Major Bauer

by

Karen Anne Summerfield

© September 2004

 

Part II

 

Friday at three AM, Josie, under stars and portable lights, strapped me into my plane after I'd done a thorough preflight inspection with Sgt Myers.

"What's with all the hardware under the wings, Major?" she asked. "They haven't been there before." I explained the electronic combat simulator missiles.

"May I give you a good luck kiss, ma'am?" I reached and pulled the girl to my lips, even though it was totally against protocol.

Helmet fitted, I signaled my crew and Elise to start engines. Minutes later, we'd raced down the runway on takeoff.

During the arranged briefing the afternoon before, we flipped a coin to decide that we were to be the aggressors. We had a fifteen minute head start to fly out and come about to 'attack' our base. Col. Wilburn and his boys were to defend the base with their Peregrine Attack Fighters.

Promptly at oh four hundred, we'd released the brakes and pushed our throttles into afterburner.

I steered due east for two hundred miles then turned northwest. Maintaining flight level four five zero and six hundred knots the whole time since we'd reached altitude.

'Blackbird zero one, I'm on half fuel. Are you sure you know just what you are doing?" Elise felt compelled to ask when I finally turned south and reduced speed to four hundred knots. Caribou Control had vectored me into position.

"Sure do, zero two."

"Blackbird Flight, come left course three one five. Descend and maintain flight level three four five. Your target is heading three two five, twenty-seven miles, flight level three five zero, speed three hundred."

"Blackbird, roger," I acknowledged.

"Target, Anne Marie? What target?" It was Judy's voice that questioned.

"You'll see."

"Oh my god! How'd you do that? It's a KC-17!"

"Blackbird, Caribou, switch two four two decimal fiver. Call sign Dairy two four. Come back when done."

"Roger, Caribou two four two decimal fiver,"

"Dairy two four, Blackbird flight."

"Good morning, Blackbird. Milk bar is open.

"Who's first?" a cheery female voice responded.

"Wing," I answered. Without acknowledging, Elise maneuvered her craft up to the boom.

We both topped our tanks and bid our tanker thanks and a 'good day'.

"Blackbird, base two four three two hundred twenty one miles. Two, two ship bogies; one eight seven at one hundred forty-three miles, other two zero seven niner-three miles."

"Roger," I acknowledged.

"Course one eight seven, zero two." In formation, communicating course was unnecessary, but I wanted to clearly state my intentions to Elise.

"One eight seven." Was her terse reply.

Caribou vectored us directly above the flight and I performed a split S to descend on them from above and behind at six hundred knots. I waited until we were just seven hundred yards away then ordered the missiles switched on. As soon as they locked on, I touched off four. I was confident that Elise had followed my orders and done the same.

"Blackbird, Caribou. Zephyr confirmed two kills."

"Roger, Caribou."

"Target bearing three one three, course one niner six, speed three hundred knots, flight level four zero zero."

"Roger, Caribou."

"Blackbird flight, burner now!" I pulled back on the stick and climbed at four hundred fifty knots to level off at flight level five zero zero.

We'd left our radars in standby and let Caribou run the intercept. Had they been on, I'd no doubt that the electronics on their advanced fighters could have detected us at least earlier than we could pick them up. We'd no control over our contrails and they possibly have been what caused our target to break formation and turn to intercept us.

"They have a visual, Blackbird zero one."

"Roger. Take the one at two o'clock, I've got the one at eleven o'clock."

"Wilco, zero one." Elise broke away and I devoted my full attention to my intercept.

I'd no idea of what the service ceiling of the target was, but I was going to find out by climbing. My fuel state then was forty-eight percent and his had to be much lower; climbing to try and match me was just going to eat up more. At flight level six zero zero, I tried an experiment and extended my wings. Doing so allowed me to maintain three hundred fifty knots, maintain altitude and reduce throttles.

"Blackbird zero one, Caribou, your target is ten o'clock, twelve miles, speed two hundred ninety knots."

"Roger, Caribou." I turned gently to put him on my nose.

"Tally ho, Blackbird zero one." I estimated the Peregrine was about five thousand feet below me. Briefly, I debated letting him just run out of fuel, but that wouldn't be any fun.

Just to be a tease, I switched on my radar and armed my weapons then lowered my nose to point directly at the target. Immediately, the missiles locked on and his plane went wild with evasive maneuvers.

He had to have been above the plane's service ceiling. One thing the pilot of a high performance jet never practices and never wants to experience, especially at that high an altitude, is to find his craft plummeting from the sky in a spin. With a big lump in my throat, I switched to guard channel and keyed my mic.

'Phan, Phan, Phan, Blackbird zero one, Blackbird zero one, Blackbird zero one. Position Wolverine tacan, three one niner radial, eight seven miles.

"Blackbird zero one, Zephyr Control."

"Peregrine, my position, spinning out of control, Blackbird squawking seven seven zero zero."

"Tally ho, Blackbird. Scrambling rescue."

"Your altitude and fuel state, Blackbird?"

"Passing flight level three three zero descending. Fuel four zero percent.

"Zephyr, we have one parachute." I felt so helpless as I made a circling descent.

"Roger, Blackbird."

"Blackbird zero one, zero two joining."

"Roger, zero two," I acknowledged Elise.

"Zephyr, Blackbird zero one, we have impact. Passing ten thousand feet descending."

"Roger, Blackbird.

"Can you maintain station?"

"About fifteen minutes."

"Roger, Blackbird, Rescue zero one, airborne. ETA two zero minutes.

"Roger, Zephyr."

"Zephyr, parachute touchdown. Blackbird flight descending to five hundred AGL.

"Blackbird flight, flaps ten percent."

"Roger, Blackbird flight."

"Zephyr, the pilot appears injured, being dragged. Struggling to release his chute with just one hand... One side released now, chute has spilled its wind."

"Rescue one ETA twelve minutes."

"Roger. Fuel state low, Request vectors to base. Blackbird flight climbing to two thousand feet."

"Blackbird squawk one seven zero zero. Come right course two three zero. Distance eight-four miles."

"Right two three zero, Blackbird."

Elise and I landed without incident. "What happened, ma'am?" Josie anxiously asked after removing my helmet. "They launched one of the Dolphins."

"One of the Peregrines went into a spin and crashed, Pte."

Sgt. Myers came up next to the cockpit while Josie was still unstrapping me from the seat.

"They're saying it was Col. Wilburn's plane that crashed. What happened, Major?"

"I suspect he was above his absolute ceiling at flight level five five zero. He tried evasive maneuvers when my weapons locked on, stalled his bird and went into a spin. At about sixteen thousand feet, he ejected. The chute deployed as advertised, but I think he was injured either on ejection or landing."

