Rutherford G. Montgomery

“ Gazing out through an open window, he watched a group of natives herd a flock of donkeys down toward the main part of the city of Bizerte. He certainly would kick himself if no invasion came off for a month. Lowering his feet from the top of the table, he strolled out into the sunshine. Colonel Benson was due to arrive that morning and he had orders to be on hand, along with other flight commanders, to meet his superior. O'Malley yawned. Meeting brass hats always bored him. He was not sure that he was going to like being one of them. O'Malley considered even a flight commander a brass hat. ”

“ Stan stripped off the fellows cartridge jacket and grabbed his tommy-gun. He was glad the Germans had equipped their hounds with rapid-fire guns.
Leaping forward he reached the back of the house. There he halted. The squad cars were in the back yard, two of them. Four men stood at the back door listening to the shouting above. Stan saw the kennels and set himself to blast a path to freedom.
Suddenly he heard a wild yell from above. It was O'Malley and Stan could tell the Irishman was seeing red. There was a fight in progress up on the balcony. Machine guns chattered savagely. ”

“ Stan wiped salt water out of his eyes and shook his head. He had seen many rough-riding vehicles of war, such as tanks and jeeps, but the PT boat had them all bested. Any craft that was such a rough-riding brute that half of its seasoned crew got sick was no place for him, he assured himself.
Toward eleven o 'clock Malta came into view, and they put into port through a mass of ships and flatboats and barges. A sprinkling of warcraft, including one British warship, filled the channel they were following. But that did not bother the skipper. ”

“ The captain beamed, but there was a look in his eye that made O'Malley sit up and wipe the grin off his face.
"And what may it be?" he demanded.
"You are to ferry Lightnings to Malta." The captain lifted a hand as O'Malley came out of his chair like a cork out of a bottle of Algerian wine. "This is dangerous business. You may have to fight your way through. This will be day flying."
O'Malley snorted. "Fight! Sure, an' ferryin' [Pg 15] to Malta is no work for a fighter pilot. 'Tis a job for these new colleens you got in the ferry service." ”

“ Stan said eagerly. "The Bolero boys have a secret landing strip where they hid their planes when they didn't want Mussolini's agents to trail them. That landing strip is just above the place where the Germans are holding Allison and O'Malley."
"In that case I'll assign you a fast bomber and an objective. You will drop your bomb load at another spot and make a try." His eyes were twinkling. "And if you should bring back Mussolini, I think you might get a medal." ”

“ One motor was dead and the other was not putting out much power.
Suddenly they realized that they were being covered by flak fired from a field ahead of them. The barrage was fierce and concentrated. It sent the Yank fighters kiting up to a safer level. The boys felt sure of their kill anyway. The Fiat had started to billow smoke out of the tail compartment where an incendiary shell had lodged.
"I'd rather bail out than land in this thing!" Allison shouted.
O'Malley shook his head and grinned. "Not one chance, she won't lift a foot. Here goes for a belly landing!" ”

“ The sky blossomed with colored parachutes [Pg 55] until the blue was thickly dotted with them like a field crowded with spring flowers. They came floating down with machine guns and supply hassocks dangling from their chutes. On a slope above the field a glider nosed in. It slid to a halt and a jeep bounded out of its fat, rounded snout. Another glider slid in and a tank rolled out of it almost before it had slid to a halt. The slope above them was already swarming with Yanks, and machine guns were rattling.
Stan looked around desperately. They were being rushed toward a big truck. ”

“ If we rouse the Germans, we'll be in the same spot we were in the first time we got loose."
"I don't think so," Tony answered.
The problem was solved by the appearance of an officer. He bellowed angrily into the cellar, then took a step or two into the dark passageway. That was a mistake. Allison tapped him over the head with a gun barrel and dragged him back.
"He says the villa has been fired. There is only a few minutes to load up and get out." Allison laid the officer beside his men.
"We won't tie him up. When he comes to he can free his men. I wouldn't roast even a German," Stan snapped. ”

“ Germany has as complete control of Italy as she has of any conquered [Pg 100] country. The Germans will be helped by our Black Shirts, who know they will be treated badly if they do not stay in power." He spread his hands wide. "Every officer like my father will be hunted down. We will be hunted. Today we dress as civilians and go north to destroy Nazi rail lines and supply dumps."
Stan took the packet. "Have you any suggestions for our getting out of Italy?"
Lorenzo smiled. "My brothers and I will have no use for our Nardi fighter planes. ”

“ Allison was blistering the Germans rushing down upon Arno, but the distance was too great for a tommy-gun.
Stan kicked the motors on, setting his brakes hard. The attackers were now fanned out and charging across the meadow. Allison could not halt them because they had spread out thinly over a wide front.
"Should we leave Arno?" Tony asked. "He would want more than anything else that you men got away."
"We're not leavin' him!" O'Malley shouted. "I'll get down an' go help him. He may have been hit by a bullet." ”

“ O'Malley fumed.
"Malta is just across the strait, I'll bet," Allison said. "I've heard that the Italians use this trick, but I never thought they'd fool the Irish." There was a mocking note in Allison's voice. "We may as well climb down like good little boys. They have us covered with a hundred machine guns."
"I'm getting out very carefully," Stan said. O'Malley said nothing at all, but he climbed out and joined Stan and Allison.
A group of Italian officers crowded around them. All were smiling and bowing as though welcoming the Yanks. ”

“ A dozen armed guards had been standing at the gates under shaded lights, while the machine-gun crews outside were dragging their guns around to bring them to bear inside the yard. After the second grenade exploded with a roar Stan saw nothing at the gate at all except a pile of bricks where one of the entrance pillars had stood a moment before.
"Good going, but Tony has been hit," Allison shouted. "Better get into the car!"
Arno had the engine roaring while Allison and the general were sweeping the yard with tommy-gun fire. ”

