TWO MORE AIR ACE PICTURE LIBRARIES YOU WON'T WANT TO MISS— No. 66 TEETH OF BATTLE No. 67 SILENT WINGS © " RATILE sed srt ora 7 : : sunoge batt st / coe Hosp i % 4} A raw RAF. squadron stationed on A sense of failure can take a man the Pacific island of Soje was easy prey many different. ways—even to the for the invading Japs . . . or so they hell of Arnhem ! THERE ARE FOUR STUPENDOUS ISSUES OF AIR ACE PICTURE LIBRARIES ON SALE NOW!é e g 3 = @ AA—69 SEAFIRE [THE SEA GUPPLY LINE TO MURMANSK WAS THE MOST HAZARDOUS ALLIED CONVOY ROUTE OF THE SECOND WORLD WAR. THE SLOW MOVING COLUMNG OF SHIPS FACED, THE FURY. JATTACK BY SWARMING U- BOATS AND BOMBERS, WHICH EXACTED A DEADLY TOLL. BITTER ARCTIC STORMS,TOO, TOOK THEIR TRIBUTE OF SHIPG AND MEN, BUT THANKS TO THE DOGGED DETERMINATION AND COOL COURAGE OF A HANDFUL OF FLEET AIR ARM, CREWS, MANY OF THESE CONVOYS WOULD:OTHERWISE HAVE BEEN ANNIHILATED. THIS ISA STORY’ OF THESE MEN. |2 Seafire Gaapter, COLO RECEPTION ATA FLEET FERRY UNIT IN THE SHETLANDS, LIEUT. BILL PARK HAD UST DELIVERED A NEW SWORDFISH FROM THE FACTORY IN THE ‘SOUTH. AIRCRAFT WERE HELD THERE UNTIL REQUIRED BY FLSET AIR ARM UNITS. PRETTY ROPEY, THE WEATHER'S. CLOSING IN FAST. Wes wages = TOA HOT BATH AND UL PARK REPORT TO AIR ‘CONTROL mov nTaninh TIRED AFTER HIG LONG TRIP, BILL WAS LOOKING FORWARDSeafire 3 1 KNOW YOU'VE HAD A HARD TRIP PARK. VM SORRY, BUT YOU'VE TO TAKE OFF AGAIN IN HALF AN HOUR. A TOP PRIORITY SIGNAL FROM THE ADMIRALTY WANTS US TO SEND OUR MOST EXPERIENCED SWORDFISH PILOT TO JOIN H.M.S. SIRIUS AND YOU'RE THE ONE WHO FITS THE Bil, \TTLOOKS LIKE. A RUSSIAN CONVOY FOR YOU, MY LAD! be | WIS HEART LEAPT AT THE NEWS —AT LAST THIS WAS THE OPPORTUNITY HE HAD BEEN WASTING FOR— TO GET BACK TO FLYING OPERATIONS FROM A CARRIER | YOU'VE TO DELIVER ONE OF THE NEW SEAFIRE €'5 TO THE CARRIER WHICH IS HEADING NORTH. YOU SHOULD RENDEZVOUS WITH HER AT 1500 HOURS, JUST BEFORE DARK, THE NAVIGATION ‘OFFICER WILL GIVE YOU YOUR INTERCEPTING COURSE. IT'LL BE A TRICKY JOB FINDING HER IN THIS ‘MUCK, BUT YOU CAN DO ITTHERE WAS ONE VITAL FACT BILL OVERLOOKED THE MARE Bieeariee HAD A'AIGHER LANDING SPeED THAN Ite PREDECESSOR. SEAFIRE 8! I'VE FLOWN EVERY MARK BUT THAT ONE. OH WELL,| SUPPOSE IT HANDLES MORE OR Less THE SAME AS THE OTHERS. mS ANY ] THBY’VE_HAD ME IN THE DOGHOUSE LONG ENOUGH.NOW WE GOT A SECOND CHANCE TO START AGAIN WITH A CLEAN SLATE. THEY SAY THESE RUSSIAN CONVOYS ARE TOUGH GOING—WELL THAT'S ALL RIGHT BY ME. WU BE A CHANGE AFTER TWO YEARS OF FERRYING.Seafire 5 WITH STRICT RADIO SILENCE IN FORCE TO AVOID IDENTIFYING. THE CONVOY TO THE ENEMY, PARK’S SKILL AS A NAVIGATOR WAS VITAL FOR HIS SURVIVAL—THERE WOULD BE NO ASSISTANCE FROM THE CARRIER. THIS COULD BE DICEY, IF THE SIRIUS ISN'T WHERE SHE SHOULD BE, A FAT LOT OF GOOD ITLL BE TRYING TO FIND HER IN THIS BLIZZARD. ww THROUGH THE. FLYING SCUD, HE SUDDENLY CAUGHT A | MOMENTARY GLIMPSE OF A LINE OF MERCHANT SHIPS. THE CARRIER, PLOTTING HIS APPROACH BY RADAR HAD ALREADY TURNED INTO WIND, READY FOR THE LANDING. ITS ONE OF THESE SMALL 16,000 TONERS. NOT MUCH ROOM TO PLAY ABOUT ON THAT DECK!6 Seafire EASY DOES mT NOW! VA iL EXTRA © MILES AN HOUR ON THE ING SPEED WAS RESPONSIBLESeafire 7 ‘THERE