THOMAS PAINE: “I enjoyed your recent editorial on Thomas Paine.
It took me back to World War II at Mattishall, England, where the
388th bomb group was located, and our crew was an active flying
member there.”

Our message today from Lester Watson of Smethport.

He continues: “It seems that Buckingham Palace made a plea to
the 8th Air Force to name a plane after Tom Paine – naming planes
was the option of the crew flying the plane, so a request was made
and Lt. Winters’ crew opted to use his name. A date was set for
royalty to come and see the Tom Paine.”

“Our commander decided to line up several of the more
patriotic-named planes for her to see, but that didn’t work. No
queen wanted to see them all and take pictures, even the most sexy
names she viewed, but Tom Paine was her choice. Second choice was
Lt. Moore’s plane. The one I was a gunner on was named Veni Vidi
Vici (I came, I saw, I conquered).

“Shortly after this, the Tom Paine was badly shot up. It lost
one horizontal stabilizer. It was actually gone! It had many
shrapnel holes.

“Byron Howe was Paine’s tail gunner, and one foot above his head
was a huge hole, but they made it home. Tom Paine had a part in our
Constitution and also had a part in defending it.”

THE WAR: Speaking of World War II, we hope readers watched “The
War,” the multiple-part Ken Burns series on public television. It
should have been mandatory viewing for all citizens. What a
horrific reminder it was of the sheer insanity of war.