Fly-Boys

World War I gave us the fly-boys Who flew by the seat of their pants. Many would never return from war While others survived by chance. Their planes were mostly canvas and wood Gasoline, bullets, bombs and poison gas. Every pilot carried his own pistol Wearing leathers, scarf and goggles of glass. Aviators had no Parachutes To escape their burning plane. Many were forced to jump to their death Or self inflect a bullet to the brain. Blimps where known as battleships of the sky The roar of their engines gave reason for fear. They flew so high they were hard to shoot down Hiding above clouds till their targets drew near. Tracer bullets for the first time were used In the guns of airplanes to set blimps a fire. The skies became man’s highway of death With duty and honor their driving desire. How many Fly-boys have we lost since then Those days of the Great War and more? Where do we get such brave souls of chance Who rise from the rest in the battles of war? By Tom Zart