“Just come over and watch my flight do formation work,” Larkin urged. “They’ll open your eyes.”
“Humph! You’d better open your own eyes! I have watched you. We were up in the sun this morning–five thousand feet above you–and watched you for half an hour. A fine bunch you have! We could have smothered you like a blanket. Have you ever shown them anything about looking in the sun for enemy planes?”
Larkin’s face evidenced his chagrin. “Are you kidding me?”
“Not much! We kept right along above you, but in the sun. I’ll admit they did good work, but oh, how blind! Boy, we’re not too far back to get jumped on. There have been fights farther back from the lines than this. You know Fritz dearly loves to raid ’dromes where new squadrons are in training. Believe me, their spy system is perfect. I’d be willing to wager my right eye that they know these groups are stationed in this area, how long they have been in France, and just what types of planes we are using. 74They’ve the best spy system in the world. You know how many times they have raided green squadrons. They figure it puts the wind up a bunch of inexperienced men. So keep your eye peeled. And if you want to see something pretty, come over and watch my gang. They’re ready for combat work right now–except Siddons.”
Larkin looked up in surprise. “I thought you told me he knew more about the planes and about flying than any of the others.”
“He does. But he can’t–or won’t–keep in formation. He cuts out, and goes joy-riding.”
“Seems to me I remember someone else who used to do that same little stunt,” Larkin said, smiling reminiscently.
McGee flushed. “Yes, I suppose I did, but not in training. I never cut formation until–”
“Until you saw something that looked like meat. Don’t try to kid me, Red. You’ve dragged me into too many dog fights. Do you think I have forgotten the day we were out having a look-see, five of us, and spotted five Albatrosses below? Bingo! Down you went like a shot, and the rest of us had to follow to keep you from being made into mincemeat. Talk about being blind! All the time a bigger flock of Fokkers were in the sun above us and they came down like ‘wolves on the fold.’ Fellow, you had your little faults. Don’t be too hard on Siddons.”
75“Cutting formation to get in a fight and cutting to go joy-riding are two different things. If it were anyone else but Siddons I’d ask Cowan to ground him.”