Today, we present a short quiz about our military branches’ traditional songs. Match the branch (A-E) to the first line of the first verse of each song in the list below (1-7). There may be more than one song per branch and there is one tricky part. (Answers follow the quiz – there are no prizes at stake!)
A. Marine Corps
B. Air Force
C. Navy
D. Coast Guard
E. Army
1. Off we go into the wild blue yonder
2. Eternal Father, Strong to save
3. From Aztec shore to Arctic zone
4. Over hill, over dale
5. From the halls of Montezuma
6. First to fight, for the right
7. Anchors aweigh, my boys
8. Contact! Joy stick back!
Easy bonus question – which song is also printed in some Christian hymnals and may be sung as a hymn selection during regular services?
Bonus question answer: 2
Matching answers:
1: B
2: C
3: D
4: E
5: A
6: E
7: C
8: Keep reading
As mentioned in yesterday’s tweet, the CAF Red Tail Project’s P-51C Mustang is in Colorado Springs today and tomorrow in order to participate in a cadet parade event. It will do some flyovers today during the parade. Tomorrow afternoon, pilot and Project leader Brad Lang, who is the son of a Tuskegee Airman, will be in front of the cadets talking about the history and legacy of all the Airmen.
One of the aspects of the Airmen that Brad may discuss is how everything started with the activation of the 99th Pursuit Squadron. I just found out yesterday that the 99th had a fight song of its own and that prompted curiosity about the US military’s songs. The 99th’s song was direct – it was wartime after all – and stirring:
Contact! Joy stick back!
Sailing through the blue
Gallant men of the ninety-ninth
Brown men tried and true
We are the heroes of the night
To hell with the Axis might
Fight! Fight! Fight! Fight!
The Fighting Ninety-ninth
Rat-tat! Rat-tat-tat
Down in flames they go
The withering fire of the Ninety-ninth
Sends them down below
We are the heroes of the night
To hell with the Axis might
Fight! Fight! Fight! Fight!
The Fighting Ninety-ninth
Drink up, drain your cup
To those daring men
Flying torch of flame, Oh God
Red White Blue, Amen
For, we are the heroes of the night
To hell with the Axis might
Fight! Fight! Fight! Fight!
The Fighting Ninety-ninth
Wish I knew the melody!
For more information about the traditional military hymns and marching songs of the U.S military branches, these links are a good start:
The CAF Red Tail Project is a volunteer-driven 501c3 non-profit organization that operates under the auspices of the Minnesota Wing of the Commemorative Air Force. For more information, please visit redtail.org.