"Major Bauer," The Major who had taken exception to Angie and me at the club together saluted when I reached the tarmac. "Your presence is requested in the Base Commander's office."

I returned his salute, "Thank you, Major Smith." I did take the time to brief my crew chief on the status of my plane. Judy and Elise joined me to freshen up then walk to the Colonel's office.

As I fully expected, the room was filled with about fifteen others. After we saluted Colonel Bradley, we were invited to sit and the others were introduced to me.

"This meeting is an informal preliminary hearing into the crash of one of the CF-119 Peregrine Attack Fighters this morning.

"Major Bauer, it is my understanding you may have witnessed this incident?"

"That is correct, Sir."

For the next forty minutes, or so, I related the details our flight.

"Major Smith ... what is the service ceiling of a CF-119?" Col. Bradley asked.

He cleared his throat before answering. "The manual states forty-seven thousand feet. I took one to fifty thousand once, but it was a real pig at that altitude, Sir."

"Major Bauer, how certain do you feel your estimate of how high the plane was?"

"Quite certain that it was well above flight level five zero, zero, sir. I was at flight level six zero zero when I had a visual. Caribou Control told me the range was ten miles less than a minute previously. I pointed the nose down fifteen degrees after I'd turned on radar and my weapons had instant lock on. Range was indicated as four thousand, one hundred twenty meters, about two and a half miles. I can't do the math in my head, but ten thousand feet is about three thousand meters." I shrugged. "He had to be well above flight level five zero zero to be at that range."

"Colonel Bradley?" A Captain with a calculator in his raised hand spoke.

"Yes, Captain."

"Sir, if Major Bauer is correct about the nose down attitude and range, and I believe we can assume she is, Colonel Wilburn's plane was only about thirty-five hundred feet below hers. Even allowing for error, I believe we could conclude that the Peregrine was about ten thousand feet above the listed service ceiling."

"Thank you, Captain.

"Major Bauer, relate to us what happened after the plane went into a spin, please?"

"As I set up a descent, with my wings fully extended, I followed it down. When the plane passed about flight level one six zero, I witnessed the pilot eject and chute deployment, sir."

"Let the record show that Major Bauer's estimates of altitude are not questioned by this hearing. The exact altitude apparently will not change the circumstances of what happened or their cause.

As I was finishing the story, a telephone rang and a Master Corporeal answered. She set it down after a short conversation.

"Sir, the Flight Surgeon's office reports that Lt. Col. Wilburn has a broken right wrist, a dislocated right shoulder, and a broken left femur."

"Thank you, Corporeal. Cut orders for Major Smith to assume temporary command of the seventy-fourth."

"Yes, sir."

We finally returned to our quarters after we had lunch. I cleaned up and told my two friends I was going to the medical complex to visit Col Wilburn; they chose to accompany me, which I welcomed.

"Hi, Major, ladies," Angela greeted me with a big smile.

"Hello, Lt. Marley," I returned. My friends greeted her too.

"Word is that you're responsible for our latest patient, Major?" she grinned.

"No, not true, Lt., best to stop the rumor right there," Judy sounded serious. "Your patient flew his aircraft outside the envelope and crashed as a result."

"It's even more involved that that, Major."

"How's that, Lieutenant?" Elise questioned.

Angie, became a little agitated, "I said more than I should have. Let it go as, probably insufficient crew rest prior to flying, OK?"

I nodded and believed my friends understood completely too - Lt. Col. Wilburn had probably exceeded the maximum blood alcohol limit for a pilot while flying. In the USAF, if anyone, not just a pilot, was hurt doing their job, they were tested for both alcohol and drugs.

"We came to visit; may we go in?" Judy asked.

"He's still in surgery. The leg is a compound fracture and there's a lot of trauma. Tomorrow afternoon might be a much better time, ma'am."

"OK, I'll meet you at your quarters at seven, Angie."

"See you then, Major."

"You really like her, don't you, Anne Marie?"

"You might say that, Elise," I grinned.

We went to the flight bar for lunch. It wasn't very crowded and, although there weren't that many guys present, the room went quiet and all the guys went silent.

Pam, the waitress, took our order and whispered in Judy's ear. She stared a moment at Elsie and I a moment.

"The CO grounded the entire seventy-fourth detachment."

"Why?" Elise questioned.

"The other three pilots who flew this morning tested positive for alcohol. One of them who didn't fly also tested positive for cocaine. All positive have been placed on restriction pending an evaluation."

"In our Air Force, that is a very serious matter," I commented.

"Certainly is," Judy added. "Out of pilot training, they discovered a similar matter at my first assignment a brought in a team from HQ. Everyone, and I do mean everyone, on the base was give a blood test, urine analysis and they took hair samples too." I just shrugged.

Though we'd a pleasant lunch, it was evident, that the guys in the bar were acting much differently towards us then they had previously. As we were finishing, Major Smith entered and asked to join us.

"What's up, Dave?" Judy asked. Understandably, he was agitated.

"Col. Wilburn had a blood alcohol of oh decimal five when they took a sample at the medical complex." He paused and looked at us. "The bloody fool had to be pissed when he came on the flight line this morning."

His attention turned to me. "The guys are blaming you for the accident, Major Bauer."

"Un huh, I set an oh four hundred take off. Let's add it up and see how it fits. The rescue helicopter landed at oh eight twenty-two. Let's give the docs credit for dealing with some of the trauma before they got around to a blood sample - forty minutes. That OK?"

"Let's say Anne Marie calls an oh nine hundred TO then. He'd have still been above our regulation limits to fly safely. What at the Canadian Forces limits, Major?"

He averted his eyes. "Pissed or not, I still 'out planned the attack'. I'm in no way claiming I flew better; never engaged. Col. Wilburn.

"I was above him and just turned on my radar and missile tracking; you were there to hear my statements. He panicked and started evasive maneuvers. You also heard he was outside the flight envelope and yourself stated the plane was a 'pig' above fifty thousand feet. It went out of control.

"Now explain to me just how this is my fault, Major?"

He lifted his eye to glare at me then turned to Elise. "Major Campbell, in the configuration you flew this morning, what is the endurance of a one twelve?"

"A little less then two hours, especially the way we climbed and flew," she answered factually.

"Yet you both were airborne almost four hours? How?"

"Major Bauer has friends in high places," Elise grinned and glanced up.

"You refueled?"

"Of course we refueled, Major. She'd arranged for a tanker rendezvous."

"Damn it!" He wasn't angry and smiled. "Should have figured it; first she brings in the DEW line that most of us in Canada had forgotten about then she calls on SAC for help." He shook his head - I just grinned.

"We're all grounded ... I mean our detachment is. How may we help you ladies with whatever it is you're doing until we get out of the mess we created for ourselves?" Major Smith's mood seemed to positive and his offer sincere.

