'Ace' Shirley Blythe
Main character not mine, story is, the name Ace is a nickname that was/is used for pilots. Not Beted, also some terminology may be incorrect. Not quite what you were expecting…
He was flying over the countryside, the plane sweeping past birds, the war was over, and he was going home. He flew into London, the city lights beckoning him, Big Ben keeping a watchful eye on the city he'd grown a fondness for. Finally he landed on the air force base, he got out of the plane and went to his bunker. He was dirty, greasy; he looked like hell warmed over. "Ace you used to look great, what happened?" he questioned himself, using the nickname the others had given him. An American pilot by the name of O'Neal had always used the expression '5 by 5'he wasn't sure what it meant but he was going to find out. After changing into civilian clothing and shaving off his 5 o'clock shadow he went in search for O'Neal.
He went up to the Commander-in-chief and requested to visit his friend, wherever he may be. He was told that O'Neal had been shot down, his plane blown to smithereens; all they had left of him were his dog tags.
A few weeks later ''Ace'' returned home, he was quite and remorseful, all he had left of his friend was the dog tags. Privet Jack O'Neal, USA Air Force. He took his dog tags and O'Neal's and put them in a slim box along with all the letters he had received. And he buried them behind a tall white birch, which jingled every time there was even a hint of wind. His family and friends were most supportive, but they never knew the hell he had been through. Every time someone asked "are you sure your alright" he'd just smile and say…
"5 by 5" and so he never lied and never told of his own war experiences.