Bill Horn was the executive editor of the Silent Wing newsletter. It was first published in November 1973. By August, 1975, Bill wanted to get “off the ground” one regular column featured in every newsletter. Douglas Smith, with his wit and humor was chosen to write this column and Doug named it based on the Airborne expression “Down and Go!” except with Doug’s humor he named the column, “DOWN AND GONE!” by Doug Smith, 82/436

Doug's training and combat history: Plainview, Texas, May ’42; Ft. Sumner, N.M., July ’42? Albuquerque, Sept ’42; Laurinburg-Maxton, N.C.; Membury, England, 82nd Squadron, 436th TC Grp.; Combat missions: Normandy, Southern France, Holland.

The following is Doug’s first DOWN AND GONE! article:

Did you ever play poker in a glider?
At 1,100 feet?
WITH NO ONE AT THE CONTROLS???

Well, Fred Narr (Ozona, Fla.) reminded me that some of my students at South Plains, AAFB, Lubbock, did.

At South Plains in the summer there was a “hot spot” off the end of the north-south runway. At 1,100 feet the rising air current exactly balanced the rate of descent of a CG-4A at minimum flying speed with minimum ballast, four students and myself.

The wind aloft at the same point was often equal to the minimum flying speed at that point in the sky.

We called this point our “upstairs office” which we found much cooler that the ramps for “jawbone” flight instructions.

It was useful for putting new students at ease about the stability and safeness of “banana crates” as the CG-4As often were called.

When we found our “upstairs office”, we headed into the wind, trimmed the glider for minimum air-speed and sat in the back and played poker.

The CG-4A wouldn’t vary 50 feet – up, down or sideways. And the students learned to trust it.

Next comes a “Down and Gone” story about GPs and a monkey. Yeah, a monkey!