From Russia to Family

chapter 2 Paratroops

Athens, Air Force Base

1941, May

"Welcome aboard boys, one way trip to Greece, added bonus of skydiving."

Emil took a seat next to Leon on the right and, as the pilot stopped talking, turned his attention to look straight out the window directly in front of him. Leon look to the captain on his right.

"You think you're ready for this, sir?"

The man laughed as the plane's engines roared to life.

"I haven't a hope in hell of being ready to jump out of an aeroplane." Leon smiled.

"I'm sure you'll be fine."

"Oh and you're completely fine with it."

He straightened his face quickly in a sarcastic way, and put on an upper class voice.

"I haven't the faintest idea what you mean." The captain laughed again.

"Of course."

The plane turned right onto the runway. The pilot turned to face everyone.

"All ready?" One man yelled back.

"Ready."

"What?"

"We're all fine!"

"Say again?"

"We're all ready to go!"

"Huh?"

The man stood up.

"I SAID WE'RE FINE!"

The pilot grinned as he turned around.

"I heard you the first time."

Everyone laughed, making the man even angrier.

............

Halfway through the flight everyone was quiet. Outside, the sky was tinged with yellow and orange as the sun rose. The higher it grew in the sky the more sunlight began to glint in the windows and flood inside the aircraft. One man was playing with his lighter, flicking it open and closed again and again. You could see it painted across their faces - every man was on edge. Although it was worse for Emil, Leon and the Captain, as this was their first true experience in combat as actual paratroops. What was to be expected? Leon had absolutely no idea. He slid his helmet over his eyes and slumped into the cold, uncomfortable metal of the fuselage.

............

"5 minutes! Everyone up!"

Leon was woken by the voice, he shoved his helmet back into place and stood up, following what every other man was doing. The captain behind and Emil in front, he was to check Emil's equipment, and to ensure nothing would come loose. He was 5th in line.

"Equipment!" the Co-pilot yelled.

"One ok."

"Two ok."

"Three ok."

"Four ok."

"Five ok."

The men continued counting behind him. Just as the last man finished a large explosion shook the plane. It was followed by hundreds of other blasts. The plane rattled and bumped all over the place. The co-pilot opened the door.

"Go, Go, Go!"

The first man jumped. More and more explosions erupted around them. One was louder than the others. He looked out the window to see the plane next to them with an engine on fire, it careened towards them. The co-pilot saw as well.