Twelve O'Clock High Page #6

I can't see what good

our bombing's doing.

And all the boys getting killed.

Just a handful of us.

We're some kind of guinea pigs,

only we're not proving anything.

You've got to have confidence

in something.

When you find something you've got

confidence in, everything changes.

It just doesn't make any sense.

- I just want out.

- Would it be better in another group?

It isn't a question of that.

I don't wanna fly anymore.

Doesn't it mean anything

that we hit the target with no losses?

Yes, sir.

I suppose so.

In a way.

But I just want out.

That's a pretty tough request

from a Medal of Honor man.

Sure we're guinea pigs, Jesse.

But there's a reason.

If we can hang on here now...

...one day soon

somebody's gonna look up...

...and see a solid overcast

of American bombers...

...on their way to Germany

to hit the Third Reich where it lives.

Maybe we won't see it.

I can't promise that.

But I can promise they'll be there,

if only we can make the grade now.

I'd like to believe you, sir.

I just don't have confidence anymore.

Well...

Looks like I'm chopping

and no chips are flying.

It's easy to transfer out of a group.

It's hard for a man to transfer

out of his obligation.

But every man has to play it

the way he sees it.

- Good night, Jesse.

- Good night, sir.

How's it going?

The inspector's got every pilot

in there. Cigarette.

- You got a light too?

- I have only the habit.

Well...

...they're still at it, sir.

You'll make a silly-looking

second lieutenant.

Don't ever give up the case

before the jury comes in.

Don't kid yourself.

So what? What's so bad

about the Pentagon?

Good food, cocktails.

- Well, sir, that was short and sweet.

- I'll bet it was.

Unpack. The IG didn't even

make an opening speech.

Bishop withdrew his transfer.

Wilson followed, and the rest climbed

aboard.

Left the IG with nothing to do

but go home.

What do you know?

Where's that briefcase?

I had it a minute ago.

They couldn't buck you forever.

They realize they had a chance

with you leading.

Better not count on one man.

Don't make that mistake.

It wouldn't be bad to cut loose

with a few passes to London.

A pat on the back.

I see what you mean.

Kiss and make up, huh?

You kiss them for shedding

their diapers.

Tell them we're going to work

on building leadership.

Tell them you're gonna lead

the next one, and it better be good.

Tell Bishop he'll find out

what it feels like.

I want every man who shows signs

of being able to lead a mule to water.

I want them all to have a crack.

You're out from under

those second lieutenant bars.

Let's get to work.

- Why burn 3 feet off my tail surface?

- Tough man?

He's taking this iron-tail business

too far.

Yeah, he's pretty iron-tailed.

He'll never feel for the group

like Davenport did.

- Nothing will eat holes through him.

- There's such a thing as being human.

You know what? The only difference

between Savage and Davenport...

...is that Savage is about

that much taller.

I don't get it.

Hey, Joe. How come you ain't

leading this one? Been a bad boy?

You know Joe, he only leads

the milk runs.

Where are we going?

Pull back the curtain.

- You'll wish I was leading it.

- Attention!

Rest.

This you'll be interested to know:

Intelligence says

the German aircraft industry...

...was converted to the production

of fighter planes for defense.

Fighters are being withdrawn...

...from the Russian front

to defend this one.

They must have heard about the 918th!

This morning's mission is important.

- For the first time...

- Germany.

You said it.

Wilhelmshaven.

For the first time we'll be targeting

German soil.

I'll lead. Bishop, high squadron,

Hollerman the low.

All right, Joe.

Stations, 0700.

Start engines, 0710.

Taxi, 0720.

Got a cigarette?

They're heading in.

- How many?

- I don't know, sir.

Here they come.

They're approaching the field.

Nine.

Fourteen.

Fifteen, sixteen.

How was it, sir?

Rough. They were waiting for us.

The count?

Two. Looked like four.

O'Neal made it to Lincolnshire.

Gately ditched in the Channel

and was picked up. Two wounded.

Let's get up to interrogation.

- Mclllhenny.

- Yes, sir.

- Were you in my ship?

- No, sir.

- That is... Yes, sir.

- Who authorized it?

No one. But I've been checked out as

a gunner. I had to make the big ones.

I won't have personnel

jeopardizing aircraft safety.

Maybe you'll keep on the ground

by removing those stripes.

And this time you stay a private.

- Get up to interrogation.

- Yes, sir.

I want a critique of the mission

first thing in the morning.

We might stand down a few days

with the weather.

They're ready for a breather.

Deal out some passes for London.

I gotta talk to you

about Sgt. Mclllhenny.

- What about him?

- Busting him complicates things.

How?

It's the precedent. We'd have

to bust Captain Twombley too.

- What about him?

- He stowed away too.

Bishop found out over Wilhelmshaven.

He heard the parson praying

when he was firing.

Now I've heard everything.

I'm afraid you haven't.

I'll give it to you in one slug.

No, thank you.

Harvey Stovall and Doc Kaiser

flew with Klein.

The whole ground echelon

was some place on this one.

- Any of them hurt?

- Don't think so, sir.

One more thing about Mclllhenny...

...he's been credited with

two FWs destroyed and one probable.

A born gunner, I guess.

- Did you know about this, Joe?

- No, sir, I didn't.

- I hope you don't think...

- All right, all right.

Twombley, Stovall!

Come over here.

You're pretty proud of yourselves,

I suppose.

- Let me...

- I hoped you wouldn't go into this.

I think I am suffering

from combat fatigue.

I'm gonna weaken, just this once.

I'll probably live to regret it.

You got the bulge on me.

I can't bust everybody.

With an understanding

that your combat days are over.

You ought to know better.

I won't like having to write

a letter to your wife.

You, Padre, your business is sin.

You'll confine your activities to that

theater of operations. Clear?

Yes, sir.

Hit anything up there?

Sir, my glasses were frosted over,

but I think I got a piece of one.

Ours or theirs?

Mclllhenny.

I heard about those two FWs.

- Put the chevrons back on.

- Yes, sir.

If we keep on having these ups

and downs, get zippers.

Yes, sir!

MAN 1:
When are they due back?

MAN 2:
Any time now.

Call the tower. Get a count.

Tower. What's the count?

Twenty back, one missing. 397.

We lost one, 397.

Lieutenant Bishop, sir.

Thanks, sergeant.

- See any chutes?

- No.

Jesse got a direct burst right over

the target. They didn't have a chance.

He was a swell kid. One

of the best pilots. He would get it.

Could've been much worse.

And battle damage?

Everybody caught plenty.

- More coffee, general?

- General...

- I tried to phone you about Gately.

- Did he get hit?

No, sir. But right after he landed,

he passed out cold.

I should've examined him, but he

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