By: Tom Zart

FLY-BOYSWorld War I gave us the fly-boysWho flew by the seat of their pants.Many would never return from warWhile others survived by chance.Their planes were mostly canvas and woodGasoline, bullets, bombs and poison gas.Every pilot carried his own pistolWearing leathers, scarf and goggles of glass.Aviators had no ParachutesTo escape their burning plane.Many were forced to jump to their deathOr self inflect a bullet to the brain.Blimps where known as battleships of the skyThe roar of their engines gave reason for fear.They flew so high they were hard to shoot downHiding above clouds till their targets drew near.Tracer bullets for the first time were usedIn the guns of airplanes to set blimps a fire.The skies became man’s highway of deathWith duty and honor their driving desire.How many Fly-boys have we lost since thenThose days of the Great War and now?Where do we get such brave souls of chanceWho rise above their fear then and now?By Tom Zart

FLY-BOYS
zart08@netzero.net