The Hunters Page #4

When do we get a mission?

We're scheduled for the morning | at five o'clock. Don't you read the schedule?

I just got out of indoctrination. | Five o'clock - that's all right with me. George.

What?

- George. | - "Tom" and "George".

You see, "George" means "OK" | and "Tom" means "not OK".

- Right, Pell? | - You got it, man.

- You don't get around. | - I've been around once.

There wasn't anything to see except some | shavetails with big cigars stuck in their faces.

Aren't you the heater from World War I?

Don't sell me short. | I got my wings in Gettysburg.

- That's real George. Would you like a cigar? | - No, thanks.

How about you, Lieutenant Corona? | How about that?

You want a Corona, Corona?

- It's gonna be a long winter, Major. | - Not so good, huh? Tom.

- Where are you from? | - Peoria.

- Peoria, what? | - lllinois. What do you think, "what"?

I didn't know. I was asking.

I'm sorry. | Everybody's been giving me the business.

Hey, Major, | do I look like I've got bugs on me?

Why? You got an itch?

- Ask a silly question, you get a silly answer. | - Sir.

- Sir. Am I gonna fly on your wing? | - No, you're on Corona's wing.

I could be in the infantry | with a foxhole to hide in.

Wait till you see my stuff. | You'll give me a shot at a MiG, won't you?

- You'll get a shot. | - You guys are OK.

No kiddin'. We'll cut 'em up, won't we? Huh?

Well, thanks, Major. Good night, uh...

- Hey, we'll jive at five, huh? See you. | - Good night, Lieutenant.

You're too wide, Cobra Four, bring it in.

Yes, sir, Major.

That's your position. Now stay there.

A wing man's job is to cover his leader. | Don't forget it.

Yes, sir, Major. Whatever you say, sir.

Why can't the MiGs come down to us | sometime? We always play ball in their park.

- If they bail out, they're among friends... | - Cut the chatter.

This line's for official business.

We're coming over enemy territory, | Cobra Flight. Test your guns.

Cobra Flight- fuel check.

- Cobra Two - 300 gallons. | - Cobra Three - 320.

Cobra Four- 2-9-5.

We'll make one more sweep down | to the mouth of the river and then go home.

- Four bogeys at three o'clock, Cobra leader. | - You're sure?

GCl reports no bandit activity in this area.

- He's right, I got 'em too. | - Roger, I've got 'em now.

Four bandits on parallel course. | Maintain present heading. Drop your tanks.

What are we waitin' for? | They're just sittin' there!

Cobra lead, I can't drop my tanks.

OK, Three, I'll decoy. | Abbott, follow me down.

- They're goin'in. Why are we waiting? | - Let's go, Pell.

Get outta there, Cobra Four!

I got one! I got one! Do you see him?

Affirmative, Cobra Four. I see him.

Where's Corona? Where's number three?

Just hold still, baby.

I'm hit! Cover me, somebody!

The MiGs are crossing the river. Break off.

Are you OK, Cobra Three? | Did you get hurt?

Not too bad, but I'm burned up, freezin' | to death and down to 150 gallons of fuel.

Let's go home.

Cobra Four?

- Cobra Four, where are you? | - Four o'clock right, lead.

What are you doing out there? | Get back into formation.

You won't forget my confirmation, | will you, leader?

You'll get your mark. You'll get your MiG.

Coo-coo, daddy-o, coo-coo.

I'm losing power, leader. | I must have taken one in the engine.

Abbott, take the Rover Boy | and persuade him to go home.

Roger, leader. All right, Cobra Four, | close it up and let's go home.

My hydraulic pressure is fluctuating. | My controls are getting stiff. Look me over.

You've got some bad holes behind your gear.

We'll drop down to a lower altitude | and head for home.

Blow your canopy off | and prepare to eject over the base.

She won't blow. I'll have to fly her down. | Somebody can chop me out with an axe.

Mayday. This is Cobra leader.

Go ahead, Cobra lead.

Cobra Three's shot up. | Flight-control trouble and a jammed canopy.

We have a Mayday.

Did you read me, K-13?

We'll be ready for you. | Bring it in on the alternate runway.

Get those trucks movin'! Tower, tell Dutch | we have a Mayday on the alternate runway.

- Who is it? | - Corona. He's going to try to wiggle it down.

- What's his fuel? | - We don't know.

Tower, this is Cobra lead. | Do you have us in sight?

Yeah, I've got 'em.

We see you, Cleaver. Send Corona down. | You land on the main runway.

- You're by yourself, Cobra Three. | - Aren't we all?

- OK, leader. | - Good luck, Cigar.

You look about right. Gear's down OK. Speed | looks OK. Take it easy and don't blow it.

Don't anybody get excited, | I always walk away.

Get your nose down, Corona! | Ease it down! Ease it down!

Drop the nose! Drop the nose!

My controls are locked.

All I want to know is this - where were you, | Lieutenant Pell, when Corona needed cover?

He was cutting through | Major Saville's line of fire, chasing the MiG.

- I didn't see the major. | - Why did you leave your element?

- I asked Corona. He said OK. | - I didn't hear that.

- Look, pops, you're tryin' to bug me... | - At ease, Lieutenant Pell. I said at ease.

- Cleaver, did you hear Pell ask permission? | - No.

That doesn't mean I didn't. | There was a lot of chatter up there, Major.

All right. That's all.

You and Lieutenant Abbott can go. | I'll discuss this with Major Saville.

If there's any discussing about me, | I want to hear it.

Are you too stupid to understand | you've been dismissed?

- OK, OK. | - What did you say?

Yes, sir, I've been dismissed.

- What do you think about him? | - I can't use him.

Take a look at his record.

Air-to-ground gunnery - first in his class.

Air-to-air gunnery - first.

Tactical combat - first.

First, first, first.

- On his first mission he gets a MiG. | - At the cost of one of ours.

That could've been a misunderstanding. | Maybe Pell did ask permission.

He's a liar.

I can't ground a man | on something we only think.

That's your decision. | I don't want him in my flight.

Nobody else will want him either.

There's another way to handle this.

Make Pell your element leader.

Then you've got no worries. | Somebody else can cover him.

You want me to pat him on the back?

Say, "You killed your leader, | I'll make you leader"?

Nobody's patting him on the back. I got | one thought - get MiGs. That's my job.

This little stinker's a fireball. He can get MiGs.

If he doesn't get himself killed, he'll be an ace.

I won't stand in his way | if he keeps his nose clean.

Let somebody else wipe it for him. | Not me. Not my flight.

Yes, in your flight. I couldn't find a better | place for him if I looked for a thousand years.

These boys put their lives on the line because | it has to be done. Even if they aren't sure why.

But you - you're different.

You like the risk. | It's the way you get your kicks.

When you put your life on the line | it's to see if your number will come up.

Let's not pretend you care about Corona. The | death of another pilot never turned your head.

I remember you from the old days.

You were just like this boy. | Way out - all by yourself.

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