Fighter Squadron Page #2

are hitting them where

they're tender.

What's the trouble?

How did you know?

When there isn't any,

you take a cigar.

It's a thing I

hate to request...

The court-martial of a

fighter pilot, Major Hardin.

On what charge?

Repeated violation

of combat orders

in the face of the enemy.

This is difficult.

Next to Brickley,

he has the highest score

of planes in the command,

and he's one of your boys...

That's got nothing

to do with it.

I didn't mean to

imply favoritism.

What's he done this time?

The same as before...

Refuse to stay

with the bombers.

In fairness, he went

down to the deck

trying to save one of his men,

but afterwards, he didn't

rejoin his squadron.

He kept on after

the enemy plane.

Did he get him?

He got three...

Two in the air, one

on the ground.

By strafing the field, he

subjected his plane to flak...

A cylinder shot off.

He had to wash out his plane.

It's lucky he wasn't lost.

That gives him, let me see...

16 victories.

Makes a court-martial

kind of tough.

It's because of that, sir.

He's a top ace.

The replacements

see him as an idol

and follow his example.

They must be taught in battle

the vital necessity of

their assigned duties,

to respect the tactical

judgment of the higher command.

He's violating your

own orders, sir!

Hmm.

Has the combat film on

the 17th come up yet?

Put Major Hardin's on.

Come on, Mel.

You ready?

Yes, sir.

Shoot.

Mel, it seems to me

that you've lost

sight of one thing.

Hardin was with the

Flying Tigers in China

before he joined

the Eagle squadron

with Hamilton, Brickley,

and Chappell.

In China, it was

every man on his own

and every Jap plane a

target, regardless.

My own personal feelings

after seeing that film

would be to recommend him for

another cluster on his D.F.C.

If you did that,

it would be a reward

for violating orders.

Yes, you're right.

By all the rules,

I ought to court-martial him.

The request is withdrawn, sir.

Good. Good.

But you were quite

right in making it.

Colonel Brickley speaking.

Your replacements didn't

arrive until 2100.

I won't bring men

back from missions

where they've seen

friends killed

and make them eat dinner

looking at empty chairs.

Have them here at 1800!

The major was very busy.

That chair is a hard seat.

A parachute pack is softer.

I put you on the spot

with Gilbert today.

Forget it.

To you, all Germans

have slant eyes.

I'd like to be there with you,

but the order is stay

with the bombers.

Gilbert's slogans.

"Escort over target

will retain auxiliary gas

tanks even if attacked."

That one, too.

You've refused to use our

friendship with Mike McCready

and go over Gilbert's head.

How long will you

let him hogtie us?

We got enough groups

to protect the bombers

and paste Goering's boys

before they get

off the ground.

Gilbert doesn't think so.

Gilbert isn't C.G.

McCready is.

Gilbert's uncle

is on air staff.

You won't do it.

You're an army officer

plus a gentleman.

I'm a China tramp.

I'm going to.

No, you won't.

That's an order.

Yes, sir.

It'll come in time.

When we're flying

rocking chairs.

Oh, they'll feel good.

A drink would feel better.

Let's make it two.

If I was flying,

we'd have had twice as many.

Keep busy, Wilbur.

Move around.

One time I was stationed

in Hollywood.

What a town that is!

One dame called for

me every Saturday.

Did she have a car?

Did you ever have

a chauffeur open

the door for you?

Did you ever have a lovely

blonde covered with perfume

entice you into a

$14,000 limousine?

Who do you think I go

with, hitchhikers?

Get a load of that captain...

Always talking about women.

If I had an airplane,

I'd have dames all

over the continent,

but I operate in a jeep.

Makes it tough.

Come on, Dolan. Get 'em up.

Hiya, Tennessee.

How are the boys taking it?

Some of them are

feeling mighty low.

A crap game usually helps...

Takes their minds off it.

Fellas, get out the dice.

I got $400. Where's Stu?

Upstairs.

Let's go get him.

You'd rather shoot crap

than talk about women?

Let's root him out.

Speaking of dames, there

was a little girl...

If he doesn't stop

talking about women,

he'll wind up married to one.

They're starting a

game downstairs

with two dirty

cubes called dice.

Bust out your flying pay!

You go play. I'm

staying with Ann.

Why would she stay with you?

Let me get my luck on.

You better come barefoot.

These are the good-luck

boots of all time.

You should have seen them

in that London store...

A bombed-out pile of rubble,

gutted by fire,

windows smashed.

Ya da da...

They were the only

thing left...

Immaculate, not even singed,

not one speck of dirt!

Did he tell it the same?

Last time, he put

the dirt first.

40 more.

You're covered. 60 more.

Yellow warning.

Yellow warning.

All personnel, prepare

to take cover.

Sic 'em, raf!

Big old nasty 7!

You better hold out

some money for cigarettes.

I feel lucky tonight. 200!

I got you.

Watch for those 11 freckles!

Four's his point!

Make a come bet. You

never made four yet.

All that says he doesn't.

What's that for?

As long as you're

betting leather...

Aw... Come on!

Let daddy make his point!

Red warning. Red warning.

All personnel, take

immediate cover.

Looking for that

great big four!

Hey, fellas,

where's that dough?

I made it... The hard way!

Hiya, Wilbur.

Hello, sarge.

Any calls?

Lady Woodbine called.

She said she'd meet

you tonight

at the same place.

On the bridge.

If it's raining,

under the bridge.

Gas up the jeep

and throw my white

tie in the back.

Wilbur, I'm a little short.

You got any money?

All I've got is a dollar.

You better write

home for some dough.

Yes, I think I'd better.

Let one out, will you?

Yes, sir.

Dolan, Colonel Brickley

wants to see you.

Yes, sir.

Yes, sir?

I have a memo here

from fighter command.

There's a sergeant been

spending a lot of time

in the towns of Randall,

Stratford, Kentborough, and Dorset

entertaining ladies, and

not by playing cricket.

When General

McCready finds him,

he'll have him hung... twice.

Can you describe him?

We know he's a sergeant.

His name's Kinsey.

Must be in the infantry.

Our men haven't had any

passes off the base.

And nobody's going

to get off the base.

Post that. Double

restrictions.

Fog's lifting.

Is that from Ann?

She sends her love.

She saw your father.

I'll bet the old man

talked her ear off.

You told her you'd be

coming home soon?

Yeah.

Four more missions

on this tour.

Only one more, if

this lifts today.

She knows you've signed

up for another one?

She never tried to

talk me out of it.

You got a good girl.

If only Brickley didn't have

that crazy rule

against marriage.

As long as he's in command,

we'll have to stick with it.

Mission's been scrubbed.

Fan mail?

This one, gentlemen,

is from a young

lady in Texas...

Blonde hair, big blue eyes,

and an oil well

in her back yard

that pumps out money.

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