Command Decision Page #4

Nine...

...ten...

...eleven.

- I make it eleven.

- So do I.

How many do you have in a squadron?

Twelve, if it was a squadron.

That isn't the remains of a group

is it, Casey?

- I can't tell yet.

- Well, find out. Find out at once.

Boy, this really is a mess.

Better be a story on this, general...

...or it'll look like a cover-up

for the worst blunder since Pearl Harbor.

That was a whole group, sir.

Eleven out of 36.

That's almost 70 percent.

Colonel Martin just called in.

Eight miles southeast of the base.

He sent three ships ahead

for emergency landings.

- Are they going to land here?

- Yes, sir. That's two of them now.

Where's the third one?

Still sweating it out.

A bombardier is supposed

to be flying that one.

- A bombardier?

- Yes, sir. Pilot and copilot both hurt.

He's probably a washed-out flying cadet.

That first one's

got his number four feathered.

Hello, Nut Tree.

This is Kumquat B-Baker,

Kumquat B-Baker.

Two miles southeast of field.

Landing instructions, please.

Kumquat B-Baker, land runway two-four.

Wind variable, 10 miles.

Have you wounded aboard?

Nut Tree, this is Kumquat B-Baker.

Two wounded aboard.

Have ambulance stand by.

Roger, Kumquat B-Baker.

Hello, Nut Tree, this is Jellybean M-Mike

following Kumquat B-Baker in.

Have ambulance stand by.

Wounded aboard.

Roger, Jellybean M-Mike.

Hello, Nut Tree,

this is Lazy Dog L-Love coming over field.

Bombardier Lieutenant Nelson flying.

Pilot wounded and copilot dead.

What'll I do? Over.

Hello, Nelson. Nut Tree to Nelson,

how much gas have you got?

I think she's about empty.

Gas gauge reads dry. What'll I do?

Roger. Stand by.

- He's putting his wheels down.

- Don't let that boy try to land...

...with the whole group coming in.

- Yes, sir.

Hello, Nelson. Get 1000 feet.

Have crew bail out and head for Wash.

When headed toward water,

bail out yourself.

Having rest of crew bail out.

Landing instructions, please.

Nelson, you are not to land.

Repeat. You are not to land.

Continue to Wash as advised.

Sorry, Nut Tree, I can't bail out.

My pilot is alive but cannot be moved.

He cannot use his hands.

- Give me landing instructions, please.

- Let me talk to him.

Hello, Nelson.

Are you receiving me?

I am receiving you.

Have you ever landed a 17 before?

Not quite.

- Not alone.

- Hello, Nut Tree.

This is Bluebird Red Leader.

Red Leader calling Nut Tree.

Turning on final. Go ahead.

That's Ted Martin.

Roger, Red Leader.

Use runway two-four.

Wind, 10, variable.

Watch out for B-17

making emergency landing on one-seven.

Roger, Nut Tree.

Will he send the group around

until this boy gets out?

- He can't. They haven't any gas left either.

- Hello, Nelson. Hello, Nelson.

Now, listen carefully.

You may land on runway one-seven.

Do not use runway two-four.

Roger.

There'll be a little crosswind.

Do you think you can make it?

I'll try.

You'll make it.

Now, start letting down a little.

That's it.

Keep your air speed at 140

until you know you can make it.

Can you see the runway all right?

I see it.

Start your turn over that farmhouse,

so that you'll have a long approach.

That's it. Easy.

Not too steep. Not too steep, boy.

That looks good.

When you're over the end of the runway,

don't forget to cut your switches.

Do you know where they are?

- I think so, sir.

- Don't talk now.

That red bar

just in front of your throttles.

See it?

You seem to be lined up all right.

Now, reduce your air speed to 120.

Bring the stick back a little.

Not too much.

That's it.

Point it at the end of the runway.

I'll tell you when to level out.

Now, put your flaps down.

No, no, not your landing gear.

The switch right next to it, the flaps.

- Flaps coming down...

- Don't bother answering me now.

Keep your eyes on the runway.

You're doing fine.

Let her down.

Easy.

Okay. Now, start back on the stick.

Keep her straight.

Good boy.

Keep that stick full back.

Stay off the brakes.

Stay off those breaks!

That's Ted's ship there now.

- That Nelson a new boy?

- No, sir.

He's one of our original

squadron bombardiers.

- Glad to see you back, Colonel Martin.

- Glad to be back.

- Where's the old man?

- He's sweating you out inside.

He's got a crowd

of big wheels with him.

- What big wheels?

- General Kane and General Garnet, sir.

Never mind. I'll get rid of them for you.

All right, that way.

The second interrogation table.

The crew's all set up and waiting.

Photographers are ready when you are, sir.

- Photographers?

- What photographers, sergeant?

- Division and group public relations.

- By whose authority? Who ordered them?

Generals always have their pictures taken

wherever they go.

It helps the boys' morale.

Well, well, if it helps morale...

Cliff, sit in on one

of these interrogations.

Come on, Brockie.

We'll be in here, Casey, when Ted comes.

Whose idea was that?

Sir, we never would have gotten

rid of them without photographers.

Someday you're gonna wisecrack yourself

right into the infantry, sergeant.

What are you looking so grim about?

Ted.

- What's been keeping you? You all right?

- Not a scratch.

What's that blood?

My radioman.

- Bad?

- Dead.

- Anybody else?

- Not in our plane.

- As soon as you find that, bring it over.

- Yes, sir.

Hello, Goldberg.

When are you gonna retire?

I guess I should have retired yesterday.

Let's get a drink.

Evans, bring a couple of rations.

- We'll be in there.

- Yes, sir.

Make it three.

Tell them you're taking Hamilton's.

He doesn't drink.

I bought his on the way in.

- I'm glad you got back today.

- So am I.

Sorry, sir, I brought four by mistake.

- Glad to see you back, Colonel Martin.

- Thanks.

I hear Kane and that dashing

brother-in-law of mine are here.

Yeah. The place is full of generals today.

Did Cliff bring any news from Helen?

Well, you're not a father yet.

Cliff says she looks wonderful.

- I've been keeping an eye out for a cable.

- Thanks.

What's Cliff doing so far from home?

Well, he intimated...

...just routine rubbernecking,

high-level courier stuff.

Intimated?

Well, the handle

doesn't stick out anyway.

Colonel, you're speaking

of your revered relative...

...and a general officer

in the U.S. Air Force.

Any brigadier in the Air Force would give

his next star for your job, Casey.

Well, as soon as we finish Stitch,

they can have it for corporal stripes.

Thank heavens we're two-thirds finished.

What's wrong?

That's the joker, Casey.

We aren't two-thirds finished.

We aren't what?

You did Posenleben yesterday

and Schweinhafen today.

We didn't touch Schweinhafen today.

What?

You signaled me.

Mistake.

We plastered some darn place that looked

like it, some 20 miles from Schweinhafen.

- How'd it happen?

- Sighting mistake.

It was my fault, Casey.

Just as we started the bomb run,

the second group turned inside at the IP.

We had to swing wide

to get out of their way.

Goldberg had only a minute

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