April 1943

Allied Air Force Base, Bassingbourn, England

World War II

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Captain Oliver J. Queen, lead American pilot of the "Green Archer," one of the US B-17 Heavy Aircraft Bombers or the Flying Fortresses as they were nicknamed; sat down with his co-pilot First Lt. James (Jim) Reed and Bombardier, First Lt. Baker (BB) Brightman at the front table of the briefing tent of the 324th Bomber Squadron, Bassingbourn, England. United States Army Air Force pilots worked and fought alongside Allied forces in the "Combined Bomber Offensive" to attain and maintain air superiority over Western Europe. They provided daylight precision bombing runs that complemented the RAF (Royal Air Force) British Bomber Command's nighttime area bombing missions.

Oliver's stomach twisted and churned with unease as he waited for the mission briefing to begin. He tried never to give in to the idea of fate or luck, however the war had taught him never to dismiss them.

He and his crew of 9 had one more mission to complete to meet their tour of duty requirement of 25 combat missions. One more mission before they could go back home. None of his crew really talked about their luck at surviving missions this long, they never wanted to jinx themselves, but every man thanked whoever they believed in for having done so. They were all so grateful for their flying fortress, the "Archer" and how she always, always got them home.

So many planes who carried so many friends never returned from their bombing runs and with each passing month of the war they were being sent further and further into enemy territory.

"Queen, you ready for a night out tonight?" was yelled from across the room to Oliver by his best friend, fellow Captain, Tommy Merlyn, who sat with his own crew. All the men in the room chuckled then soon sobered as they knew what a party boy Merlyn was and then their own thoughts turned to their own possible last night's alive.

Oliver smirked back at his friend, Tommy, before they all suddenly stood at attention as the base Commander briskly entered the room.

"At ease, gentleman. This is your target," Col. Benjamin Westcore said, as he quickly got to the point. He extended his pointer and tapped the small town located on the map that lined the wall behind him. "Ammunitions factory in Bremen, Germany. Be prepared for extensive defensive moves from the Germans on this mission. Intercepted messages out of Berlin indicate their build up of reinforcements to try and combat our day time bombing runs. I know you all know the risks, but I..want you to be even more vigilante. I need you to be. That will be all. You're dismissed and…good luck."

Oliver glanced towards his two crew members and at the dozens of other intense and serious faces in the room then over to Tommy as the mission was explained. They all shared the silent understanding that this was the furthest any of the crews had been sent into Germany and the magnitude of that.

Small, agile Mustang fighter jets could only escort and offer the B-17s protection until their fuel maxed out and then the bombers were left to fend for themselves against enemy fighters. Left to find their targets and get the hell out of there in one piece.

Flight details, times and locations were distributed to the crews as they looked over the fuel and weather reports. Tomorrow morning, 0600, was go time.

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A tense, thick air of nerves pervaded the group as they left the briefing. It wouldn't last long though as they all would be looking for what could distract them from it. Or what could help them cope with their homesickness, their longing for a sweetheart or just, their fears.

"A tough one tomorrow, Oliver," Tommy said, as he walked alongside him as they made their way back to the barracks to relay the details to the rest of their crews. Yes, a tough one in more ways than one they both contemplated quietly. They were going deep behind enemy lines and it was the "Archer's" last mission. Oliver's last mission. God willing he would survive it. Missions flown averaged 65 % casualty and damaged aircraft losses. The war was ugly and yet, Oliver, Tommy, every man in the fleet, understood the significance of their jobs. They fought to preserve freedom.

Tommy and Oliver had first met in pilot training at George Army Field, Illinois. Two boys from different sides of the tracks. Tommy from a Southern family who was rich and not just in tradition and Oliver, raised by a single parent who worked all her adult life in a candy factory in Scranton, Pennsylvania. Oliver's father had died in a freak accident when Oliver was a small child and with the help of his parent's families, his incredible mother raised him to have an appreciation for strong, kind and intelligent women.

Tommy's special kind of brashness had melded nicely with Oliver's more quiet, thoughtfulness. Each balancing out the other to cement a lifelong friendship. Tommy's tour of duty in England started two months after Oliver's deployment. Unfortunately Tommy's mother had passed away after his training ended and when he and Oliver had met up again in Britain, there was a new air of maturity that came with his swagger. Losing someone you loved tended to do that.

"Nothing we can't handle, Tommy," Oliver replied, as he slowed down to look out across the airfield that housed their aircraft and the beauty of the lush, green meadows of the English countryside. Who would have thought this small serene town would be a gateway to a battlefield.

"That's right. We're birds of prey." Tommy murmured in agreement as they looked at each other and shared a moment of camaraderie. The kind only men who went into battle together could really understand.

"Well, let's get this mission organized and then you my friend are going out with us tonight. No, no arguing. We all need to enjoy ourselves tonight," Tommy said as he patted Oliver on the back and started walking towards the lights of the barracks. "By the way, drinks are on you tonight."

Oliver shook his head in humor as his best friend made him crack a smile as usual. Oliver wasn't really interested in going out, but he knew Tommy was right. Their men would need a moral boost after they were told where the target would be. Oliver didn't have a girl waiting back home for him and sometimes he just missed seeing a woman's sweet smile or the lovely scent her perfume. Perhaps he could find someone to share a dance with him tonight. To give him a nice memory to hold onto. One to take with him in the morning. One to take into the skies.