"You'll need security clearance," Judy informed. "While we can fly together, like this morning, we're not at liberty to permit more."

"Loud and clear, Major." Dave still smiled. "I'll talk to the CO."

When we left, Judy suggested that we go to a little gift shop on a lower level I'd not been on before. "They just opened this about two weeks ago, Anne Marie. I came once, but it was after hours."

The shop featured Asia goods, mostly the pretty kick-knacks type of stuff you think of a gift shop featuring. The lady smiled pleasantly. "Most bid to good after to noon, lady."

Her English was very limited. I bid her the same, but in Cantonese. She grinned ear to ear and we soon were chatting away like best of friends.

Spotting the clothing rack with one display mannequin occupying the rear wall, I immediately headed there. I heard my companions giggle – I didn't care.

Mrs. Hwang helped me with the right sizes for the cheongsams I selected, a floor length and a mini. I really wasn't offered a big selection, but it was a real treat and, again, was reminded of my wardrobe in my apartment along with other things I wanted.

Guessing Angie's size, I bought her a red floor-length dress to match the dark green one I'd selected for myself. I also purchased two blouses in the same style.

"If you like other, Major, I order for you," Mrs. Hwang offered when I paid for my selections.

"Thank you. I'll come back to do that another day."

We detoured before returning to our quarters so I could give Angie the cheongsam that I'd bought for her.

"Oh, thank you, Anne Marie, I love it," she grinned as she held it up under her chin. "One of these would really look great on you."

"Don't think she doesn't agree, Lieutenant, she bought one for herself too," Elise grinned.

We spent the afternoon getting ready for our night. Both Elise and Judy had lined up dates, so no one was going to be alone at our little party. We helped each other with our hair and makeup and my mind turned to thinking all of the fun things that I'd missed not growing up as a girl. I pushed them away and got into Elise making up my eyes.

"You know, Doll," she smiled at me, "I think if you weren't so wrapped up with Angela right now..."

Judy laughed, "She's already proved her skill as a pilot. You want to tumble with her between the sheets too?"

Elise cupped my breast as she stroked on mascara. I responded by lightly fondling both her nipples through the thin red satin top that covered them.

"Stop that," she giggled. I grinned and tweaked both of them. She pinched mine and we disengaged.

"Save that for the weekend. You both have dates tonight," Judy chuckled.

Walking to Angie's rooms, I felt incredibly turned on and knew I was turning heads. Other than my flight boots, the only other shoes I had then were my dress uniform pumps; they'd just had to do until I could obtain others.

I'd not fastened all the frogs on dark green cheongsam so it was open on the right to above mid-thigh and parted to show my leg. I loved the feel of the satin as it slid open and closed across my leg as I walked. 'Damn, I loved being a girl!'

Angie looked incredible when she opened her door. She'd attempted to do her makeup in a Chinese style that was enhanced by fixing her blonde tresses Geisha style an adding a pair of lacquered red chopsticks through it. We didn't speak until after we'd hugged tightly and gave each other just a light kiss on the lips. Neither of us wanted to mess our lipstick.

"I wanted, OK thought of getting you a corsage for tonight, Anne Marie," she said while checking her purse and extracting her keys, "but we don't have anything close to a florist here on the Ark."

"Your thought means a lot. Thank you.

"You look incredibly pretty tonight, Angie," I complimented. "Thank you for doing your hair and makeup like that."

"This dress you bought inspired me.

"You look darn good yourself.

"You've got me beat in the cute China Doll department, hands down," she smiled.

Holding my wrists at arms length, Angela started at me for a moment. "I acknowledge you outrank me, Anne Marie. Would it be alright though..."

"If you want to take the lead and treat me like your little date, I'll not object. In, fact I'd like that, Angie." I finished what I thought she was about to ask when she'd paused.

"Thank you," Angela whispered. Having 'slept' with her once, I knew which role she much preferred. Being the type of girl I was and with my background, made it my desire too, but I don't think I could have requested it from her then.

"Your place is on the inside," she said softly after locking her door and moving to my left. Her right arm came about my small waist to rest on my right hip when we started to walk towards the club.

"I don't get much opportunity to display my girlfriends in public," she said. "No one gets upset about what we do in our club; they just don't see it."

"There weren't too many girls at your club when we went. I guess there aren't too many other officers here that you can date openly," I added.

"None," Angela added with a bit of sorrow in her reply.

"If rank weren't a problem, who'd be your choice?" I sensed her turn and met her eyes when we faced.

Angie grinned down into mine. "I suspect that your reply would be the same as mine, Anne Marie." She faced forward without answering further.

The same host greeted us when we entered, he didn't challenge our rank. "Good evening, Major, Lieutenant, private table for two?"

"Major Bauer has reserved a table for eight tonight, James," Angela stated.

He glanced at the book on his podium. "Ah yes, four others of you party are already seated. This way, please, ladies?"

He led us to a table set for at least fourteen; I didn't take the time to count. The two gentlemen stood as we neared.

"Hi, Bill." Angie did not remove her hand about my waist as I touched my cheek to his.

"Major Anne Marie Bauer, permit me to introduce, Lieutenant Katherine Fox." I extended my hand to touch hers.

"Kathy," she said.

"This is Lieutenant Angela Marley." They exchanged pleasantries.

Angela steered me to Elise's date and greeted him as I'd done with Bill. "Chuck, this is Anne Marie.

"Anne Marie, Captain Chuck Bancroft." I only shook hands politely and said, 'Hi', to Elise.

Within ten minutes, Judy and her date had joined us and the table filled. But for Bill, my American helper at Caribou, all the other men were F-15 pilots. I'd learned that Judy had invited them, including their CO, Colonel Geoff Davidson.

Angie reinforced her position by asking me what I wanted to drink before the waitress appeared to take our order then relaying it for me. But for the possible reactions from my roommates and others, I was fine with the roles we'd taken.

Conversation through our meal was cordial and friendly chat. After our entrée's were cleared, Col. Davidson addressed me and the others quieted.

"Anne Marie, Colonel Bradley provided me with enough information to only know that you might be in need of additional combat training."

"Sir!" I'd everyone's attention with the emphasis I'd placed. "This is neither the time nor the place to discuss such a topic!" I was confident that I was on very solid ground. Angela sought and squeezed my hand. The table, if not the entire room had fallen silent.

Abruptly I stood, opened my purse, placed four hundred dollars on the table and turned to Angela. "Take me home please?" Without a word, my girlfriend stood and escorted me out.

"Calm down," she softly said when we were in the corridor,

"Is Canadian security so lax that they've no idea..."

"Just sush!"

