Jubilee- Spies and Raiders by Conor Bender

Author:Conor Bender
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
ISBN: 9781735105901
Published: 2020-06-18T04:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 10

SQUADRON LEADERS

Faraday landed his Spitfire and taxied to the flight line where he shut down the engine and started to clamber out of his aircraft.

Sergeant Roland, as usual, was the first to greet him as he hopped off the wing. “Good flight, sir?”

“All quiet on the Western Front. You’ll be happy to know I brought your aircraft back in one piece.”

“Marvelous, sir. It’s the one thing that gets me through the day, knowing I have less work to do on that plane.”

Cutter grinned and looked around. He spotted Squadron Leader King and a number of pilots, including a few of his own standing off away from the flight line staring at him. “What’s the squadron leader doing?”

“I believe he was giving a class on aerial tactics before you landed.”

Faraday shot Roland a look, suspecting some skulduggery.

Roland betrayed nothing and gave Faraday a look of innocence. Faraday shook his head and jumped off the wing of the aircraft and walked over to where King and everyone else stood.

“Had I known there was an audience, I would have charged for the spectacle of my landing!”

Squadron Leader King didn’t say anything but pulled a sheaf of papers from his pocket and squinted at them, preparing to read. “Attention to orders!”

The gaggle of pilots behind him straightened up and stood at the position of attention for the orders. The smile on Faraday’s lips faded and was replaced by a look of confusion.

“His Highness George VI by the Grace of God, of Great Britain, Ireland, and the British dominions beyond the seas, King, Defender of the faith, Emperor of India, etc. To our trusty and well-beloved Ian Nathan Faraday, greetings: We reposing especial trust and confidence in your loyalty, courage, and good conduct, do by these presents constitute and appoint you to the rank of Squadron Leader on this twentieth day of April 1942.”

King continued reading the promotion citation as Faraday’s head spun. He realized he was still gawking halfway through the presentation and quickly straightened up and looked straight ahead. The promotion took him totally by surprise. He wondered darkly if there was a shortage of squadron leaders and that was why he was being promoted.

Faust and Chambers walked up to him and replaced the flying lieutenant boards on his shoulders with those of a squadron leader. They saluted, shook his hand, and walked back to where they were standing behind King.

King finished by having Faraday recite the oath of office and extended his hand. “Congratulations, Ian.”

“Thank you. This is all a little overwhelming.”

King grinned wickedly and looked behind Faraday at something. Faraday turned to look and as he did so he saw King take a giant step away as Argyle and O’Brien ran up with a giant bucket between them and poured it over Faraday.

Faraday had no chance to dodge the bucket and felt the ice-cold water hit his neck. He cringed as they emptied the bucket over his head, and let out a yelp as the cold water hit him. As

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