Chapter 45
August 16, 1943
2030 Hours
Quarters No. 21
Debden Airdrome
Essex County, England
Major Jim Corbin—tired, haggard, and in need of a shower—paused in the approaching dusk on the rain-swept curb outside Paul Reilly’s quarters. Corbin, a veteran of the Eagle Squadron and a plank member of the 334th Fighter Squadron, needed to recover from a long and dangerous day—a day that still had one delicate mission left.
Corbin and Paul Reilly had served together for more than three years. Their friendship had grown close during their time in two different air forces, and included the Reilly clan. Colonel Anderson, the 334th’s commanding officer, knew of their friendship when he assigned him the mission to the Reilly home.
I’d rather be down at the Officer’s Club, Corbin thought. Maybe
