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grand to be letting fly upstairs and see them toppling down. Seven times Jerry's tried to un- load.. his bombs on this outfit and seven times we've stopped him knowingly. "Now keen on long outside and a hurricane wind from getting too near. The eighth
blows through the The flying officer sinks down in walks-when there's time!" The Hurricanes huim down on.
doorway, he may be lucky and then he'll "Yes, I thought so," the squa- sweeping a crossword puzzle off do less damage if we're shooters the runway, mostly in sections of an.casy chair, within arm's reach
a telephone, The sergeant dron leader mused to himself as the knee of the sergeant pilot, as up there rather than sitters down threes, here and there twos. Red of
departed, pilot follows suit. The pilot officer he
wondering what groundsmen give the section, blue, green, yellow
waiting here. We're giving him no such
to easy chances."-- they taxi across the tarmac, to sprawls himself out on the "bis excuse he could find for giving planes a periodical warm up their stations as groundsmen race cuits" of an iron chair-bed. Andy a fortnight's leave;
keep them at the ready! -
Ting, ting, ting. The flying off- The ping-pong, the darts, the "Got in a hot spot the other forward to help out the pilots, in-
his The dozing pilot officer sharply cer grabs the telephone at spect the machines for damage, chess and draughts, the wireless, afternoon. Dropped bit be blinks an eyelid and glances at side. if any, refuel them ready for in the crosswords, the books and hind. Ten Jerrys had him to them- the telephone.
"Red section take off. Enemy stant action again almost before magazines all inevitable features selves. Engine shot out of action.
"Nothing doing," says the fly- approaching in force. twenty miles
south-cast, 30,000 feet.. ." the pilots are out of their seats, of this hut life can wait till lat- Parachute drop from low height, ing officer.
Without waiting even.to fling off er on. After three fights in a Nasty landing. Touch of 'nerve." "I suppose," I jokingly ques-
an Won't ever admit it." their helmets and parachute har- day, the last extending over
tioned, "you're looking forward to even supermen need
The leader, father of his.squa- a fourth fight to-day?" a ness, the pilots make their com- hour,
dron, and the Medical Oficer
replied. bat reports to the Intelligence Offi- breather and a refresher. cers, then retire into their duty A walter, without being told, watch over their boys with psy huts.
brings in a steaming pot of ten, chologist's eyes. They have to." All except two, whose slight bread and butter, fried ham and The team spirit makes pilots re- Iced minerals are there, luctant to take a well-earned rest. wounds are receiving treatment oggs.
But their leader and the M.O.. by the Medical Officer, and three too, if they prefer them.
their athers for whom this was
Close know what to look for. fourth fight that day, are ordered to stand by for an hour,
a
I was waiting at the hut when red section came in, hot and dis- hevelled but unscarred flying officer, a pilot offleer, a sergeant pilot. I'd already learn- ed they are a crack trio.
No alcohol, of course, passes the door of a duty hut;. neither, in the pilots' own interest, do they that desire it. At any moment telephone may go again, or that loud speaker within earshot may speak once more, giving the or- time since dor for the fourth breakfast, "Red section take off! Enemy aircraft approaching from
+
-By. JOHN CASHEL
study has shown that the boy who Record Of Prowess
goes from thrillers to long walks needs a break. It is a sure sign, from arm- The flying officer, Dominion- The squadron leader, who has this sudden change born and a former Auxiliary Air just heard from Intelligence at chair relaxation to physical acti- Force man, is in his mid-twenties, the Ops. Room the full news of vity, from one and the high spot in his record is the last fight, looks in .on the posite.
a score of five bombers and a tea party. fighter in two days.
•Story Of The Battle
more are
a
"Grand work, boys! Your four confirmed. Yellow got couple of Junkers. Blue two have more. Green three 110's.
The pilot officer, from Surrey, began as a Volunteer Reserve ser-
little geant, still looks a than an overgrown schoolboy at 22, but is old enough to accounted for eleven of the enemy in not many more than that num- ber of fighting days.
Once he downed two when he was one of a flight of six opposed by farty Germans.
habit to its op-
The same firmness is often necessary with wounded men who insist on going up again before their injury has even been dress- ed, and with night fighters who want to be included in next morn- ing's dawn patrol.
Red's flying-officer on one occa- sion fought five fights in twenty- four hours, the last time taking over the controls of a new mach- chorused. ine at a moment's notice, because
Dirty fighters, they machine-gun- Red section's tough crack trio: ned young Robble as he parachut- in the duty hut, and dozens more ed down. Good boy: We'll get like them at this station have 'em for that. Johnnie and Char- been on the job for twenty-four lie got in the way of the 110 can- hours a day seven days a week some days non stuff before they could close for weeks past, and The sergeant pilot, nearing in, but made perfect landings. they have spent far more time in thirty and formerly a Midlands Johnnie near the old church on the air than in stand-by and off- engineer, with a wife to share his the hill. Charlie on the mead, duty periods. glories, put paid in one week to Marvel how he missed those cows, twelve Nazis who got in his way. "Eleven losses to one. Keep it These Three Musketeers of the up. All of you O.K. for another Air, with a combined fire-power half hour?” at the rate of 28,800 rounds 3 minute from their Hurricanes, "We'll give 'em one for Robbie." his own had been damaged. share and share alike in their hut "Cheerio. Must drop in -the most democratic institution Green," added the squadron, lea- of its kind in the Services, where der. "Think the youngster there officers and N.C.O.'s meet on needs a break, but won't say so. equal terms while on duty.. Andy, I mean. The MO.'s.asked
The clock on a deal table ticks They are glad to strip off their me what I think. Notice anyth-
and away. Five minutes more helmets and harness, though their ing strange about the boy?" warm flying kit, "Mae West" life- "Gone suddenly off his thrill-another section takes over.
flying officer, A roar of engines comes from saving jackets and fur-lined boots ers", replied the
"O.K.. sir"
they
on
He made light of my comment that surely every machine has its tricks and needs getting used to. "One Hurricane," he replied, "is as good as another.
"Maybe" he
"It's
Outside, the loud speakers re- peat the orders. Red section take off. Blue section yellow sec- tion.
⚫ green section
The Northumberland Fusiliers going up over rough ground during an exercise In Britain. (Copyright. Fox),
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