¡Bombas lejos Naco!

Bombs Away Naco!

A Border Corrido

The Border has its tales, and some are epic fails,

the boldest man bewails, those Mexican jails.

One of them was Patrick, of the Murphy clan,

a flyer and mechanic, a lad with a plan.

Bought a plane in Texas, a Jenny for a song,

Momma don’t you fuss, nuthin’ can go wrong.

At seventeen he takes off, compass pointin’ west,

ain’t no surly bonds aloft, at flyin’ he’s the best.

He follows the tracks, don’t need no stinkin’ map,

not much that he lacks, aviator boots, aviator cap,

His airfield was a pasture, he sold the farmers rides,

a five buck adventure, he soars and he glides.

That Jenny ran on tractor gas, siphoned with a hose,

almost smooth as glass, as through the air it rose.

Then he hit the desert, out Arizona way,

his carb was full of dirt, and he had bills to pay.

Thorns in both his tires, he’s hungry and he’s broke,

does anyone require, a Jenny that don’t smoke?

He finally lands in Bisbee, and hears about a war,

there’s a possibility, he can make a score.

With Federales holed up, in tiny Naco town,

there’s gonna’ be a dustup, with rebels all around.

People packin’ lunches, on the Arizona side,

watchin’ the trenches, as the troops collide.

See the battle flow, like a picture show,

Murphy has no dough, to Naco he must go.

Swoopin’ over San Jose, the rebels cheer him on,

he will make a foray, he’ll attack at dawn.

A suitcase full of dynamite, Murphy’s in the fight.

he’ll cut the fuse just right, the Federals to smite.

But in the stratosphere, he’ll need a bombardier,

one who has no fear, a valiant buccaneer.

Enter Juan Solis*, a disturber of the peace,

he’ll drop that valise, on Naco beneath.

Fillin’ up with booze, a cigar for the fuse,

a braver man ensues, what’s he got to lose?

They take off in a rush, stirrin’ tons of dust,

the Federals they’ll crush, the rebel cause is just.

That Liberty engine roared, as aloft they soared,

let history record, the hits to be scored.

There’s just one little flaw, in their battle plan,

Murphy couldn’t draw, the layout of the land.

There’s another Naco, on the border line,

Murphy didn’t know, the Nacos were entwined.

There’s Naco Arizona, a peaceful little ville,

and Naco Sonora, where he can bomb at will.

The people cheer him on, as he makes his run,

the battle line is drawn, the crowd will have its fun.

The Federales panic, under aerial attack,

Solis lights the wick, there’s no turnin’ back.

He pitches out a bomb, a second and a third,

they’ll shatter the calm, and scatter the herd.

All their eyes are glued, on that little plane,

as the bombs are strewed, the Federals fire in vain.

Down below a boom, and a smoky plume,

can we assume, a Federales’ doom?

But two bombs go astray, on that fatal day.

Murphy missed his prey, and there’ll be hell to pay.

He’s hit the wrong Naco, the people are aghast,

and added to his woe, a bullet hits his gas.

One bomb hits the street, just missin’ a mesquite,

citizens on their feet, are makin’ their retreat.

The other hits a Garage, blowin’ up a Dodge,

and Murphy can’t out-dodge, the aerial barrage.

The engine coughs and sputters, a bit before it stops,

Murphy has a rudder, but he does not have a prop.

Headed’ for the ground, he’s gotta’ get her down,

just outside of town, No Man’s Land is found,

The landing wasn’t pretty, he nosed into the ground,

now Murphy’s movin’ slowly, as the troops surround.

Tangled in the wreck, he coulda’ broke his neck,

though he gets no check, at least he’s on the deck.

In the little Naco jail, they hold him without bail,

But justice won’t prevail, thus ended Murphy’s tale.

LDT Dec. 7, ‘21

          In 1929, a decade after the end of the Mexican Revolution, a small revolt broke out in the state of Sonora. Naco, being a Port of Entry, was a prime objective for the rebels. They besieged the Federal troops guarding the economically vital town. After failing to dislodge the troops with a rolling boxcar full of dynamite, the rebels hired a seventeen-year-old Texan, named Patrick Murphy to bomb them out. A drunken rebel served as his bombardier. High winds and poor aim caused some of Murphy’s improvised suitcase bombs to land on Naco, Arizona. These bombs caused some minor injuries and damaged several buildings. The Dodge touring car destroyed when one his bombs hit Newton’s Garage was said to belong to the Mexican General defending the other Naco. Though captured and briefly jailed on both sides of the border, Murphy suffered no real consequences. *My apologies to my old friend Juan for the use of his lyrical name. The actual bombardier is unknown.

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