“ The three Yanks were rushed out upon the parade ground at the Italian base. Two squads of shouting Italian soldiers escorted them. They burst upon a scene of confusion and excitement. Stan looked across the grounds toward the runways. Suddenly he burst out laughing and poked Allison in the ribs.
"Look! His Nibs is deserting us!"
General Bolero was leading his staff toward a parked plane. For a big fat man he was making fast time. ”

“ Arno asked.
"Is there a back yard?" Stan asked.
"A very spacious one, but with a high stone fence around it and only one gate, though it is a very wide gate," Arno answered.
"There is the stone passageway to the wine cellars," Tony put in.
"We don't want to be caught in any wine cellar," Allison answered.
"We have to figure on fast work. The dirty work we've done here will be discovered within a few hours, then they'll be after us," Stan said.
"I know the house and I think I know the spot where prisoners will be held. The Germans always take the best rooms for themselves. ”

“ Stan seated himself and waited. The colonel regarded him for a moment, then started to speak.
"In all of the years I have been in service I have never read a report like the one handed to me. That report covers your activities as ferry pilot in my command." The colonel shifted some papers on his desk, selected one and began reading it silently.
"Yes, sir," Stan said, feeling some reply was called for.
"It is a continuous recital of violations of orders resulting in a great deal of trouble. In my opinion it deserves drastic action." His cold eyes stabbed into Stan. ”

“ He'll have to turn you over to the Germans. This part of the country has been taken over by the Nazi gang." Allison spoke slowly. "The general hates the Nazis. Figure it out for yourself."
"An' suppose he pops up with a regiment o' soldiers to take you to a camp about five minutes before our parole is up?" O'Malley asked.
"He could do that anyway," Stan answered. "We've waited a month. A few more days won't kill us. I have a feeling Allison is right."
"The Italians have thrown Mussolini out, perhaps they will start throwing the Germans out," Allison said. ”

“ Your spy system is very dumb, indeed. Your fighter planes should have known better."
"We were Italian prisoners of war. Our uniforms were ruined. As a matter of courtesy the Italians furnished us what clothing they had." Stan spoke stiffly. "We demand the rights of prisoners of war."
"We will decide what rights you have, but I believe you will be shot as spies." The officer turned to his superior and spoke in rapid German.
Allison had said nothing at all. O'Malley just glared at his captors, his big hands balled into fists. Stan moved close to him. ”

“ Stan leaned over and looked down. The scene below was a stirring one. Three battlewagons of the cruiser class lay offshore. In closer, a line of destroyers was blazing fire and smoke as they blasted the shore batteries of the enemy. A group of torpedo boats darted in and out, tormenting an enemy ship. Toward the shore and moving from four big transports came the landing barges: the personnel barges, the tank carriers, the mechanized armament barges. ”

“ Allison grinned at him.
"You fly the crate, old man. I'm one blighter who wants to get even for some of the slaps and kicks we got in that prison dog house."
"Sure, an' I'll be after flyin' her," O'Malley said. "But only because I'm thinkin' ye'll be needin' the best pilot in this crew at the controls o' that ship."
"You hate yourself, don't you?" Stan teased. "You fly her, but just remember, if you get into a dogfight and don't show up when we set off our flares, you'll get the beating of your life when we walk in." He grinned at O'Malley. ”

“ Glancing up he saw that by quick thinking O'Malley and Allison had gotten the edge on the Jerries. They were up above and getting set to come down to cover his retreat.
Grimly Stan gave his attention to his course. He was hedge-hopping over trees and power lines. Never in his life had he seen so many power lines. By staying down he made it tough for a diving enemy. But these Jerries were veteran fliers. They had learned a few things about rhubarb raiders and how to handle them from the many raids staged out of England upon the low countries. ”

“ Arno broke in. "I hear German soldiers coming up the slope through the woods."
"They have a big force down there," Allison said. "I'll bet they comb this mountainside." [Pg 151]
"We'll never be able to take off as black as it is," Stan said. "We'll have to wait for the first light so we can see something."
"By that time the Germans will have found the ship. See the lights flashing in the woods below?" Tony spoke sharply.
Arno laughed. "Now I will show you how we took off on black nights. Will your bomber lift in a hurry?"
"Faster than a Nardi fighter," Stan said. ”

“ They went to the operations room and located Captain Marks who regarded them with unbelieving eyes.
"You mean to say you gave up a vacation trip to Alexandria to take this ferry job with that wild Irishman, O'Malley?"
"Sure," Stan said with a grin. "We like ferrying. It's the sort of life for any ambitious officer." ”

“ A motorcycle roared and a truck motor joined it. Men's voices could be heard clearly.
Moving along the hedge Stan peered over it. He could see into the wide yard of the villa and also into the yards around the barns. Every building was lighted up and the place swarmed with Germans. Stan had never seen so many German officers in a single spot before. Groups of them sat around outdoor tables in the back yard of the villa. They were eating and drinking wine from the Bolero cellars. ”

“ The Sachetti family and the Bolero family were very close friends. Arno and Tony have spent many days at their home. If they can go with us, we will have a chance of success."
"They can go. Now what is your plan?" the colonel glanced at his wrist watch. He was to have a conference with high officers in five minutes.
"We will take one De Havilland plane. Four of us will parachute into a field at night. Here, again, the boys will know just where to land to hit a field of grain the Germans are saving for harvesting. The plane will return to base and come after us the next night. ”