Instead of her quarters where I'd wanted to go, I was taken in the gay club. It was crowded with a lot more customers than the one time I'd visited there before.

Angela looked about then moved deeper, holding my hand as she led the way.

"Move your tush, Josie," she ordered. Pte. Jerkin slid over in the booth and Angela pressed me to sit then slid in beside me.

"Hi, Major," Josie greeted.

"Hello, Josie," I returned. Totally breaking protocol, she grabbed my shoulders and kissed my fully on the lips.

"Word is you shot that shi... excuse me, Col. Wilburn out of the sky today, Maj'?""

"I sacred the piss out of him and he fell out of the sky." I laughed, "I didn't know my sudden appearance was so frightening."

"Perhaps it was that black plane you fly and not your pretty face, Anne Marie," a guy across the table observed with a grin. I recognized him as part of my ground crew.

The rules protocol seemed to have been left out in the corridor at our club; no one seemed the least concerned with my rank. Yes, it was then I realized I'd been fully accepted and, unlike at my dinner celebration at the O'club, no one mention any rank as they introduced themselves to me an only two mentioned mine.

"Angela, may I have a dance with Anne Marie, please?" Josie asked. Though I'd given Angie de facto control, I didn't realize that was so obvious to others. Angie offered my hand and didn't let go until Josie took hold.

The music was moderately fast and I managed to match most of her moves. I was just getting into it when the tune ended and slow ballad started to play. Again, I let my partner assume the lead.

As we began, Josie pressed her soft cheek neck to mine, "Have you any idea how hot I get putting you in bondage in the cockpit?" she whispered in my ear. "God, you are so submissive, just sitting on that fat guy then letting me strap you tight so I can fuck you." Her hand had moved to my breast and was fondling it when Angela cut in.

"That's enough tonight, Josie." Angie was gentle. "Anne Marie is mine. You can have your fun whenever you strap her in."

Josie took the opportunity to give me a penetrating kiss before she turned me over to Angie. "Where was she? ...Oh yes, fondling here." I was held in her arm and she pulled close.

"We've very little privacy here on the Ark, but I'll confess, I like to play with her too. You only play with others if I permit it, Anne Marie." I kissed her to acknowledge.

Only staying for one more round, we went to her quarters and quickly undressed for a wild night of fun together. Never before in my life had I felt as aroused and stimulated; certainly never as a man.

*****

We alternated flying with classes for two weeks. Half the time we flew in the early morning and the other half in the afternoons. The third week was spent flying nights during which we did several mid-air refuelings with both KC-17's and older KC-135's.

"Major Bauer," Sergeant Myers addressed me as I deplaned, "Col. Bradley orders you and your team to his office at of eight hundred, ma'am."

"Acknowledged, Sarge, thank you."

It had been a long night. We'd taken off at nineteen hundred and the sky was just getting light when we'd touched down after two refuelings. We'd flown over the Atlantic Coast and the Pacific before returning to base.

Judy, Elise and I went to our quarters and I requested that Josie come too to help us out of our uniforms then dress after we'd showered. Judy seemed a bit uncomfortable, but Elise enjoyed her help. Of course I did and Josie seemed to be in heaven.

"You'd make a good lady's maid, Josie," Elise told her as she was being zipped into a clean fight suit.

"I don't think the forces have that job specialty, ma'am," she quipped with a grin and turned to me.

I felt badly that Josie couldn't join us for breakfast at the club.

"Major Bauer, reporting as ordered, sir." I saluted him before his desk. He returned it.

"At ease. Be seated, ladies.

"You know Col. Davidson. Major Marks XO of the Forty-third.

"You are probably aware that the Eighty-seventh is still grounded and that courts marshals are pending.

"Major Bauer, I've reviewed the fight records and the reports that you, and Majors Ellsworth and Campbell have written, as well as classified excerpts of your fight experience in your Air Force." I wondered where this meeting was heading.

"Your Command believes that you need addition combat experience." He stared at me a moment.

"Do you concur, Major?"

"Yes, sir. My record shows that my actual experience in real combat is non-existent. I'd welcome more experience." He smiled hearing my response.

"Colonel Davidson has offered his squadron to add to your experience.

"However, we are going to establish a few rules, before we come to that." I kept silent and just listened.

"There will be no mid-air refueling. You may carry external tanks, but must return with them; there will be no dropping of your tanks to gain an advantage.

"You may arm your planes however you wish with the simulated weapons that are available.

"As you have in the past, Major, you will continue to have Caribou Control to aid you. I'll honestly tell you that we Canadians are ignorant of their full capabilities. I'm sure Major Campbell and Major Ellsworth are gaining an education of them though. The Eagles will use all of the resources that we have available.

"You may or may not be aware, that the total fight capabilities of your birds are classified Top-Secret by both your government and ours. Certainly I and the others besides your two friends, do not know what you are capable of." Col. Bradley paused to review a paper in what I'd guessed was my records.

"I see that you've over three hundred hours in Eagles, so you should fully know their capabilities, Major."

He turned to Col. Davidson. "Did I leave anything out, Geoff?"

"I think you covered it all, Bill." Col. Davidson faced me.

"I hope that this will be friendly exercises, Major Bauer, and we may all learn from the experiences then share a drink after in the Fight Bar at the club."

"He chuckled, "I'd also greatly appreciate it if my staff does not have to be put through tasks that result should I not have all fourteen birds in the hanger at the conclusion of each exercise. Keep in mind that these are training exercises and not games to attempt to prove that the any of Forty-third's pilots can out fly the ladies.

"Am I clear on that Col. Davidson and Major Marks?"

"Yes, sir, Colonel," they acknowledged

"Very well, see that your flyboys understand it too."

"I welcome the opportunity to learn what you and your squadron will teach us, Colonel," I said. He smiled and bowed his head to me.

Colonel Bradley resumed, "Most of the times, you will be on your own ... both of you. We'll schedule takeoffs close together. Sometimes the Forty-third will take off first and sometimes it will be Blackbird Flight."

"Sir?"

"Yes," he addressed me.

"Sir, am I to understand that my two planes are to take on all twelve of the Eagles at once?"

"Anne Marie, think of this as real combat. You are always going to be in the role of the aggressor. Your intelligence has told you that the opponent has twelve F-15's available. Being real, would they also tell you how many will attack you and when they'd launch? Or would they be gentlemen and just play even? I don't believe so."

"Yes, thank you, sir."

"You'll continue your training as you have been, as will the F-15's.

"The initial Eagles will, as I've said, launch within fifteen minutes before or after you have so neither of you have a fuel advantage beyond what your planes can carry on take off. I may send up two or all twelve. I may just send up one and when you are low fuel, I'll launch the other eleven.

