Page 12 - The Devil's Arsonist
P. 12

Chapter 3


                                        The Poppy of Patches Field











































                   Lt. Loye James Lauraine and his crew of the ‘Tweachewous Wabbit’


                          8  United States Army Airforce, Lavenham, Suffolk, 1944
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               “My name is Loye James Lauraine Jr., 1  Lieutenant and pilot in the 837  Bombardment
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               Squadron, 487  Bombardment Group, 8  United States Army Airforce, stationed at
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               Lavenham, Suffolk, England. To my adorable and loving wife, my parents and my family and
               to my friends I am just plain, Jack. As for my crew I am their Lieutenant; well, that’s what
               they call me to my face anyways; but what I’m called behind my back, I never did hear. I
               hope it is what I deserve for I have done all that was humanely possible to keep them alive as
               best I could, Jerry permitting of course. I’m writing this before what will be the 4th mission
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               of my second tour and the 34  that I have flown over the Nazi occupied territory of Europe. It
               will, I know be my last.


               To all who have known me, ask them not to grieve for me, for I’m not worthy of their tears.
               Tell them I have been truly blessed; for I have loved and been loved in return, I’ve laughed
               with my comrades when they were alive and cried after they were dead. I’ve lived a full and
               eventful life, despite my youth. And I thank Almighty God for the wonderful life I’ve had.  But
               tomorrow I’ll meet my maker and atone for the great and many sins I’ve committed these past
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