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brings you the latest for nonfiction books. it comes from these companies and more. including carter communications. >> charter is proud to be recognized as one of the best internet providers. we are just getting started. building 100 miles of new inextra structure to reach those that need it the most -- infrastructures to reach those that need it the most this is f. every one of you pilots and crew

members, . this is for you. pilots and crewmembers alike. soon you will fly across the whole states of this globe, over all types of terrain, arctic, jungle and desert. get this straight. any land that you fly over you may some day have to walk on. and most cases the walking is not too good. take the desert for incident. a lot of spots be sides africa. china, the deserts, australia and the great sandy. and the desert sands of arabia and western india. all of them are rough, dry, hot, without mercy for the men who don't know them. this is the kind of country you fry during the day, shiver with cold at night, where a man would sell his soul for a drink of water. during the north african campaign a lot of our men found out about this the hard way. the only way the desert teaches anything. that is why you will have to know it. fighting against the desert is

a fight to the finish. tippin and his crew can testify to that. here is where they crash landed one day. falling off of the course. yes, they got it right where it hurts the most. antiaircraft knocked out one of the engines, the b-24 was riddled from nose to tail. the navigator and radio guy, both wounded during the fight. even getting this far was a rugged deal. for the first time these boys found out just how big and how empty a desert can be. down here in the middle of nothing it looked a lot different than it did from 10,000 feet. yes, a lot different. within an hour after they crawled out of their ship and got busy they had a fair idea of the spot they were in. no matter how they tried to

ignore it. no matter how they tried to laugh it off. >> anyone warm? >> warm, are you kidding? that is the heat. it is the humidity. >> turn me over when i am brown on one side, will you, joe? >> keep thinking about it, it will make you thirstier. >> a lot of good that will do >> five gallons of water shot to hell >> when you get your radio fixed up, george v them drop us a case of cold coke right away, will you? >> that is a hell of a joke. we had a portable transmitter with us we would not have to wait for that to start working we would be out of here by tonight. >> you knew it was being repaired you were there when shorty said it went to the stop. >> in the 15 minutes they gave us to take off i should of brought coffee, fruit juices and checked every emergency kit. why didn't you or joe or anybody? >> quiet, you guys, things are

tough enough as it is. >> what are we laying around for, why don't we get out of here. that ship will not fly us out. we got to walk, right now. >> cut it out, phil. >> why are we wasting time with all of this? what chances do they have without a doctor? we got to bring one back. we don't have enough water to lay around here and wait. >> a man walking out there in the desert has as much chance of being spotted from the air as it is finding teddy lamar behind a sand dune. we will stick right here with the ship as long as we can. crawling in the desert and coming out on top will be a shot. we will stay here for at least three days, after that, then, maybe a couple others will take a shot at going after help. that is our last and longest chances of them all.

>> it is just about time we got a few other things straightened out, too. we are off any main course, nobody back at the base knows what happened or where we are. we are still lucky to be out of enemy territory or we would have to burn the ship. >> if anything happens we can burn this. >> good deal, larry. now, listen, i don't want anybody going out in the sun. if you do, you can have heatstroke or heat exhaustion, we will work only at night or early in the morning. things may be rugged, i know, we will manage it all right if we keep our heads and go easy on the water supply and if george can figure out a way to repair the radio. >> we will see where we are. be sure you keep the navigators clock wound up, george. >> okay. now, first of all, water, it will be rationed. that is a big worry, water,

without it, nothing else mattered. the supply came to just 27 gallons. it sounds like a lot. 27 gallons of water. listen, that was to be divided with all of the crew but for the two wound understand men who would need more to live. these others, one quart a man a day to last them exactly 10 days. and for the first 12 hours, nobody outside of the two casualties would get any. tough, yes, but adequate, bearable and wise. now, let's get organized. do you have any ideas? >> yeah. you see that section right over there beyond that dune, i thank should make a goodlanding strip. it looks solid. not a lot of rocks and should be easy to clear. if a plane shows up it can land. >> we can rig up a landing gear with parachutes. >> let's go, guys. >> sit down, george, you don't