WAS CONSTERNATION ON THE BRIDGE. HE'S ALL ' HE WON'T BE WHEN. RIGHT, SiR. ) as PVE FINISHED WITH HIM! TELL THAT FOOL | WANT TO SEE HIM IN MY CABIN IMMEDIATELY. CURSING HIMSELF FOR HIS MISTAKE, PARK EXPECTED A RAI IT WAS PARTICULARLY GALLING THAT HE SHOULD BEGIN HIS L JAWAITED RETURN TO ACTIVE SERVICE WITH AN ACCIDEN BENT IT A BIT, HAVEN'T YOU? DON'T WORRY, IT'LL MEND. OH, BY THE WAY, COMMANDER: fl) Mowyneux WANTS YOU IN HIS. BL CABIN. LOOKS LIKE YOU'LLGET ‘A ROASTING, OLD BOY!8 Seafire THE CHATTY LIEUTENANT LOOKED CURIOUSLY AT THE STARTLED. PILOT. DON'T LOOK SO DOWNHEARTED, THEY WON'T CHUCK YOu INTHE BRIG FOR MAKING O# NO! ANYONE BUT HIM! TT WAS JUST AS HE THOUGHT IT WOULD BE, HE OPENED THE DOOR AND THERE WAS MOLYNEUX'S: FACE, THE GRIM LOOK FADING TO INCREDULITY.. PARK! YOU AGAIN! YOU'RE THE LAST MAN ‘THAT GOES. 1 WANTED To SEE ON BoTH ways! ‘THIS TRIP.AS MOLNEUX RANTED ON TT APPEARED TO PARK AS IF A NOTE OF HYSTERIA CREPT INTO HIS VOICE. WE'VE ONLY GOT IS SWORDFISH. AND 8 SEAFIRES TO SEE US THROUGH TO MURMANSK. ONLY THREE PILOTS INCLUDING YOURSELF HAVE ANY EXPERIENCE TO SPEAK OF IN FLYING SWORDFISH AND THEY SEND ME A MAN P HAD COURT-MARTIALED FOR CARELESS FLYING! FROM WHAT I'VE JUST SEEN, YOU'RE AS SLOPPY NOW ‘AS YOU WERE THEN! TN THE TWO YEARS THAT HAD ELAPSED SINCE PARK LAST SAW HIM, MOLYNEUX SEEMED TO HAVE LOST SOME OF HIS SELF ASSURANCE. STEN: MOLYNEUX, | ALWAYS. KNEW YOU UTS. AS MY SUPERIOS ONE FOOT WRONG, OFFICER ON H.M.S. PERSEUR | SUPPOSE ON Oy eave YOU WERE RIGHT To DO WHAT YOU DID, Tl eREAR YOU! BUT FOR PETE'S SAKE, 3 MAN, I'VE TAKEN MY MEDICINE AND. LEARNT MY LESSON So, LAYOFF ME!10 THE "INTERVIEW" OVER, BILL PARK STORMED OUT. THE MAN'S. Seafire ‘AS THE CONVOY HEADED NORTHWARDS, ByYA COM N eiSeafire " WHEN THE FIRST PAIR OF SWORDFISH UNFOLDED THEIR WINGS AND THE ORDER CAME ‘START UPI’ EVERVONE IN THE CARRIER KNEW THE LIBERATOR WAS LEAVING. BILL PARK AND TOMMY STONE, HIS OBSERVER, WATCHED THEM TAKE OFF, SHE'D HAVE To BE ABOUT A MILE LONG. WE'RE THE NEXT PAIR 10 TAKE OFF SO MAKE ‘SURE YOU'RE ON DECK IN PLENTY TIME. 11'S UP TO. THe SIRIUS NOW, PITy SHE coun Fy) gy NN TWO HOURS LATER, PARK AND STONE WERE INTHE AIR. BILL KNEW THAT WHEN THEIR. STINT ENDED, IT WOULD MEAN A NIGHT LANDING ON THE HEAVING DECK— SOMETHING HE HAD NoT DONE FOR TWO YEARS.Seafire 12 AFTER AN UNEVENTFUL PATROL, PARK MADE A COPYBOOK LANDING, BUT THE MEN ON THE BRIDGE WERE TOO CONCERNED ABOUT ANOTHER MATTER TO GIVE IT MUCH THOUGHT. WE'RE FOR, Ve NEVER SEEN THE BAROMETER SO LOW ALL THROUGH THE LONG NIGHT THE WIND ROSE STEADILY, BUT THE ANTI U-BOAT PATROLS WENT Nc IT Nae THREE INTHE MORNING WHEN TRAGEDY STRUCK. A SWORDFISH, APPROA\ STERN, WAS GIVEN THE SIGNAL TO CUT THE ENGINE FOR THE TOUCHDOWN.Seafire 13 SUDDENLY THE SIRIUS'S STERN ROSE WITH EXTRA VIOLENCE, BOUNCING THE PLANE FIFTY FEET IN THE AIR. THROTTLE, MAN. whore! 