Red Tails Page #5

You signed up to follow orders.

One bomber, that's 10 men.

You getting one Jerry so you

can put a cross on your plane,

that doesn't balance that.

We count our victories

by the bombers we

get to their targets.

By the husbands we

return to their wives.

By the fathers we get

back to their children.

What has not changed,

what will never change,

from the last plane, to the last

bullet, to the last minute,

to the last man, we fight.

We fight!

Yes, sir!

We've secured new aircrafts.

P-51s.

The best the AAF's got.

As soon as we get the A-okay, we'll

begin ferrying them in from Bari.

Dismissed.

Say cheese, say cheese.

Whoo-hoo!

My, my, my!

Hey, Maurice!

How are they flying?

Like angels.

I don't know any angels with

six .50-caliber machine guns.

All right, men, get your manuals.

Get familiar.

Coffee!

Yes, sir.

We'll need them all marked

up and ready to fly.

It's taken care of.

The Major says paint their tails

bright red, so they stand out.

Like the Red Baron.

Loud and proud.

Appreciate it.

Beautiful.

Blue skies smiling at me

Nothing but blue skies do I see

This will definitely make

the group distinctive.

Bright red tails

and black pilots?

You can't call us nothing

else but distinctive.

From now on.

Never saw the sun

shining so bright

Never saw things going so right

What do you think?

It's like it's speeding

even when it's sitting.

I never even met a girl

as beautiful as this plane.

Well, take good care of her.

What do you mean?

I twisted

the Flight Surgeon's arm.

Got you back on the roster.

You going up with us

next mission.

Uh...

Sorry.

Thank you, sir.

I'm going to tell the guys.

Heavenly Father, we thank

you for this glorious day.

We ask that you

send your angels down

to surround us as we

fly through the sky.

We know that it's

part of your master plan

that we've made it all the way

from Tuskegee here to Ramitelli.

We are very confident

in our abilities,

but we ask that you give

us the vision, the sight,

and the speed and power to

make it through this mission.

All the airmen say, "In

Jesus' name we pray." Amen.

Amen.

- Nothing's difficult.

- Everything's a challenge.

- Through adversity...

- ...to the stars!

From the last plane,

to the last bullet,

to the last minute, to

the last man, we fight!

We fight!

We fight!

Anybody got eyes

on the bombers?

Uh...

We are all by our lonesome, Red One.

Think we screwed up.

Right on target, and according to

my reckoning, 32 seconds early.

We're here.

They're not.

Maybe the bombers turned back.

Damn! Maybe they

went on without us.

Red One, there they are.

Nine o'clock low.

Junior, head on over

to the bomber leader.

Let him know we're friendlies.

Roger that.

Bogies! Three high.

Everybody, on your guns.

Counting close to 70 chicks.

We got one coming down.

Hold your fire.

They're ours.

Red tails? I don't

recognize the markings.

He's colored.

Yeah, right.

Hell if I'm joking!

Look.

Jesus Christ. They

can't all be colored.

One fighter group of all Negro pilots?

I don't believe it!

What the hell do we do?

Tacoma One to all planes.

Everybody's eyes open.

I don't think

our fighter escort

is gonna be much

help this trip.

Flying Fortresses!

At least a hundred!

Decoy Squadron, move in

and draw off those fighters.

Fighters, four o'clock.

They're not attacking.

Let them go.

Let them go?

Our orders are to

stay with the bombers.

Uh. What? What?

You're breaking up.

You heard Colonel Bullard. Forget

the prize, save the lives.

God, I hate this war.

Look at that. Those Red

Tails are staying put.

They're giving up

glory to save our asses.

We'll have to do

this the hard way...

...Break!

Here we go, Lightning.

Right behind you.

Where'd this jackass come from?

Get out of there, Lightning!

Come on, get out of there!

Don't you worry about me.

I'm just playing with him.

Stop fooling around!

Damn it, I'm coming.

No, you're not.

Stay put.

I'm gonna show him

a little trick I learned.

Whoo! Ha-ha!

Lightning, when are you gonna

learn this is not a game?

Coming up on

anti-aircraft guns.

Back off! We'll get

'em on the way back...

Break! Break!

Those Jerries are

hightailing it out of here.

Flak's getting thick.

Break off. Circle clear of the

flak until the bombers return.

Good luck, bombardiers!

All bombs away! Let's get

the hell out of here.

Here they come.

Form up.

Move in...

...Concentrate

on the stragglers!

Hey, Junior! You got

a bandit on your left!

Get out of there.

I'll take him.

Junior, get out of there!

Where is he?

I can't see him!

Ah!

Junior, where are you?

Are you all right?

I'm all right!

Junior, you're on fire!

Junior, get out of the plane!

Junior!

Come on, Junior, bail!

Geronimo!

We didn't lose a single plane.

Well, that's a first.

Red One, Deke's trailing fuel!

Don't look good.

Deke, talk to me.

What's your status?

I'm all right.

I got gas spraying everywhere,

but I think I'm gonna be okay.

I'm a little dizzy, but

other than that, I'm fine.

All right, listen up.

I'll give escort to Deke

. Everybody else head back to base.

No, I'll stay. I'm his wingman.

I'll stay.

Let me take him, Easy.

God, I hate this mask!

It's my call, Lightning.

Your calls have been

a little off lately.

What? What are you

talking about?

Junior shouldn't

have been up here.

You got a problem with the

way I'm running this squad,

you talk to Bullard

about it, all right?

Until then, I'm in control.

And my order for you right now

is to head back to base.

Damn!

All right, Deke,

you'll be all right.

I'll see you back at the ranch.

You got Black Jesus

with you, boy!

Thanks, Smokey.

Well, get me home, Easy.

No, sir. You're going

to get yourself home.

What the hell put the Captain

in such a bad mood?

He gets like that sometimes.

He knows good and well he

shouldn't have let Junior fly.

That boy was half blind.

We're almost home.

I hope we meet up with

those Red Tails next time.

Listen, boys, the bombers

have passed their safe point.

Our mission is over.

Let's head back to base.

You guys are

taking the long way.

I'm going to take a

shortcut down the coast.

Come on now, Lightning. Ain't

no need to get all crazy.

You know you got to stay

with your squadron.

You stay with the slow-ass squadron.

I'm running low on fuel.

And what if you

turn up missing?

Then I'll have to

break it to Major Stance.

Well, break it to him gently.

Great, great, great!

One's a drunk,

and the other one

does whatever

the hell he wants to do.

Smokey, stay with him.

And keep him out of trouble.

Don't worry.

I'll stick with him.

My head, it hurts.

We're almost there, Deke.

Stay with me.

Easy, I got blood all over

me, but I'm not bleeding.

You're gonna be okay.

I'm right above you.

Captain,

I'm getting real dizzy.

I need to rest a minute.

No, no. Stay alert, Deke.

I'm here with you.

I can't really see anything!

Everything's all blurred!

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