Angel of the Skies

ENGLISH CHANNEL September, 1940

Shit, there's a fighter on my six.

Shit, Fm hit.

My ailerons are jammed, I can't turn. I'm bailing out.

ANGEL OF THE SKIES

RAF HEMSWELL AFB September, 1944

He was married.

A father, Harry.

He had a family, just like you.

It's a little hot.

Thank you, Ed.

SQ?

So what? - What do you think?

He'll be fine. He always is.

He's just had his best friend's head blown off right next to him. He's not alright.

So what do you want to do?

We should speak to Lieutenant Hawthorn. - The medical officer?

He needs time off, Ed.

I don't need a doctor, Harry.

I'll be fine, just a little shook up is all.

So, how much have you got left then?

Oh, a tenner.

Ten? Ten pounds? Is that all?

Are you trying to tell me that you spent 90 pounds in less than a week?

Oh well, I figured I might as well spend it.

It was a birthday present, you twat.

Your parents are not going to be pleased with you, especially once they find out

that you've spent it all on girls, liquor and movies.

What else was I supposed to do with it?

I don't know, buy yourself a motorbike or something.

What, and kill myself when I crash into a tree?

Come on, Don. You know I got piss poor reaction speed.

True.

True you do. Reaction speed of a sloth. What's this?

A letter from Air Marshal Arthur Harris.

So, where are we going this evening?

Thinking of hitting the local pub.

That sounds like a great idea to get rid of what's left of me money.

How much you got left?

Oh, a tenner. - A tenner?

Hey, a replacement. I think he's with us.

Well it's about time. We need one.

Good day, ah sorry, ah, I was told to report to the 150th squadron, um.

Er, to report to Captain Earl's flight crew.

Uh, I'm the new replacement. Just come in from bomber training.

They sent us a bloody sprog.

Well, this is Earl's flight crew. Settle in.

Cheers.

Yeah, man. - Coffee?

Oh, no thanks. I'm still trying to settle down, you know. Don't want to be too jumpy.

Tea?

No, thank you Sir.

Alright.

Next to gasoline, it's the most important liquid we have here in the RAF.

Sorry Sir?

Tea. It always hits the spot, you know. They say it calms the nerves.

Yes Sir.

I'm very sorry to hear about Galloway, he was an excellent pilot.

So sad to have someone of his caliber leave us so soon.

How many flights did he have behind him - 48?

Yes Sir, 48. This was his second tour.

Very sad.

Will you be alright informing all the next of kin, and so forth?

Yes Sir, I feel that I knew him best. It would be disrespectful not to.

Well, you know you don't have to do anything that you don't feel you're up to.

No Sir. I'm up to it.

Very well.

Here's the hard news.

I know you chaps have just got back. But we've chalked you up for another run.

This time, it's a day run.

If you'll forgive my saying so Sir, but we're not exactly operational yet.

We have no ball turret, it's still unserviceable after our last run,

and we're short a full flight crew.

I understand this, Earl,

but Air Marshal Harris is pushing everything we have.

Eisenhower needs bomber command to press Jerry. And if that weren't enough,

Harris is hell bent on hitting Berlin soon, would you believe.

We have to fulfill the tasks assigned to us.

We have a reputation here, at Bomber Command.

Come in.

Here he is, Lieutenant. - Commander.

We were just talking about you, please have a seat.

Commander.

Flight officer Earl, this is your new copilot. Lieutenant Raymond Hawkins,

straight out of flight school.

Top of his class. I'm sure he'll fit in perfectly.

Yes Sir, we'll see to it that he does. - Good.

Any questions, Lieutenant?

Commander, I was informed that I would have my own flight crew.

I wasn't aware that we had any foreigners in the unit.

Are you referring to Captain Kirk, Lieutenant?

The Captain here, is a volunteer from the South African Air Force,

and one of the best men we have.

So Lieutenant, I should mind my P's and Q's if I were you.

My apologies, Commander. I meant no of fence to the Captain.

Accepted.

Any questions?

No Sir. - No Sir.

Well chaps, I've got a lot of paperwork to do.

There's a rumour that we're going to do a combined bombing raid with the Yanks.

So if you'll excuse me. Dismissed.

Well would you have a look at all those filleys, hey. God, I love the Air Force.

Why? You can't convince any of them to talk to you, you know. He's all ugly looking.

