 proudly we hail and now another proudly we hail one of radio's outstanding dramatic half-hour starring Lee Tracy and presented transcribed by your army and your Air Force from Radio City New York here is your star and host on proudly we hail the distinguished Broadway stage screen and radio star the Tracy thank you thank you Ken Bang heart welcome again to proudly we hail our program as an adventure story with an intriguing twist and a surprise ending I'll be back after a few words from Kent a few words leave it very important and especially addressed to the young men and young women of America the Army in the Air Force want to meet their manpower needs with the greatest possible number of volunteers you can be a volunteer get all the details from your army and your Air Force recruiting station remember you are needed now with our star Lee Tracy in the role of Kent your army and your Air Force presents proudly we hail production of Desert Flight when a pilot takes off on a flight there's a mark along his map course that stands as a warning to him should have become necessary to turn back he must do so by the time he reaches this mark or should he go beyond it and then attempt to return his gas supply would be such he would fail this mark is called the point of no return Dakar a tiny work on the arid hot belly of French North Africa Dakar hot dirty full of all mixtures and blends of humanity the southwestern oasis of the vast and terrible Sahara desert come in I could be for you and close the door the name is on the text on the from Texas no doubt that's right you ain't two guns on this the man that down Billy the kid looks up take it easy tax pull up a glass pardon me if I don't get up I don't mind if I do say when well here are you the guy who was asking for me at the airport your flights to anywhere yet that's me well where do you want to go the moon guess a blanket will do fine I'll take you there how much I'll be my wife Frank for dollars either way dollars good old green how much 200 a piece that's robbery all depends on how bad you want to get the cat that's robbery take the airline all right all right when can we leave I don't know another party left word they'd call have to see what they want might want to take along as many as I can look I want to get the Casablanca and I want to get there fast but you can't do the job right now I'll go elsewhere why don't you do that I don't like to be right it's bad for my nerves short with this wind blowing up some pretty nasty sandstorms along the route you might find the airline wouldn't want to be right to independent cuts aren't you yeah sort of so me as soon as you can go don't be glad what do I call we're in this so-called hotel to room 23 okay text when I know you'll know and listen fella word of brotherly advice yeah the only guy I ever knew who was always looking over his shoulder the way you do is a guy who didn't want to be caught only one day he did get caught you know why you tell me cause one day the wrong person saw him looking over his shoulder and got suspicious my good man may I sit down huh yeah oh sure squat here's my card special a Parker the third that's right my wife is seated over at the corner table we're on a tour of the African and Mediterranean countries right now we'd like to leave here and go to Casablanca this the Rocco bothers my wife I understand you fly people anywhere I'd like to hire you in your plane for an indefinite period I'll pay you well what's the matter with the regular airline they say there's a bad sandstorm they won't fly until it passes besides we like privacy great place to find that what makes you think I'll fly if the airline won't oh I've taken the liberty to find out all about you mr. Kent they say you fly in anything sure you want to take that chance nonsense the airline has to protect the senses they can't take any chances actually I know there's very little chance involved that's all you got it all figured out huh ever flown in a sandstorm what difference does that make will you fly us to Casablanca you're fair 300 a piece American I'll pay you 200 for the both of us and that's all goodbye mr. Parker 300 your wife's calling all right you win you realize this is highway robbery cash before takeoff I see here mr. Kent might be well to understand that I'm not a man without position it might pay you well to be a bit more respectful only pay I want from you with $600 oh well take it or leave it when can we leave best time it'd be about five tomorrow morning I'm not in the habit of getting up that early we'll leave at 10 okay by me we'll be at the airport at that time good idea if you want to go to Casablanca certainly don't have any manners do you Mr. Kent nope I certainly don't know what I think Sam I think I could guess I think you're crazy with the Morocco I'll file to fly at 10,000 to clear my head makes no difference of what altitude you fly you fly by instruments and thick like fog up to the very heavens thank you Mr. Calling you should have been getting really hot sitting in that aeroplane of yours may we please leave waiting for two more passengers what do you mean I I chartered your plane to fly to Casablanca there are to be no other passengers and Mac you didn't charter anything you just booked passage on my plane if you don't like it get off and take the regular airline I'm certainly not going to put up with this kind of treatment you when is the next regular flight to Casablanca I don't know all the flights have been grounded there's been a very bad sandstorm along I've heard all that before what's the matter with you people no wonder you still live like savages letting a little tan in the air ground you you're just lazy that's all well it's not a little fan sir it's a great deal gets in the engines and put aren't your planes equipped with some kind of filters for that sort of thing I know I've read about them somewhere sometimes such things just don't work plane that goes down in the desert it's kaput my employers are not wish to take such a chance with the lives of their passengers life is a very precious thing Mr. Parker even here what about your plane Ted it's magical it never goes kaput you said it this plane is our monophic assemblage of both I said ten o'clock ten thirty couldn't get a cab my wife John hi hello well Parker you're coming or aren't you I have no choice but I want you to know I don't like it here's your money thanks not counted later let's go see you Hank I hope so Sam I asked lady luck to watch over you do that that the plane that's it what kind is it good question for the lack of a better name we'll call it a can't a bit of this