SAS Babcock's Revenge: An Action-Adventure Special Forces Series, #3

By Whiskey-Jack Peters

The few remaining soldiers from Sergeant Mitchell's SAS patrol are doing everything they can to evade capture while moving through occupied France. With the SS infantry moving into the Northwest of the country, even the French Resistance is at great risk of being wiped out. What are the German's up to? Even British Intelligence doesn't know.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Whiskey-Jack Peters
• Release date: Jan 24, 2022
• ISBN: 9798201908195

Book preview

Prologue

On May 7, 1942, at 1300 hours, a squadron of American fighters that were carrying two five hundred bombs per plane flew over a vast empty stretch of ocean. Each plane had a crew of three men on board. As they flew a thousand feet above the ocean, there wasn’t a boat to be seen anywhere by Captain George H.W. Bush as he piloted one of the planes, listening to a radio check being called for by the flight commander.

Captain Bush looked around him and then spoke back through the mic that was attached to his helmet. Sierra 1, this is Sierra 4. All systems are good. Over. While reporting, he looked out his canopy glass and saw a calm sea that appeared to be endless.

Several more pilots reported their planes’ conditions, and then the flight commander came back over the speakers in Bush’s helmet.

Sierra 1 to all pilots. Maintain altitude just less than five hundred feet until we reach our target. Maintain radio silence from here on out until after the initial attack. Make sure your bombs hit their buildings and that dock. We’re 170 miles from our destination. Watch out for enemy fighters above you. You can break radio silence if they engage us before target, just to make that clear to all of you. Gunners, lock and load your weapons. Test your guns now. Sierra 1 out.

The pilots then adjusted their planes and started lowering their altitude. The gunners started shooting their machine guns to test them, watching the cloudless blue sky above for signs of enemy aircraft.

On a Japanese occupied island, which just happened to be the target the American planes were quickly approaching, several cooks came out of one specific building. They walked toward a grassy area in the hills where the captured Americans were being tortured in the sun.

As they walked toward the prisoners, who were tied to posts, upright, some of the prisoners started praying out loud as the hot sun beat down on them. They were truly frightened about what was to come.

When one of the prisoners was surrounded by the two cooks, the other prisoners started screaming at them as they revealed their knives and started cutting into one particular prisoner. One cook went behind him and put him in a choke hold to stop the captive from making it impossible for the cook to cut in the right place.

Soon, the POW was unconscious, and the other cook started cutting into him while the other prisoners screamed curses at them as they removed part of the prisoner’s liver.

You’ll be hanged for this, you bastards! screamed one of the other prisoners who was doing his best to dig out the post that he was chained to with his feet. Then, things changed for him, as the Japanese cooks left the other prisoner and started walking in his direction.

No! No! You kill me before you cut me. I’d rather die than be used like that! Fuck you, you filthy evil scum! Corporal Kelly yelled at them. The sounds he was making only angered the cooks.

Then, the same thing happened. One of the cooks went around to the back of the post and they put him into a choke hold too. Moments later, he was unconscious. This allowed them to filet one of his thighs and then the cook that was removing it put it on a plate and walked off toward the cookhouse. The remaining cook put a bandage over the thigh and it quickly filled with blood.

In the cookhouse, the other cooks were impressed that they now had human meat and organs to cook for the senior officers. One of them told the others how they would make an award-winning meal that would impress the base commander, who had a thing for eating human flesh that had been terrorized and filled with adrenaline before being removed, which filled it with extra flavour.

Back at the posts that were holding the thirteen prisoners, Sergeant Johnson was praying for death as he looked at the two men who had been surgically altered. They were in agony, and he felt so sorry for them. Knowing that he and his fellow prisoners were being held for food was disgusting. Being a catholic, what he was seeing was the ultimate mortal sin, which would make this island an evil place forever. He wished for death to come before that happened to him or for God to destroy all that was evil around him.

In a meeting room nearby, three Japanese officers sat at a table as three other German U-boat officers talked amongst themselves.

Commander Klein observed the Japanese army colonel push several files to him over the table. One of the translators told him that they contained information regarding biological warfare. He gave his subordinate a nod, and a leather satchel he was guarding was opened up. Lieutenant Commander Weib was immediately mesmerized by the colour of the gold bars that it contained as he put his hands on the first of the bars and removed it from the satchel.

There are three bars in this bag, Colonel. My U-Boat contains the remainder that you requested. If you send some of your men down there now, we can begin moving them over to your submarine.

Colonel Onishi was given the translation by the interpreter, which took a short time to relay. After that, the commanding officer for the island base smiled and gave a bow of agreement. His eyes dilated when he saw the three golden bars finally resting on the table in front of him. One was quickly brought over to him by one of his officers.

Onishi put his hands out, and the major extended one of the bars. It was very heavy. Suddenly, he smiled, proceeding to speak in German.

Commander. This is a very good deal for both of our nations. Let us do this again, the colonel replied.

Colonel Onishi then gave some instructions to the officer that had just given him the gold bar. Go and get thirty soldiers to assist them with the movement of the gold from their U-boat over to our submarine while we discuss what’s in those folders.

