A Yankee Flier Over Berlin

. Allison drove over to see them. Looking

er," O'Malley said. "He just

tan motioned towar

have here," Al

go today?"

, but why only six fighters?

w I was goin' along

e experiments," Sta

e try, I'd say,"

equipped with vanishing planes." Stan got

Me's and FW's just sprout out of the ground as we go along." Allison frowned and shook his head. "If w

s than a minute. He slipped in over one of them, circle

ed when I popped in over the field. When I came b

ld believe such a

ieve it," Allison said grimly. "Why don't you

Jones once and got socked for it," Stan

O'Malley ran his fingers through his mop of red hair

through with only a few bullet holes. His bombardier had laid their eggs squ

leave, "is that the Wellingtons and Lancasters will blow B

showed his scorn by frowning

for the precision sights of the Forts and Libs," Stan said. "You notice when they want importan

said with a grin. "But I'd

ld go in and out alone," Stan pointed out. "The way it i

it," Allison said

as they were leaving. They were both highly excited. They had been assigned to active duty. Stan smi

of a side door. He paused for a moment. Stan eyed him coldly;

d for the Old Man." His lips pulled tight. "I don't blame you, but I

dryly. "And I'm not sq

deep red. "I figured I was so good I coul

said and grinned.

ord. Stan was still smiling as he entered the

op him one

desk. He looked from Stan to O

I made a date to h

olonel leaned back. "Go ahead with

and the colonel considered t

ith what we have been able to learn about German fighter tactics. I t

ial assignment growing

ecial assignment," t

Stan answered as h

the office. O'Malley w

p with that

id. "Now let's h

o trace of resentment or jealousy. The fellows were eager to know what had happened over

en walked over to where Sim was seate

join you?

you," Sim said

ed that Stan and Sim were laughing over some

greeted him. "H

Malley said. He sat down and

that the boys had buried the hatchet, so he saw no reason for being grumpy. B

ed off, leaving O'Malley and Sim together. The colonel

ulp," the colonel said. "

at down. The colonel passed s

ith P-51 ships and have a flight of three. Gener

se 51's are the new

" The colonel smiled. "But we have only a few of

. Each ship has a camera to record the details of any f

irely. Get down low and see

lot, who is h

man in mind?" Co

s,

you, but I already have

ed, trying not to sho

enant

"The same man I ha

Now tak

g to the radio in the rest room. At his nod O

al rhubarb de

we'll never be able to fly far enough

go along?"

grinned. "And we get P-51 ships

l fly to Berlin

that airfield," Stan answered. "There w

skin' to go along, it's a

me shut-eye." Sta

three big Mustangs stood ready and warmed up. They were powerhouses with wicked armament and plenty of

e one-man bombers

ajor said they could do about four hundred miles

il the Eighth gets a fl

e start down over Germany, then we'll keep within striking distance to c

tled. Control gave Stan clearan

ures. Sim, take off first. Re

nty fast. O'Malley went off next and was in the air almost at once. Stan kicked his throttle open and roared

here were many banks of clouds at high level with a very high ceiling. Stan kept his eyes open for enemy interceptors. He half hoped

alley was wagging his wings, signaling to go down. The fighter

ut with a swift rush that set Stan back against the shock pad. He had to

pt over it. They were close to the ground now, flipping along like cotton dusters on a Texas plantation. O'Malley was hugging the ground, popping over trees and sli

nd waver. It also made dodging power lines and missing church steeples exciting business. Stan raked a

u. Get u

n here," O'Malley called back. But

ine guns, but they were flying so low the German detector system had not spotted

in now," O'M

ing over the the nearest hill, with their bellies scraping the to

e placed the number of planes lined up at one hundred. They were in a

them!" h

of planes, their guns blasting flame and lead. The target was so narrow that Sta

se which blew up or burst into flames under the withering fire from the Yank guns. Up the P-51's went and over the

imaginable sort of gun was slamming lead and steel into the sky. The air above the field was thick with flaming muck. O'M

in sight! Not even the burning ships or those blasted to bits could be seen. There was no

do you know!

e rocket lift toward Sim's ship. It exploded with a blinding flash directly under the P-51. Sim's ship shot upward and a wing swirled away like a dark str

t. Looking through his spattered hatch cover, he saw that his port wing had three gaping holes in it. But the engine was singing swe

ster," he said softly as he kicked th

over in a perfect roll before Stan could decide what was going on. Leveling of

ed a pilot, l

The heavy guns of the P-51 roared and bucked. Up ahead the FW wobbled and dived. The other two went up for altitude.

a good look at this new type of fighter. They had learned from sad experience t

lley but he did see two wrecked planes at the far edge of the field away from the hill. Nosing

ther was an FW fighter minus one wing. The Germans behind their hidden batteries opened up with a savage burst of fire. Stan went straight t

ftly. "So that's

d him. The FW's had been joined by five Me 110's, but the Jerries did not close with him. Stan headed

was overhauling him rapidly. Suddenly Stan grinned. He eased back on the throttle and waggled his wings as O'Malley roared ov