Falling Star

On the way back from a mission, a mentor of Joe Gallagher's, Colonel Gus "Pappy" Wexler, is flying as an observer. Gallagher asks Fowler to let Wexler fly in the co-pilot seat. ME-109s attack them, and Joe is wounded. Pappy takes over, calling Gallagher "Bernie". At HQ, General Pritchard asks Harvey Stovall's opinion of Wexler. General Britt is away in Washington, and if he is not back, Pritchard will be looking for a new Wing Commander. He is thinking of Wexler or Gallagher. Gallagher is on the sick list, so Wexler becomes the acting Group Commander, and Gallagher becomes the acting Wing Commander. Wexler wants things run by the book. On the next mission, he takes three planes and turns too early & aborts. He calls Bob Fowler, his co-pilot, "Bernie", and when Sandy questions him, Wexler orders him to stand down and report to the Flight Surgeon when he is back. Later in the Star & Bottle, the pilots celebrate with Wexler, and he makes a good show of it. He arm wrestles Captain Banazek and wins.