The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1941-10-24
A YANK In
THE R. A. F.
By HARLAN THOMAS

CONTINUED Prom Page Fourtesnb
Tim Baker could not help smiling
grimiy.
He didn't even know the Squad
ron Leaders name. He had been
told the name in the hut. Of course,
but in the excitement q piling out
he had forgotten IL The man was
like ali the other Squadron Lead
ers and Wing Commanders Tim
had met: calm. steely-eyed. busi-
nesslike and cheerful. They seemed
cut to a mold They were all like
Morley. Yet he. the American.
with his independence. couldn't get
them down They had immense
reserves inside them. Tim began
wondering whether he. too -.
"A1 right, chsps-sn set? the
steady voice came over the ear
phone Tim started. They were fly
ing high toward the vast and
smoky pocket of Dunkerque "All
set. sir" he answered into the
mike. He was serious and collect
ed now. The thing that lay ahead.
growing larger each second. was a
chaos. They couldn't make out
landmarks through the pail of
black. Even the line of beach lay
obscured. All they could see was
indeterminate specks of planes
maneuvering. hurrying. looming.
dog-fighting in a huge area above
the dense murk. Now the voice of
the leader was coming over again:
Fifteen east, he was directing.
See that bunch over there -
Tim saw what looked like a olus-
ter of tiny dots. IF you count
that fat covey of ducks over
there" the leader went on. all
ready to lay their eggs. you'll see
a chance to break the Squadron
record"
I'm with you, Johnny" one Of
the pilots called back excitedly
into his mike.
They were Heinkel bombers. fly
ing some 1000 feet lower than
they. and making for the beach.
An escort Of Messerschmitts was
covering the bombers. 1000 feet
above. The Spitfires had the alti-
tude. Now the specks became
wings. The Spitfires swung and
banked steeply around in order to
catch the Messerschmitts on their
TANKS and tails. Now Tim. with
his Squadron Leader out front.
was charging at the black crosses
and swastikas on the tail assem-
blies. The engines roared at full
throttle. The Messerschmitts were
maneuvering; but the attack
caught them. One ship burst in
two just as Tim was getting his
gunsight upon it-struck by his
neighbor's jet. He wheeled at the
next The German formation split
up. The Spitfires peeled off one by
one TO get at the bomoers.
The Heinkels were on the point
of plastering the beaches with
their heavy stuff. The Englishmen
came whining down upon them.
The air looked crowded with their
long gray wings and fins. Tins
Squadron Leader was the first to
strike. Then Tim saw that a bonn
ber's tail-gunner had caught him.
The leaders ship wabbled. He
thought he saw a plume OF smoke
trailing from it. II looked out of
control. The mans voice came over
the mike: "Plover 2-take over
Plover 2-take over :"
"Plover talking over" the Sec
ond in command called back. The
squadron streaked on, pursuing the
bombers that were now squaring
off into position above the beach.
Tim. craning his neck back an
instant. saw that three Messer-
schmitts had banded together
again after the Spitfires had scat
tered them, and were now making
for the wounded Britisher to fin
ish him off. At once he wheeled
his ship. Johnny" he shouted.
remembering at least that much
of his leaders name; watch II!
There's three Huns on your tail,
Johnny! I'm coming in from the
right"
He tore around, circling the
helpless ship that now wabbled
lower: Stay out! Stay out" the
Squadron Leader ordered him. u
can handle this"
Stay out, my eye"
The first Messerschmitt swooped
in. Tim streamed in at an angle
behind 1t. and before the German
could get in burst at the leader.
Tim squeezed the teat Of his ma
chine gun. There was a flash. OIL
spurted out Of the Messerschmitt;
lengths Of metal hurtled off. The
ship burst into flames and tore
downward, soaring the air.
That's for Roger" Tim shout
ed. He pulled around hard. trying
to get on the tail Of the next Ger
man Hold tight. Johnny" he was
yelling into mis- mike. Here ws
co.
TO Be ConclIded)