rush things in the desert and don't work until it is dark. keep your shirt on unless you want to boil. got to get ground signals out. now, that looks flat up there. it is fairly high. it would be a good idea if we made oil and sand for distress signals, if we find bushes we can burn them, too. find the signal we need here in our emergency manuals, by the way, did you get the signal flares out of the ship? >> yes, right here >> a single panel, too >> we can scrape the camouflage off of the top of the wing. 400 miles from the base. shelter? well, b-24 with this wing gave them one break. a natural roof. that fire is not for heat it is for cooking. a little oil and a little gas

to get it started. speaking of dinner, the desert heat hates spoilage of food do not let it stand in open containers, 102 cool nights. as a matter of fact you will find them are important for screens, for shades, for sleeping bags. but, particularly in an airplane was the one big hope. george got busy on landing strip markers filled with sand, dropped in and light and you are in. phil decided an easier way to have reflective surface was to use a piece of the ship that had a shiny surface. signal fire, that is where the oil cans came in again. in day time he will add the rubber to the mixture.

but, now, a flame is missing. less oil, more gas. there will be nine of those fires set in one large cross a sign that medical help is needed. but help when it comes needs a place to land. phil and bob are making a landing way. sam and larry took it out with the wings and sliced it up wide to hook it up to their battery. >> that should send the beams up high. the way i figure we can send one up every two hours, four a night and enough for 12 days, okay? >> i don't know, we better make it three a night and leave some for reserve. >> okay. let's light it up and see what it looks like. >> okay. i am all for getting picked up

right now. they worked pretty well that first night. thirsty? sure, but they were still full of energy. the lack of water had not begun to cut into the energy. nothing out on the desert or up above to spot their signals that night. nothing. >> what are you doing? >> taking my share of the water and getting out of here. >> you will be lost in an hour. >> yes. we got to stick together. what if they do not come back, that will make the water.

think of the rest of us. i don't think anybody is looking for us. >> you are a little jerk off. >> okay. sucker. you guys are . >> what you are doing is desertion. >> i have to get out of here. i am telling you we are never going to get out of here. for the start of the second day. topping 100 degrees before 9:00 in the morning. hot burning days, nights that bring little relief. that is the summer desert for you. in the winter you got the rain and nights that are really cold. and winter or summer they may be sandstorms. anywhere you look at it, it is

never any good. >> shorty. are you better? we have to give george tips on how to fix the radio. he can not get a peep. all right, let's bring in the flames. when he wakes up again, use more of this ointment on his eye. good work, men. that should be good together. >> using some of it. panned already. you too, larry. >> maybe the can was dirty. my food had a greasy taste to. >> i hope it was not polluted. >> he was playing it safe all

right but no sense in taking a chance. first, they must be crushed. two for every quart. usually it takes 20-30 minutes for the tablets to work. you can tell when the water is ready because then you can smell the chlorine. sometimes taste it. but the water that really needs your attention is the water around wells and villages. always assume that is polluted. >> how is the water coming? >> you can die from drinking it >> about 20 minutes >> remember when you get it, do not slop it down all at once. wet your lips first and rinse it around your mouth. that is what the arabs do. drink it slowly, small sips, tomorrow morning, we have it >> skipper, jim is coming to.

get him a drink. >> all right, jim. how are you feeling, boy? the third day no let up in heat, no improvement in the wounded. but there was one improvement that third day, living quarters. a double fly awning for the crew's front porch. it lowered the temperature quite a bit. they had done the same thing at the year, too, over the flap that is raised now to gain air circulation and cut down the heat. those are the tricks that are priceless, try to remember, won't you. >>. >> if only i picked it up

leaving the mess hall. it was full of coffee. >> okay. okay, okay. no, no results at all. all through the third night on the desert. that is how it went. no results from the radio. no view they can gather. that is something else that they can remember. you want to build up your water supply right from the very start, dew. a hole lined with canvas and rocks to catch the moisture, it will work if there is anything to catch. that was just it, there was not a drop. and pieces of metal left out overnight, that is a good idea,

too. but not today. not even on the wing of the plane. these boys weren't lucky. they picked the driest season of the year to which to settle down on the desert. the fourth day out, men growing weaker and the water sinking lower in the containers, and no sign of help of any kind. sam knew then they reached a point where something had to be done. >> seems to be the only thing we can do, sam. >> yep. >> this is the day, men. nothing shown up and we have to do something about it.

