not control,
and as he did so he heard Yancey growl to Hampden:

"What a first-rate kitchen police in a Home Guard outfit that bimbo
would make!"

As McGee walked back toward the hangar, Hampden and Siddons joined him.
He felt Hampden give his elbow a congratulatory squeeze. Then Siddons
said:

"Are you going over to have a look at your fallen adversary,
Lieutenant?"

"Oh, I say, Siddons!" Hampden exclaimed, pained and surprised.

"I am going to make out my report," McGee answered, simply. "I wonder if
you would like to give me a confirmation, Lieutenant Siddons?"

The question took Siddons off his feet. "Why--er--do you really want me
to?"

"Not especially; I just had a feeling that you would be pleased to have
your name brought in it somehow."

Several of the pilots followed McGee into the hut used for headquarters,
but Siddons was not among them. Whatever his feelings, following the
little instructor's pointed rebuke, he concealed them behind the cool
indifference which marked all of his actions. At the door to
headquarters he turned down the gravel walk that ran in front of the row
of huts used as quarters and was soon lost to sight in the darkness.

3

McGee's report of his victory was characteristically laconic. Not a word
did he employ that was not necessary to the report. No fuss, no
feathers, no mock heroics. He had engaged an E.A. (enemy aircraft) and
had sent it down in flames. Reading the report, one would find little
enough to lift it out of the usual run of reports. Another meeting;
another victory. No more, no less. Only in the last paragraph did he
depart from his usual method of reporting. He wrote:

"My Camel carried no ground flares. Twice signaled for landing lights
with no response. Circled field. Entire personnel was gathered around
burning E.A. and making no effort to extinguish fire, which by this time
had nearly consumed plane. Forced to land in dark. Wiped out landing
gear and shattered prop.

"Recommendation: That all commands advise ground crews that a live pilot
is of more importance than a dead enemy."

Having finished, he looked up at those who had followed him into
headquarters. They were gathered in little groups, excitedly discussing
the victory, which had actually been the first encounter they had
witnessed. Fortunately, the victory had been on their side and they were
considerably bucked. It seemed dead easy. Why, one man had gone aloft,
bagged a plane, thwarted t