et
signal flares for landing, the plane will retire and keep watch until
forced to fly home. It will return the next night and if we do not
signal it then, it is not to try again."

Colonel Benson looked from one to the other of the boys. "I understand
you men are accustomed to such dangerous jobs. To me it seems there is
about one chance in a hundred of your even landing your parachute
force."

"If there was an attack on the German field south of the place about the
time we arrive, we could get in easily," Stan suggested. "I have
prepared a set of maps showing good targets. The Bolero house is a hotel
for German officers."

"I'll have operations chart a raid," the colonel promised. "Now I have
to go. Lieutenant Wilson will be in command. I have given orders to have
him supplied with what he wants." He stepped around the table and shook
hands with the boys. "I'm leaving this show up to you fellows. Good luck
to you." He turned and hurried out of the room.

"Sure, an' that's the first time the brass hats iver turned us loose,"
O'Malley said with a big grin.

"And it will likely be the last time," Allison said with a chuckle.

"We'd better be getting over to operations. Now, who's flying the
Mosquito?" Stan looked from Allison to O'Malley.

O'Malley swallowed eagerly. His Adam's apple bobbed up and down, but he
turned to Allison. Allison grinned at him.

"You fly the crate, old man. I'm one blighter who wants to get even for
some of the slaps and kicks we got in that prison dog house."

"Sure, an' I'll be after flyin' her," O'Malley said. "But only because
I'm thinkin' ye'll be needin' the best pilot in this crew at the
controls o' that ship."

"You hate yourself, don't you?" Stan teased. "You fly her, but just
remember, if you get into a dogfight and don't show up when we set off
our flares, you'll get the beating of your life when we walk in." He
grinned at O'Malley.

"I'll be right there," O'Malley promised.

All of the details had been worked out and gone over so many times by
the boys that they did not need to check again. They drew the machine
guns and grenades they needed along with flares and other equipment.
The supply officer got blue parachutes for them from an operating unit.

"Can't be spotted at night," he explained.

Evening was closing in by the time they had everything set. The Mosquito
was warmed up and ready. She was stripped down for carrier purposes and
to enable her to handle an ext