October 1939 story
Hornet squadron is dispatched to France to await a possible German invasion. Billeted in a luxury manor, the pilots live well although one, Moggy Cattermole, shows himself to be a vicious bully, singling out vulnerable characters Pip Patterson and Dicky Starr. In a dangerous stunt, Moggy flies his Spitfire under a low bridge, goading Patterson and Starr to do the same. Starr is killed whilst attempting to do so and Moggy shows not the slightest remorse. A new pilot arrives, an American named Chris Hart who has fought in the Spanish Civil War and is unimpressed with the gentlemanly tactics favored by Rex. Two of the pilots, Fitz and 'Flash' Gordon start romances with two local schoolteachers, a young French woman named Nicole and an expat Englishwoman named Mary. An exonerated Barton returns to the squadron.
17 total · 1 choice · 6 major · 10 minor
| Theme | Level | Motivation |
|---|---|---|
| World War II | choice | The episode is set in the early part of the Second World War and tells the story of a squadron of Spitfire pilots as they defend Britain against the German Luftwaffe. Featured is Hornet Squadron operating from their base in a luxurious French chateau. |
| childish bullying | major | Moggy singled out the two younger pilots, Pip and Dicky, and tormented them relentlessly. In one scene, Moggy emasculated Dicky by asserting, in the presence of fellow officers, that Dicky's testicles hadn't yet descended. In another scene, Moggy walloped Pip over the head for no apparent reason. Moggy ultimately peer pressured Dicky into attempting a dangerous stunt. Dicky perished in the attempt. |
| life in late modern Europe | major | The viewer is shown what it might have been like to serve in the air force of the United Kingdom in the early stages of the Second World War. This episode focused on Hornet Squadron being dispatched to Le Touquet in northern France to await a possible invasion by the Germans. |
| male competitiveness | major | Moggy pulled of a perilous stunt by flying his Spitfire under a low country bridge. Following the triumph, Moggy goaded his fellow pilots Pip and Dicky into repeating the feat. Dicky perished in the attempt. |
| military related work | major | The viewer is shown what it might have been like to serve in the Royal Air Force in the early stages of the Second World War. This episode focused on Hornet Squadron being dispatched to Le Touquet in northern France to await a possible invasion by the Germans. |
| passion for flying machines | major | The Hornet Squadron pilots relished flying their Spitfires. |
| sexual norms in society | major | A recurring point in this story was to discuss the attitudes to sex of the French people as seen through the eyes of the English. |
| funeral rite | minor | Dicky was solemnly laid to rest in a Union Jack draped casket to the maudlin tones of bugles. |
| gambling | minor | Moggy and Pip had a bet about flying under the country bridge. |
| grief | minor | Certain Hornet Squadron members mourned Dicky's death. |