“Now we have another mission.” The Commander’s voice dropped. “The troops we are convoying tonight are to be landed shortly after dawn. Just before dawn we shall attack, using planes and warships.” “Tear them to pieces!” Kentucky beamed. “We hope to. But first,” the Commander weighed his words, “we may run into trouble. And that’s where you boys come in.” “What sort of trouble, sir?” Ted asked quickly. “Land-based torpedo planes, perhaps.” The Commander spoke slowly. “We are not quite sure the Japs have them. We do know there’s a landing field on the island.” “We’ll take them fast enough if they come after us, sir.” Kentucky squared his shoulders. “At night it is not so easy,” was the quiet reply. “Night!” Ted stared. “Your squadron has been making practice flights at night recently,” said the Commander. “That wasn’t for fun.” “I—I suppose not.” Ted was trying to think what going after torpedo bombers at night would be like. “Exciting,” he told himself. “And very dangerous.” “In the past,” the Commander spoke once more, “our task forces have been destroying their torpedo planes long before they reached us in the daytime. So—” “So they’re going to come after us in the dark, sir?” Kentucky suggested. “Our Intelligence Service has strongly hinted at it,” said the Commander. “So,” he drew a deep breath, “I thought you, Kentucky, would like to call for four volunteers to be ready for night fighting, just in case they come after us.” “Count me in on that, sir—that is, if you think I’m good enough,” Ted volunteered. “You’re plenty good,” said Kentucky. “Your plane was shot up. Got a new one yet?” “Sure have, same kind of a plane,” said Ted. “Good. Then you’re on,” Kentucky agreed. “We’ll be in the vicinity of the island by midnight,” said the Commander. “Have your planes in position ready to take off at a moment’s notice. Two destroyers will move in close far ahead of us. If Jap planes take off they will notify us. You won’t forget the soldiers crowded on those transports? Transports are vulnerable.” “We won’t forget, sir.” There was a look of determination on Kentucky’s lean face as he left the chart room. It was an hour after midnight when word came from the radio cabin that twelve night torpedo bombers had left the shore of the Jap-held island. At once there was hurried, excited action, but no confusion. The four night fighter planes were warmed up. The fliers took their places, tested their guns, studied their instruments, then settled back. Besides Kentucky and Ted, there were Red Garber and Blackie Dawson. The ship carried no better fighters than these. “Remember, fellows,” Kentucky called just before they parted, “the thing to do is to rip right in and get them confused. That way they’ll think there are a lot of us.” “And they’ll start shooting one another up,” Red laughed. One by one they cleared the deck to soar away into the night.