Worcester Democrat and the ledger-enterprise. (Pocomoke City, Md.) 1921-1953, 1941-08-08

not only taken the toll of Mac, his
best friend, but also Philip Bruce, the
brother of his best beloved. The re-
suit was an average of plane day
for his first week back at the con-
trolls of his new Spitfire which he
christened "Tin Can, Junior" in men,
DRY of the old plane he had lost in
Brittany.
HUTCH BRINGS DOWN AN
OTHER, became familiar headline,
and when he was cited for the Vic
toria Cross the press let itself out.
Even the more conservative papers
gave him streamer headlines and fea-
tured photographs. He had become
national hero and was hating it
thoroughly.
Now Hutch supposed he would have
to go up to London and be decorated.
Of course, he was delighted by the
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS highest for courage
but actually being decorated was a
trial he dreaded. And they made
such a fuss when they pinned the v.
C. on you. Well, there would be one
compensation - Wendy's ambulance
section had been transferred to Lon
don. At least he would see her, and
she would give him strength to go
through with it.
There had been three days of heavy
weather, with much rain, low scuddl-
ing clouds, and The Hornets had been
grounded. The fourth, just ten days
after the return from Brittany, was
clear, and wind dried the field quick
ly. Luncheon was over, and the pill
OTIS were sitting about the mess hall,
talking, playing the gramophone and
joking Hutch about being a publicity
hound, when the C. o. entered hur-
riedly. "Quick, fellows, a scramble.
They're coming towards London from
the southeast in waves. Can't tell
how many"
Almost before he had finished, the
pilots were running full tilt across
the field to their planes, and in two
minutes by the watch Hutch, closely
followed by the others, was off the
ground and climbing.
1t was not long before the attack
ing planes were sighted. There were
hundreds Of them, Hutch judged. But
there were other English planes, too,
coming in from all sides to the attack
and white puffs of smoke told that
the arches were at work on the
ground. It was going to be one grand
dog-fight. Hutch's jaws hardened and
his eyes smiled as he drove his plane
on at full speed.
The Hornets were the first r. A. F.
squadron to reach the point of attack.
Then other squadrons of Hurricanes
and Spitfires. The air was literally
filled with swirling, whining planes
in the most tremendous scramble in
the history of aviation. Planes blaz-
ed up and dropped like ducks before
the guns Of good shot.
1t was such mad mix up, with
every man for himself, that no one
could describe it. Hutch had lost
sight of all his squadron except Rus
ty, who some how or other had gotten
ahead of him. He saw his friend send
giant bomber to earth, and then
RUSTY" he yelled into the radio tele-
phone, but it was too late. A Messer-
schmitt had dived on his tail from
high above and set the plane on fire
SO suddenly that escape by parachute
was impossible. The tiny fighter
dove headlong, blazing like a shoot
ing star.
Hutch gritted his teeth, and through
his dry eyes, dilated with fury, he
saw red. "Mac, Philip, and now, Rus
ty. Twenty-a hundred fold they
must pay. They must pay me, Da-
vid Hutchinson" From then on he
was like wild thing, and his plane
was wild with him. Ground obser-
vers wondered and gasped as they
watched the Spitfire dive, machine
guns and accelerator wide open, bank,
climb, dive, bank, climb, When the
Nazis were in full flight over the
Channel, and his fuel supply was too
low to continue the chase, Hutch turn
ed back. Five planes had gone down
before the fury of his attack.
"Good old Tin Can, Junior" he said,
for the first time giving attention to
the plane. "You're a worthy success
sor to-My gosh!" Something was
wrong with the motor. There was
still plenty of gasoline, but he was
losing height rapidly, and all his skill
would not make it climb or even hold