WAR

One rainy day when no one else would have dreamed of flying, Navarre
sought out an observer who was known as a sunny character and suggested they
fly up to Amiens.
"How" asked the observer.
"What the hell, in an aeroplane!"
"In this
rain"
"Why not You afraid of water"
"No, but a parasol in this weather . . .
"
"Would you prefer a
"Well, no, but . .
."
parapluie"
"Don't worry. Stick with me. I won't break anything. I've flown in worse
weather than
this."
It was agreed that they would return that evening before the CO. returned,
for, needless to say, he just happened to be away at the time.
They landed in a field as close to the city as possible, and headed for
civilized pleasures. A patisserie offered the first of these, after which followed
a few restaurants and cafes. When the heroes gaily returned to their aeroplane
they were loaded. Cavaliers down to their fingernails, they proposed to salute
the great cathedral of Amiens by stunting over it then littering the streets with
flowers purchased expressly for this magnificent gesture. Roaring over the roof
tops to loose the flowers over the side, they were gratified to see a pretty girl
blowing them kisses from a balcony. They marked well the location of the
house, then landed again at their cow pasture outside town and walked back
to a pleasant reception. Not surprisingly, it grew dark before anyone noticed.
There was nothing to do but to telephone the aerodrome that they were detained
because of engine trouble and would be back first thing in the morning.
It was still rainy the next day, but during a break in the morning they took
off—and the engine conked out. By great good luck Navarre landed right side
up but he had to trudge miles to the nearest telephone. Then for two nights he
and his companion in misery slept under the wings of the parasol waiting for a
repair crew to drive out from the aerodrome.
One can imagine their return. Navarre felt he was lucky to draw only eight
days confinement.
When he was allowed to fly again there were no Germans to be seen in the
air in this particular sector and he was beginning to think things were a complete
mess. His brother Pierre came to visit him once more, one bright spot in the
gloom. Again Jean flew Pierre back to his outfit, bicycle and all. The squadron
commander concluded that Navarre was incorrigible and determined to have
him transferred back to M-S 12.
Navarre and Pivolo were summoned to the C.O.'s office—for Navarre it
was the first time he had been in it without receiving punishment. When they
heard their orders to report back to M-S 1 2, they nearly broke their arms saluting.
It was mid-winter and the snow was deep on the ground but the runways
had been kept clear enough for flying to continue at what was called a "normal
seasonal rate." Impetuous as always, Navarre and Pivolo left immediately. They
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