At the rendezvous somewhere over Nazi Europe, the sleek Thunderbolts turned over their bomber-escort mission to other U.S. fighter planes and streaked for their British base. On the way they spotted a tempting enemy airfield, with planes lined up along the runway. It was too good to pass up. The flight leader, Major Walter Carl Beckham, 18-victory U.S. ace of the European Theater (TIME, Feb. 21), called four planes and roared down for a strafe.
They went over at treetop level, doing close to 500 m.p.h., with their guns blazing. As they pulled up at the end of the field a burst of ground flak caught the Major’s plane. Red flames began to lick out behind as he fought his way back up to altitude. Then Beckham’s Florida drawl crackled through the interplane radio:
“Take the boys home, George. I can’t make it.”
Lieut. George Perpente, second wing leader, hesitated for a split second. Beckham barked at him again:
“Get the hell out of here. Take a course of 310 degrees, stay low and get going. I hope to see you all later.”
The last they saw of him, Major Beckham was at 12,000 feet, his ship aflame but still flying under control. George took the boys home.
Also missing in action last week: Mustang pilot Lieut. Wau-Kau Kong, of Honolulu, self-styled “handsomest” (and only) Chinese fighter pilot with the U.S. Air Forces in Britain (TIME, Feb. 28).
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