and a bit of that flies like a bird when the approbations aboard enough waters but all you'll want the other guy oh excuse me mr. mrs. Saunders meet mr. Parker I'm aboard folks they can you see if you want mine and I beg your pardon I wonder do you have room for one more yeah I guess so where did you pop from all of a sudden I'd appreciate it greatly if you take me with you but I'm afraid I can't pay very much no you don't have that prosperous look how much can you pay this is all I have caught into the right side charge you got about enough there to hit your ride out to the runway say haven't I seen you someplace before it's possible I've been many places what's your name does it matter no I guess not you know I don't know why I'm doing this never done it before keep your money and climb aboard it was set up in the cockpit with me thank you don't thank me I'll probably hate myself when I stop to think about it I could have a drink of water don't tell me you have another one of your infernal headache I don't know why I agreed to come on this trip anyway dirty filthy countries and look out there might as well be flying in another world you can't see a thing I think it's rather exciting darling that mr. Kent looks just like a pirate don't worry he is Emily I have half a mind to book passage on the first boat out of the black would you mind getting me that drink so I weren't a gentleman I'd let you get it yourself wake up a minute will you before you think we really gave him a slip stop worrying that guy up there with the driver I don't know looks like a bum and yet doesn't I feel when I've seen him someplace before you know big as a copper we'll know the answer to that when we land the castle if he is that's just too bad for him it's not just a piece of machinery to you isn't huh baby here you mean no no he's no piece of machinery he's got a heart big heart your heart mr. Kent what do you mean mine all around where is it located somewhere between the ends of her wings tip of her tail the point of her nose and very thick like a great curtain of red fog yeah and a messy what are you on the bum not exactly okay none of my business this suppose I'd refuse to take you to cast it for free I would have thanked you and found another way what are the way there's another way to everything mr. Kent I wonder if I can't get the plug out of the water bag my wife would like a drink well that's on this the door is certainly will not do you want to fly this while I do it I'll take care of it hi oh here comes trouble what is it what's going on get back in the seat we're going down on here come on mr. Parker mr. Kent fans be disturbed now everything is going to be all right get everyone in their seats with their safety belt on plenty got one engine nearly out the other one not far behind anything I can do yeah sit down help keep the others quiet right the car the car this is 6184 6184 come in please I'm not receiving you I'll take that mr. can't you fly the plane you know how to work it I think so that car that car this is 6184 6184 they may be getting it tell them I'm heading back estimate my position 100 miles north of kenguetti tell them tell them we're going down both engines dead that car that car this is 6184 6184 going down Tracey starring as Kent in the proudly we hail production of desert flight will return for the second act in just a moment but first an important message to the young men of america estimate our position vital words for the safety of kent and his passengers and so vital for the safety of our country the united states air force is building up for that purpose and you can help right now if you have the necessary physical and educational qualifications you can join the aviation cadets or pilot or navigator training winning your silver wings will mean that you will fly in the united states air force and serve your country in these critical times so estimate your position for you are needed now your nearest army and air force recruiting station will give you all the details you are listening to proudly we hail and now with your star lee tracy in the role of kent we present the second act of desert flight the desert is an all engulfing sea of treachery its shifting sand its bone hard waste its ugly mountains bare and fevered are stamped with a hideous sameness for those lost within it seemingly endless boundaries by day of burning shimmering void that sucks like dry by night of frigid hell when there is a windstorm the sterile air grows muddy filled with a thick haze of vicious biting sand particles the choke and sear huh how are you feeling tex not bad my life still that friend of yours makes me a fine user drink gotta go careful with the water my boy guess our chances aren't so hot are they don't talk like that we'll know better in the morning probably they aren't any more blanket to go around how you doing miss thunders oh i'm okay but couldn't you give him a i'm freezing and choking to death at the same time relax we all are if you hadn't been in such a hurry parker i've had a busy day better go take care of your wife thank you lucky stars you're still in one piece not many pilots could have set this thing down the way he did such a fine job my wife has a broken arm and look at you with your ribs all caved in so now you're against me too a no one is against me complaining isn't going to help nothing is going to help now could be worse you know we're out of the storm here in the plane what good is that we can't move we're trapped any luck with the radio i'm afraid not well there's not much we can do now try and get some sleep most important thing remember is that we got to go easy on the water don't know how long we'll be here we got to make it last there's plenty if we ration it carefully as far as the food goes i want you to special i'm going i'm going to get us a drink i don't want one mr kent said the water had to be rationed i don't care what he said special you touch that water and i'll call mr kent what yes i will my wife good night looks like the day isn't our day to move isn't there anything we can do he's getting worse he'll hold days like this i've got to have more water i can't stand this heat i'm burning up you're a good kid jony sorry it had to be like this i've been praying for four days that the storm would let up maybe the wind will blow forever the way i figured we got water for about three more days to stop huh what well i'll come on wake up everybody the wind has stopped come on let's get a fire built while it's still dark he'll be out looking for us we made a tent out of a parachute it's cooler than it is in here i thought you needed