In 1942 the Mardlinghams became the lost Norfolk villages they are today, when they were levelled to provide a protected habitat suitable for the pasture, sheltering and flight of a certain genus of outsize American warbird and their sturdy uniformed keepers.
On the first morning of 1943 after an extremely alchoholic new year party, the head keeper, a Texan flyboy notorious for the wearing of rawhide corsets, was found dead under a low bridge, his driver having missed the sign prohibiting the passing of traffic more than twelve feet high. Unfortunately the Texan had been standing up in the back of a Willys Jeep at the time.
It would not have been a problem for a normal man, but the well known shrinking effect of rawhide in damp, windy conditions had gradually converted his native Texan corpulance into sheer height.
Sarge "Georgia" Boye with Corporal Stanislaus and their driver Jamestown Jim, pose in their jeep after returning to base without their CO.
"One moment he was just standing there saluting," said Georgia, "The next he was gone."
"I blame the pink elephants," said Jambo, "They've been on his tail ever since we bombed that Belgian zoo."
— • —