look. now, we are here. the base is over here. and the nearest oasis here. 60 miles southeast of us. that is about six days walking distance for men in our condition. the way i figure it. two of us should make a stab at walking to that. if one should weaken, the other might get through. they will each need three gallons of water, i don't think a quart a day is enough for that terrain f. they drink one gallon, slowly, in the 12 hours that they leave it will not be so much to carry. >> 6 gallons would leave for 8 days with it >> if we stay on the same rations. >> i told you we should of pulled out of here. now we don't have the strength to walk. >> we had to stay here first f. anyone flown over us it would of spotted the airplane. the breaks were against us, that's all. >> i think i should make the try. i know the desert a little

better. and gill can take over for me here and keep the signals going while i am gone. giving us a chance both ways, what do you think? >> who are you going to take with you? >> well, how about you, bob? you seem to be holding up all right. >> i am for it, skipper. >> okay. understand this clearly. gill will be the boss around here. whatever he says about rations or anything else goes. that understood? >> fine. well, we will start tonight. you have to travel light in the desert or you don't travel far. water, you will take a maximum load of that. that means a minimum of everything else.

only the essentials, goggles, matches, knife, bandages, eye syve and sunburn lotion and then the food items from the k- rations, biscuit, fruit and chocolate bars. tablets. joel built a . >> joe built a acpack for sam o of a regular parachute pack. he stripped it, cut off the excess. it was ready made, light, compact, simple. it proves a point already.

a little thought can turn a plane into a life kit of stools, making the difference between give up and keep going. the emergency drinking water containers were filled for the trek. a small airspace had been left in them so they would float in case they cracked at sea. at sea? fill them up, gill, those boys will not do much floating. meanwhile, larry used the very pencil kit for a pack for bob. it is lighter than the parachute pack but not as comfortable for a long trek. and parachute cloth will not only serve as a cover for the pack it will make an acceptable tent for them on their trip. george made dust masks and spiral, that is right, from the parachute. it is a must for walking in deep soft sand and he traded

shoes with bob because nothing short of gi can take that desert trek. remember that, will you? always fly in shoes you can walk home in if that is what you got to do. and phil turned out walking sticks, hollow tubing that will make for tent polls for later on. by 2100 that night after a couple hours sleep, they got ready to go. they planned on traveling until daybreak. he wanted to make 25 miles the first two nights and average 10 a night from then on. they were set. even to taking a long shift and money purses. they felt if the chips would not work the money purse would. the money and plenty of tact and diplomacy a must with desert jungle or anywhere else. well, that was that.

>> let's try it on, skipper. >> swell. all right. you don't want this under your arm. >> okay. hey, bob. here is is another box of tablets, stick them in your pocket. >> put gum in your pocket, too, bob. >> here is your pull. >> well, it looks like i am all set. >> hey, wait a minute. what are you going to use? >> i will be okay. how about that. [ laughter ] now, up to you to take care of things around here. you keep working at the radio. if the batteries run out, run the batteries for awhile. now, be sure to watch out for jim and shorty. and burn those signals, something is bound to work, i hope. here is your canteen >> thank you. >> how is it for you? >> it will be swell. >> make sure the wounds are

covered with sulphur powder and bandaged. no chances of infection, keep up your log, making a good record. bob? how about you? are you ready? >> you bet, sir. >> remember, everybody. bob and i charted our course directly southeast of here. we tried to leave some kind of a marker wherever we can. boys, you get picked up first track us down that way. well, i guess that is it. >> good luck, sam. >> thank you. if you don't fly over us before we get to theo waysis, we will get it in seven-days. and phil, that does not mean you are going on a water binge. >> . >> would you take this?

