Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-05-11


cockpit, sir. and I think you'd better report
sick"
Boone regarded the man as If to determine
his special meaning. Apparently satisfied, he
said, ST will Martin-n have to-" Going
back across the field, it became rather evident
that he had to- In the adjutant's Office when
he reported sick, the sergeant hastily concealed
an official letter, dictated by Capt. Boyd,
letter which would have interested Lieut. Boone.
Old Doc MurchiSon let him explain about
his grip Let me see that scratch you got
on the test range? Well, that seems to be all
right You look to me like man who's been
shot-but if it isn't that we'll figure out some
thing else. Come on back in my alleged Office"
An hour later Boone went to his quarters and
to bed. Doc MurchlSon visited him twice day
for q week. Meanwhile the war in the air went
on. Through it all the Eighteenth, with the
other I'd Group squadrons, sent out its
regular patrols. its day-bomber protection, its
conveys for Photographic planes. Three Fox
kers and two-Seater we're added to the record
and the names of Wattrous and Roy Peters,
B-dight leader were erased from the roll. Capt.
Boyd, flying regularly himself now, was more
thoughtful than ever, two pilots gone who
might have helped, and two new ones added
who stood scarcely chance. For, as unex-
pectedly as it had appeared, that strange and
effective guardian of the rear had disappeared
from the air.
"Of course. he disappeared" Jerry Westcott
and some of the others lounged in the opera
tiOns tent after the evening patrol "You notice
that unmarked Spad never appears when Boyd
is along, don't you? And it always did appear
when the captain stayed home, or pretended to
stay home. Well, there's your mystery. Capt.
Boyd doesn't trust any of US out there without
him, that's all. He and your mystery pilot are
one and the same bird"
you're wrong, Westcott." They glanced up
when their gunnery officer stood inside the
tent Zap 'I am in a position to know that
upon all those occasions of that Spads appear
ance Capt. Boyd was here on the field"
westcott bowed with mock courtesy. Far
be it from me-" he said, ito presume to debate
q point of flying with ground officer" He
whistled with apparent innocence q bar OF I'VE
are the Kee-wee-wee."
Glenn Boone's face folded dark red. But
his voice was controlled: "It wasn't point
of flying Westcott. 1t was q point of fact. And
another point of fact is that but for your being
one of the few experienced men In C-hight and
therefore essential would take you out behind
the hangar and punch your empty head
Glenn Boone wasn't big enough or well
enough to say things like that. Jerry West
colts first rush sent him spinning back-and
into the arms of Capt. Boyd. 'What in blazes
As going on herel Don't you all get enough war
without fighting your own comrades?"
Then the incident was forgotten as Capt
BOYD told them what was to happen in the
morning At dawn the American LIST Army
struck out through the Argonne for Sedan
There would be desperate struggle for con-
troll of the air, struggle which must De
victory. -Four new and famous enemy groups
had been reported on the sector, and warned.
If not before by the nights barrage, they would
be ready.
'"The Eighteenth gentlemen, takes of Is
minutes before dawn in two flights and goes In
at 5000 meters Lieut.. Duncan takes the
lower flight and Lieut. Westcott the upper We
have many new pilots but they must ny ike
veterans. will explain general tactics before
take-off. For reasons of organization and di-
xection I am personally commanded TO remain
on the field. Good night gentlemen"
IA I:READY a dark red sunset glowed on the
n northern horizon and the intermittent
thunder of guns was merging into blast.
Boone was one of the shadow-like figures
which fitted across the field to the hangers IN
the last moonlit half hour before dawn. He
heard the captains last orders and watched
the long line of Spads wheel out one
after another and roar away down the DARK
but familiar field. They would have the dawn
light as soon as they got up. FIe slipped fur-
lively away into the black depths Of B-hangar
empty of its planes save for one Martin'
Are you there? Is everything ready?
~Ali ready. sir warmed it with the others
Together they put dolly" under the spare
pIaue,s tail and dragged it outside through an
opening at the back Of the hangar. You
tackled that strip of linen over the NUMBER,
Martin? Here buckle this helmet for me, VIII
yuu2 can't get my arm up"
Boone TAXED an unnumbered Spad out upon
the slope behind -B-hangar. II man were
good enough he could take Spad Of on tnat
sloue before it hit the bordering trees and the
question had been settled for Glenn Boone be-
fore now His dark helmet and the shoulder OF
his flying jumper appeared for an instant above
the edge of the cockpit. Rudder, hippers ana
ailerons waggled The engine r0ared, the heaVy
tail came up and the chunky, solid little plane
streaked like a winged shell for the trees.
GIinting in the sunlight. Boone saw the two
flights, one above the other In two v forma-
TONS climbing toward the north over the mist