The Paducah Sun, Sep 14, 1944, Page 9


Members of RAF Go AWOL To Marry


Detroit, Sept 14 (AP) Tow members of the RAF met two sisters, wooed them and won them, in Pontiac, Michigan, but the honeymoons are probably post-war problems. Patrick Carroll, 23, of Dublin, and William Somers, 21, of Liverpool, were sent to Canada three months ago with a Royal Air Force ground crew. They met the Popple sisters while on furlough and continued their romance by mail.

When word came that they would soon return to Englnd, and with no permission to obtain furloughs, wvwn for a brief trip to Buffalo, N. Y., near their base, the two romantic lads cut military red tape by going AWOL to Michigan.

Carroll married Grace, and William was just about so say his "I do's" to Ilene before a justice of the peace, when Cpl D. McGuire, of the RAF military police caught up with the wedding party. He deferred taking them away until the justice had married them, permitted one kiss and then military discipline claimed the bridegrooms.

The two tearful sisters are hoping for mercy from the RAF for the two soldiers who were impelled by romance to go AWOL.