The Fairchild Model 24, is a four-seat, single-engine monoplane light transport aircraft that was used by the United States Army Air Corps as the UC-61 and by the Royal Air Force. The Model 24 was itself a development of previous Fairchild models and became a successful civil and military utility aircraft.
Fairchild Aircraft was hit hard by the Great Depression in the early 1930s as airline purchases disappeared. Consequently the company attention turned to developing a reliable and rugged small aircraft for personal and business use. The Fairchild 22 became somewhat of a hit and led directly to the new and much improved Model 24 which gained rapid popularity in the early 1930s, noted for its pleasant handling characteristics and roomy interior. Having adapted many components from the automotive industry (expansion-shoe brakes and roll-down cabin windows), the aircraft was also affordable and easy to maintain. In production continuously from 1932 to 1948 the aircraft remained essentially unchanged aerodynamically and internally, with the simple addition of extra passenger seating and optional equipment. The first models were equipped with only two seats, but in 1933 a third seat was installed and by 1938 a fourth was added. The interior was first created for the Model 24 in 1937 by noted American industrial designer Raymond Loewy. A minor airframe revision was made in 1938 with the redesign of the vertical fin and redesignation from C8 to F24G onwards.
Key of E, No Capo
Verse 1
Ridin' shot gun in a hummer
But this one is dark green
It ain't covered in chrome
With the radio on like the ones
We have back home
We're dodgin' suicide bombers
That are ready to die, skys lit up
Like the fourth of July
Man I'd give anything to be back in the USA
CHORUS
Like in Panama City 'round spring break
Down in Okeechobee maybe out on the lake
Walkin' Duval Street with a margarita in my hand
At the ol' mud hole makin' lots of noise
Or in Ybor City hangin' out with the boys
Man I tell y'all it sure would be great
If I could just get back home to the Sunshine State
Verse 2
I got sand in my eyes and sand in my shoes
Everybody here's got the home sick blues
Sent Billy and Jimmy home in a box last night
Well my bunk mate Andy grew up on a farm
Just last week he lost his right arm
Now he cries him self to sleep most every night
We work sixteen hours sleep about two, spend the
Rest of the day wonderin' how to get through
Man I'd give anything to be back on friendly ground
CHORUS
Like in Panama City 'round spring break
Down in Okeechobee maybe out on the lake
Walkin' Duval Street with a margarita in my hand
At the ol' mud hole makin' lots of noise
Or in Ybor City hangin' out with the boys
Man I tell y'all it sure would be great
If I could just get back home to the Sunshine State
Bridge
Found this letter in a pocket of a soldier I lost
He was a hell of a fighter and he paid the cost
Think you'll find everything you'll need here in what I read
You'll know exactly where he'd want these ashes spread
Like in Panama City 'round spring break
Down in Okeechobee maybe out on the lake
Walkin Duval Street with a margarita in your hand
At the ol' mud hole makin' lots of noise
Or in Ybor City hangin' out with the boys
Man this soldier I'm talkin' 'bout sure was great
Glad he finally made it home to the Sunshine State