Turning the Storm by Lee Jackson EPUB & PDF – eBook Details
- Author: Lee Jackson
- Genre: War Fiction, Historical Thrillers
- Publish Date: August 24, 2021
- Size: 2.8 MB
- Format: PDF / EPUB
- Status: Avail for Download
- Price: Free
October 19, 1940
RAF Middle Wallop, Wales, UK
Flight Lieutenant Jeremy Littlefield entered the dispersal hut
of RAF 609 Squadron with a disconsolate air. This was his
first time at the airfield since being wounded in a frantic
dogfight during which he had been downed with a bullet
fragment in his shoulder.
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Two Spitfires were parked near an adjacent maintenance
and repair hangar. On looking at the bulletin board inside the
hut, Jeremy saw what he had expected: a list of pilots assigned
to the unit. Absent from it was Eugene “Red” Tobin, Andrew
Mamedoff, and Vernon “Shorty” Keough, three American
pilots he had befriended during his initial flight training. He
had since flown combat missions with them from here, this
very airfield, this squadron. While he convalesced, they had
transferred to a new Royal Air Force all-American unit, the
Eagle Squadron.
A shadow crossed the bulletin board. He turned to find one
of the mechanics standing in the door of the hut. The man
wiped his grimy right hand on an oily cloth and extended it
toward Jeremy. “So good to see you, sir, all mended and in one
piece. Right glad to have you back, we are.”
“And glad I am to be back,” Jeremy said, glancing down at
the dirty hand and then grasping it firmly. “The only reason
I’m alive is because you chaps do such a wonderful job of
keeping our kites flight-ready.”
“Ah, sir, you honor us, but it’s you pilots that give so much
in the air…” His voice trailed off, and Jeremy noted the strain
and sadness that ringed his eyes. The mechanic sniffed. “It’s
not easy seein’ you all fly off and some don’t come back. It’s
wonderful when we thought we’d lost one and he shows up,
like you just did.”
He gestured toward the door. “The squadron’s out training
now. Most of the chaps are new because of losses and the
transfer of the Americans to that new squadron. The
commander told us you might arrive today. He left a message.
He said you was to go to the officers’ mess at lunchtime and
meet Commanding Officer Anderson of 604 Squadron and
Squadron Leader Cunningham.”
Jeremy squinted and wrinkled his brow. “Did he say
why?”
“No, sir. That’s the full message.”
Jeremy glanced at his watch. “I’d best get over there. It’s
almost that time now.”
He had no difficulty finding the two officers. They had
been watching for him and called to him as he entered the
mess. Anderson cut straight to business after greetings and
taking their seats at one of the tables. “We’re night fighters,
Lieutenant. We want you to join us.”
Jeremy stared at him, speechless. The two officers sat
across from him, both appearing affable but deadly serious.
“You’re fighting in the dark,” Jeremy managed at last.
“The odds haven’t favored you, and the results have been
dismal.” He took in a deep breath. “I’m ready to die for my
country, but I’m not suicidal.”
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