A
SMALL SIZE GOOD GUY By Norris Chambers
I worked with Clarence at Kelly AFB during the early part of the
war. We were both electronic technicians and we worked on a project
installing IFF radio equipment in B-24s and B17s before they departed
for battle. Clarence told me about his experience in movie making. He
referred to his part as one of the “toy soldiers”. I guess at that
time he hadn’t heard them called munchkins.
Clarence was a very likeable person. He was a friend of everyone
who knew him and most of the workers at the Air Depot knew him because
of his very small size. He was a true midget!
When the war started there were many modifications to make on
army airplanes, especially bombers and fighters. We did many of these at
the depot but it became necessary to send crews to air bases where pilot
and crew training was in progress for duty overseas. Clarence and I and
two other workers were picked for an installation job at
Ella and Ann, our first baby daughter, took me to the railroad
station in downtown
We were photographed and issued I.D. badges and various other
pass cards. We were assigned a barracks with bunk beds and a long table
near the center where the residents could read and write letters. We
were shown the mess hall where we would eat and the show building where
we could watch movies if we weren’t busy. We were to work on the
airplanes whenever they were available, regardless of the time of day or
night.
We kept busy and there wasn’t much time to think about
entertainment. We did manage to get off two week-ends and rode the train
to
In about six weeks we finished our work there and prepared to
return home. No such luck! We were to report to Biggs Field in
One Saturday night the four of us rode the bus to the border and
crossed the river into
There was a very strong light beam that circled over the field.
It seemed so low it almost touched the barracks building where we were
located. About every fifteen seconds it came slashing overhead. One
night we were sitting on a bench outside the building.
“Clarence,” I said, “If you will listen real hard you can
hear that light ‘swish’ as it passes over.”
He just grinned. “No kidding,” I repeated. “Listen real
close and you can hear it!” He turned his head to one side and
listened.
“You know,” he answered, “ I believe I did hear it that
time. You have to concentrate and listen close.”
We never could convince Rupe and Thomas that it was noisy. But we
tried.
I have mentioned Clarence because he was the first member of the
Little People that I met. Many of the little people were hired at the
bomber plant because they could fit in tight places where larger workers
could not perform. I knew a few of these men and I considered them all
fine people and real friends.
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