Mission 13: Be Brave - Be Silent - Part 2

Previously, Johnny Cloud and his Happy Braves were ordered to intercept a formation of German bombers crossing the English Channel. Bomber escorts routinely fly high above the formations so that they have the advantage of altitude. Cloud needed eyes up above to give warning and to engage the escorts.

Cloud sent Lt. Blue upstairs, above the cumulus, to check for enemy escorts. Lt. Blue was shocked that he was chosen for this task, as he was worried about his ability to face the enemy while also not giving away the position of the Happy Braves. He had panicked before in a similar situation, and he broke radio silence too soon with dire consequences for his previous flight.

Cloud anticipated Lt. Blue’s reaction, but he knew that this was the only way for him to confront his fear and give him a chance at redemption. Plus, he trusted Lt. Blue’s ability.

Lt. Blue flew up into the clouds as ordered.

Meanwhile, the Happy Braves attacked the bombers head-on. The P-51s made several passes through the bomber formation with guns blazing. The German formation was wrecked with many bomber losses. 

Cloud took the opportunity to climb above the action to check on Lt. Blue. He arrived in the nick of time, as Lt. Blue was in a raging dogfight with at least eight Me-109s – his Mustang was badly damaged; yet, he continued to pursue the enemy, downing at least three bandits. 

Lt. Blue had not called for help so as to not alert the bandits to the destruction of bombers below. Indeed, he had attacked despite overwhelming odds.

Cloud came to his aid, but it was too late. The Me-109s caught them both in a fiery crossfire. Both Mustangs were shot down.

After parachuting, Cloud pulled Lt. Blue from the wreckage. Lt. Blue was fatally wounded but he broke a thin smile – he had been brave and silent. 

On the next mission, the Happy Braves honored him with a missing man formation.

Image Credit:

AAMOW#94 (December 1962): Story Art: I.Novick; Writer: R.Kanigher.

Johnny Cloud TM DC Comics

Mission 13: Be Brave - Be Silent

I have just returned from my own missions. Sorry about the long disruption to this blog. I had a FW-190 on my tail. He's gone now, and I am back. We resume Johnny Cloud's missions this month.

A new man, Lt. Andy Blue, is assigned fly with the Happy Braves. But Johnny Cloud’s flight group shuns him because he had been blamed for putting his previous squadron at risk. 

Lt. Blue confides to Cloud that he broke radio silence during a mission while flying a P-38 Lightning; his poor judgment alerted the enemy to their location. Consequently, the enemy launched an assault and three of his crew were lost.

As he shares his story, Lt. Blue expresses guilt about not acting bravely and not keeping radio silence under fire. Cloud reassures Lt. Blue by praising his flying credentials and urges him to face his fears by getting back into the cockpit.

Lt. Blue’s remorse reminds Cloud of a lesson his father taught him when he was a boy. Cloud remembers how his father, the Chief, had coached him to be brave and silent. His father told him a story about a warrior named Great Oak who fought off a bear with a tomahawk, but he was a braggart. Then he told a second tale of a man called Little Rock who stood silently when threatened by a rattlesnake, but he was too scared to act and was only saved when another stepped in to kill the snake. Finally, he shared a WW1 story of a man who silently held his position on the battlefield, despite fatal wounds, so as to not give away his unit’s position – he was brave and silent.

The next day, the Happy Braves were ordered to attack a formation of German bombers. Cloud sent Lt. Blue upstairs, above the cumulus, to check for enemy escorts. Lt. Blue was shocked that he was chosen for this task, as this situation was similar to what had happened when he broke radio silence and put his previous flight in danger.

Cloud anticipated Lt. Blue’s reaction, but he knew that this was the only way for him to confront his fear and lessen his shame. Plus, he trusted Lt. Blue’s ability.

Was he making the correct decision? Will Lt. Blue be able to manage his fear of failure and complete his role? We shall see.

Image Credit: 
AAMOW#94 (December 1962): Story Art: I.Novick; Writer: R.Kanigher
Johnny Cloud TM DC Comics