Mission Eleven: Battle Hawk -- Part Two

Last time, Johnny Cloud had ordered his Happy Braves pilots to not take animal mascots with them on combat missions. He worried that the stress of combat was responsible for his men engaging in superstitious behaviors. When Tex took his monkey, Top Banana, on the last mission, Cloud grounded him to send a firm message to all his pilots.

That night Cloud experienced a childhood flashback about befriending an injured hawk when he protected the cornered bird from a mountain lion. To his surprise, the hawk stayed by him until his wing was healed. 

The medicine man remarked that the hawk was grateful and would “tell others of his tribe.” He added that the hawk would repay the debt sometime in the future. Cloud dismissed the observations of the medicine man as mere superstition.

Back to present day, next morning, Cloud chooses to go solo on a reconnaissance mission to find the German rocket launchers. He dives into the ragged gash where the launchers have been placed. But like the day before, he has trouble seeing through the heavy smoke screen pumped out by the rocket crews. 

Just then, a hawk comes in through his open canopy and lands on his shoulder. Cloud is beyond surprised. Yet, the hawk guides Cloud, left then right, by digging his talons into his shoulder. 

Cloud maneuvers through the smoke by following the Hawk's directions. And, when he slips into a clearing, Cloud finds himself directly above the launchers, much to the shock of the enemy.

Cloud drops his bombs at close range and destroys the terror rockets. 

WHROOOOM! 

Cloud returns to base where he is chided for having a hawk perched on his shoulder. “Hawk-Eye? He just dropped by to repay a debt,” Cloud remarks. He does not share the amazing events that led to the destruction of the rocket launchers. 

Indeed, the Hawk, or a Hawk ... some Hawk has repaid the debt of many years ago.

Image Credit:
AAMOW#92 (August 1962): Story Art: I.Novick; Writer: R.Kanigher.
Johnny Cloud TM DC Comics.