An Indelible Sense of Loss With Cagney’s Death
Another side of “tough guy” James Cagney was his kindness and consideration for the Royal Air Force contingent sent to the United States to rush Flying Fortresses back to England when lend-lease went into effect.
His thoughtfulness did not end when the RAF members returned to England. He kept in touch. The leader of this squadron was hospitalized later for several months due to injuries sustained in a bombing mission over Germany (Cologne).
Here is a portion of a letter from this squadron leader:
“Out of the blue came a letter and a parcel of Luckies from James Cagney. On a photograph Jim had enclosed was inscribed ‘Still Pulling For You.’
“You have no idea what it did for my morale to know that I had at least two people in California still pulling for me.”
On Nov. 19, 1942, the brave men of this squadron gave their lives in an effort to destroy a heavy water installation in Norway for the making of the atomic bomb.
Because this mission was unsuccessful they are unsung heroes--dead and forgotten.
IRYS N. STRANGE
Morro Bay
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