"Go on."
"Well, we finally got to 10,000 feet. By that time the bombers, the Bettys, had dropped their bombs, and were headed home."
"And how high would you estimate the Bettys were?"
"They were at nine thousand feet, I guess, and they were in a shallow dive, apparently to gain speed."
"There were no other enemy aircraft in sight?"
"There were Zeroes to the right," Dunn said. "They had seen us and were trying to keep us away from the Bettys. Captain Galloway and Ward headed for the Zeroes. I headed for the Bettys."
"Why?"
"Because it was pretty clear to me that was what Captain Galloway wanted me to do. He would take care of the fighters while I attacked the Bettys."
"Where was Lieutenant Schneider?"
"Shit. While we attacked the Bettys. He was on my wing. I told you that."
"And you did, in fact, attack the Bettys successfully. I have been told that you attacked from above..."
"Yeah."
"And that your stream of fire caused an explosion in the engine nacelle..."
"The one Schneider got, he took the vertical stabilizer off.
Then it blew up."
"We were talking about yours."
"I got the engine. Schneider got the vertical stabilizer on his and then probably the main tank."
"Right. I have that. And then what happened?"
"Then the Zeroes showed up. Some of them apparently stayed to deal with Captain Galloway and Ward, but most of them tried to protect the bombers, and came to where we
were."
"And then what happened?"
"I don't know. We got into it."
"Witnesses to the engagement have stated that during that engagement, you shot down two Zeroes. And you don't know what happened?"
"We were all over the sky. The only thing I know for sure is that Schneider got one, beautiful deflection shot, and he blew up."
"I thought you said Schneider was on your wing."
"I also said we were all over the sky. I don't know where Schneider was most of the time, except when I saw him take the Zero with the deflection shot."
"But you do remember shooting at at least two Zeroes?"
"I shot at a lot more than two. I'm sure I hit some of them, but I couldn't swear to anything but that I hit one good and he started to throw smoke and went into a spin."
"You did not see him crash?"
"No."
"Did you see Captain Galloway crash?"
"No. I saw Captain Galloway on fire and in a spin, but I did not see him crash."
"Was that before or after you shot the Zero you just mentioned, the one you said began to display smoke and entered a spin?" "Before."
"Did you see Lieutenant Ward during this period?"
"I don't know. I saw a plane that could have been either him or Captain Galloway. I can't say for sure. They both came to help us when the Zeroes came after us."
"But you are sure that it was Captain Galloway you saw, in flames, and in a spin?"
"Yes."
"How can you be sure?"
"I'm sure, goddamn you. Take my word for it."
"Tell me about the Val," the debriefing officer said.
"He was a cripple," Dunn said. "I saw him down on the deck as I was coming home."
"Let's get into that. Why did you disengage?"
"My engine had been running on Emergency Military Power too long. I was losing oil pressure. My cylinder head temperature needle was on the peg. And I had lost fuel. A fuel line fitting had ruptured. I didn't know that. All I knew was the LOW FUEL light came on. Two of my guns had either jammed or were out of ammunition. So I started home."
"But you saw the Val and attacked it?"
"Why not?"
"Was attacking the Val wise, Bill?" Dawkins asked. It was the first time he had spoken.
"I was a little pissed at the time," Dunn said.
"Because of Captain Galloway?" Dawkins asked.
"He was one hell of a Marine, Colonel," Dunn said, and Dawkins saw tears forming in his eyes.
"Getting back to Captain Galloway," the debriefing officer said. "At the time Captain Galloway was reported hit, it has been reported that he had engaged a Zero and seriously damaged it. Did you see any of that?"
"Yeah," Dunn said. Dawkins saw that he was having trouble getting the lump out of his throat. Finally he cleared his throat. His voice was still unnatural.
"I am sure beyond any reasonable doubt that the Zero Captain Galloway was engaging the last time anybody saw him was in flames, missing his left horizontal stabilizer, out of control, and a sure kill."
"Very well, we'll put that down as 'confirmed.'"
"Thank you ever so much," Dunn said sarcastically.
"That makes it three and a half for Captain Galloway and two and a half for Lieutenant Ward, right?" Dawkins asked.
"Yes, Sir," the intelligence officer replied.
"What was the total, Sir?" Dunn asked. "Not, now that I think about it, that I give a flying fuck."
"Eleven this morning," Dawkins said. "And seven this afternoon. That makes eighteen. I think that's probably the most aircraft ever destroyed in a twenty-four hour period by any squadron-Marine, Navy, or Air Corps."
"We get a gold star to take home to Mommy?"
Dawkins ignored him.
"We lost five. Captain Galloway, of course."
"Of course."
"Close your mouth, Dunn," Dawkins snapped, and then went on. "Galloway, missing and presumed dead. Jiggs. We know he's dead. Hawthorne, ditto. Ward, pretty well banged up on landing. And Schneider, wounds of the legs and a broken ankle. Six aircraft lost or seriously damaged. That's not a bad score, Lieutenant."
"It didn't come cheap," Dunn said, "did it?"
"I don't want to wave the flag in your face, Dunn, but don't you think Charley went out the way he would have wanted to?"
"Charley didn't want to go out at all," Dunn said. He stood up. "I'm going to the hospital to see Jim Ward and Schneider," he said.
"I spoke to Ward," Dawkins said. "He asked me if it would be all right with you if he wrote his aunt and told her what happened to Charley. Charley apparently had her listed as 'friend, no next of kin.' I told him I thought you would be grateful."
"Yeah, sure," Dunn said.
"The other letters, you're going to have to write yourself, Bill. In my experience, it's best to do it right away. It doesn't get any easier by putting it off."
It took a moment for Dunn to take Dawkins's meaning. It is the function of the squadron commander to write letters of condolence to the next of kin of officers who have been killed. In accordance with regulations, Lieutenant William C. Dunn had acceded to the command of VMF-229 when the previous commander had been declared missing and presumed killed in action.
"As soon as I see the guys in the hospital, Sir," Dunn said.
"I'll get on it."
"We're not through here, Lieutenant," the intelligence officer said.
"Yes, you are," Dawkins said. "Go ahead, Bill."
(Six)
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