In late June 1944 Leon and I arrived on the Enewetok Atoll with orders to join Fighting Squadron One aboard USS Yorktown. We agreed to share a tent while we were waiting for our ship to come in.

I volunteered to ferry Hellcat Fighters from Majuro, a bypassed supply base 1000 miles East, to Enewetok. After 4 or 5 trips, Leon agreed to join us in the ferry runs.

On Leon's first takeoff from Majuro, he lost control of his aircraft and crashed into several planes lining the runway. He was not injured and he was rescued by the crewmen from the guide plane and returned to Enewetok. Leon did not fly again until we were aboard Yorktown.

I appealed our Skipper to send Leon back to the states for more training, but nothing changed, except, the Skipper did not want to face me every day so he sent me to his boss, Commander Airgroup One, where I flew on CAG's wing for the rest of my time with Air Group One.

Leon was my friend, but I could see that he was a devoted family man, not a fighter. He was the first casualty of my war and it affected me deeply.

Leon L Cyphers