Aces High #4

In "The Green Kids," Major Joseph Caswell grapples with the toll of losing young pilots, convinced his commander is indifferent to their sacrifices. When Lieutenant Colonel Jack Ross is suddenly relieved of command, Caswell steps into the role—and begins to uncover a deeper truth behind the losses, one that challenges everything he thought he knew.

Buddy Wilson has never believed in luck—especially not in a frayed teddy bear named Happy—but he keeps it anyway. When he hands the worn bear to a Red Cross volunteer for repairs, he’s called back to the cockpit before it’s returned. Flying into battle with no idea his friend Pete Richards has secretly sent the bear up with him, Buddy survives while Pete does not.

In "The Novice and the Ace," a young pilot fresh from training stuns his seasoned squadron mates when he brings down a feared German ace known for 30+ kills—only to reveal the enemy’s tally was a ruse, painted to frighten foes. The truth shakes the group, especially when they realize the so-called novice is actually a seasoned fighter with a kill count that surpasses the German’s. Ernie Munson, Pat Pierce, Willis, Art Milburn, and Chuck Snyder find themselves caught in a moment of surprise and respect, as the lines between legend and reality blur in the heat of war.