DAVE DAWSON WITH THE PACIFIC FLEET _by_ R. SIDNEY BOWEN _Author of_: "DAVE DAWSON AT DUNKIRK" "DAVE DAWSON WITH THE R. A. F." "DAVE DAWSON IN LIBYA" "DAVE DAWSON ON CONVOY PATROL" "DAVE DAWSON, FLIGHT LIEUTENANT" "DAVE DAWSON AT SINGAPORE" CROWN PUBLISHERS New York COPYRIGHT, 1942, BY CROWN PUBLISHERS PRINTED IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA [Transcriber's Note: Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that the U.S. copyright on this publication was renewed.] CONTENTS I ORDER FOR EAGLES 9 II CENTER OF THE WORLD 21 III SPECIAL ASSIGNMENT 32 IV DEATH IN THE PACIFIC 47 V SILENT WINGS 58 VI MIDNIGHT MENACE 69 VII PILOT'S LUCK 81 VIII NOBODY'S AIRPORT 94 IX RESCUE WINGS 108 X VULTURE'S NEST 121 XI A LITTLE BIT OF ENGLAND! 131 XII WESTWARD TO WAR 149 XIII DEATH STRIKES OFTEN 161 XIV INVISIBLE WALLS 174 XV BATTLE STATIONS 187 XVI WATER RATS 201 XVII EAGLE MADNESS 219 XVIII DEATH HATES TO LOSE 233 DAVE DAWSON WITH THE PACIFIC FLEET CHAPTER ONE _Order For Eagles_ Very much like a little boy who is seeing his first Christmas tree, Freddy Farmer stared pop-eyed out the Clipper's lounge window and down at the man-made magic that was New York City. For a full five minutes he had been gaping at the sight, not moving a muscle, not making a sound, and practically holding his breath all of the time. At his side and with an arm thrown across the English-born R.A.F. ace's shoulders was Dave Dawson, grinning from ear to ear, and getting the kick of his life out of the spell that a first look at Gotham had cast upon his bosom pal, and hard-hitting flying partner. Finally he couldn't wait any longer to hear what Freddy had to say. "Well?" he encouraged. "Well, what?" Freddy murmured in little more than a whisper. "What do you think of the old town, huh?" Dave asked with a happy chuckle. The English youth blinked, swallowed hard, and gave a little uncertain shake of his head. "Unbelievable, incredible!" he finally got out. "Are--are those really buildings down there? The New York skyscrapers I've heard so much about?" By way of making his question clear, Freddy pointed at the towering heaps of stone that formed the Wall Street and midtown sections of the city. Dave squinted down and grunted.