a rest i'm sorry we can't move you out there too must be delirious i keep getting you mixed up with somebody else only i don't know who i keep figuring you know all about it why don't we just pretend that i do he was all right deserved to die wasn't jony's fault oh mine i did it don't want any harm come to her cops looking for a smoke take care of jony not really my wife you know too late now no harm will come to her tell kent you gotta see him for a minute no need but jony didn't know i'm cashing in my chips after kent you come back want to talk to you i'll be here thank you why didn't you tell me why didn't you call me why you felt it would be better jones if you weren't there i loved him i loved him he was he was the only guy i ever loved him the only one who ever treated me decent oh he's there would you like to say a prayer for him a prayer yes we'll say one for him together yes i do want to say a prayer for her i want god to give him a break that nobody else ever did do you think he will we'll ask him you and i another day just about shots no planes looking for us no nothing this is only one thing left to do what's that when it gets dark i'll hit the road can't be much more than 50 miles and seems ready if i miss that maybe i'll hit a pale travel only at night pull up during the day 50 miles or 10 is too much for you gotta take a chance women can't last much longer especially mrs parker have you noticed her arm there's a woman hasn't let out a peep since it happened got more courage and all of us put together when i go you take charge watch parker i think he's cracking fast another day and he'll be off his rocker for good are you sure you're not going out into the desert so what water has left will last longer don't suspect me of anything so noble you know i haven't had a chance to tell you that although i'm sorry i got you into this mess i'm mighty glad i brought you along you're a good man to have a round and a pinch we ever get out of this mess maybe i can give you a hand if we don't well let's pour some more oil on the fire come on before i knew what he was doing he grabbed the water bag and ran out there he's taking it all parker come back here come back here you fool look at him he's drinking it he's drinking the whole thing oh god oh god and i'm going to join you because of that god take care of my dear wife i'll go out after him no you're not catching much more now we have no water maybe i'll see tex sooner than i thought yes no no dear now that's not going to i'd afraid something like this might happen i hid two canteens of water in a cockpit your girls take it easy i'm sorry mr parker i'll go look for him if you say so no wake me in an hour no need to tell the women until tomorrow i'll try and head just a little west to south then if i miss jingetti i'll hit a tail maybe as long as it stays clear i can follow the stars good night good night sleep well huh what what your friend he's gone what what's that he's he's gone yes i heard him leave but i thought he was just going out to build up the fire but oh and i got up i found this note by the door let me see it have faith and fear not now what the oh i should i know need a turn it well jones let's see how miss parker is strange kind of man did you ever notice his eyes he wasn't like other men i wish i knew where i'd seen him before well girls i hate to say it but we've just about finished it not enough water to wet the end of your tongue i'm sorry wasn't your fault you're a good man mr cat i only wish that i don't really care the first is driving me out of my mind but i haven't even sigmarized the whole line of cabels coming down that hill yes i see myself isn't that funny oh yeah but but if we all see them hey here this way they're real they're coming for us mr parker i'm i'm going to kiss you and die happy are you feeling them like a new man how the girls how they'll make it mr parker has a bad arm but you'll come through all right might be close what yeah how'd those birds ever find it they see the fire that's the screwy thing about it they told some wild tale about a man walking in out of the night and telling them where you were what why that was where is he oh that part is even screwy well there were a bunch of storytellers anyhow they said he didn't stay after he told them he left again went right back into the night and the desert a lot of poppy cops they must have seen your fire well hank that there was another man with us and and he did go looking for help just a coincidence my boy oh you know how those babies like to spin a yarn they said he wasn't really a man some kind of a spirit or something it must have been him couldn't have been sam poor begger must have died out there who was he anyway before saunders died he told me he thought he knew because we both figured we'd seen him someplace before saunders wouldn't tell me and if i told you now who i thought he was you not only wouldn't let me out of this hospital you'd have me thrown in the nut house besides well let's just say he was a friend who for some reason came along for the ride most intriguing story the combination of the strange cargo of passengers romance and mystery and Dakar and the man made quite a story thank you ken i hope our audience enjoyed it as much as i did playing the role of kent lee tracy will return with the word about next week's show but first i'd like to tell the young men and women listening how they can help keep the peace of the world you're right it's a big job but if everyone helps it can be done you can help by enlisting in the united states air force and you can help yourself too because in the air force you can really get ahead and the air force will train you in specialties where you can make real progress specialties like radar radio weather aircraft maintenance and many others so don't delay serve your country and yourself in the united states air force get full details at your nearest u.s. army and u.s. air force recruiting station be a volunteer today this has been another program on proudly we hail presented in cooperation with this station by your army and your air force proudly we hail stars lee tracy supporting mr tracy in the cast were bill Lipton george park jack jason helen christian joe disantis and maryam wolf desert fight was written by duet cop the music was composed and conducted by john one airing proudly we hail is directed by charles wilson this is kenneth banghardt speaking and here again is your host and star lee tracy next week we board the world famous symphon orient express for a suspense filled train ride across europe mystery and death we hope you'll be listening goodbye