The Dawn Patrol Page #7

Soulet's 60 kilometers

behind the German lines.

There's no chance for a flight

to get through.

But one man, flying low, hedgehopping,

might possibly succeed.

- Chances are 10-to-1 he won't come back.

- I'll go.

- I'd like a volunteer.

- I spoke first. Do I get that job?

Is it mine?

Right.

Here are your instructions.

You leave at dusk.

You've got about two hours.

Right.

Tell Sergeant Watkins

to get my plane ready.

- Get that out by the first post, Kirby.

- Yes, sir.

Here's this razor you like so much.

You take that.

- For me, sir?

- For you, sir.

I couldn't, sir. You'll be wanting it

when you come back from the flight.

Tomorrow morning, you'll be yelling,

"Kirby!

How'd you think I can shave

without me razor?"

No, Kirby. From now on,

I'm going to grow a long beard.

Take this.

Make you smell like a geranium.

Very good, sir, if you insist.

Shirts, socks.

Here, take the whole lot, Kirby.

- Come in.

- Oh, don't say that, sir.

I've been going over this and I've found

a route that'll give you a better chance.

Don't bother.

I don't want to hear anything from you.

I'm in command here

and you'll listen to what I have to say.

I want that plane back, you understand?

We need them all.

- I want you back.

- Back.

Yes, back.

- Bring some chairs, Kirby.

- Yes, sir.

Thank you. All right, that's all.

I've been in touch with Intelligence

and they've given me some--

- No, thank you.

- No?

They've given me some rather interesting

information about this section here.

It seems that for a quarter of a mile,

there's hardly anti-aircraft.

That'd be a very good place to cross.

Go north then fly low

into the entrance of the Luonne Valley.

Fly low--

Thanks.

I say you fly low

into the entrance of Luonne Valley.

As you know,

there's no activity there, either.

The hills will hide you

until you're through it.

And then you go north.

Hit the railway here.

Then east following the tracks

right into Soulet.

Around here, all the big ammunition

dumps. They're all grouped together.

A hit anywhere in that vicinity

will set the whole thing off.

The enemy high patrol

gets back at dusk...

...so you'll have to fly low

to avoid them.

Your only chance is to get there

before they spot you.

That's amazing.

From that point on,

the place is alive with archies.

They'll phone ahead and you'll probably

run into some barrages...

...but you'll just have to keep on going...

...and that's all.

Yes, that is undoubtedly all.

- I've a suggestion to make.

- What's that?

You've got an hour and a half.

Why don't you lie down and have a sleep.

It'll do you good, freshen you up.

Get on your toes.

No, I couldn't sleep.

No? Well, how about one for the road?

No, I had two already.

This stuff works too quickly on me.

- Oh, come on. One more won't hurt you.

- No, thank-- Well....

To the job.

I'll drink to that.

- To the job.

- Right.

- You're a funny bird.

- Really?

I found myself very amusing lately.

You know, I've never seen one

of those big munition dumps hit the ceiling.

When it does, you'll probably hear it

back here. If you do, you can think of me.

Right. I'll think.

Court?

It's all the war, isn't it?

Donnie going and the old brass hats.

- A Flight, B Flight.

- Orders.

Drinks, friends.

I shouldn't go up there bad friends

with anybody, should I?

Be a good idea if you didn't.

What I mean is especially with you.

It has been a long time, hasn't it?

London, home, and all that.

- We've had some fun, though, haven't we?

- Yes. Pretty good times.

I've missed you,

especially when I'd had a few beakers.

Nobody to take care of the corpse.

Good old Scotty blotto again, you know.

- You never did now when to stop anyway.

- Oh, it's no fun if you stop.

Cheers.

You ever forget that awful night at Carsnips

when I fell over with my head in the soup...

...and you weren't there

to pick me out?

You should've seen her

when the soup arrived in her lap.

Oh, she never had a lap. Ever see anything

quite so straight sitting down?

- No. A lamp post.

- Optical Illusion.

There go me beads.

Oh, well, it's fun looking back, isn't it?

You're an awful old fool, you know?

How about that 40 winks?

- Little froufrou. She hasn't altered much.

- No. Still the same.

I shall now wake up with a nice,

fresh smile for Fritzie.

Good morning, Fritzie.

Here is your morning cup of tea:

And your morning bun:

- Court, I shouldn't be doing this.

- Oh, lie down. You've got lots of time.

- Well, you get me up. I rely on you.

- Leave it to me.

- The C.O. coming to see him off.

- Gun's are all right.

They'd better be. The rest of the plane too.

She's going on a real trip this time.

- Good evening, sir.

- Good evening, sergeant.

- Check the guns?

- Yes. They're all checked, sir.

- You're not flying, sir.

- Yes, I am, sergeant.

- Good luck, sir.

- Thanks, sergeant.

As a matter of fact,

thanks for everything.

Give my love to the bees

and the chickens.

- Switch off.

- Switch off.

- Contact.

- Contact.

- Have you got that?

- Yes. Replacements tonight.

A Flight at dawn.

B Flight accompany bombers.

- You got that, Phipps?

- Yes, sir.

And another thing...

...keep in touch with the observation posts

at Mainz for news of Courtney.

- I think we--

- You think? Well, don't think!

Tell them to keep their eyes open.

I think he's coming back.

- Just a little bit, sir--

- No, no.

I think you take a little, sir.

We've got a petrol trench

down the side of the field.

When we hear his motor,

we'll light it, of course.

Yes? Any news.

- Here's good news for you.

- Good news?

You have received special mention for

your part in stopping the enemy advance.

What?

The 59th

has received special mention...

...for their work in stopping

the enemy advance.

Why wasn't it me up there, Phipps?

I'm the one to be up there.

If only I'd known he was--

He may come back.

Here he is!

Enemy plane!

It's his helmet and goggles.

It means a very gallant gentlemen

died this afternoon.

And for what?

What we have all these deaths

accomplished?

So many fine chaps

who have died in this war...

...and are going to die in the future wars.

That's all, gentlemen.

Goodbye, Court.

Come along, sir.

Fall in, gentlemen.

Come along, lads. Line up, please.

Attention.

Orders for tomorrow morning.

Come along.

The 59th

has received special mention...

...for its part

in checking the enemy advance.

I know that--

Pardon me, gentlemen.

Commanding officer's inside, sir.

Will you follow me, please?

Wait here, please, gentlemen.

- Replacements, sir.

- Bring them in, Sergeant Watkins.

This way, please, gentlemen.

Lieutenant Carter,

reporting from the pool for duty, sir.

Very good, lads. Fall in.

Attention, commanding officer.

Stand easy.

Gentlemen, you will be glad to know...

...that the 59th Squadron

has just received special mention...

...for its part in checking

the enemy advance.

Orders for tomorrow:

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