00D, ey HE'S HAD IT! TT RAS AIL OVER INTO SECONDS. A GUST CAUGHT THE PLANE ON ITS STALLING POINT, AND IT TUMBLED. ‘SIGNAL THE DESTROYER: ‘SEARCH FOR THE CREW4 Seafire TT WAS. HOPELESS. THE MEN AND THEIR AIRCRAFT HAD ‘GONE AS THOUGH THEY HAD NEVER BEEN, LIKE A BLACK MONSTER SHRIEKING IN TRIUMPH, THE ICY STORM BATTERED THE CONVOY. WITH REDOUBLED FORCE. ‘cor! WHAT'S HAPPENED 0 THE CONVOY? J THEY'LL GET PICKED OFF ‘ONE BY ONE BY THEM ~_U- BoarSeafire 15 COMMANDER MOLYNEUX DECIDED TO RIGK ONLY ONE OF THE PRECIOUS SWORDFISH ON THE DANGEROUS JOB OF ROUNDING UP THE SHIPS. LIEUT. PARC AND HIS. OBSERVER GET READY TO) S TAKE OFF! WHAT! IN THIS SEA? THERE WON'T BE ANY NoT suBs. THIS TIME, COME ON, LETS GET (CRACKING! THE TAKE-OFF WAS A WILD AFFAIR. CATCHING THE BOWS ON AN UPSWING, THE SWORDFISH WAS LITERALLY FLUNG INTO THE SHRIEKING WIND.16 Seafire USING THEIR SEARCH RADAR OR ASVX,AS IT WAS KNOWN, THEY FOUND SHIP AFTER SHIP AND FLASHED TO THEM THE CONVOY'S POSITION. I'VE SIGHTED ANOTHER, SKIPPER, BEARING 172 DEGREES, RANGE ELEVEN MILES. ‘ALL THROUGH THE SHORT DAY THEY FLEW, RETURNING TO SIRIUS ONLY FOR REFUELLING AND REPLENIGHING THEIR THERMOS FLASKS WITH HOT BROTH AND COCOA. ALONE THEY ROUNDED UP ALL THE SCATTERED SHIPS EXCEPT TWO, WHICH HAD BEEN OVERWHELMED BY THE STORM, r Nena AH SHO! ‘AM GLAD FOR THESE LIMEY NAVY GUYS,Seafire I7 THE WEATHER GLOWLY MODERATED, BUT THE DECK OF THE SIRIUS STILL PITCHED DANGEROUSLY, PARK'S LANDINGS AND TAKE OFFS WERE HAIR-RAISING BUT SUCCESSFUL UNTIL THE LAST LANDING OF THE DAY— SS UM RIGHT18 Seafire WHY THE CRAZY—! HE KNOWS DARNED WELL ea THAT UNDERCARRIAGE FOLDED UP BECAUSE TT COULDW'T TAKE ANY MORE. BO Miy coo. ERE, SWALLOWING HIS INDIGNATION, PARK WENT DOWN TO HIS CABIN. HE WAS TIRED, HIS PRIDE WAS HURT, AND HE FEU [HAT FATE HAD DEALT VERY UNKINDLY OF ALL Th ROTTEN Tue! wire MOLYNEUX AS COMMANDER-FLYING, Mt LIFE ABOARD THIS, CARRIER S GOING TO, BE, REALLY 'BStan L BE aly 900 ‘BetictTED TO SLAP ME DOWN AT THE SLIGHTEST OPPORTUNITY!Seafire 19 [ Chapter 2 PERILOUS LANDING THE FOURTH DAY OUT AND STILL THERE WAS NO GIGN OF ENEMY ACTIVITY. HAD THE NAZIS SLIPPED UP SOMEWHERE ? A SHARP-EYED LOOKOUT ON A CORVETTE ‘SUPPLIED THE ANSWER UNIDENTIFIED AIRCRAFT BEARING ‘ZERO FOUR NINE! SS WW THE CLEAR SUB ZERO AIR, HOSTILE, SS EYES WATCHED FROM EXTREME RANGE ! SS at N A \\THE KURIER CONTINUED TO CIRCLE FOR MOST OF THE DAY. IT REMAINED WELL (OF RANGE OF THE DEFENDING GUNS. NO FEWER THAN TWELVE U-BOATS LURKING IN THE AREA WERE ALERTED. COMMANDER MOLYNEUX, (REQUEST PERMISSION TO TAKE OFF AND SHOOT DOWN THAT JERRY. ‘ACH, LIEUTENANT. THIS WILL BE EASY— THEY WILL BE SILHOUETTED THE SEA-WOIVES CREPT CLOSER, STALKING THE SHIPS UNSEEN— SO THEY THOUGHT. LEADING SEAMAN PETER ARMITAGE, OBSERVER IN SWORDFISH R~ ROBERT, GASPED WHEN HE SAW WHAT WAS REGISTERED ON HIS ASVX SCREEN. TWELVE OF THEM, SKIPPER. DEAD AHEAD! Ie EVES GLUED ON THAT SCREEN.Seafire TWAS USELESS TO MAINTAIN RADIO SILENCE NOW THAT THE ENEMY HAD PIN-POINTED THEM. ABOARD. THE FLAGSHIP — THE CRUISER H.M.S. SURREY, THE ADMIRAL DISCLOSED HIS MASTER PLAN TO TRAP THE U- BOAT FLEET. ABOARD THE SIRIUS, THE SWORDFISH WERE MANNED— WAITING FOR THE SIGNAL J 4 aT 21 THE MERCHANTMEN WILL ALTER COURSE DUE EAST IMMEDIATELY, THE ESCORTS WILL CONTINUE ON THE ORIGINAL TRACK. AS SOON AS OUR SHADOWING] PLANE REPORTS THE RANGE OF THE ENEMY AG FIVE MILES, WE RADIO BUSTER To ALL SHIPS. THAT WILL BE THE SIGNAL TO ATTACK, WE'LL CATCH 'EM BEFORE THEY SUBMERGE.2 Seafire ARMITAGE IN THE SHADOWING SWORDFISH] | IT WAG LIKE A WELL- OILED MACHINE