y. He was alone. None of the other men seemed to care
about trying to cheer him up. Stan and O'Malley barged over to his
table.

"May we sit down, sir?" Stan asked.

"Sure." Holt motioned to two chairs.

The boys sat down. Stan ordered coffee and O'Malley ordered pie.

"I need just a bite to get me in shape for supper," he said when Stan
glared at him as he gave his order.

"Lousy show today," Holt grumbled. "I don't mean the way you fellows
flew it, but the way the Germans have everything figured out so neatly.
We lost eleven bombers."

"We might fool Jerry," Stan suggested.

"How?"

"Suppose we just toted along some extra tanks of gas and cut them loose
about the time the show should start. We know their tactics and pattern.
We'd have a lot of fun." Stan leaned forward.

"Can't do that," Holt said. "You fellows might have to get busy as soon
as you hit the coast. Kicking off a tank can't be done with an FW
dropping out of a cloud on your tail."

"Just half of us will go with extra loads. The others can cover for us.
We'd sure surprise Jerry." Stan spoke eagerly.

"Foine idea an' one I'd have been proud to have thought up," O'Malley
broke in.

Colonel Holt began to smile. "I believe you have something there. The
element of surprise and all that sort of thing. We'll take a crack at
it."

"Elegant," O'Malley said. "I'm speaking for extra gas."

"You and O'Malley get extra tanks. You're both old heads at lone wolf
tactics. I'm beginning to think we have too much handling out of the
control room." He bent forward and his smile faded. "But, remember this,
I'm under a general who's a stickler for the book, so be careful."

"We won't let you down, sir," Stan promised.

O'Malley just grinned wolfishly. "I got a date with that Jerry with the
red beard."

"You boys tend to the installing yourselves. Oversee it yourselves. I'll
put through an order clearing everything for you."

"Thanks, Colonel," Stan said. "Now we'll run along and get busy."

"First you come with me and we'll figure out how much tank capacity
you'll need and how many men will go along." The colonel got to his
feet.

"If you don't mind, sir, we'd like to have you sponsor the idea. We
intended to take it up with Lieutenant Sim Jones first. Wouldn't want to
be going over his head." Stan spoke quickly.

Holt looked at him and nodded. "That's fine of you boys. Mind if I claim
the idea for the present?"

"Not in the least," Stan answered