William Decker

William Decker is the main protagonist of "The Last Flight", the 18th episode of the 1st season of The Twilight Zone, the episode airing in 1960. He is a pilot from the 56 Squadron Royal Flying Corps of WW1, who was somehow transported out of WW1 to 1959.
William Decker was portrayed by the late Kenneth Haigh.
== Biography ==
=== WW1 service ===
William Decker served during World War 1 under the 56 Squadron Royal Flying Corps, becoming a combat pilot and gaining the rank of Second Lieutenant. He befriended a fellow RFC pilot named Captain Alexander Mackaye, jokingly referring to him as "Old Leadbottom" after an incident where a German soldier managed to shoot him in the rear while he and Decker were flying over enemy lines. However, to not hurt Mackaye's pride, Decker refrained from telling anyone else about the joke. Decker also knew of a French combat pilot named Guy Niemayer, who mysteriously vanished after passing through a strange white cloud that silenced his engines, attending Guy's memorial service. However, despite Decker's service, he was quite cowardly, even in combat, often persuading Mackaye into splitting up during patrols as an excuse to linger in the clouds, away from the enemy. To keep up an image of being as fierce and brave a pilot as any other, Decker shot his own cockpit several times to make it look like he's seen combat.
=== The Last Flight ===
On March 5, 1917, Decker and Mackaye were deployed on patrol in France, and before they could split up, they were attacked by a squad of at least ten German planes, with no backup in sight. Seven planes surrounded Mackaye, while three attacked Decker. Decker, giving into his cowardice, promptly flew off, leaving Mackaye behind, knowing full well Mackaye would die there. However, he flew right into the same cloud that once claimed Niemayer, finding that his plane went completely silent within, and emerged in 1959, landing at an American airbase in France, which used to be an RFC base. Not realizing that he had traveled 42 years into the future, he was amazed by the sight of the large bombers and carrier planes, before a provost marshal, Major Wilson, stopped him and had him cut his engines. When questioned as to why he was flying an antique, Decker was a little slow to respond, amazed by how advanced the Americans were, before taken into Wilson's jeep.
Wilson drove Decker to the see the base commander, Major General Harper, Decker still amazed by the modern technology and presence of female personnel. Meeting with Harper, Decker snapped to attention, identifying himself when asked. Harper asked if Decker was part of an airshow or a film, but Decker didn't understand, and was confused when Harper demanded to know why he was wearing a costume, only relaxing when Harper told him to be at ease. Decker asked where he was, clarifying that he thought he was landing at an RFC base. Harper then asked Decker for the date, and Decker replied that it was 1917, only for Harper to inform him that the current date was 1959. Decker, dumbfounded, asked if they were joking while taking a seat, then insisting that it was 1917 when Harper questioned him, only to see a fighter jet taking off outside, the advanced technology confirming the future date. Decker then saw the same cloud still up ahead, recounting how it was like a vacuum, and remembered Niemayer's disappearance. Harper questioned Decker again, and Decker exclaimed that it was 1917 when he took off, mentioning Mackaye, a name that Harper recognized. Hearing Harper ask him about Mackaye, Decker demanded to know how Harper knew who Mackaye was, and Harper replied that Mackaye, now an Air Vice Marshal, was on his way to the base for inspection. However, Decker, remembering where he last saw Mackaye, thought that Mackaye was dead.
Decker was then held under guard, being told of other historical events like WW2, while his personal effects were retrieved from his plane, Harper finding Decker's gun and believing he planned to kill Mackaye. However, Wilson began to believe Decker's story, if only because it seemed very unlikely that someone would go to such incredible lengths for a hoax. Wilson then met with Decker in the room he was held in, where Decker asked why he was imprisoned. Wilson replied that it was orders, but Decker revealed that he didn't want to see Mackaye, and that he told the Americans everything. Wilson pointed out that Decker's story was too incredible to be true, but Decker stuck to it, demanding to be left alone. Wilson asked how Decker knew Mackaye and why he thought Mackaye was dead, and Decker revealed Mackaye's nickname, and said how the last time he saw Mackaye, he was surrounded, not believing he could've survived. Wilson revealed that Mackaye was a WW2 hero, who saved thousands of lives during the Blitz, but Decker promptly tried to flee, although an MP forced him back into the room. Wilson asked him what was wrong, and Decker admitted to being a coward, knowing that Mackaye would call him out on it if he saw him, and admitted that he never tried to fight the planes that chased him. He even admitted that many times, he daydreamed of letting himself get captured by the enemy just to end it all, but was always held back by his perceived duty of 'playing the part' for his country.
Wilson insisted that Mackaye survived the encounter, saying that he may have gotten help somehow, and Decker realized that maybe he is meant to go back and help him, and that he was brought to the future for a purpose, given a second chance. He insisted that if he didn't go back to 1917, Mackaye may not survive, but when Wilson protested, Decker promptly knocked him out with a punch, then overpowered the MP and fled the base, running back to the airfield to find his plane, briefly shocked by the loud noise of a nearby landing helicopter. Finding it at the end of the field, he knocked out a mechanic that tried to stop him and got his plane started, but as he got in, Wilson, recovered, caught up with him and pulled a pistol on him, ordering him not to go. Decker replied that he had to go, not just for Mackaye, but for all the thousands Mackaye would save later in life. Wilson threatened to shoot, but Decker dared him to, saying he'd rather die, making Wilson stand down long enough for Decker to take off and fly back through the cloud, reemerging in 1917, right where he left Mackaye, still being attacked by the Germans. Decker flew right into combat, guns blazing, taking down three German planes before being shot down himself, dying. However, that allowed Mackaye to take down the rest of the planes and escape, living to complete all the deeds he would do in the future.
As Decker's personal effects were kept by Harper in 1959, they were not retrieved with his body. However, in 1959, Harper believed Decker's story when Mackaye arrived and corroborated it, presenting Decker's personal effects to Mackaye at long last.
== Navigation ==
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