Article about a B-17 Bomber that landed unexpectedly on Parks College's runway in Cahokia during World War II

A short article about a B-17 that landed unexpectedly on Parks runway in Cahokia during World War II. Local history has it that the plane was repaired and then had some difficulty taking off on the short runway. It was apparently towed by tractor to the northeast corner runway and pulled as far back on the grass as it could go. Then with this little extra space to take off, the pilot reved the engines with brakes on, shaking the plane until he released the brakes and the aircraft tore down the runway toward the southwest, lifting off just in time to clear the power lines at the far end of the runway. It was a tense moment for everyone involved, including bystanders watching the takeoff. (November 1944) [This article was published in the December 1944 issue of Parks Air News, page 1. Information on the take-off was acquired from Sheriff Earl Justice, St. clair county, IL, an eye witness to the event as a young teenager.