Catching up on mail: Apologies to our readers, but we are a little behind on the RTS mail. We received a postcard dated March 25 talking about an RTS printed in the May 25, 2015, edition of The Bradford Era. That column discussed the last World War II European aerial battle involving a Piper Cub aircraft and a German observation aircraft.

The Era reader writes, “In the May 2020 issue of the Smithsonian Air & Space magazine (page 60) is an article about a ‘Piper L-4 Grasshopper’ aircraft, which was configured for offensive duty during WWII with the attachment of six bazookas rockets.”

The reader tells us the article also describes the pilot’s aerial history and the aircraft’s post WWII afterlife.

“Though these ‘Pipers’ would/may not be of Bradford origins, being the Bradford Piper plant was destroyed by fire March 16, 1937, the name Piper has a Bradford association,” the reader explains.

Thank you for the update. The Bradford Piper plant was located where the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford sits today.

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Poetry: Local poet Joy Pascarella has shared a new work with us, written during this time of uncertainty and self-isolation.

Pray

Pray softly

Pray loud

Pray carefully

Don’t pray with a crowd.

Pray seriously

Pray at home

Don’t pray together

Pray alone.

Doesn’t matter where you are

Or what time of day…

Ask Jesus for a miracle

Intensely pray.