Читать книгу Flight of the Forgotten - Mark A. Vance - Страница 27

When our train arrived at the station in Cambridge, England, I was filled with anticipation, yet also dreading the experience awaiting me. For two days, it had been as if we were following Buster’s footsteps across England, only to find he had already left ahead of us. Now, we were about to visit the site of the tragic ending to what had happened so long ago. It was, needless to say, a very emotional time. My parents were with me, fulfilling a promise my mother had made to herself as a young girl four decades before to one day visit the place that had caused our family so much heartache.

When the three of us eventually arrived at the entrance to the American Military Cemetery at Cambridge, I was struck by the sheer magnitude of the place, as I gazed for a long time at the 3,811 white crosses. The Wall of the Missing near the entrance contained the names of another 5,125 American Airmen Missing in Action, including Glenn Miller and Joseph Kennedy, the eldest brother of President John F Kennedy. Joseph Kennedy had been missing in action since his B-24 exploded in flight during a top secret mission, and his brother Teddy had been one of the senators I had contacted for help.

My parents and I soon decided to part to speed the search of the seemingly endless rows of crosses that stretched across the grounds of the cemetery. As I was walking along a distant row, Buster suddenly appeared, motioning me to come toward him. As I did, I found him standing next to the grave of S/Sgt. Albert Natkin, the right-waist gunner of the Jack Ketchum crew.

“Thanks for coming. This isn’t our place, but they still remember us here.” he said, gesturing at the white cross. “Albert is still my friend. Death changes nothing.”

“How is he, Buster?” I asked.

“Oh, we’re still together when we want to be. We have other things to do now, though. We all continue developing over here.” he said.

“I brought Mom and Dad with me. We’re going to the crash site.” I said awkwardly.

“I know. I was with you all the way across. Thanks for bringing your mom and dad. Tell Joyce her mother sends her love from over here.”

“I will.” I said, holding back a tear at the thought of my grandma.

“It’s important that you understand the crash site is ours forever. This is all for the families. The crash site is ours and will always be ours.” he insisted, offering a salute and a smile before fading from sight.

“Who were you talking to?” my mother asked a moment later. “I thought I heard you talking to someone.”

“Buster was here.” I replied.

“You saw him?” she said, excitedly.

“Yes. He knows we’re going to the crash site. He said to tell you Grandma sends her love.” I whispered, as my mother began to cry.