job with that wild Irishman, O'Malley?"

"Sure," Stan said with a grin. "We like ferrying. It's the sort of life
for any ambitious officer."

Captain Marks regarded them intently. "I have your assignments here, but
I haven't seen anything of O'Malley."

"Suppose you shove them at him the last thing before the flight takes
off. We'd like to surprise him, having been a pal of his for a long
time."

The captain grinned. "It will be a surprise," he said. "I know about you
three and I'm looking for trouble. O'Malley never looks at assignment
or flight orders. And there will be only the three of you." His grin
faded and he scowled at the two pilots. "We'll only lose three ships and
I guess we can afford that."

"Thanks, Captain," Stan said. "Mum's the word. We'll see you before dawn
tomorrow morning."

They moved out and did not go to Mess Three. They headed out to locate a
spot where they could hide out until flight time.

CHAPTER IV

BEACH-HEAD

O'Malley grabbed his flight orders. He scowled at Captain Marks. For
once the captain did not insist that he read his orders. O'Malley turned
upon his heel and strode out of the briefing room. He was met in the
darkness outside the office by an officer.

"You will fly a course over Tunis and approach Malta from due south,
Lieutenant. Colonel Benson's orders. You are to make as many flights as
possible today. There will be heavy action in the straits and you are to
avoid that area." The officer saluted and moved on into the briefing
room.

"Sure, an' I'll do me own settin' o' the course," O'Malley bellowed.

He was met at his plane by his master mechanic. "You have two new men
today, sir. I have given them a few details of your course."

"An' I'll be givin' them some more," O'Malley growled as he climbed
into the cockpit.

He settled down and listened for a few minutes to the excited orders
jamming the air. Flights were heading out, bomber squadrons were calling
in or taking orders. O'Malley set his phones on the beam and bent
forward.

"Get ready, you birds of Ferry Flight," he called in.

"All set," came back a reply in muffled tones.

O'Malley wondered who the unlucky fliers were. Some poor saps who had
gotten in bad with Benson, he guessed. He bent down and shouted to the
sergeant.

"How much ammunition have we?"

"From now on the ferry ships will be fully loaded. You may run into
trouble, sir."

O'Malley pulled in his head and kicked on the po