WW2 Air Force Poetry Found

[Gunner C]

I found this on a family email list.  I'm descended from the Brysons and this poem was written by a relative during Sicily Campaign.  He lost his life on a mission, I guess not long after that.  There's a certain courage in these lines that maybe we don't express well any more.

An Escort of P-38's - by: Tech. Sgt. Robert H. Bryson (KIA on a mission to Messina)
(The line re being rejected apparently referred to his draft board.)

Oh, Hedy Lamarr is a beautiful gal and Madeleine Carroll is too;
But you'll find, if you query, a different theory amongst any bomber crew.
For the loveliest thing of which one could sing (this side of the Heavenly gates)
Is no blonde or brunette of the Hollywood set,
but an escort of P-38s

Yes, in the days that have passed when the tables were masses of glasses of Scotch or champagne,
It's quite true the sight was a thing to delight us, intent on feeling no pain.
But no longer the same, nowadays in this game, when we head north from Messina Straits
Take the sparkling wine........and every time just make mine
an escort of P-38s

Byron, Shelley and Keats ran a dozen dead heats describing the view from the hills
Of the valleys in May when the winds gently sway an army of bright daffodils.
Take the daffodils, Byron; the wild flowers, Shelley; yours is the myrtle, friend Keats.
Just reserve me those cuties, American beauties............
an escort of P-38s

Sure we're braver than hell; on the ground all is swell. In the air it's a different story.
We sweat out our track through the fighters and flak - we're will to split up the glory.
Well, they wouldn't reject us so Heaven protect us and until this shooting abates
Give us the courage to fight 'em...and one other small item,
an escort of P-38s

He was more eloquent and certainly braver than I.

[tdepp]

And, I might add, probably better educated in a liberal arts sort of way as well.  The WWII generation was probably the last who had to memorize many poems in their English classes.  I've met many old times who could recite long, classic poems by heart.  It's a lost art in our age of 140 character Twitters and text messages.

[Майор Хаткевич]

And, I might add, probably better educated in a liberal arts sort of way as well.  The WWII generation was probably the last who had to memorize many poems in their English classes.  I've met many old times who could recite long, classic poems by heart.  It's a lost art in our age of 140 character Twitters and text messages.

Oh please, before cell phones became common in my age group and before Twitter took off, we didn't do it here. Now, when I lived in Europe, we definitely had to learn a poem a week.