thank you, phil. come on, bob. come on, fellas, let's get the fire set and set those signals. they had done all they could. various signal devices, the panels reading "need medical attention" now they just needed a plane to see them.

nothing more to do. nothing but make waiting as enduring as possible. >> okay, shorty. >> bob and sam were not doing so badly. they walked 13 miles the first night, now taking it easy. no natural shade they used their walking sticks up right and set up the parachute and they dug into the sand to sleep. comfortable? well it could be a whole lot worse. the point is, you want to know the angles, in winter, when they are a ranged they would not of followed the dry riverbed. a flash flood could send a wall of water upon them in a few seconds time. and in the winter, too, they might of found water to drink. in the lowest point of the bend of the channel a few feet beneath the bed. there, or in a native water hole. but this is a bone-dry part of

summer there is just not a drop anywhere. the temperature under that wing august 6th was 129. 129. you perspieb in that weather no matter how stive you are and you sweat the salt from your body. that is not good. a lack of that salt can cause cramps and heat exhaustion, salt tablets, sure, they are just what you need if you got plenty of water. but these lads have not, they are doing the next best thing, they keep their sweat to a minimum and conserve the salt they have in their system. this was the second day of their trek and sam and bob are beginning to find out just how tough walking across the desert can be. it took plenty of willpower not to strip but sam new arabs wear

their clothes for a reason. the evaporation of has a cooling effect. stripped of the sing it would be gone too soon. cooling effect, over too quickly. >> we are comfortable. that is what i get not even halfway. >> don't think about it, kid. going to try to get more. >> when you get there weak you may be tempted to drink any liquid, your own urine, gasoline or oil.

don't. that is the quickest way to lose the fight. it takes willpower and guts to not. a lot of good men beaten the desert. it is tough but it can be done. >> hey, don't be a chump. by sa. sandstorms can be murder. the only thing to do is button up your clothing, put a dust mask over your face and duck into any shelter available. don't go running around looking for shelter, you are liable to get off course. if the stand starts piling up around you, rollover.

[wind blowing ] ♪ yeah, but i. . >> look. look. look i'm george so we can see. sure, sure.orge so we can see. i. water. water. look. do you see it too? wasn't. two guys ever heard of a't. have you ever heard of a mirage?

♪ for.

come on. ♪ rain.

i.rain. picked up george but it the way run away plane! plane. get up, george. plane. plane. the runway. the runway. come on. flares. come on. get up, joe. george. george. come on. come on.

♪

♪now, take it easy. >> two of our men, skipper and bob, went for help. >> all right. they sent us. they are okay. have another. >> yes, these boys beat the desert with a combination of brains, guts, and luck. learned to stay alive the hard

way. and so, a little less than a month later in the desert base of north africa the crew of the pippin rejoined the group and was back in operational flight. the crew was pippin ii, that is. yes. it is a different ship. it is also a different crew. different because it is wiser. never again will these men be caught without any one of the vital items of emergency equipment. they will carry them in their planes, chute packets and pockets. they are weapon, weapon to battle the desert and win. the easy way.

>> hurry up, phil. okay. skipper. ♪ ♪ if you are enjoying american history tv, sign up for our news letter using the qr code on the screen. to receive highlights from the up coming programs of lecture in history, american artifacts, the precedency and more. sign up for the ahtv news letter today and watch american history tv every weekend or any

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the american story. we continue with the series free to choose. co-produced by winning economist freidman. and his wife. then on lectures and history, texas women's university history professor talks about the federal government's efforts to explore and control the american west from the early 1800s through the civil war. at 9:30 p.m. eastern on the precedency. former polish president gives a speech marking the 113th anniversary of ronald reagan's birth. his legace and support of poland and solidarity movement. also on historic campaign speeches, first, 2008 campaign speech by democratic candidate hillary clinton at a rally at california state university, followed by a 2016 super tuesday speech by republican presidential candidate and florida sena