1957 - Hawaii/Australia

Lt. Hughie's squadron was in Hawaii (either before or after being sent to Alaska to look for commies reading the Bible on the deck of a SPY SHIP) and in training.

When the dust settled - what does settle with airplanes? Wind, water, the plane?! When the planes settled, Hughie's flight crew was named to top crew in the squadron, big honor.

Not long after, the commander called the officers together because he had some good news. Two airplanes were being sent to Australia, The Land Down Under

Oh! Do you come from a land down under

Where women glow and men plunder

Can't you hear, can't you hear the thunder

You better run, you better take cover.

Now, where was I? Oh yeah, 2 planes being sent to Australia. Of course, this was a primo assignment. The squadron commander told the men he was going to take one plane and offered the other to Hughie. He then said he would cherry pick the best men from the squadron to fly with them. 

Hughie decided otherwise. He told the commander that he and his crew had just been named to top crew in the squadron, so they should all get to go...together. The commander thought about it and agreed. He decided he would take his crew and Hughie could take his crew. 

The two crews flew to Australia, showed the Aussies their new innovation, and flew home. Hughie speaks of the trip fondly.