Last week, we learned that Johnny Cloud's Happy Braves Flight gained a new pilot named Two-Talons. The new pilot comes from Cloud's tribe, but there is bad blood between them. Two-Talons is quick to remind Cloud of the debt that he owes. Cloud "owes him a life."
On the next mission Cloud assigns Two-Talons as his wingman so as to check his devotion to the mission. It is a radical decision given the grudge. But Cloud has to know where his new pilot stands when it comes to fighting Von Krieg's elite squadron.
Will he fulfill his duty as a wingman? That is to say, will he provide protective cover for Cloud when he most needs it.
Or, will he shirk his duty and leave Cloud open to attack?
The patrol engages the enemy over Holland, and when Cloud dives to attack the bandits, Two-Talons breaks off leaving Cloud unprotected. A Me-109 latches on Cloud’s tail but Tex swoops in and downs the bandit before he gets a kill-shot.
The next day, Two-Talons is again assigned by Cloud to be his wingman, much to the surprise of his men. Once again, they engage Von Krieg’s squadron in a fierce dogfight, and Cloud destroys a Me-109. But he sees Two-Talons in trouble – a bandit has grabbed his tail and is angling for a kill shot.
Cloud slots in behind the pair, but his guns jam. In a desperate move, Cloud rams the Me-109 from behind thereby saving Two-Talons from certain death. CRAASH!
Cloud parachutes from the wreckage and is knocked unconscious when he hits the ground. Cloud lies in a field. He will certainly be captured by German troops.
But. Two-Talons lands and rescues Cloud.
As they return to base, Cloud asks Two-Talons why he saved him. Two-Talons replies that Cloud had paid his debt by ramming the bandit. The debt of "a life" had been paid. It was Two-Talons' life that was saved. Cloud reflects on this, feeling relieved that, in the end, Two-Talons chose the mission over his grudge.
AAMOW#90 (April 1962): Story Art: J. Grandenetti; Writer: R. Kanigher.
Johnny Cloud TM DC Comics
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