I wish to be a pilot
And you along with me,
But if we all were pilots,
Where would the Air Force be?

It takes guts to be a gunner;
To sit out in the tail,
When the Messerschmitts are coming,
And the slugs begin to wail,

The pilot's just a chauffeur,
It's his job to fly the plane,
But it's we who do the fighting
Though we may not get the fame,

If we all must be gunners,
Then let us make this bet --
We'll be the best damned gunners,
Who have left this station yet.