"As the aggressor, you do not have that knowledge or advantage. Again please keep in mind that these exercises are designed to train you and not some stupid, drunken fighter jock's barroom boast claiming that he and his pilots can out fly a pretty Yank skirt. You and your pilots won that bet ... hands down, Major.

"We will have none of that. See to it, Geoff!" his order was clear.

"Yes, sir."

"Any questions?" Col. Bradley looked at us first then Col. Davidson.

"That will be all."

"May I buy you, Major Ellsworth and Major Campbell lunch, Major Bauer?"

"Yes, I'm starved. Thank you, sir," I gave him a nice smile. We walked through the corridors side by side.

Major Marks seemed to have attached himself to Judy by the time were reached a table at the club.

During a pleasant lunch, we discussed the training exercises a bit more. "Al, I know our boys all want a go at Anne Marie, I want you to see to it and am holding you personally responsible to assure that the exercises are kept at a professional level."

"Loud and clear, Bill, but you've been a fighter pilot for eighteen years and a Snowbird. What you are asking isn't that easily accomplished. It's just not the way we fly, sir."

"Listen guys, I've flown mostly fighters in my career, but I make no claims to being a fighter pilot..."

"You lost me, for sure. Just what does that mean, Anne Marie?"

"Bill, I was a test pilot. My combat experience, you heard me say, is zero." They exchanged looks for a moment.

"That explains why they imported you to fly the modified 112," Col. Davison uttered quietly.

"Allan, you did not hear what she just said."

"Understood, sir." Major Marks nodded to me.

*****

"What a crap forecast," Elise stated as the meteorologists briefed us at oh one hundred two days later. "Solid clouds and rain from five hundred feet to Flight Level two seven zero with winds gusting forty. I'm going back to bed."

The rain battered my rubber cape as I climbed the platform next to my bird. Josie, always cheerful, greeted me with a big smile.

"Turn your back to the wind and I'll get you fitted while keeping you as dry as I can, Doll."

"That's a little out of line, Private," I warned. She just grinned while the rain beat her face.

Josie knelt without responding and unzipped my flight suit then my pink latex catsuit to fit the latex accessory into me. Open and exposed, she started to finger my clitoris and my body couldn't help, but start to respond.

"Damn you, little girl!" She pinched it hard; enough to hurt.

"Don't you swear at me, Major." Her tone sounded like a warning. She fitted the thing into my rectum and vagina.

I kept my rain cape on until I'd climbed into the cockpit. Josie, as quickly as she could, strapped me in, fitted my helmet and patted my head signaling that all was ready. As soon as the GPU powered up my plane, I closed and latched the canopy to keep the rain out.

"Tower, Blackbird Flight.

"Blackbird you are cleared to taxi. Runway zero niner. Winds zero one two at three one, gusting four five. Altimeter two eight four one."

"Wonderful," I muttered to myself. We had a very strong crosswind.

"Altimeter two eight four one," I acknowledged it. Flying in heavy rains and a strong gusty wind blowing across the runway at take off was not my idea of fun. At least I didn't feel the discomfort of my soaking wet flight suit. It should dry quickly at altitude.

"Blackbird flight, you are cleared for takeoff."

"Blackbird, burners now!"

As much as I wanted out of the crap weather, I did a normal climb to conserve fuel and came out of afterburner as soon as our gear and flaps were sucked up. Almost three minutes later, I leveled at Flight Level four five zero in a beautifully starlit sky.

"Blackbird, target is a four ship bearing two one eight, range three two six miles, heading one seven three." I was informed when I changed frequencies.

"Rodger, Blackbird." I started a turn to intercept.

"Blackbird, be advised we cannot skin paint you in the weather this morning."

"Rodger."

"Blackbird, squawk three two zero zero, ident.

"Three two zero zero, ident, Blackbird."

They continued to vector me for the intercept for a few minutes.

"Blackbird, Caribou, be advised we have two four ships on climb out from Site One Eight (the designation of our base)."

"Blackbird, rodger."

"Turn left to one six seven for current intercept..."

"Blackbird, rodger."

"Spare your missiles, Elise. Together we've only sixteen; they've ninety-six, at least, plus their Vulcans" A single CF-112 was never intended to engage single aggressors at once. I knew of no interceptor in our own fleet that ever was either.

"Wilco, zero two."

Caribou Control continued to feed us information on the two flights that had most recently taken off while vectoring us for the intercept we'd already established.

We rolled and descended on their tails then activated our weapons for two very easy 'kills'. That was when 'easy' ended.

The remaining two, both who'd been on the outside of the formation, pulled back on their sticks and disappeared. It should be explained that the F-15 Eagle is one of the few aircraft with such a high thrust to weight ratio that it is capable of sustained vertical flight and will fall off above ninety-five thousand feet; not that they'd waste that much precious fuel to do so.

"Blackbird, you have four two ship formations intercepting at eight hundred knots. Bearing zero one two, range seven three miles, bearing one three six, range nine six miles, bearing one eight one, range four zero miles and bearing two six five, range five three miles.

"Blackbird, roger. Altitude data Caribou?"

"Caribou, negative."

"Blackbird zero two, take your pick. I'll intercept the flight at one o'clock. Good luck."

"We'll need it. You too, Anne Marie."

"Blackbird zero two, Caribou, switch to two, four one decimal niner."

"Zero two, two, four one decimal niner."

"Blackbird zero one, come right zero two three."

"Blackbird."

There was no way I stood any chance of coming out of this by remaining in the stealth mode and switched on my radars as well as arming my missiles though I'd still have to clench the dildo to activate their tracking.

As we converged, I saw them turn away from each other on my radar. I elected the one to my right.

"Blackbird zero one, target bearing one two four, course zero nine zero." 'Oh shit!' He was running away, which meant the other was going to be on my tail any moment.

Shoving the throttles forward, I did a half loop, rolled and had him on radar.

"Blackbird zero one, two targets bearing one seven one range twelve miles, target bearing zero eight two range two zero miles."

I squeezed my pussy tight, had missile lock and touched off two. Alarms were sounding in my ears and the rear radar showed one target at three miles.

"Blackbird zero one, Zephyr on Guard, you have been shot down.

"Blackbird zero one, Caribou, we confirm their kill, return to base.

"Zero one, Wilco. Thanks for your help, Caribou. Request vectors to base." I slowed and spread my wings. There was no point in wasting fuel.

"How'd you do, ma'am? Five Eagles have returned. Did you shoot them down?" Josie was her usual cheery self – full of enthusiasm.

"Just one," I answered. I was shot down."

"Let's get out of this rain." We ran for the tower and descended to the pilots' lounge off the hanger deck.

"Atten-shun! A First Lieutenant called when I entered.

