Missouri Marraine

Perhaps because their work carries them above earthbound creatures, making them feel transcendental even in mundane war, fighting airmen have always laid claim to greater gallantry than other soldiers. German Air Marshal Hermann Goring last week promulgated a regulation saying that captured enemy fliers are to be treated at all times as "officers and gentlemen."

Some French fliers went Herr Goring one better for gallantry. Virginia Van Devander, 17, dark-eyed freshman at Park College in Parkville, Mo., has been practicing her French by writing letters as a marraine (godmother) to one Gilbert La Planche, 18, French aviator now in active service near the Maginot Line. Allowed to choose the name of their squadron, Gilbert's mates took his suggestion arid the name "Escadrilie Virginia." Virginia had her picture taken knitting a sweater for her gallant, unseen Gilbert (see cut, col. 1).

This file is automatically generated by a robot program, so reader's discretion is required.