SWINGING READ OFF THE RANGE OF APPROACHING | | INTO ACTION. LE~PACK. WHEN HE REACHED THE CRITICAL FIGURE — AS THE SWORDFISH FLEW INA WIDE CIRCLE TO ATIACK THEIR ENEMIES FROM ASTERN, THE CRUISER, DESTROYERS AND CORVETTES TURNED SHARPLY AND HEADED FOR THE U-BOATS AT FULL BORE.Seafire 2B THE SWORDFIGH SQUADRON ENGINES THROTTLED BACK FOR A SILENT APPROACH, CHOSE THEIR TARGETS AND DIVED TO THE ATTACK, AT THE SUDDEN ROAR OF THEIR ENGINES, THE HORROR-STRICKEN NAZIS STARED DEATH INTHE FACE. ‘SHOOT IT DOWN ‘OR WE ARE FINISHED ! SOME U—BOATS CRAGH-DIVED AND SOME STAYED UP TO FIGHT IT OUT. HE'S GOT us, Too!4 Seafire GALLANTLY, THE GLOW ARCHAIC LOOKING | BIPLANES PRESSED HOME THEIR ATTACKS, GUDDENLY, THE FIGHTING SHIPS WERE AMONG THE DEMORALISED NAZIS. INSTEAD OF A HELPLESS CONVOY OF MERCHANT SHIPS, THIS WAS A DEADLY STRIKING FORCE. THEIR INTENDED VICTIMS. RD. WERE FAR TO THE EASTWARD. PHEW! WHAT ACARVE UP,Seafire 25 BILL PARK MARKED A Bic OCEAN GOING U- BOAT AND BORED IN TO THE ATTACK! AIRCRAFT ROCKETS!26 Seafire THE RESULT WAS DEVASTATING — ‘MY SAINTED. AUNT, SKIPPER! A FLYING SUBMARINE! OF THOSE THAT HAD SUBMERGED TO ESCAPE THE ‘SWORDFISHES? ONSLAUGHT, SENSITIVE ASDIG DETECTORS ON THE SHIPS TRACKED THEM DOWN; THE POWERFUL DEPTH CHARGES SPLIT THEIR HULLS.Seafire 7 THE COST HAD BEEN HEAVY. SIX SWORDFISH LOST AND THREE DAMAGED. THE DEFENCE WAS BEING REMORSELESSLY WHITTLED AWAY. THAT'S. SUB. LIEUT. PRITCHARD. ‘GUDDENLY IT WAS ALL OVER. ONLY A FEW OF THE UNDERSEA RAIDERS GURVIVED TO BREAK THE GLOOMY NEWS THAT AN IGNOMINIOUS DEFEAT HAD BEEN INFLICTED ON ‘AND STILL THE MERCHANT SHIPS FORGED AHEAD FOR RUSSIA. WE'VE SMASHED GENTLEMEN. WANE TaeeMOREPISH AND ANE™ > REFORM THE CONVOY. WE WILL PROCEED ON_OUR ORIGINAL B= BAKER TO. BATTLEAXE~REQUEST PERMIGSION FOR EMERGENCY LANDING. TO RETAIN CONTINUOUS AIR PATROLS, COMMANDER MOLYNEUX HAD KEPT TWO SWORDFISH ON DECK AT, THE BOWS, READY TO BE MOVED BACK FOR TAKE- (OFF WHEN THE LAST OF THE OTHERS HAD LANDED. BATTLEAXE TO B-BAKER. TWO. SWOROFISH-ARE ON DECK. ORBIT FOR TEN MINUTES UNTIL THEY CAN BE TAKEN BELOW,2B Seafire ‘MOLYNEUX WAS DETERMINED, NO MATTER WHAT THE COST IN MEN‘S LIVES, TO SAVE THE PARKED AIRCRAFT. BURNING FUEL FROM A DECK CRASH MIGHT ENGULF THEM. MY PETROS yi Wy yee OBSERVER’S HIT BAD, IF 1 GO INTO Bill PARK WEIGHED PRITCHARD'S CHANCES AND DECIDED TO TAKE A HAND, T= FREDDY To Tess BATTLEAKE. I'M SURE 1 CAN GET HIMSeafire 2 MOLYNEUX’S TEMPER FLARED. IT APPEARED THAT PARK WAS DESTINED TO GET IN HIS HAIR AT EVERY TURN. THIS IS COMMANDER (MOLYNEUX. I'M RUNNING: THIS SHOW, PARK. MEN ARE EXPENDABLE, BUT THESE SWORDFISH ARE NOT, NOW GET OFF THE AIR! THE COMMANDER'S SAVAGE ANSWER, BURNED INTO PARK’S BRAIN. HE SNAPP! RADIO SWITCH TO TRANSMIT, USTEN CAREFULLY, BOB. IF YOU ENGAGE YOUR ARRESTER HOOK IN THE ARRESTER CABLE BEFORE YOU TOUCH DOWN, THEN CUT YOUR ENGINE AND PUT THE NOSE UP YOUR KITE-WILL COME TO ‘A DEAD’ STOP, HITTING THE DECK FLAT INSTEAD OF SCRAPING. ALONG'ON THE FUSELAGE THAT WAY, THERE WON'T BE MUCH RISK OF SPARKS SETTING THAT PETROL ALIGHT, GOT IT? YES. BUT HOW DO- 1 KNOW WHEN TO CUT. THE ENGINE? | CAN'T SEE MY ARRESTER HOOK AND THE BATSMAN WON'T BE ABLE TO SEE FROM WHERE HE STANDS.30 Seafire UL