Chapter 15

           Iknowhowtheyworkit,thefogmachine.Wehadawholeplatoonusedtooperatefogmachinesaroundairfieldsoverseas.Wheneverintelligencefiguredtheremightbeabombingattack,orifthegeneralshadsomethingsecrettheywantedtopull-outofsight,hidsogoodthateventhespiesonthebasecouldn’tseewhatwenton—theyfoggedthefield.

           It’sasimplerig:yougotanordinarycompressorsuckswateroutofonetankandaspecialoiloutofanothertank,andcompressesthemtogether,andfromtheblackstemattheendofthemachinebloomsawhitecloudoffogthatcancoverawholeairfieldinninetyseconds.ThefirstthingIsawwhenIlandedinEuropewasthefogthosemachinesmake.Thereweresomeinterceptorscloseafterourtransport,andsoonasithitgroundthefogcrewstartedupthemachines.Wecouldlookoutthetransport’sround,scratchedwindowsandwatchthejeepsdrawthemachinesupclosetotheplaneandwatchthefogboilouttillitrolledacrossthefieldandstuckagainstthewindowslikewetcotton.

           Youfoundyourwayofftheplanebyfollowingalittlereferees’hornthelieutenantkeptblowing,soundedlikeagoosehonking.Soonasyouwereoutofthehatchyoucouldn’tseenomorethanmaybethreefeetinanydirection.Youfeltlikeyouwereoutonthatairfieldallbyyourself.Youweresafefromtheenemy,butyouwereawfullyalone.