Page 7 - Aerotech News and Review, October 1, 2021

High Desert Hangar Stories
What do Betty Grable and Halloween have in

common? An unlikely World War II hero

by Bob Alvis
special to Aerotech News

As Jackie sat in the pilot’s seat in a WACO Glider halfway around
the world in Burma, he was pretty much in the worst combat condi-
tions a soldier would ever want to find himself in.
Whether it be the North Atlantic, a Russian steppe in winter or in
the year-round stench of Papua New Guinea, let alone the beaches of
Guadalcanal, his battlefield was about the most despicable location
on the planet in World War II.
Soldiers in the region near Myanmar dealt with the year-round
conditions that never really varied — from monsoon rains that would
average up to 200 inches a year, heat exhaustion, infection and diseas-
es that were as likely to kill or disable a soldier as a Japanese bullet.
To compound his problems on this night, he was flying in dark-
ness being towed by another plane — helpless if things were to go
wrong over inhospitable jungles, with no location to safely land. With
a plane full of British commandos called the Chindits, Jackie was
tasked with finding a needle in a haystack (code named “Broadway”) Courtesy photograph
and safely delivering the Chindits 100 miles behind enemy lines, Jackie Coogan on a War Bond tour in 1945.
where they could carry out harassment missions to interrupt the com-
munication lines of Japanese units in the area. to school, eventually ending up at Victorville Army Airfield just east
On this night, Jackie would become the first pilot to land Allied of us, where they would practice for all combat scenarios landing
at El Mirage dry lakebed. After many hours of dead stick flying,
Jackie Coogan became “Flight Officer” Jackie Coogan and he was
immediately shipped off to the battlefields of Burma, where not long
after he was promoted to second lieutenant.
Courtesy photograph Coogan served with honor. After his tour of duty was over, he
Second Lt. Jackie Coogan, Army Air Corps Pilot in China, Burma came back to the United States, where he was suddenly a big deal
and India.
again as the child actor/now war celebrity and he did well on the
War Bonds circuit! Many folks asked about that Betty Grable con-
up with the nasty conditions, as his treatment by the natives was on nection before the war, and he did say it was pretty strange seeing
the plus side!
Jackie also stated that the arrival of the main force took place at his ex-wife with the million-dollar legs plastered all over the bar-
night. He would help set out the flare pots to guide in the commandos, racks of GIs around the world! Another funny thing he mentioned
who were basically British and Gurhka knife artists. Fifty-seven glid- was how the wings of a glider pilot on a uniform still managed
ers in total were sent in to carry the force but only 37 of the gliders to entice the lady folks. When asked about the letter “G” in the
made it, which only left a fighting force of about 350 men. The cost middle of those wings, the reply was always, The “Greatest” pilot,
of the landings was high but, in the end, it was considered a success- of course!
ful mission. Jackie Coogan lived to be 69 years old and died in 1984. Look-
Courtesy photograph Always being the guy that loves to string the reader along, do ing back at this brief chapter of his life, I’m only bringing up his
World War II ‘bombshell’ Betty Grable when she was married to you wonder why our pilot has been on a first-name basis so far? Do military career, but his story is much larger and, in many ways, even
Jackie Coogan. you wonder how the exploits of this pilot tie into our region here in more tragic in many aspects than what will fit on to a history page
the Antelope Valley? And while we look forward to October and here in Aerotech News. Looking at Uncle Fester, the short bald man
the events famous for this month, could there even be a Halloween/ with the funny look and large waist, it’s amazing to think how one
troops behind enemy lines as a member of the American Air Com- Hollywood connection to this story? Well, when it comes to our person’s life can take so many twists and turns and just how much
mandos. He skillfully managed to land his craft in an unsecured area glider pilot, his life would not only be defined by his heroic service living a guy can cram into 69 years: famous/not famous/ famous
where only local natives were present. In an interview some time in World War II, or even the fact that before the war he was married
later, Jackie stated that when they landed, the locals feared them as to the World War II pin-up icon Betty Grable, AND that he was one again; The Addams Family cast member and pop culture icon; World
gods — especially when they opened up the front of the glider and of the biggest child actors of the silent screen. No, to our generation, War II hero. This month we will remember his service to our coun-
drove a Jeep out. Two of the natives followed Jackie around and he’ll always be remembered as the quirky Uncle Fester in the 1960s try and his contribution to the spirit of Halloween!
made his bed every night out of banana leaves. For four days, dirty television classic, The Addams Family. Until next time, Bob out …
and tired, he helped to build a bigger landing strip so the main force When a young Jackie Coogan’s Hollywood career peaked when
of commandos could land — but as the “god” from the sky he put he was six years old, little did he know the trials and tribulations that
would have him seeking a direction in life
when he found, upon reaching adulthood,
that his mother and stepfather had squan-
dered the millions of dollars he’d earned in
his youth. Struggling to re-establish his act-
ing career, and in the aftermath of his failed
marriage to Grable, Coogan only had one
option open that he felt was right for him,
that of a soldier. Enlisting in the Army, he
became just another flat foot in search of
a mission, feeling he was destined to be
in the infantry. However, he did have one
advantage over the other foxhole mates he
was serving with: he had a pilot’s license!
However, Jackie did not have a college
degree, so it limited his possibilities as a
military aviator — but one of those pos-
sibilities was that of a glider pilot.
Courtesy photograph So off he went to the Southeast to begin
Jackie Coogan with Charlie Chaplin in his breakout role as a child actor in the movie training for the opportunity to fly those Courtesy photograph
The Kid. unpowered aircraft into combat at night, Jackie Coogan as Uncle Fester in the 1960s TV cult classic, The
with no defense whatsoever! Determined Addams Family.
to succeed, Jackie progressed from school
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