STICK, CLOSE BY YOUR 'WINGTIP ALL THE WAY ‘AND TELL YOU WHAT TO DO AND WHEN WHEN 1SAY CUT, SWITCH YOUR ENGINE ‘OFF AND PULL THE STICK ‘ALMIGHTY WALLOP AS. YOU HIT THE DECK, BUT YOU'LL BEO.K.Seafire NORMALLY, AIRCRAFT TOUCHED DOWN ON DECK, THEN RAN ON UNTIL THE ARRESTER HOOK CAUGHT IN ONE OR OTHER OF THE CABLES. PARK’S SCHEME MEANT THAT THE PLANE WOULD ACTUALLY BE AIRBORNE WHEN IT HOOKED UP. HE PINNED HIS, HOPES ON THE STIFF BREEZE THAT SWEPT THE DECK. THIS WOULD LOWER THE APPROACH SPEED WHICH WOULD EASE THE TERRIFIC STRAIN ON THE ARREGTER HOOK. FOUR TIMES THEY TRIED. THE NEXT ATTEMPT, HAD TO BE FINAL. PRITCHARD'S FUEL GAUGE NOW REGISTERED’ EMPTY. STEADY NOW. DowN- DOWN- JUST A UTTLE— 3 THAT WAS TOO HIGH. WE'LL TRY AGAIN.32 Seafire TT LOOKED LIKE ANOTHER MISG— THEN THE HOOK SMACKED INTO. THE LAST ARRESTER CABLE. PARK WAITED FOR ONE FRACTION OF A SECOND UNTIL THE CABLE STRETCHED ALMOST TO ITS LIMIT. THEN HE SNAPPED OUT THE ORDER.AA—69 Seafire 33 PRITCHARD WHIPPED THE STICK BACK. THE PLANE REARED UP AND SMASHED DOWN ON THE STEEL DECKING WITH A THUMP THAT MADE THE WHOLE SHIP VIBRATE. \\ EASY THERE, Hes STOPPED PACKET,ed Seafire Giaprers TORPEDO ATTACK THE PAIR RECEIVED MUCH BACK SLAPPING TGAVE YOU AN CONGRATULATIONS ON THEIR WAY TO THE ORDER, PARK. YOU CREW ROOM, WHERE A DIFFERENT RECEPTION DISOBEVED. TWO AWAITED THEM, PARK, HOWEVER, HAD BEEN AIRCRAFT MIGHT HAVE EXPECTING THIS. BEEN DESTROYED NEEDLESSLY — STONE INSTINCTIVELY REALIZED HE HAD NO J] [MOLVNEUX’S VOICE ROSE TO AN HYSTERICAL PART INTHIS AND LEFT DISCREETLY. NoTE— THAT'S ALL YOU THINK ABOUT-AIRCRAFT. 1 DON'T HAVE TO JUSTIFY MY ACTION WHAT ABOUT THE MEN WHO FLY THEM? IF | JO YOU, LIEUTENANT, AS YOUR SUPERIOR, HAD OBEYED YOUR ORDERS THE TWO OFFICER, YOU WILL OBEY FURTHER ORDERS MEN IN THAT SWORDFISH WOULD BE , WITHOUT QUESTION. I’M GROUNDING YOU DEAD BY NOW. UNTIL FURTHER’ NOTICE.Seafire 35 THE BITTER PROTESTS DIED ON PARKS LIPS.AS THE TANNOY SOUNDED ‘ACTION STATIONS: COM MOWNELICS FACE SUDDENLY WENT A WHITE AS CHALK, INTE AIR OPERATIONS, ROOM THE SCREEN BETRAYED. THE APPROACH OF i NEW MENACE, Nye36 Seafire PARK RAGED TO THE HANGAR TO STAND. RADAR, REPORTS FORTY AIRCRAFT HEADING \| By HIS AIRCRAFT, WHILE MOLYNEUX THIS WAY, COMMANDER, THEY'RE THIRTY MILES WENT TO THE BRIDGE. AWAY, | SUGGEST YOU FLY OFF SOME SEAFIRES INTERCEPT. THEY WERE HIGH LEVEL BOMBERS ~ JU 88's.Seafire EA THE ODDS WERE EIGHT 10 ONE, BLT THE SEAFIRE PILOTS DID_NOT WORRY ABOUT THAT . THEY ONLY THOUGHT OF FORTY TARGETS TO FILL THEIR SIGHTS. ACTION AT Last! THE SWORDFISH HAVE HAD IT ALL THEIR, OWN. WAY UNTIL NOW! THANKS TO THE HEIGHT OF THE ENEMY FORMATION, THE RADAR HAD PLENTY OF WARNING, WHICH IN TURN GAVE THE FIGHTERS TIME TO CHOOSE THEIR METHOD OF ATTACK. WE'LL GET ABOVE THEM, THEN GET STUCK INI REMEMBER, GO EASY ‘ON YOUR AMMO. MAKE EVERY SHELL COUNT!8 Seafire TEE NAZI BOMBER PILOTS WERE NO NOVICES THEY TAD Wy YF LEARNT HEOM THE GREAT DAYLIGHT RAIDS ON GeRmany | I BY AMERICAN BOMBERS, THAT MASGED CROSSFIRE FROM | g BOMBERS WAS AN EFFECTIVE DETENC! AES \ \ re Qy - THE DEVASTATING FIREPOWER AND THE SHEER GUTS OF THE CONVOY'S. FIGHTERS, BEAT DOWN THE JUNKERS’ DEFENCE AND EXACTED A HEAVY TOLL,Seafire THE SEAFIRES TORE MERCILEGGLY