PER ARDUA AD ASTRA (Through struggle to the Stars)
With roar of engine in his head
Wishing he could’ve stayed in bed,
Off to battle with a grin
Higher, higher the air getting thin.
Over the water testing his gun
Enemy sighted here comes the fun,
In his tail, the guns start to roar
His wing is hit, still shoots as before.
Tail gunners are sharp and quick to learn
Some of our friends never return,
Look out, fighters are coming in low
They maybe ours, don’t shoot ‘till you know.
Bombs away boys then turn back
There’s the target give it plenty of flak,
Planes going down, exploding in the air
We think of loved ones and whisper a prayer.
A gunners day is never done
‘till you know the battles won,
We’ve finished another do or die
Coming to land, the crew heave a sigh.
The clouds reflect a distant glow
Gliding and climbing to the heavens slow,
Scarlet the East that sets the sky
Through struggles to the stars they fly.
© Hazel 2012
