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