Lieutenant Fitch wiped nervous sweat from his brow, relieved to see the Spitfires around him. Flying on the right, Captain Dawson waved at the young pilot and motioned for him to look to his other side. On the left, Captain Simms flashed a thumbs up sign from his cockpit.
Fitch was glad to see his commanders, but shuddered when he noticed a line of bullet holes ripped through the side of Dawson's Spitfire. He imagined his plane looked much the same. The young Lieutenant quickly realized how lucky he was to be safely nestled in the midst of the squadron.
Captain Dawson ordered everyone to regroup for one more patrol of the area. As the pilots took their positions, an empty space appeared where Lieutenant Tate used to fly. The Squadron Leader noticed Fitch's plane straggling behind and keyed his radio, "That includes you, Lieutenant Fitch. The empty slot is yours."
Daniel Fitch proudly smiled to himself, warmed by the confirmation he was officially a member of the squadron. He gently moved his Spitfire in line with the rest of the RAF planes. The other pilots grinned and waved at the new kid.
Dawson's full squadron circled the countryside in search of any remaining enemy planes. Once they assured the airfield was secure, the twelve Spitfires dropped toward the grassy runway and landed one by one. Safely on the ground, the excited pilots jumped from their cockpits and ran to congratulate Lieutenant Fitch on his flying skills. The happy band of men quickly huddled together and began sharing their stories, adding another page to Hampton Airfield's folklore.
Harry, Stuart and Erin stood in front of the maintenance hangers and watched the pilots make their way across the field. When the jolly group of men neared the hardstand, Captain Dawson buoyantly called out, "Harry, come here. I want you to meet someone."
The excited children raced to the boisterous mob. Captain Dawson grabbed the new recruit by the arm and pulled him clear from the crowd.
"Harry, I'd like to introduce you and your friends to Lieutenant Daniel Fitch," Dawson announced. "Our newest member of the squadron!"
The pilots all cheered. But when Harry, Stuart and Erin heard Fitch's name and saw the young redhead pilot face to face, they gasped. At the same time, Lieutenant Fitch gulped and held his breath at the sight of the three children.
Harry, Stuart and Erin had indeed met Daniel Fitch before. In fact just a couple years ago, the four of them used to play together on Harry's side of the hedgerow fence. Unexpectedly reunited, they silently stared at each other.
Before another word could be said, Captain Dawson interrupted the awkward moment by ordering, "Squadron, to the Briefing Room!"
The group of RAF pilots quickly headed off to discuss their second encounter with the German Focke-Wulfs. Trailing behind the others, Fitch glanced back at the three children and winked.
Their mouths fell open. Shocked by the sight of their old friend, Harry, Stuart and Erin dashed across the field and ran all the way back to the Winslow house.
The frantic children blew through the front door in a whirlwind. Harry shouted for his mother. Mrs. Winslow called back from the kitchen.
"Harry Winslow," she scolded, "you're always in such a hurry. What has you so excited this time?"
"Mom," Harry started, trying to catch his breath, "you have to let me join the RAF! They need all the help they can get. We heard them say it."
Stuart and Erin nodded their heads in support.
"Harry, love," Mrs. Winslow replied, "we've talked about this before, and the rules are clear. You must be eighteen years old to join the Royal Air Force."
"Yes," Harry started to argue, "but if you have your parent's permission..."
Mrs. Winslow curtly cut him off, "That doesn't apply here. You're much too young."
Harry swallowed hard and yelled, "All we want to do is help, and you won't let us. It's not fair."
Frustrated with Harry's impatience, Mrs. Winslow exclaimed, "Just what is so unfair about making sure we don't send boys who aren't old enough to fight a war?"
Harry listened to his mother's objection, and framed his new found reason. He felt sure she would have to let him join if she knew there were other underage pilots already at Hampton.
"Lieutenant Fitch isn't old enough," Harry reported stubbornly. "He's not even sixteen, and he's a pilot."
"Who is Lieutenant Fitch?" Mrs. Winslow scowled. "And how do you know how old he is?"
"Mom, listen to me," Harry pleaded. "It's Danny Fitch! Remember the boy who stayed at Stuart's house a couple years ago? The one with the red hair? He's the new pilot in the squadron."
"It's Danny, for sure, Ma'am," Erin mumbled in support. "And he knew us, too."
"Flaming red hair on that one," Stuart chimed in. "Never forget that."
Memories of the red-haired boy jolted Mrs. Winslow.
"Of course I remember Danny," she replied. "But he's too young to be a pilot."
"Well," Harry announced, "today he became the newest member of the squadron. The three of us saw it all."
Stuart and Erin nodded their heads again. Mrs. Winslow dropped her hands on the table and stared at Harry. Thinking back a few years, she remembered when the Germans were poised to invade England. London and other cities along the coast were at the greatest risk of being attacked. Fearing for the lives of their children, many parents sent them to homes in the countryside to be out of harm's way.
Danny Fitch was one of them. At the time, he was a bright-eyed, freckled, sturdy twelve year old, with brilliant red hair. Stuart's and Erin's mother volunteered to take in the displaced child. Everyone got along so well, it was hard when the summer ended, and Danny returned to his home in the city.
Mrs. Winslow ran a quick calculation in her head. If it was true that Danny Fitch was the new recruit reporting to Hampton, the boy would only be fifteen years old.
"Mom," Harry shouted excitedly, "Danny just saved Captain Dawson's life. That's what I want to do. If Danny can join, why can't I?"
Mrs. Winslow kept staring, taking in all that everyone said. Then she quietly replied, "Harry, why don't you, Stuart and Erin run along and play. I have some thinking to do."
Minding her wishes, Harry and his friends ran outside and raced back to their favorite place by the airfield. Harry clung to the hope he may have persuaded his mother. Perhaps, Daniel Fitch had provided a way he could join the RAF, too.