AT THE BOMBERS’ BLIND SPOTS, BROKE. THE FORMATION WAVERED — AND. TN SPITE OF THE EFFORTS OF THE FIGHTERS, SOME ‘OF THE BOMBERS GOT THROUGH BY SHEER WEIGHT OF NUMBERS .40 Seafire THE SIRIUS WAS SINGLED CUT FOR SPECIAL ATTENTION. HER CAPTAIN FLUNG THE HELM THIS WAY AND THAI DODGING THE HAIL OF DEATH. TE CAADIAN FREIGHTER OTTAWA DEEPLY LADEN WITH AMMUNITION, VY BOMB AIMDSHIPS, POOR BLIGHTERS! BAT LeAST WE'RESeafire ‘ONLY A FEW FRAGMENTS MARKED THE GRAVE OF A FINE SHIP. NLL GET YOu FOR THAT, YOU NAZI RAT! ANOTHER ONE FOR THE BOOK!Seafire LOW OVER THE FREEZING SEA, ANOTIER MENACE RACED TOWARDS THE BATTLE— TWENTY-FIVE HEINKEL til TORPEDO BOMBERS, THE REMAINING SEAFIRES ROSE TO MEET THEM. HAWK LEADER Will SELELESS, COURAGE, THE FLEET FIGHTERS CLAWED AL THE BLACK HEINKELS. ONE FANATI HEADED FOR THE CARRIER'S SIDE. [= $ S KES ‘AND DIE FOR , THE FUEHRER/Seafire 43 TT SEEMED AG IF NOTHING COULD STOP THE DEATH AND GLORY PILOT FROM HITTING THE SHIP — NO.3. DAMAGE CONTROL PARTY. CHECK THEIR AREA FOR DAMAGE, THE BURST FROM HAD SLUMPED OVER HIS CONTROLS. THEN!4 Seafire WHEN ‘ACTION STATIONS’ IS THE ORDER ON A CARRIER, FLYING PERSONNEL NOT ACTUALLY ON FLYING DUTY HAVE OTHER JOBS TO DO. BILL PARK WAS IN CHARGE OF NUMBER 3 DAMAGE CONTROL PARTY. AFTER FINDING NO DAMAGE IN THEIR AREA, THEY RETURNED TO THE DECK WHERE PARK MADE A STARTLING DISCOVERY. COMMANDER. WHAT'S THE MATTER, ‘ARE YOU HURT? THERE WAS A CONCUSSION THAT SHOOK THE SIRIUS AS A TORPEDO PLOUGHED’ INTO THE VITALS OF A TANKER NEARBY AND HER CARGO OF HIGH OCTANE PETROL| EXPLODED LIKE A VAST BOMB THIS” APPEARED TO OPEN THE FLOODGATES OF MOLYNELX'S MIND. TS THAT COLD WATER— ITS WAITING FOR ME! DID YOU KNOW IT COULD FREEZE A MAN TO THE MARROW INA MINUTE? IF WE GO DOWN, WE'LL FREEZE TO DEATH “EVERY MAN JACK OF US! FELT ANGER RISE INSIDE HIM WHEN: HE SAW THE MAN WAS SHAKING WITH FEAR. WELL — IF THAT DOESN'T TAKE THE BISCUIT! YOU_ DON'T CARE TWO -HOOTS ABOUT OTHER MEN'S LIVES, YET YOU'RE AFRAID. FOR YOUR OWN 5 ‘MISERABLE SKIN! — LISTEN, PARK. I-f COULDN'T FACE TT ANY MORE. 1WVE HAD ENOUGH.Seafire 45 PARK’S. ANGER TURNED TO CONTEMPTUOUS PITY. MOST MEN FELT SCARED UNDER FIRE, BUT ANYONE BUT YOU, PARK. FOUGHT THEIR FEARS, THIS MAN HAD. LEAVE ME ALONE, I'LL FOUGHT AND LOST... KEEP ‘EM FLYING! YOU HAD BETTER GET BELOW. THE DOC. SHOULD SEE YOU. MEANWHILE, I'LL TAKE PARK’S REPLY, WAS BRUTAL— YOU'RE YELLOW! BUT IT HAD TO BE— YOU_AREN’T FIT TO ORDER MEN ALL RIGHT— NO NEED AROUND! NOW GET OUT BEFORE YOU TO GO ON. YOU TAKE CAUSE THE CONVOY TO BE OVER ON THE BRIDGE DESTROYED BY THE WRONG FOR ME— YOU'RE DECISIONS YOU'RE BOUND RIGHT— I'M FINISHED! ‘TO MAKE. I'M WARNING YOU— lr Ss a GN [4 Seafire Giapter¢ END OF THE LINE [AS GENIOR OFFICER AMONG THE SURVIVING PLOTS, PARK WAS THE ONE TO TAKE OVER FROM \CHED THE BRI WAS OV! MOLYNEUX, SHORTLY AFTER HE REACHED THE BRIDGE, THE BATTLE WAS wit OF, THE DAYLIGHT HOURS, HITLER'S, BOMBERS RETURNED TO NORWAY, LEAVING THe BATTERED CONVOY TO PLUG ON NORTH-EASTWARI4B Seafire NOT FAR TO THE NORTH LAY THE GLEAMING WHITE WALL OF THE PACK-ICE. THE COURSE OF THE CONVOY NOW LAY DUE EAST THROUGH THE EVER NARROWING CHANNEL BETWEEN IT AND THE BARREN NORWEGIAN COASTLINE. U—BOATS LURKING AT