The
Trash Hauler tells the story of Forrest Carter, a West Tennessee farm
boy who enlists in the Army Air Corps in 1941. Although he hoped to
become an aviation cadet, his young age makes him temporarily
ineligible for the program. By the time he turns 19 and is eligible, he
is on his way to Australia as an A-20 light bomber mechanic. After he arrives in
Australia, he makes the acquaintance of Pappy Gunn, a former US Navy
enlisted pilot who was impressed into the Air Corps in the Philippines.
Gunn takes a liking to the young man, and after learning that he has a
commercial pilot's license, lets him fly as copilot with him in his
personal C-45 when he's not flying combat missions as an A-20 gunner.
When a sudden need for transport pilots develops. Gunn recommends the
young man to General George Kenney, the Fifth Air Force commander.
Forrest is assigned to fly as copilot on a C-53 with Lt. Tex
Williamson. Impressed by the young man, Williamson recommends that
Forrest be commissioned and assigned to flight duty as a pilot due to
his civilian flying experience. Forrest ends up spending over two years
flying out of Australia and New Guinea and returns to the US as a
major. He is surprised to find his high school girlfriend is still
waiting to join him on a lifetime adventure. Carol Ann has been working
for the Army. She suggests he remain in the Army after the war.
After
he is assigned to the test project for the new C-82 transport, Forrest
learns that his friend Tex has become his mentor. Tex has recommended
him as the officer to do the leg work in the development of a new
generation tactical transport. The Trash Hauler is the story of the
tactical airlift mission as seen through the eyes of Forrest Carter and
his family.