The
year was 1944, Julie's husband H. E. Honeycutt
had been drafted into the army to serve
during the war (WWll), she was caught up in all the emotions that war
brings. Being a typical patriotic American that felt the need to
contribute, she joined the Army as a WAC. After her Basic Training she was
kept on to help with the incoming inductees . She served at
Camp McCoy, Wis., Fort Oglethorpe, Ga., Glenview Naval Air Station in
Mich.
One memorable occasion in particular was recollected by
Frances:
The flight was routine to North Carolina from Glenview
Naval Air Station. Frances was sitting in the radio seat listening to music with
headphones, a time to relax and reflect, all was calm. On the horizon a
thunderstorm loomed, nothing serious, "we'll be through it shortly".
upon entering the thunderstorm turbulence began to increase and soon to an
alarming degree. The crew had secured everything and were buckled up for a
rough ride. The storm was severe with lightning, heavy rain clouds and wind
tossing the C-47 craft around in a violent manner. The Captain (pilot) had his
hands full trying to control the plane, the C-47 went into an uncontrollable
dive, The captain told the co-pilot to have the crew put on their parachutes
just in case. Things were happening fast now, I (Frances) got up and went to the
back and struggled to get my chute on, the co-pilot panicked, (he was said to be
"flack happy" a term used for someone that had been in combat and had
been stressed to the limits and was affected emotionally.) all he could
think of was that they had to get out of the plane or be killed. He couldn't get
the door open so he began to kick it violently and was then able to get it open.
The plane was then decompressed, anything loose began to be sucked out the door,
it was all I could do to keep from being sucked out too, I held on to the rings
on a rail that was used by paratroopers to hook their parachute rip cords to.
The co-pilot jumped out. Back up front in the cabin the pilot was trying to do
everything possible to regain control of the plane, all seemed to be futile. We
were losing altitude fast, after exhausting attempts the pilot cut the engines
and then after dropping to 600 feet he finally was able to get the plane under
control. the engines were restarted and we made preparations to land. After an
extensive search the co-pilot was never found. It was believed that perhaps he
landed in the water and didn't get his chute harness off and the chute could
have pulled him under. The pilot recollected that he told the co-pilot to get
the crew ready in case but he never gave the order to bail out. To
this day I think that was the most frightful experience of my life.
These accounts were given to me by my Aunt Frances (Julia Frances
Killough,) named for her aunt Julia Frances Deese Killough) My aunt Frances was a
veteran of WW ll and a family member of whom I am very proud, she
now lives in
Fla.
..... Gary B. Killough
The
year was 1944, Julie's husband H. E. Honeycutt
had been drafted into the army to serve
during the war (WWll), she was caught up in all the emotions that war
brings. Being a typical patriotic American that felt the need to
contribute, she joined the Army as a WAC. After her Basic Training she was
kept on to help with the incoming inductees . She served at
Camp McCoy, Wis., Fort Oglethorpe, Ga., Glenview Naval Air Station in
Mich. 
storm was severe with lightning, heavy rain clouds and wind
tossing the C-47 craft around in a violent manner. The Captain (pilot) had his
hands full trying to control the plane, the C-47 went into an uncontrollable
dive, The captain told the co-pilot to have the crew put on their parachutes
just in case. Things were happening fast now, I (Frances) got up and went to the
back and struggled to get my chute on, the co-pilot panicked, (he was said to be
"flack happy" a term used for someone that had been in combat and had
been stressed to the limits and was affected emotionally.) all he could
think of was that they had to get out of the plane or be killed. He couldn't get
the door open so he began to kick it violently and was then able to get it open.
The plane was then decompressed, anything loose began to be sucked out the door,
it was all I could do to keep from being sucked out too, I held on to the rings
on a rail that was used by paratroopers to hook their parachute rip cords to.
The co-pilot jumped out. Back up front in the cabin the pilot was trying to do
everything possible to regain control of the plane, all seemed to be futile. We
were losing altitude fast, after exhausting attempts the pilot cut the engines
and then after dropping to 600 feet he finally was able to get the plane under
control. the engines were restarted and we made preparations to land. After an
extensive search the co-pilot was never found. It was believed that perhaps he
landed in the water and didn't get his chute harness off and the chute could
have pulled him under. The pilot recollected that he told the co-pilot to get
the crew ready in case but he never gave the order to bail out. To
this day I think that was the most frightful experience of my life.