Twelve O'Clock High Page #7

didn't report an injury the other day.

The x-rays show a crack

in the lip of the vertebrate body.

Painful?

Incredibly.

He's flown three missions with it.

- A fractured spine?

- That's it. I've put him in traction.

Gately.

Okay, Doc.

Thanks for letting me know.

- Now I'll have that coffee.

- Okay.

Anyone in particular

you'd like to see, sir?

No, thanks, lieutenant.

Just looking around.

- Go right on with what you were doing.

- Yes, sir.

- That'll cut in on your crap-shooting.

- It's costing me.

- How long will you be here?

- Ten days.

- Tell me if I can do anything.

- Thanks.

Birdwell, they get all that flak

out of you?

Just about, sir. Doc didn't need

no mine detector to find it.

- You getting enough chow?

- Just living in the tall cotton, sir.

- How are you feeling, Ben?

- I'm okay, general.

I was sorry to hear

about your bad luck.

Thank you, sir.

Doc didn't waste much time.

Oh, excuse me, Ben.

That's pretty sensitive, huh?

That's okay, general.

Go ahead and sit down.

I'd rather stand.

I've been piling up more sitting time

than flying time anyway.

What kind of a gadget is this?

Part of the Wright brothers' plane?

Looks uncomfortable enough.

- Help the back any?

- Relieves the pressure a bit, sir.

How long did Doc say

you're gonna be laid up?

A few weeks, sir.

- Is it pretty painful?

- Not much, sir.

- Guess you don't feel like talking...

- Go ahead.

Ben...

Yes, sir?

I was just gonna say...

Anything you want?

Something I can send you?

Not a thing, general.

I've got everything I need.

Let us know if you need anything.

Thank you, sir.

I'm gonna drop in across the hall.

I'll be seeing you, Ben.

I'll have to rate you

a Class A customer.

I just learned you're something

"extra special."

This mission has been handed us

by the combined chiefs of staff.

It is a target of critical importance,

which requires deep penetration...

...far beyond possible

fighter support.

If we can destroy it,

we'll have proved daylight bombing.

This is the one we've waited for.

With our limited equipment...

...it'll take three trips to carry

enough bombs to destroy the target.

You will have to plan these strikes

down to the last pint of gas...

...the last pound of load,

the last second of time.

All right, Colonel Davenport.

There it is, what we're after.

Ball bearings.

Almost the entire German production

is concentrated here.

Without ball bearings, the German

armament industry will halt.

I wish I had something stronger

for you, Frank.

If we pull this off,

things will pick up.

- We may get three or four new groups.

- Growing up, huh?

How soon do you think you can

come back up here and help me?

That's hard to say, sir.

Why?

On paper the group looks fine now.

Leadership's a problem, always has.

Haven't you got the personnel?

There's nothing wrong

with our personnel.

I lost Bishop and Hollerman.

Cobb's okay. So's Gately,

but he's just out of the hospital.

Takes time to know.

- How long before you will know?

- I don't know that one either.

How can you be sure? How do you know

what you're pushing Gately into?

How do we know we didn't send Bishop

up once too often? I'm down there...

Frank! You're swinging after the bell.

Tell me something. What was

the name of the man you relieved?

Who, Keith?

Remember his trouble? You're not

propping them up too, are you?

Take a good look, Frank.

Do you think that?

It would be natural enough.

The things you go through

with those boys.

Working your way out of the hole.

It's hard not to let them

get to you.

You've been flying more missions

rather than less.

I'm the one who's got

to shove them up there.

Until they're ready,

I won't turn them loose.

All right, Frank.

Make it as soon as you can, will you?

- You bet I will, sir.

- You'll tell me when?

- Yes, sir.

- Bring me back a ball bearing.

As a personal favor,

keep yourself in one piece.

That seems like a reasonable request.

- Good night, sir.

- Good night.

- Keith?

- Yes, sir?

I want the files on all the air execs

and operations officers...

...recommending those who'd

take over in an emergency.

- Anything special?

- No, but keep it to yourself.

- Yes, sir.

- Thanks.

- Tail wheel?

- Locked. Light off, sir.

Brakes.

Over splasher beacon 9, navigator.

Set course

for combat wing assembly line.

Tail gunner, let me know

when the other groups tack on to me.

Savage to crew.

10,000 feet. Go on oxygen.

From now on we're registering

on the enemy radar screen.

Watch your talk.

Don 't tell them more than we have to.

Navigator to commander. Departing

English coast on course, on time, sir.

Savage to gunners.

Okay to test your guns.

Yeah. Again?

Picked them up yet?

- The air ministry's on the scrambler.

- Say it again.

All right. Thanks.

I'll ring you again.

Your aircraft is approaching

the enemy coast at 24,000 feet.

Our intercept station reports the

largest enemy reaction ever recorded.

They're ordering down units

from as north as Denmark...

...and as far south as lafu Five.

Here's a new wrinkle.

They're instructing pilots

to ram your aircraft if necessary.

Navigator.

Do you think

we crossed the enemy coast?

Yes, sir. We sure have.

Change course.

Fifteen degrees left.

Heads up, everybody.

Look out for fighters.

MCILLHENNY:

Four FWs 10 o 'clock level. Climbing.

CO-PILOT:

I'm coming up on the side!

You on the interphone.

Be specific. How many? Where?

Eleven FWs three o 'clock.

On your toes, both squadrons.

Here they come. Twelve o'clock high.

Cobb, they're heading

for the high squadron.

MAN 1:
Birdwell got a direct hit.

He's going down.

MAN 2:
Squadrons climbing at 12 o 'clock.

- I see them.

Six more, nine o 'clock level.

About a mile.

Gately, pull that squadron forward.

Abel to Baker and Charlie leaders.

They'll fake an attack

to cover the real one.

Watch out for mass attacks,

eight and 10 abreast.

MAN 1:
More coming around from one.

Watch them!

MAN 1:

I got one. He's bailing out.

MAN 2:
17 dropping out of blue squadron.

In trouble. Keep an eye on him.

MAN 2:

Two men bailing out.

Three more. They're on fire.

Save your ammunition.

We got a way to go.

Shorten bursts. Don't waste rounds.

MAN 3:

B- 17 out of control, three o 'clock.

MAN 4:

There goes another Charlie, sir.

Navigator, did we make up

that 2.5 minutes yet?

Yes, sir. We... Watch out!

If it doesn't shift any more,

we'll be okay at control 0.7.

Here come three more.

Close it up tight.

Savage to crew. How bad are we hit?

We're hit bad, sir,

in radio compartment, on fire.

See what you can do about it.

Rest of crew,

hold your stations. Let's settle down.

Bombardier to commander.

Fly at 12 o'clock.

We can forget about fighters

for a while.

Abel to Baker and Charlie Force.

Change of plan. Start your bomb run

from Halstuben.

MAN 5:

Charlie leader. Wilco.

MAN 6:
Baker to Abel. We'll be bombing

in a crosswind. Second target clear.

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