Chance Meetings in War: The Gage Brothers.

I am continually amazed by the chance meetings of friends, or even brothers, serving in different units, during wars.  Coincidence?  Maybe it really is a small world after all.

Lt. James Gage - 13th Air Force

Several come to mind, but one in particular has stuck with me.  Bob and Jim Gage were brothers, and both bomber pilots fighting for the 13th Air Force in the South Pacific, though assigned to different bomb groups.

In April 1944, the pair ran into each other at Henderson Field on Guadalcanal.   “…The best part though, was the Big Reunion way out here in the middle of nowhere,” Bob wrote home about the encounter.  

“Jim and I got to see each other a couple of days ago and needless to say he was quite surprised and I guess we were about the two happiest guys in the whole South Pacific.

“We had a large Bull Session, of course, and spent a very typical overseas evening.  I saw a fine outdoor movie for the third time and in the rain too, but I enjoyed it very much.

Lt. Robert Gage - 13th Air Force

“…By the way, these South Pacific Islands aren’t quite what they look like in the movies.  No beautiful women in sarongs, and so forth.

“…The world don’t seem so dark now.  The boys have done a tough but wonderful job over here.  I hope I can do my little bit.”

Sadly, the occasion would prove the last time the brothers would ever see each other.  Lt. Bob Gage and his entire crew were lost in an October 1944 bombing run over Balikpapan, Borneo.

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