“The
Saga of Kharagpur Jones”
(sung to the tune of 'Casey Jones')
Come all you fliers if you want to hear
The story 'bout a brave flight engineer,
Kharagpur Jones was the rounder's name
On the 3350, boys he won his fame.
The CO called Jonesy 'bout a quarter to four
He hacked his watch at the tower door,
Mounted to the cabin, special orders in his hand
Took his farewell trip for the bomber command,
Kharagpur knew when they'd been out an hour
they'd
never make A7 under rated power,
The crew was sweatin plenty when Kharagapur said -
"Boys I think we blew a couple of cylinder heads",
He looked at his watch and his watch was slow
Looked at the gas gauge and the fuel was low,
He turned to the pilot, to the pilot he said
"We're gonna reach A7 but we'll all be dead",
He asked the navigator, "when are we due"
The navigator said "so yo'r wonderin too",
The engines quit, the plane went into a glide.
And parked itself on a mountain side.
He crawled from the wreck on his hands and knees-
The plane blew up --threw him under a tree.
He said "Don't worry boys----the battle is won ---
In my left hip pocket you'll find the form one.
Kharagpur's
bearer sat on the sack a sighin"
Just got word that Jonesy was dyin',
Said --"Kharagpur's death I don't so much lament.
But
he owes me for laundry and two months rent",
Kharagpur's wife sat on the bed a sighin"
War Department had told her that Kharagpur was dyin',
Said "Go to bed children, now hush your crying'
You've got another daddy on United Air Line.",
Kharagpur knocked on the gates of hell
The Devil opened up and said "Well Well",
You know I've got a very special job for you
You'll be a flight engineer on a B-32.
*
Kharagpur was also the name of the 20th Bomber Command's