Channel Cheerer

When a pilot lands on the English side of the Channel, across what is known as the longest 21-mile stretch of water in the world, the person he is gladdest to see is Captain John Patrick English '16, whose difficult but rewarding task it is to welcome and aid American fliers making this emergency air field. Captain English says, "When a boy flies back here after a mission, he's like a fighter coming out of the ring. When he's in there, it's tough and he has to take it. Then there's nothing a second can do for him. But afterwards, he needs attention and someone to take his worries off his mind."

With an American engineer, English has met as many as 36 United States planes in a day. Once a pilot and his crew have battled four hours to get a damaged plane back to safety, they aren't interested in any further details. But there are many things which have to be attended to quickly and competently. A full report must be made; the men must have food and clothes; their planes put back into condition, and directions given for getting them back to their proper bases. Most important of all, perhaps, this must be done by fellow Americans who appreciate and know how to convey to fliers the knowledge of what a good fight they made and help them rest after the strain they were under.

Captain English, who was a sergeant in the last war, is to be congratulated upon the part he is playing in this one.