Fighter Squadron Page #3

Probably begging for

my hand in marriage.

Don't you know any poor women?

I avoid them.

A teletype came from

General McCready

ordering Brickley

to headquarters.

Smells like Gilbert.

Brick just left.

I have a message, sir.

"New fighter group 604 and 605

"will be assigned to escort

duty with 10th Bomber Wing

when fully operational."

Signed, "Curran."

Oh, hello, Brick.

Have a cigar.

Oh, you don't smoke.

Brick, we don't see

enough of each other.

I've been pretty busy.

Yeah. You've been

flying missions, Brick.

What do you think of

the combat policy?

I'll make the

question official.

I respect General Gilbert.

He's a perfect combat flyer.

His ideas were O.K. A year ago

when we didn't have

enough planes,

but he's out of

date on two counts

since the last five groups

became operational.

Belly tanks?

The target escort having

to hold on to them.

Staff requires full

flying time over target.

We get jumped on the way.

Our planes can't beat

the Germans with tanks.

The boys that find that

out haven't survived.

The second those

fighters jump us,

we should drop those tanks and

knock them out of the air.

They won't be around

tomorrow to give us trouble.

And, uh... what else?

We've enough groups

to send experienced ones

in ahead of each mission.

Smash up the airfields,

pin them down.

Yeah, uh... including

your own group?

Yes, sir.

That's a hard nut

to crack, Brick.

Statistics show

that our losses

are four times greater in

low-altitude operations...

Flak, machine guns,

rifles, pistols.

They even throw pots and pans.

The objective is to get

the most bombers over the

target free of attack.

If you believed in it,

you could persuade staff.

It seems a long time ago

since you fellas came to me

from the Eagle squadron.

It's been a lot

of flying time.

Brick, can you stand a shock?

I've held off as

long as I could.

I want you to give

up your group.

You're my best man.

I wanted to make you a

brigadier a year ago,

but your heart was

set on flying.

Take over a new group...

The 604th.

Make that a crack outfit, too.

I was afraid it

was a desk job.

You'd be no good

behind a desk...

Losing weight,

fighting ulcers,

fighting the Air Depot.

I know what your

group means to you,

and I'm not going

to pull rank.

Will you do it?

If you want it that way, yes.

Good. Now, who do you

recommend to replace you?

Ed Hardin.

Hardin? Ah, I don't know.

Hardin's a lone wolf...

Bad record with

violating orders.

He's a great fighter,

but he's not cut out

for organization.

He's never had responsibility.

You know how I feel

about my group.

He's the best man to see it

through the tough spots.

You've respected my judgment

of men in the past, general.

Kid, if you want it that way,

his orders will come

through this afternoon.

Thanks, Mike.

I beg your pardon, sir.

"General."

Great Scott, my pill!

What are you doing up so late?

Waiting for you.

The colonel sent

me on a mission.

There's a guy waiting for you.

Probably the girl's father!

Harry.

Here I am, governor.

How many you got?

Half a dozen, about

3 years old.

You want the soap

or the cigarettes?

I'll take the cigarettes.

You'd better take the soap.

Get lost.

At ease, Wilbur. Any calls?

Victoria called... The

barmaid from Surrey.

I told her you were wounded.

You're practically a sergeant.

Give me a hand.

This batch ought

to last me a week.

Oh, they're nice.

Where's the other one?

There it is.

I'll save this one

for Saturday.

Aren't you afraid

you'll get caught?

By who? The officers?

When the war is over,

they'll be working for me,

and I got a job for you.

Thank you!

No salary.

I'll give you part

of the business.

Oh, thanks.

They make an awful

lot of noise

when they're fighting.

Or maybe they're hungry.

Yeah.

I got this money clip

from a dame in Chicago.

Now it's full of franc notes.

Why carry French dough?

In case I get knocked down.

He's been carrying the address

of some French dancer.

The most beautiful

French acrobatic dancer

at the Folies Bergere.

She does a dance of

rippling muscles.

If I meet her, you

guys could have

all the women I ever

told you about.

This dame probably

doesn't exist, either.

Jack Cotter at the 85th

was dying when he told me.

He got so excited,

he got well again,

but I already had her address.

What was that address?

I'm no stool pigeon.

I think I'll go show

Millie the village.

Dolan must be drinking alcohol

out of the compasses again.

He's saying Brickley's being

transferred.

It's true.

Colonel Brickley

wants to see you

in his office, Ed.

This is no good, Brick.

We've been playing ostrich.

Lightning had to

strike sometime.

Who swung it. Gilbert?

No. McCready wants me

to break in the 604th.

That makes army sense...

Wreck the highest-scoring

outfit he's got.

Who else can they get?

You, colonel.

He's out of his mind.

I recommended you.

I thought you knew me better.

There's Hamilton and Duke.

I don't tick that way.

I can run a squadron,

not 48 planes in a rat race.

You could. You

never wanted to.

A cute kid lieutenant

in Honolulu,

you wanted to be a rover boy.

Threw up your commission

and went to China.

Play it high, wide,

and handsome.

Voluntary missions...

Plaster them.

Think of nobody but yourself.

We used to do that in

the Eagle squadron,

but you've made this war

your three-ring circus.

I've taken the rap.

Now pay me back.

This is my outfit.

Give every man a

chance to survive...

Keep them on their toes,

strict rules,

split-second timing.

Will you do it, or will you

keep flying for yourself?

Or can't you take it?

I'll take it.

Thanks.

"Cute kid lieutenant."

Oh, you...

Where's your bag?

She's in Peoria. He

kissed her good-bye.

It isn't every day we

get rid of a colonel.

We want his office!

Ten hut!

At ease, men.

Any man I ever chewed out

while I was C.O. of

this outfit, stand up.

Ha ha ha!

I'm sorry. Good-bye

and good luck.

Pull the rip cord!

Steady on your feet, Ed.

You never saw when I wasn't,

and don't get married!

Transfer from the group first!

Take him away, corporal.

Get them on straight.

Colonel Hardin's going

to be proud of those.

I keep pricking my finger.

That's practice for sewing

on your own stripes,

and you will soon

because I'm punching for you.

Don't eat the coat.

I wasn't going to.

Listen, get busy. Move around.

Don't let him catch you

sitting down all the time.

Yes, sir.

At ease.

Medical report. A-4 on

those major repairs.

Here's your blouse, sir.

Just finished sewing

on the leaves.

Kept sticking my finger.

I'll get you a pretty

Red Cross nurse.

I'd rather have a thimble.

I'd do anything for you.

Find Sergeant Kinsey. I'm getting

complaints from headquarters.

He gets around. He

must be a paratrooper.

Well, find him, sergeant.

Anything else, major?

Colonel, Dolan.

You haven't got the coat on.

Thanks, sergeant.

You're welcome, colonel.

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