The Way to the Stars Page #2

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Flight Lieutenant Archdale.

Just wanted to know if we were all right.

Hold on, sir. l'm putting you through now.

Hello, David.

No, nothing at all near here.

Well, not really"near". How's the airfield?

Good. Thank you for ringing.

Your snapshots?

Yes, l've had them developed for you.

Good show. l'll be down tonight.

- Oh, David!

- Sir ?

You won't be going on this afternoon's trip.

- Arthur! You'll lead B Flight.

- Right, sir.

l'm sending you up with Penrose

to give him a look round, see how he gets on.

The sooner we get him operational the better.

- Can't Arthur go with him, sir?

- No, David. Sorry.

Now, a re wo a here ?

No sir Just waiting for Mac

Oh, that's all right.

Oh, David, you'd better take a gunner with you.

Who was Thompson's Gunner?

- Clarke, sir.

- Sergeant Clarke!

l'm sending you up to stooge around

with Pilot Officer Penrose.

We don't want you running into

500 plus Messerschmitts.

- You'd better get a route from Ops.

- Right, sir.

Well, chaps, as you know,

the target for this afternoon

Calais. Barge concentrations.

- Bill Thompson was about your size.

- Thanks.

Superstitious?

- Just going to sign the 700. Won't be a minute.

- Righto.

The Home Service has gone, too.

Punctual blighter, Jerry.

Same time yesterday.

Probably having another big shot

at reaching London.

Well, Penrose,

what got you into the flying racket?

Three pints of beer,

l think!

l don't know, really.

l had to do something about it and l felt

l'd sooner do it this way than any other.

- What did you do before that?

- l was a schoolmaster at a secondary school.

- l'm just an amateur.

- There aren't any amateurs and professionals.

Just good pilots and bad pilots.

The good pilots stay alive

and the bad ones don't.

That's not true any more, either.

Thanks.

- Break your blooming heart, wouldn't it?

- Just my luck. Another 15-hour sprog.

Look out. Here he is.

- Afternoon, sir.

- Afternoon.

The port engine's not giving the revs

she should, sir. Careful not to overheat her.

She's a bit overdue for a major, sir, but the

Engineering Officer, he says we can't spare her.

lt's a wicked shame to treat aircraft like this, sir.

Mark my words, no good will come of it.

Thanks very much.

The new bloke, sir,

l bet his first takeoff's worse than mine was.

l doubt it.

Well, he missed the control tower

Come on, chaps. Time to get cracking.

Mr Palmer.

A fine sight, isn't it?

- One missing, isn't there?

- Yes.

We don't know which one yet.

- Had a good trip?

- Not bad. Just a stooge around, you know.

- How do you like flying Blenheims?

- Very much.

They take a bit of flying, of course,

but l'd sooner handle them than most types.

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