Breitling Navitimer

March 22, 1952. Ensign Schechter flew over Wongsang-ni in his A-1 Skyraider. It was his 27th mission as part of the Fighter Squadron 194, known as the Yellow Devils. His objective: the transportation structures that the enemy relied on for troop maneuvers. Suddenly, a blinding light obscured his view—an enemy shell had exploded in the cockpit of his plane, ripping off the canopy.  Inadvertently, he pulled his aircraft into a cloud bank that shielded him from help—if any was coming at all.  With blood pouring over his eyes and his ears ringing with the roar of the plane’s Wright R-3350 engine, he continued to cry for help. A voice crackled over the microphone—a familiar voice, one he’d heard every day, in the officer’s mess or in their shared berth on the Valley Forge. The voice belonged to Lt. Howard Thayer, Schechter’s roommate. With authority in his voice, he commanded Schechter to, “Put your nose down.” He drew his plane alongside the crippled Skyraider, shouting orders to Schechter