"As you were guys," I put them at ease. Five of the Forty-third's pilots were present.

"Hi. I'm Blackbird.

"Lousy weather for flying isn't it, guys."

"Sure is. Coffee Major?" a Captain offered.

"Any tea?" I moved beside him by the coffee area. He started to fix me a cup.

"I'm Duncan McClarren. Congratulations, I've never been shot down by a prettier pilot before."

"Pleased I could accommodate you, Duncan.

"Sorry to disappoint the rest of you guys, but Major Campbell is in the front seat of the other bird and she's responsible for you getting down early."

"Elise will do nicely," another said. I carried my mug to the table and joined them.

"How'd you get done early, Maj?" Duncan asked.

"Your guys set four on me at once..." Much to their delight, I recounted my untimely demise.

"Warren Johannsen, ma'am," a blond guy introduced.

"Anne Marie is fine," I offered.

"I certainly wouldn't mind taking you on, one on one, Anne Marie."

"In your plane, I hope you mean, Warren," I returned a grin and the others laughed.

"Col. Bradley ordered that we are forbidden to do that." They understood, but weren't happy about it. As fighter pilots, we all liked the challenge of one-to-one air combat games. Even as a test pilot, I'd often played them.

Two more of their pilots came down before Col. Davidson caused the room to be called to attention again.

"As you were." The lieutenant brought his CO coffee.

"How are we doing, sir?" Warren asked.

"We, Swede? You guys are all dead.

"The rest of squadron should be down soon."

"Final score is seven to two. I'm not pleased, men. The squadron should have done better."

He faced me to ask who was in the front seat of the other 112 and I answered.

"She is damn good; I'd love to have her on board," he complimented Elise.

Col. Bradley joined all of the pilots, even those from the Forty-third who'd not flown, and a Captain from Zephyr Control for the debriefing. It began with a replay of the tape of their radar screen and audio.

"Not much of a contest," The Wing Commander sounded disgusted. "They hardly had any opportunity to defend let alone attack when they had eight birds coming at them supersonic from four different directions, Bill. The only serious option they had was to run, as I see it."

"That would have negated the purpose of the exercise, sir," I pointed out.

"True. Thank you Major."

"Sir, as we discussed when setting these up, the initial purpose is to train Major Bauer in combat. There isn't going to be much opportunity for that when I send six birds from different directions against her alone, not until she has more experience, at least."

"Continue, Bill, I'm listening."

"Sir, at the beginning, my suggestion is to do exactly what you forbid us to do – one on one or maybe two on one. No one is going to learn with six on one or even twelve on two."

Col. Bradley thought for a few minutes then turned to me. "Major?"

"I'm willing to give them what they all want..." I caught what I'd just said and started to giggle.

"No guys, dream on, you are not getting in the China Doll's knickers – so forget it." They all burst out with laughter, even their commanders.

"Now what makes you think we might want anything like that, Anne Marie?" It was Col. Bradley who asked with a grin.

"Your all horny as H," Judy quipped. "You'd be lying if any of you said didn't have a hard on for us and the cute Doll especially." More laughter filled the room.

"Simmer down, men." Col. Davidson called.

"As I count, there are fifteen Eagle pilots, including you, Colonel Davidson. In the air, I'll fly against every one of you, one-on-one. And I'll do two missions every twenty-four hours, until you've all had one chance to teach me as much as you know. Take off times will be my choice and you'll have no notice."

"Are you saying we'll have to stand alert?" a Captain asked.

"Do whatever you want.

"I'm going to load one bomb on the Blackbird, plus whatever else I want and will fit. The bomb is going to make a very big mushroom cloud, if you get the intent.

"I'm the enemy and my mission is to turn this place into glass." I had the attention of everyone.

"I blast off and you give me ten minutes before you take off to set up my attack. Your mission is to prevent me from blowing up the base. One-on-one, until you've all had one chance.

"From there, same rules, we'll do two on one, then four on one.

"After that, we'll sit and decide how best to proceed; we might do six on one, but I think six on two would be better. I can't see that there will be much benefit with the odds this morning."

"Chicken, Major?" a Lieutenant challenged with a laugh.

I looked to Col. Bradley and our eyes met. "Permission, sir?" He grinned and nodded.

"You are up first Mr. Top Gun. You buy me and my date dinner after you are shot down."

"You buy dinner and drinks when you take me to dinner."

"You are on!" I stood, saluted the room and abruptly left, not waiting to be excused or dismissed.

"Sarge make her ready to fly!" I ordered my crew chief in the hanger.

"Now, ma'am?" he gaped.

"Now, Sergeant!"

I turned to a Master Corporeal, "Get my PE assistant here now!"

"Hurry up, Sergeant," I urged as the weapons personnel loaded her.

"Josie, get me strapped in, please?" Unlike the rest of my crew, she didn't question me.

"Sarge, I want the GPU running before we go up and I'm going to do an engine start before we've reached the surface."

"You can't do that!"

"Watch me, Corporeal."

"Give me a kiss for luck, Josie," I grinned before she put my helmet on.

The tower wasn't even up when I set the altimeter to the base elevation, read the windsock and released the brakes. As I've said aloud before, they could fire me if they dared. I had my bird airborne less than a minute after I'd started the engines halfway towards the surface.

 

*****

Judy told me later, I'd sent the entire Ark into near panic, especially the briefing room. I was unaware that the assent of the aircraft elevator set off alarms in several places, including there. She related that they guessed that one of the rescue helicopters must be launching. She said Colonel Bradley had picked up the crash phone and asked the Command Post what the situation was then shouted, "What the Hell do you mean, you have no idea, Sergeant?"

She went on to relate how he held the phone for a minute then set it down gently and resumed his seat. He then requested the Lieutenant get him a cup of coffee and asked when it was handed to him, "Lieutenant, do you know where the nearest bomb shelter is, son?"

"No, sir. Why?" Judy went on.

"Because in less than ten minutes, I think we are going to be under attack, son."

Elise related that a couple of minutes passed before one of the pilots got his senses. She told me that he shouted, "Holy shit, that's not one of the helios, it's China Doll in the Blackbird!"

*****

"Good morning again, Caribou, Blackbird here," I greeted.

"Hello again to you too, Doll. How may we serve you?"

"I'm just passing time and thought I'd say, Hi. Squawking ident. Can you paint me?"

"Negative, Blackbird. Negative ident."

"I'm at one hundred feet AGL a few miles from Site Eighteen, waiting for the shooting gallery to open.

"Listen, you guys have a really great day, eh.

"Switching to Zephyr."

"You too, Anne Marie. Have fun," It was my friend, Bill Hutchinson.

"Gonna try, Bill.

"Toodle-loo."

"Zephyr Control, Blackbird zero one."