THE OLTER EDGES OF THE CONVOY WERE KEPT AT BAY BY THE EVER. VIGILANT SWORDFISH. HAD THE ENEMY KNOWN HOW THINLY STRETCHED THE Al DEFENCES WERE, THEY COULD HAVE ANNIHILATED THE ENTIRE CONVOY. a GRESeafire g THE NEXT MOVE WAS NOT LONG IN COMING - FIGHTERS... TO DISPOSE OF THE LIGHTLY ARMED SiWWORDFISH. RADAR HERE. THREE AIRCRAFT. APPROACHING, BEARING pes) ZERO EIGHT SEVEN DEGREES. (THINK THEY'RE NIGHT FIGHTERS. WITH NO NIGHT FIGHTERS ON BOARD THE ‘SWORDFISH HAD LITILE CHANCE AGAINST THE APPROACHING KILLERS. THOSE THREE SPITEIRE PILOTS SHOULD REST— THEY'VE TAKEN A LOT. TODAY. I'M GOING AFTER THESE JERRIES. Ok, LIEUTENANT. VUL HOLD THE FORT UNTIL YOU GET THE SEAFIBES WERE NEVER INTENDED TO FLY FROM A | CARRIER AT NIGHT, BUT THE SITUATION WAS DESPERATE— GOOD LUCK, SIR!50 Seafire ‘AT 5000 FEET THE PACK ICE TO THE NORTH WAS A WEIRD SIGHT GLEAMING UNDER THE AURORA, BUT PARK HAD OTHER THINGS TO LOOk FoR. THE NAZI FIGHTERS, JUNKERS | 68 WERE EQUIPPED WITH THE LATEST RADAR: DEVICES. THEY BEGAN THEIR INEXORABLE HUN NO_RADAR TO SEE THEM WITH, THIS 1S_PRETTY HOPELESS THE INTENDED VICTIM, WARNED OF THE APPROACHING’ FIGHTERS TOOK EVASIVE ACTION AT THE RIGHT MOMENT. TARGET BEARING ZERO ZERO SEVEN, ERR: LIEUTENANT.Seafire EL THE TRACER BETRAYED THE JUNKERS POSITIO! IF t CAN GET THAT BLACK BRUTE IN MY SIGHTS, HE'S A. GONER! AT FULL THROTTLE, THE SEAFIRE RACED TOWARDS THE SPOT. curse It! I CAN'T SEE A THING,52 Seafire SUBRENLY TRACER, LASHED, OUT AGAIN, DEAD AHEAD AND VERY CLOSE. nAR 'S ACTION WAS INSTINCTIVE, Ye PRESSED HARI SON THE FIRING BUTTON ( sth a i, A TINY FLAME APPEARED, 1 GREW INTOA FLAMING TORCH AS THE NAZI AIRCRAFT PUNGED, SEAWARDS.Seafire Sete Beers Tne FIGHTER STRUCK. THIS TIME THERE FoR TI AUCHTA GLIMPSE OF SOMETHING FROM THe CORNER OF HIS’ EVE.54 Seafire THE REMAINING NAZI AIRCRAFT SHEERED OFF =ITS CREW HAD SEEN ENOUGH, PARK CONTINUED] TO PATROL THE CONVOY AREA UNTIL HIS FUEL BECAME LOW. IS TRICKY AT $7" NIGHT WITH THAT LONG NOSE IN FRONT. ICAN'T SEE A THING. > THANKS TO HIS.SKILLAS A PILOT THE NOTHING ELSE HAPPENED THAT NIGHT, BUT SEAFIRE LANDED SAFELY. EVERYONE IN THE CONVOY WAITED “ONE SWORDFISH LESS, THINGS LOOK:BAD NOW MIGHTY BADS APPREHENSIVELY..FOR THE_DAWN .__WITH THE COMING OF DAYLIGHT, PARK RETURNED TO DUTY AND COULD SCARCELY BELIEVE HIS EVES — FOG! BEAUTIFUL THICK SOUPY FOG. NEED YOUR FLIERS TODAY, LIEUTENANT! \e THE NAZIS PLAYED THEIR LAST AND BEST CARD=THE BATTLE CRUISER ZWOLLE HAD SAILED FROM ‘HER ANCHORAGE * IN NORTHERN NORWAY, CONFIRM RADAR ECHO AS: THAT OF A LARGE SHIP ON SAME URSE AND SPEED ‘AS CONVOY. THE LIFTING OF TENSION WAS FELT BY EVERY (CEPT BY THESE MAN ON EVERY SHIP PROPHETS OF DOOM-THE RADAR MEN. RADAR TO BRIDGE. WE'VE SPOTTED SOMETHING DUE SOUTH TWENTY— FIVE MILES RANGE, IT MIGHT BE A. BIG. ICE FLOE—ON THE OTHER HAND IT MIGHT BE A SHIP,56 Seafire ALL THROUGH THAT SHORT DAY AND THE FOLLOWING NIGHT, THE MENACING TRACE. ON THE RADARSCOPE KEPT’ STATION WITH THE CONVOY. THE FOG DISPERSED IT'S MY GUESS THAT SHES WAITING UNTIL WE REACH THE NARROWEST CHANNEL BETWEEN THE PACK ICE-AND THE COAST. JUST BEFORE WE ENTER KOLA BAY-THEN SHE'LL STRIKE. HAVE YOUR SWORDFISH ARMED WITH TORPEDOES, UEUTENANT. DURING THE HOURS OF DARKNESS, THE