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Edward Gary in the cockpit of a B-17.
“Queens Die Proudly” offers a first-hand account of the Dec. 8 attack on the Philippines.

November 21, 2009

Answers To Go - ‘Queens Die Proudly’ discusses air raid involving Edward Gary

By Susan Smith The San Marcos Record Sat Nov 21, 2009, 12:12 PM CST

Each week hundreds of people call or visit the San Marcos Public Library to find information.

"Answers To Go" highlights recently received questions. Please visit the library at 625 East Hopkins, call 393-8200 for information over the phone, or e-mail us through our web-page at www.ci.san-marcos.tx.us/library.htm.

Q. Does the library have a copy of “Queens Die Proudly”? It has an account of the airfield raid in which Edward Gary died.

A. This question came in a telephone call came from Bill Wyatt, son of Bill Wyatt Jr. and grandson of Tula Townsend Wyatt who was an early and devoted collector of San Marcos history.

Mrs. Wyatt was a friend of Edward Gary’s mother. Bill Wyatt, Junior served as a pilot in World War II and was Edward’s friend.

We do have a copy of “Queens Die Proudly” in our San Marcos Hays County book collection. (The queens in the title are B-17 Flying Fortress bombers.) This book offers a very detailed first-hand account of the Dec. 8, 1941 attack on the Philippines. It includes lengthy quotes by Edward Gary’s friend and fellow pilot, Frank Kurtz.

Mr. Wyatt and another reader pointed out that the cockpit photo of Gary in the recent newspaper article was taken in a smaller training plane, not a B-17. For those who’d like to see Gary in the cockpit of a B-17, we do have the “Look” magazine photograph in our clipping file on Edward Gary.

Q. Help! My favorite stainless steel skillet was scorched in a recent kitchen mishap. Scrubbing hasn’t solved the problem. I really need to get it cleaned up in time to make turkey gravy.

A. There are some pans that are simply irreplaceable. In my kitchen, it’s a thirty-year-old skillet I use for pancakes.

In “The Super Stain Remover Book,” Jack Cassimatis offers three methods for tackling that skillet. I’m happy to report that none of them rely on elbow grease.

“Method 1: Pour in hot water and 1 tablespoon of bleach and let soak. All food particles should then come off easily in the wash. For really caked-on food, place dish or saucepan on the stove and let boil for 10 minutes or more.

“For old and really baked-on grease, saturate an old rag with ammonia and put it along with the pot or pan, in a plastic bag. Seal the bag and leave for a day or so. Wash as usual. CAUTION: This method may cause pitting on new aluminum.

“Method 2: Fill pot three quarters full with cold water and let soak for 30 minutes. Add 1 heaping tablespoon of powdered borax and let boil for 10 minutes or so. Wash as usual.

“Method 3: Sprinkle salt, baking soda or coffee grounds over bottom of pot, cover with vinegar, and let stand for an hour or more. Then add a little water, boil for 10 minutes and wash as usual.”

The skillet in question didn’t have a non-stick finish. I’d be hesitant to try these methods on that type of cookware without further research.

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