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Wall of Honor Level:
Air and Space Friend

Honored by:
Mr. Joseph A. Keyes Jr.

The honoree profiled here is grateful and honored to accept the nomination and sponsorship of his son-in-law's family (Joseph A. Keyes.Jr, Sally, Andrew, and Cathleen Keyes) for this honor and meaningful memorial.

This honoree's involvement and achievements during a critical period of World War II (WWII) in Europe is offered as a matter of some historical interest.

During a period between August of 1942 and December 1944, Reo Clinton Trail served as an Army Air Corps transport pilot in England, North Africa, Sicily, Italy, and France. Following completion of a combat tour in a troop carrier group -- dropping paratroops, towing gliders, evacuating wounded, transporting supplies and equipment into combat zones -- he was selected by General Carl A. Spaatz to function as pilot of the general's personally assigned transport aircraft, a Douglas C-53 named "The Yardbird."

General Spaatz was the senior American Air Force officer in Europe and Africa from the beginning to the end of the war. During 1943 and 1944, Trail safely transported General Spaatz, his staff, many top ranked military officials, and other notable persons, all responsible for developing and implementing the allied air strategies and operations that contributed so heavily to victory in Europe in World War II (WWII).

By June of 1943 the North African Campaign with all U.S. air operations under command of General Spaatz had been completed successfully. At this point Trail started new duties flying General Spaatz and his staff.

Six months later a joint U.S. and British decision sent General Spaatz to England to command U.S. cross-channel air operations for the invasion of Europe. Simultaneously, General Ira C. Eaker, developer of the famed 8th Air Force, was named commander of the Mediterranean Allied Air Force.

Because of Trail's extensive knowledge of the Mediterranean area, it was decided he would remain there to be General Eaker's pilot.

Trail, a young, highly motivated American, found the job, with its impressive cast of characters and dynamic flow of events, to be a fascinating responsibility.
In the course of his duties, he safely transported such notables as generals Dwight Eisenhower, "Hap" Arnold, "Jimmy" Doolittle, Hoyt Vandenburg, George Patton, Mark Clark, to name only a few, plus numerous British officials. Interesting civilians transported included Averill Harriman, Myron Taylor (President Roosevelt's ambassador to the Vatican), Cardinal Spellman, Life magazine reporter and photographer Margaret Burke White, "Jock" Whitney of the immense Whitney fortune, Mrs. Ernest Hemmingway, several movie celebrities, etc.
Trail enjoyed the opportunity to relate to such interesting personalities and has many pleasant "side stories" for his family and friends. For example he admired the British for their casual way of "playing down" some of the dangers they had encountered. He once flew a cargo of badly needed ammunition into a contested area on the front lines in North Africa. Four Spitfire fighter aircraft flew top cover. The mission was to land on a short dirt strip, keep engines running, stack the ammunition on the ground and then get out.
As the throttles were advancing for take-off, a lone person was seen running and stumbling across the desert toward the aircraft. Deciding he was a "friendly," take-off was delayed and the cargo door opened. On-closer observation, the man was identified as a Royal Air Force pilot, bleeding profusely from the side of his face and head. Instead of going directly to the steps and open rear door, he stopped at the cockpit to shout: "I say old chap, are you going to Algeeahas?" (We were going to Algiers all right, but if we were going to Cairo, would he have waited for another flight???). He was rushed aboard, given first aid and hot coffee. His parachute had dragged him across sharp rocks on the desert to lacerate him.
Later he came up to the cockpit with his thanks. He was tall, neat, and pleasant with a handlebar mustache. Asked what had happened, he calmly stated that he was in his Spitfire, and "old Jerry shot me down.!! "Bloody nuisance!!!"