LIGHT CRUISER H.MS. INVERNESS HAD SIDLED. CLOSER TO THE ZWOLLE. WHEN THE SKY BEGAN TO LIGHTEN, SHE HEADED STRAIGHT FOR THE NAZI SHIP INA DARING HIGH SPEED ATTACK.Seafire THE LIGHTER GUNG OF THE INVERNESS WERE NO MATCH FOR THOSE OF THE GERMAN, BUT SHE GALLANTLY PRESSED HOME HER ATTACK If WE CAN ONLY AFI UNTIL THE RUSSIAN PLANES COME... BEATEN INTO A FLAMING, HELPLESS BULK, THE BRITISH SHIP SWUNG AWAY OUT OF CONTROL Al SLOWLY BEGAN. TO SINK THE FOOLS. HOW DO THEY EXPECT TO STOP Us > NOW convoy!58 Seafire THE SACRIFICE OF THE CRUISER HAD GAINED THE W INUTES, BUT IT APPEARED THAT ITS EVENTUAL DESTRUCTION WAS NOW AT HAND. LL FIGURE STEPPED PURPOSEFULLY THROUGH DOGRWAY IN THE'ISLAND! A STRANGEBUT SiIR— seca NS HELMET AND PARACHUTE! THE COMMANDER FLEW LIKE AMAN POSSESSED.THE SWORDFISH VIBRATED IN EVERY STRUT AS. LYNEUX OPENED THE ENGINE TO ITS UM AND HEADED STRAIGHT ‘THE ZWOLLE. THE ENTIRE FLAK BARRAGE OF THE ZWOLLE CONCENTRATED ON THE PLANE... TE SEEMED IMPOSSIBLE, AND STEEL, BUT STI‘AT AINIMUM RANGE, THE COMMANDER PRESSED . | THE TORPEDO RELEASE BUTTON, AND AN INSTANT LATER, THE SWORDFISH DISINTEGRATED. za” HUMMEL HAS missep! yj IT APPEARED THAT THE NAZI WAS RIGHT- BUT COMMANDER MOLYNEUX IN HIS LAST MOMENTS OF LIFE HAD BEEN OBLIVIOUS OF THE FLAK BURSTS. HE HAD AIMED HIS TORPEDO AS COOLLY AND ACCURATELY AS IF IT HAD BEEN Ie HAS SMASHED OUR RUDDERS. WE ARE CRIPPLED!62 Seafire THE ZWOLLE LURCHED DRUNKENLY SOUTHWARDS TOWARDS THE SHELTER OF THE NORTHERN FIORDS AND SAFETY. THE CONVOY WAS. SAVED. AIRCRAFT STONE THE BLOOMIN' CROWS! WILL THEY NEVER LET UP!Seafire ONCE MORE, RESOLUTE MEN HAD BROUGHT THEIR SHIP THROUGH THE MOST HAZARDOUS SEA ROUTE OF THE SECOND WORLD WAR. MANY HAD BEEN LOST, BUT NONE HAD FLINCHED;EXCEPT ONE'MAN WHO GAVE HIS LIFE TO SAVE THE CONVOY. AS-THE LIGHT EBBED FROMTHE SKY AND THE SHIPS FILED SLOWLY INTO VAENGAR THE PORT OF MURMANSK, PARK AND THE SURGEON~ COMMANDER SAW THE VAST PILES OF SUPPLIES FOR THE RED ARMY. IF IT HADN'T BEEN YOU WERE MISTAKEN, FOR COMMANDER LADDIE, We CALL WHaY WAS, MOLYNEUX WE'D NEVER WRONG WITH HIM' BATTLE FATIGUE, HAVE MADE IT. I'M AND BELIEVE ME~ HE ASHAMED TO ADINT 1, TOOK PLENTY. Sig, Bur VEALED. HIM YELLOW,6 Seafire HE FLEW SWORDFISH IN NINE ARCTIC CONVOYS, SURVIVED THREE DECK SMASH-UPS, THEN GOT SHOT DOWN. ON HIS TENTH TRIP. HE WAS IN THE FREEZING WATER FOR HOURS BEFORE HE WAS PICKED UP AND WHEN HE CAME OUT OF HOSPITAL, HEVOLUNTEERED AGAIN FOR THE RUSSIAN RUN-DESPITE THE FACT THAT HE WAS, DRIVING HIMSELF, BEYOND THE LIMITS OF HIS NERVES. NO_LIEUTENANT— HE WAS THE T MAN TO CALL YELLOW. TN THE MOUNTING BATTLE AGAINST THE NAZIS, IT WAS VITAL THAT THE MURMANSK LIFE-LINE WAS KEPT OPEN. PARK HOPED FERVENTLY THAT HE WOULD MAKE AS GOOD A JOB OF IT AS HIS LATE COMMANDER HAD DONE, INCIDENTALLY, | HEARD A WHISPER ‘THAT YOU'RE PROMOTED TO LIEUT. COMMANDER — CONGRATULATIONS! Printed in England and published each month by Fleetway Publications Ltd. Fleetway House, Farringdon Street, London, E.C-4, Sole Agents: Australasia, Messrs, Gordon & Goteh, Ltd.; South Africa, Central Néws Agency, Lid.; Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland, Messrs. 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