire and then you could pick up the escort on the way back by that time we have an alert out what about the radio do you have their identification science yes sir right here and also we're ringing your radio so that you can talk to us as well as the Japanese if you have to read the only Japanese I know it's sukiyaki I suppose I could have a radio failure yeah they blast you out of the sky but we really need is a nice a pilot now there weren't any available to side of Hawaii but I've got something nearly as good come in gentlemen these men are interpreters all your Amara any criolla this is Captain Hilliard major force you can have either one of them to go along with you go along to minute of zero have you seen the cockpit of that thing well I guess that lets me out I can't make myself quite s'more sir I'm sure I can fit in I guess we can give it a try you're gonna need other interpreters Oh sergeant are you aware of what would happen to you if you had to bail out over enemy territory I think so sir Japanese don't treat American nice say as prisoners of war sir I enlisted it in order to fight they've had any interpreting i went to something more dangerous dangerous he picked the right assignment he couldn't get any more dangerous how's it going my guards hear that engine will get you there and back but the radio almost ready it'll pick up both the enemy battle frequencies and ours good that's the camera that goes in I went over the zero specifications with sergeant Yuri Yuri wore off yeah we're gonna make the standard zero camera modifications you'll control it from the pilot's seat with a switch it'll be ready for you in the morning so you're gonna be up all night sergeant so I got insomnia we're gonna check the seating accommodation right okay easy can't be done all right you get in first get way down on the seat as far as possible put me on your lap right now how do you feel like I saw being caned in Japan I know you handle anything that comes over the radio any enemy planes get close just tell me whether I have to smile wave or stick my tongue out havin one handle the sergeant Eddie I don't know it just disappeared you bring back those pictures and I've arranged with that quarters for you to have two weeks in Melbourne both of you seriously if things get too tough you come on back you'll get to leave anyway well I wouldn't want unless I earned it made whatever happens you'll have earned it both of you thank you already including the three birds for escort like Gingka Shepherd leader ready for takeoff sandbar controlled a black sheep on your way Jacqueline ok Eddie except related from black sheep I'm over the IP one I'm switching to the Japanese frequency what I thought you owned a sale big guy tiny jewel hey flight of zeroes request landing instructions nice on so Lori technical said the powerhouse name then run away three there it is look at your day one more jumping a victory it is quad on Mondays careers will take off that everything to do with us go soon the fine now only way no one studios yet Mikey into the hill investigate singles there are approaching you saw some great zeroes on top how to chill Dyson to monkey town doc week okay a little that's a Japanese pilot he says single 02 Firefly identify yourself he repeats identify yourself stole him as long as you can and okay we knew to show me na kotoba up fo mo royal the Japanese pilot again he says identify or we will fire getting anxious what there is in toto why do I fancy place doko e KU noka the Japanese pilot where are you going where are you from that's Eddie returning to base engine trouble mango haha the Japanese pilot is asking if he needs assistance Yahoo you nothing arigato that's Eddie no thanks should be about ready for the photo run Varro's death toll Oh tiger additive or you muscat that's a Japanese pilot talking to his control tower single aircraft zero returning mindoro you have such an aircraft dietitian cha-cha-cha honey control one checking he only needs a little more time just stay dumb boys 60 seconds Oh Marshwood I in one killer focused on your quality food i have engaged I give up can hisses ill that's the Japanese tower they are checking he says not one of our aircraft investigate if improper identification destroy their onto them while running them without guns and light on fuel or a faster black sheep come in black sheep come in black sheep dan barber blocks you bleh black sheep are you okay Roger got pictured sandbar control and our distance zeros will be unable to lead fighters at rendezvous be questioned notify all units not to fire at single 0 / black sheep understand will do oh the zeros had apparently lost it it was a question of going home as fast as we could alone sandbar control this is black sheep go ahead black sheep I'm running for home over sandbar control Roger will clear you all bases Oh Roger black sheep out five minute Eddie you can stretch your leg recap just hitting that goes down many south over the water good all US Navy right below and carrier must have just moved in thank you master ducks signal 02 Apollo follow me now look at all Navy Army closet and time ago by the Air Corps yet navy lay off he was here zero stock fire Manucher near to talk about english for a Japanese Navy layoff is an American 0 Anchors Aweigh while beyond Rutland Kansas City fiscal ask me anything you want you to her happy swab jockey stop firing Mickey Mouse right hold your fire Americans are apply a straight course and keep talking Mickey Mouse I'm returned the lady out of the Amish who's your Co major flaws you got an air corps battle free calls sandbar control stand by zero and wester don't you wiggle Amy to sandbar control sambar control this is navy sandbar control go ahead Mickey Mouse this is Mickey Mouse leader we have a zero corralled over Charlie nine says he belongs to you Debbie Davey this is sandbar control affirmative affirmative roger thank you out hey American zero you just got yourself apart go on home buddy and change airplanes 02 Navy Thank You Admiral then now Colonel Hilliard is the day a senior pilot assigned to the strategic air command sergeant karoshi now a Warrant Officer is stationed on one of our key far eastern bases doing critical photo intelligence work as a team in 1944 these men by their courage and ingenuity exemplified the finest traditions of flight you Oh