"Blackbird, rodger. We've no flight plan. What is your mission?"

"I'm going to bomb the base and shoot down one of the Forty-thirds' birds ... all for fun and dinner.

"How may we help, Blackbird, we've no orders for them either?"

"Blackbird, ident. You really can't, I just wanted to let you know I was here and flying around in the rain.

"OK guys, chat with you later, I see the tower is up now. Switching frequency.

I was behind and watched a very sloppy takeoff during which he almost lost control. It was thirty-seven minutes since I'd launched. Wings retracted, I accelerated to just four hundred knots then formed on his tail with my IFF off. If we were being skin painted, we'd show as just one blip.

When he changed frequencies to Zephyr's, I switched too.

"Zephyr Control, Lynx two-eight, climb out, passing ten thousand, ident.

"Rodger, two eight."

"Zephyr, any sign of Blackbird?"

"Negative, we never even saw a takeoff on the screens. Negative blips."

"Rodger."

I just let him fly around until he'd burned enough fuel to land safely.

"Good morning again, Lieutenant. I'm looking forward to an elegant dinner tonight with Angela. Thank you for that in advance."

"Wha...

"Zephyr, where is she?"

"Negative paint, Lynx two eight."

"Damn!" he swore.

"Temper, temper," I teased. I moved to put my plane on the right side next to him.

"Look right, Top Gun." When I saw his head turn, I dropped behind and clenched to deliver two missiles up his tailpipes.

"Lynx two eight, Zephyr, we confirm a kill for Blackbird. Return to base."

"Rodger. Damn it Zephyr, can't you see her?"

"Negative IFF and with this rain..."

"Lynx two eight, retuning to base." To my ears, he seemed to sigh.

Accelerating to six hundred knots, I zoomed the base at fifty feet off the runway. Slowed, I turned and extended my wings then dropped the bomb on the middle of the runway on my next pass.

"Boom!" someone said on Guard.

On tower frequency, I requested and was cleared to land.

While taxiing, I asked tower, they didn't need a separate ground control there, to assemble the Forty-third and requested Col. Bradley in the briefing room.

*****

"Sarge, how do I go about ordering some cases of beer and sandwiches to be delivered to the briefing room?" I asked my crew chief.

"I can call our club. What would you like, Major?" I told him that my entire crew was invited including Josie and to order enough beer to last until Happy Hour along with more than enough sandwiches.

"No problem, will do ma'am."

"Score one for China Doll," Major Marks placed an X under my name and drew a line through First Lieutenant Harry Stevens' name in the adjacent column.

"Cheer up guys!" I grinned. "Fourteen to go!

"You all are off duty for the rest of today! I've got beer and sandwiches coming."

"Major Bauer!" Col. Bradley barked. He started to laugh as the delivery burst into the briefing room and all of the guys cheered.

"Yes, sir?" I responded with a curtsey and a grin.

"Never mind," he chuckled.

When my crew chief led all my ground crew in along with Josie, I got them up at attention.

"Listen up guys! This ain't the O'club! This is a Blackbird party! That means my entire crew is invited! If any of the officers have any problem with my crew attending and with how I hold my parties, I cordially invite you to leave!

"Now beer and sandwiches are on Anne Marie! Drink up and have fun!"

Josie was in front of me with a beer. "I really wish I could play with you, Major, but, I know what they'll do if we're caught. I hope you don't mind that I invited Angela to join your fun." I pulled her to me so we could kiss.

A man cleared his throat and I broke our kiss and turned to Col, Bradley, "Major, if you'd confine your affectionate expressions to more ... suitable locations, please?"

"Yes, sir." I moved apart, but still held Josie's hand then introduced her to the Base Commander. If things were as in our Air Force, he wouldn't have any idea that she existed.

"Josie, please respect my wishes too?" I was surprised. I'd introduced her as 'Private Jerkin' and not said her first name.

"Yes, sir. It's just that ... well, Major Bauer is rather special."

"That she is," I turned to Angie and we embraced to intimately kiss. I heard the room quiet.

Josie returned to place a beer in Angie's free hand; I held her other one tightly.

"Listen up guys! Most of you are on flight status, so most of you have met my girlfriend before, Lieutenant Angela Marley. Enjoy us for what fun we offer, but we're taken. OK?"

Several cheered and more took it up. I saw two pilots leave before things simmered down a bit.

It was mid-afternoon, both Angie and Josie had stuck to me like glue and Angie encouraged Josie to do so, when Harry came near.

He greeted us by rank first before getting to the point, "How'd you do it ma'am? This is a learning exercise and I'd like to learn, please?"

As I began to relate the events that morning, a few of the pilots close by stopped their conversations and turned to listen.

"My nose was a foot lower and eighteen inches behind your tailpipes before your flaps were up, Harry."

"He was in burner still, what about the jet wash on your vertical stabilizer and rudder, Anne Marie?" Duncan asked.

"I was a test pilot. What about jet wash? If you stay where you belong the turbulence is uniform and no problem at all."

"Before we've another shoot down, Anne Marie, would you demonstrate just how well you can fly formation."

"If you'd like Allan. How many ships?"

"Just four; I'd like to fly one."

"Count me in too, Al." Col. Davidson joined us.

"Colonel, Elise may be the better fighter pilot, but I've a good handle in formation. I'll lead another three of yours through the exercises," Judy offered. "Elise and I are both qualified in the F-15."

"I propose that Anne Marie fly her bird with three Eagles. We'll fly with two other four ships. Your choice of the 112 or an Eagle, Elise," Judy offered.

"You may have the white bird. I know you love it better than I do."

"But you fly it better, Elise," Judy returned.

"Colonel, will you take lead, please?" I asked. He smiled down at me.

"I'll have command, but I'd like you to show my pilots just how well you can wring them out then I want to see how well you can hold position while your tits are put through the wringer, Anne Marie." All who'd heard laughed.

****

"Lynx One cleared for takeoff."

"Lynx One, burners now," I ordered.

Having the experience in F-15's, I held my Blackbird back, once my gear and flaps were up. For safety, there was no way that I was going to hold my big beautiful bird back on takeoff roll. I waited until they'd all joined with my nose level at five hundred knots then pointed it thirty degrees up and pulled out of burner to hold the speed and attitude. Both planes were capable of far more performance.

We leveled at FL four five zero and waited until all of the twelve ship, three four-ship, formation were in position. Judy and Elise led the other two flights.

I started with a slow barrel roll. "Sloppy, boys - very sloppy."

"Again, Blackbird," it was Col. Davidson's voice. I was confident that Judy and Elise were in position. I repeated the maneuver four more times; alternating rotation with each then did a slow aileron roll to come inverted. The planes could hold sustained inverted over a minute before their engines starved for oil.

