“We have ten new planes and a new group of pilots coming in. The whole flight will be under a new flight instructor. He will give you instructions from now on. I’ll see you men over in the mess as soon as you are relieved this afternoon.” He turned on his heel and walked away.
Having a new instructor meant nothing to Stan and Allison. They had not been with the Flying Tigers long enough to know the man who was to be relieved. They went out into the sunshine and seated themselves under a tree to wait for action.
The Japs did not come back. Apparently their smashing defeat had slowed their attacks. Stan kept watching the flat fields stretching away from their base, hoping to see a lank figure coming in through the ground haze.
An hour before sundown they were relieved and went to their barracks to change to light uniforms. When they had changed, they walked over to the mess.
A group of some fifty men milled around the room. They were laughing and talking in small groups. Stan noticed at once that the men were not acquainted with each other, except for small squads gathered together. He and Allison stood watching. Suddenly Allison nudged Stan and said:
“There’s Nick Munson.”
Stan looked and saw Nick Munson in a uniform resplendent with braid. On his shoulders was the insignia of a colonel.
“He sure got himself a rating in a hurry,” Stan said.
“And a good one. I say, old man, you don’t suppose he has a special drag around here?” Allison’s lips curled into a smile.
At that moment Munson stepped to the front of the room and faced the fliers.