Page:Story of the Black Cats ARC-12990.ogv/16

Another night, another mission, another prowl into the dark. The Cat needs its nine lives on these jobs. Night, and the weather kicks up. We're up enough to be air-sick if you had time. But getting near harbor X, where the convoy might be hiding out, weather or no weather, the Cat gives up altitude to find out. Navigator to captain, harbor X reckoned ten miles ahead. Repeat to waist gunners. Harbor X three miles off port bow. Lookout posted on the Black Cat's nose. A last check of the land ack-ack positions. The moon breaks through, silouetting. Enemy fighter planes coming up, captain. Harbor X dead ahead. No convoy down there. Lower, for a second look. Harbor X empty, convoy still at sea. Now to get out, quick. Spotted. We took one. Another. Night fighters hard off port beam. Standby for a dive to high. The cab blackens out, here's where a black nightgown counts. The Japs need better glasses. Now, a cautious bank to sea to resume convoy search. Convoy's original 0200 position was fifty miles bearing five degrees. Convoy, convoy off port bow. Tail end of the convoy, ammunition freighter, position signals to five other Black Cats, 0240 South, 15012 East, the plane veers into the wake of the cruiser. Other Cats arrive.