Spitfire! by Don Patterson

Author:Don Patterson [Patterson, Don]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: JUV016080, book
ISBN: 9781936770144
Publisher: Rising Star Studios, LLC.
Published: 2010-03-15T04:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER NINE

FIRE UP THE SPITFIRES

Harry continued shouting over the rumbling explosions and gunfire, "Captain Simms, you still have all three Spitfires! The Germans can't see them through the trees on the far side of the field. Look over there. The Spitfires are still in the blast pens, just waiting for you!"

Harry's message ringing in their heads, all three pilots turned in the direction of the three new Spitfires.

"He's right, Andy!" Lieutenant Gainey yelled over the fighting. "The lad's right. We can fire up the Spits!"

"The Spitfires aren't ready!" barked Simms. "By the time we get them prepared, the Germans will be long gone and the field will be ruined."

Gainey and Hyatt hung their heads. They were fighter pilots without planes.

Harry looked at the frustrated men. He knew the Spitfires were ready, but telling the pilots would be disobeying Sergeant Pendleton's orders. Observing the chaos on the airfield Harry realized that regardless of what was said earlier, Sergeant Pendleton wouldn't want the airfield destroyed. Harry decided it was best to let the cat out of the bag. Saving Hampton was definitely a good reason.

"But they are ready!" Harry shouted to Captain Simms. "Sergeant Pendleton was going to get them prepared before we left for Chester! If Sergeant Pendleton said he was going to ready those planes, you can bet they're ready."

Simms was amazed. "I don't know how you know these things, lad," he said, "but I'm glad you're one of us!" Then he turned to Gainey. "Go get Pendleton and turn over the engines to the Spitfires. We're taking them up!"

Like a bullet, Gainey ran off toward the maintenance hanger to find Sergeant Pendleton and collect a crew to start the brand new Spitfires. Simms and Hyatt watched him shout and point to a group of men helping with an anti-aircraft gun by the last hanger. The makeshift crew quickly organized. Gainey signaled back to Simms with a thumbs up gesture.

Amid the sod and shrapnel hurling through the air, Colonel Harrison ran across the field to reach Captain Simms and the others.

"Andy," Harrison called out, "it's no use. Let's get to the shelter!"

"Colonel," Simms replied, "we're going to scramble the Spitfires."

Harrison snapped at the idea. "They're not ready, and you haven't had any Spitfire flight training. You'll get killed just trying to take off!"

While Simms and Hyatt argued with Colonel Harrison, Lieutenant Gainey, Sergeant Pendleton, and the crew drove to the Spitfires at the far end of the airfield. Pendleton directed the men through the shortest preflight preparation necessary to put the Spitfires into the air. In less than a minute, the planes were ready, confirmed when the engine of each Spitfire turned over on Thomas Pendleton's command.

Puffs of white smoke spewed from the exhausts of the Spitfires. The spinning propellers chopped at the air. Sergeant Pendleton had brought life to the once quiet combat fighter planes.

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