"God Damn, you sissies!

"Blackbird, zero two breaking formation." It was Col. Bradley.

"Zephyr, Lynx zero two now Lemming zero one,"

"Rodger, Lemming."

I came upright.

"These are simple flight maneuvers! Get with it!" he said. Col. Bradley was not happy.

"Chandelle," I announced as I drew the stick back and started to bank gently to the right. It was not procedure to state lead's intentions, but I felt the need to instruct. Cognizant of Elise's flight having to go above mine, I didn't bring my plane into a proper chandelle, but her flight should have been.

Colonel Bradley was absolutely furious when the room came to attention. After one hour of very simple flight exercises, he'd ordered all of the pilots, but Major Marks to return to base. Elise, Judy, Bill, Allan and I formed a five ship and he told me to 'wring it out'. Having over sixty percent fuel remaining, I did just that! Col. Bradley stayed in loose trail to observe.

*****

One by one, night and day and in all sorts of weather conditions, I dispatched the pilots of the Forty-Third. There was only mission that proved to be a real contest – the one I flew against Col. Davidson on a nice sunny morning.

Caribou Control reported that he was airborne exactly ten minutes after my wheels had lifted off the runway. They and Zephyr vectored us for a head-on intercept; not the most desirable choice for pilots. Just ten miles and only twenty seconds apart at the speeds we were flying, I pulled an eight G right turn, rolled one hundred eighty degrees and came back to the left only to find myself on a head on intercept again. He fired two missiles and I was climbing straight up to evade them. At about FL six one five I pulled the stick back into a three quarter loop and leveled at twenty thousand feet.

"Blackbird your target bearing three, five two, range one, one, three miles ... turning left to course ... one, seven, five, altitude FL four one three."

I turned to meet him head on, but stayed at FL two, zero, zero and plugged in the afterburners to accelerate to Mach two point two (not the maximum speed that the CF-112 was capable of). Almost under him, I reduced throttles and entered a modified half loop. Under him from behind, I had visual, radar and missile lock-on then triggered two missiles, just milliseconds after he rolled and pulled the stick back in what had to be a very high G maneuver.

The tracking alarms sounded in my earphones quickly followed by visual indicators telling that two missiles had been fired. To evade, I rolled and split S'ed then pulled out just a thousand feet off the deck.

My HSI showed that I was only four miles from the base and only a slight turn was needed to head me towards it. It is strange how one second I was flying with all my skills to avoid being shot down and then I was on a bombing run.

As pilots, we joke that 'close' only counts in a game of horseshoes, hand grenades and ... nuclear bombing. I missed the runway by about four hundred yards.

Audio indicated he had radar lock-on and at that altitude I was without Caribou's assistance. With just twenty percent fuel in my tanks, I still had to try!

Throttle full, I half looped and had radar lock-on. As I clenched hard, the audio missile alarms sounded and I touched off my four remaining weapons, delaying them about two seconds apart.

"Zephyr Control on Guard, Blackbird zero one, dead." I heard Col. Davidson cheer on the emergency channel.

"Zephyr Control on Guard, Lynx zero one, dead.

"Blackbird zero one, Lynx zero one, return to base. You have shot each other down."

"Wilco, Blackbird."

"Wilco, Lynx zero one.

Zephyr, Blackbird your frequency. Request vectors for a straight in."

*****

"How'd we do, Major? Did you shoot him down?"

"Yes I did, Josie." I didn't want to deflate her ever present enthusiasm just then, but let her enjoy it before telling her I'd been blow out of the sky too.

We were walking towards the tower when Col. Davidson caught up to us. "Good show, Major Bauer. Congratulations."

"Congratulations to you too, sir." I extended my hand and we paused to shake.

"I'm happy to settle for the draw. You gave me a good fight and really made me work."

"As did you, sir. I'm quite pleased that I have won the victory."

"How do you figure you won? We shot each other down on the last exchange, Major, clearly you must agree that our match was a draw?"

"Well, Colonel ... I think you lost sight of our respective missions today. I completed mine and while it's true you shot me out of the blue, you failed to complete yours, sir."

"You've lost me, Major?"

Josie squealed, "The bomb! It wasn't on the Blackbird when you taxied in!"

Col. Davidson, his jaw slack, turned and started to walk towards my Blackbird. Josie and I followed. After confirming what Josie had exclaimed, the squadron commander started to laugh.

"You are absolutely correct, Major; I was so intent on just shooting you down, that not once did I give any thought that doing so wasn't my mission. My job was to defend the base and I didn't even attempt to do that.

"Congratulations for mission accomplished!" he smiled and shook my hand again. "Well done, Major Bauer."

On the hanger deck my crew chief confirmed the bombing success and I was confident that Davidson's confirmed it too.

His men, satisfied with a draw, shouted and cheered their Colonel when he and I entered the briefing room. Understandably, none of their cheers were for me. Their commander was the only pilot in the group to succeed in shooting me down.

"Call them to attention, Al," he said to his XO.

"Squadron, aten-hut!"

"Stand at ease, men. Thank you for your cheers, but even though we shot each other down, the mission was not a draw. Congratulations go to our pretty China Doll. I failed to complete my mission this morning." They understandably questioned what he'd just told them.

"Listen up guys. What was our mission in this exercise these past couple of weeks.

'To shoot down the Doll,' or similarly worded responses were given.

"If I may sir?" Lt. Harry Stevens asked for attention.

"Go ahead, Harry," Col. Davidson directed.

"I was the first to get killed and what was clear in my mind as I climbed out, was that my mission that day was to defend the base against a bombing attack. I never had the chance to enter a dogfight with Major Bauer."

"Very good, Harry.

"I certainly didn't have any thought of defending our base. I'd only one thought as I prepared to fly and kept it until Major Bauer's PE tech squealed 'The bomb!' " They laughed when he tried to imitate Josie.

"But for Harry, I think we all forgot what this was about. We all launched with our stupid macho pride in the way. 'She shot down Joe, or Swede, or Al yesterday; I'll teach that China Doll how to fly'.

"We all wanted to prove to a pretty Yank skirt that we Canucks really know how to fly, eh?

"Yea, right! I shot her down alright ... after she'd bombed the base! She was on the deck and I was diving on her - had lock-ons all around the cockpit. I just knew she was a dead duck!

"Well, the sitting duck wasn't dead yet, she pulled back on the stick, had missile lock-ons then delivered them one by one, with delays, when I'd shot my wad all at once. Oh, I think I forgot to mention one little detail ... China Doll was in an inverted climb when she triggered her weapons.

"Meeting adjourned. I'm buying at the club!" Col. Davison declared.

 

The End Part II

  

  

  

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