Now listen here, that's not funny. No, no, no, no, don't laugh.

It's because they fail to look past my brutish looks, you see.

Where if they tried, they'd find a strapping, intelligent, young buck

underneath all this protective armour. I tell you, Robbie,

I'd challenge them on every level. I... I've studied it.

It's what woman want, really. - That's not what I heard.

Now, now Duane, we've been through this. The last time was not my fault.

Listen, don't, don't listen to a word he has to say. He's, he's full of nonsense,

he's riff raff, that's what he is. - Oi, I think it's the other way round.

Listen Robbie, do me a favour. Pick anyone of those filleys over there

and I assure you, I will win her over.

No, no, I'm serious. Pick one now. - oh, oh ok, alright.

There.

The one on the end. Good God, you have fantastic choice in legs, my boy.

Very good taste.

Duane, you'll see. When I'm done here, you'll be eating your hat, old boy.

Here we go lads. - oh, thank you, Sir.

No worries, drinks on me. - Here you go.

Abe paid half. - Thank you.

Cheers. -Cheers. - Cheers. -Cheers.

So Robbie, what have these boys been teaching you?

I wouldn't listen to Don here, he's up to no good.

Yes, Sir.

No need to be so formal, lad, I'm not going to bite.

Well he's fresh, fresh as they come. What do you expect?

So, let's get to more important matters.

How much is the wager tonight? - Ah come now, Ed. I thought you know,

we could, you know, take a break, relax and enjoy ourselves for once.

That's exactly what this evening is about, right boys? Enjoying ourselves. So,

who's the target? - There's no target. Target?

Robbie?

It's the lass at the end there, Sir.

Good boy, Robbie. How much was it again?

Fifty. - I thought you said forty.

Forty. - No, no, too late, too late.

Fifty it is, fifty it is.

Bollocks to you, Ed. Bloody bastard, he always does that.

You know you can't beat him, Don. Just admit it.

It's not happening, Abe, I'm right on his tail and you know that.

Pick another one. - Again?

Yes. Yes, pick another one again! - Alright, alright. How about that one?

Lovely. I love your choice in ladies. Hold my drink.

Here we go.

I'm not sure I know what's going on here, Sir.

Better you don't. - They've got a bet going on.

They got a tally. The one with the most kills at the end of the war wins.

And I presume the kills are the sheilas they're talking to.

Well in Don's case, it's trying to talk to.

Ed's got the looks in my books. He's gonna win this.

I think I'll take you up on that. How much you got?

You can't be serious. - I am.

I'll be right back to finish this bet off, boys. Cheerio.

You see, even Abe is chickening out.

Abe? - Yeah, it's his nickname, you know.

It's about time you showed up. You look nervous.

Is it that obvious?

Everyone here? - All here.

You were the last one to show up. Not usually like you.

I've had a lot on my mind, Abe.

There she is.

How do I look?

Perfect.

Just don't frown so much, you might just scare her away.

She'll say yes.

And what makes you so sure?

Just get in there man, come on.

What about you?

Elizabeth will be here soon. I'll be with you in a bit.

Good luck.

Excuse me, Miss. I see you've almost finished your drink.

Do you mind if I buy you another one?

What is it with you fly boys?

What makes you so sure that I would like to drink with your kind anyway?

Well, you're here, aren't you? - Well, maybe I'm not here by choice.

Oh, so you're forced to be here then.

Well, I wouldn't say that, but uh, maybe I'm here with someone else.

Ah, a pilot? - Perhaps.

I see. He's a very lucky man. I wonder do I perhaps know him?

Oh you might just. He's very handsome, you wouldn't miss him.

Handsome? - Charming, smart.

He's... sounding quite familiar. - Really?

Really.

Hello Earl. - Deborah.

What took you so long? I've been sitting here

trying to beat these cocky bastards off me every ten minutes.

I'm sorry, I had a few things to run through with our new copilot before I came.

I hope I didn't keep you long. - No.

It's alright, dear. You're here now, that's all that counts.

Listen, Deborah, I was thinking we could step outside for a few minutes.

Just you and I. - Is everything alright?

Everything is fine.

I just haven't been feeling myself, and I was thinking

we could have some time to ourselves. Just you and I.

Besides, there is something I've been wanting to show you.

Then why didn't you just say so, silly boy?

My father treating you well? - As well as any man I imagine.

He'll be harder on you, Earl. He's old fashioned.