Dragon Hunters

A Long Flight

Peter filed in behind the rest of the troop, waiting to board the Ju 290. He was at the end of the line. Last to board, first to jump. His best friend, Dieter, stood in front of him. Second man out. Dieter had been the one to drag Peter into the Fallschirmjägers. Ironic since Dieter was the one who was afraid of heights before signing up, though he's gotten over his fear since.

The new plane was giant. Sleek gray fuselage, a wide double tail, four engines each with a three-blade propeller. It had a funny looking nose turret that gave it an underbite and a gondola for an Adam's apple. The troop had nicknamed it Grampa Ju. It didn't make sense to Peter as this was a brand new plane, first one out of the factory, but the name stuck.

Grampa had already been loaded up with two large supply crates filled with extra rations, water, and tools for digging out an area for an airstrip. Also on board were the troop's regular gear stowed away in supply canisters strapped to parachutes that would be dropped with the men. It was a marvel of engineering, that a plane carrying all that plus 20 people could fly 6000 kilometers on one tank.

As the line of soldiers boarded the plane, Peter checked his gear, making sure each strap was secured. He took out his P08, using it as a distraction to calm his nerves. Check the safety's on, eject a bullet, catch it, pop the mag and reinsert, repeat. He continued until Dieter climbed up into the plane, then he put the pistol away and climbed up as well.

Grandpa had an open fuselage except for near the front where all the fancy plane gizmos were located. Running along each side was a long bench, and down the center of the roof was the bar to attach static lines for auto-deploying the parachutes. It was obvious this plane was modified for their mission. Peter took his seat. Dieter on his left, the door on his right, and lieutenant Hartmann sitting directly across. Once Peter was seated, Hartmann stood up to get the door closed.

"Welcome aboard hunters," Hartmann shouted over the noise of the starting engines. He closed the door, which muffled the engines, but not much. "Say goodbye to civilization, this is the last time you'll be seeing it for a while."

Takeoff was rough. Believe it or not, Madagascar doesn't have runways quite as smooth as Germany. Peter held tight to the overhead handles with both hands to keep him from falling off the bench.

As the plane lifted off the ground and the ride smoothed out, the plane erupted into cheers. The soldiers put their arms over each other's shoulders and, as was tradition, started singing the regular Fallschirmjäger folk songs.

You fell from a hundred meters
Out the door of Grandpa Ju
*Your umbrella failed to open
It's peace forever for you* x2

All your bones, well they are broken
Covered by the white nylon
*We'll call the field medic over
Takes your body and you're gone* x2

Your comrades stand in a circle
And watch you lie in the fern.
*Everybody thinks quietly
Tomorrow will be their turn.* x2

And when you arrive in heaven,
Peter's standing at the gate
*Are you a Fallschirmjäger too?
March march, this is not your fate.* x2

Turn around and walk down to hell
Now standing at Satan's feet
*Are you a Fallschirmjäger too?
Your comrades have saved a seat.* x2

Two hours or so of folk songs and the troop had run out of material. They usually weren't flying for more than an hour and a half on the way to the drop zone. The plane slowly fell silent and gave way to the roar of the engines. Soldiers settled in for the remaining six hours.

"I didn't get any sleep before takeoff, man. Hartmann had me and Lukas studying the airstrip design the whole time." Dieter complained. He shuffled around so he was lying on his back and laid his head in Peter's lap, "hold still I need a pillow."

Peter held back a laugh as his friend fell asleep on top of him, helmet covering his face.

"Don't let your love get in the way of the mission," Hartmann joked. Both Peter and Dieter held up the middle finger and Hartmann broke down laughing.

Peter settled in for the rest of the flight, leaning against the wall and resting his eyes. He never could fall asleep on a plane, the sound of the engines always kept him up.

This is going to be a long flight.