The Japanese major then bowed, left the room, and began walking down the hallway until he reached a door. He opened it and walked into an office that had several officers and senior soldiers working away, engaged in various tasks. They all looked busy.

Over in a corner, sitting at a table were two Germans. Major Saito walked over to them and introduced himself. Lieutenant, I’ll get thirty of my men, and we’re to follow you to your vessel. Then, we’ll move the crates from your submarine over to ours. These are my orders. You may wish to consult your superiors while I go and get my soldiers ready, he said.

Senior Lieutenant Friedrich stood up and saluted the Major. Then, he spoke to him. Very good Major. I will confirm the order and will meet you outside in fifteen minutes if that is agreeable with you?

The major bowed. Very good, Lieutenant. Fifteen minutes then. Smiling, he left to get the soldiers that he needed.

The sun was hot for those soldiers who were running up to the headquarters building. They quickly got themselves into formation, and Major Saito began marching them down to reach the docks where the two submarines were situated. While the major was marching his men, he thought he heard something in the air, but he couldn’t see what it was until he heard multiple engines coming toward the island.

Planes. I hear planes. Halt! he ordered. His troops that were in formation stopped marching and looked up into the sky to see the planes that were coming toward the island.

Suddenly, he saw them.  The aircraft he spotted were enemy planes! They were coming in low and remained hidden from view because they were flying with the sun behind them. The major ordered them to man the defensive positions that had been prepared for many months. In a flash, the men took off the camouflage netting that covered their anti-aircraft guns—and machine guns—and got them going. They were well-rehearsed because of all the drills they had carried out.

As the Japanese soldiers fired at the Americans, the first plane was on target as it released its two bombs. As the American pilot banked to the left to get out of there, he spoke over his mic to the other pilots. They’ve got Submarines down there. Somebody target those subs!

As Captain Bush flew his plane in, he got the visual. He saw them and spoke over the mike. Sierra 1 this is Sierra 4. I’ve got them in sight. We’re taking machine-gun fire, though. Watch out! Over.

Bush readjusted his hands on the stick and flew over the island. He released his bombs, which fell through the air as he fired his machine guns at the buildings that he was flying over.

Inside the building, machine-gun fire shot up Colonel Onishi and several others, killing them instantly. The headquarters building was riddled with bullets.

Over where the prisoners of war were being kept, the man who had had half of his thigh removed looked up as he watched two bombs land and blow up the pier that had the German and Japanese submarines tied to it. The vessels were damaged too. Tears poured from his eyes as he shouted to the skies, cheering them on. Then, all of the prisoners that could, joined in.

Inside the headquarters building, the cooks were in another room, preparing the table for Colonel Onishi and his guests when they heard the sounds of incoming bombs. The whine from the bombs increased in intensity, and then there was an impact that blew out every floor and killed the chefs and their helpers as the door and the walls blew inwards while dust and building materials flew in every direction.

The two German officers were outside, helping the Japanese shoot back at the Americans as the five-hundred-pound bombs destroyed more buildings. The destructive sound levels were off the charts as every ground weapon on the island sounded off in retaliation.

As Captain Bush flew out over the ocean, he was thinking that he could go back and do another hit with his guns, but suddenly, his stick started to get very difficult to handle. There was a loud bang from the front of the plane, and then smoke started to billow from the engine.

Right away, he knew what he had to do. He had to fly out to sea and get as far away from the island as he could. If he had to ditch at sea he knew there would be boats being sent out there to capture pilots. They’d sent out missions to these islands before, and word was that they tortured their prisoners and sent them to work as labour back in Japan. That wasn’t going to happen to his crew. Not if he had anything to do with it.

Captain Bush pressed his mic switch and spoke to the lieutenant who was sitting behind him. Yeah, Kappy, this isn’t good. We may have to ditch at sea.

The lieutenant understood, as he saw the smoke pouring from their engine hood. I think we might be able to get back to base? Can we try?

Bush spoke over his mic one more time. We can try. See if we can stay up in the air for as long as possible, but if we have a fire, we’re a flying bomb with fuel in the wings, and we might be losing fuel too. My fuel gauge is acting funny, he said as he tapped his console.

Captain Bush then broke radio silence once more and went onto the main channel. Sierra 1, this is Sierra 4. We’re hit and on fire. Heading out to sea. Requesting Rescue.

A moment later, the flight commander came over the air. Understood, Sierra 4. Head back following the emergency bearing that we agreed on, and I’ll get word to the carrier to send out a rescue team. Good luck!

Bush and his crew focused and gained altitude. They were on the lookout for enemy planes, but so far, nothing had attacked them.

Back on the island, Major Saito had assumed command and was screaming orders to two radio operators who were standing in a foxhole firing their rifles up at the American planes. Stop shooting. The building is still intact. That means the radio is still operational. We’ve shot planes, and they’re going down. Send out our ships to capture any survivors! Get the Navy to send planes immediately! Go! Get out of that hole in the ground now! Move! he screamed at them.

The two soldiers jumped out of that hole quicksmart and ran back to their radio room. They got the generator going and then turned on the radio for an emergency transmission to their naval fleet that was giving their island protection.

Back in the plane that Bush was trying to gain altitude in, the gunner was contemplating all the smoke that was he was seeing. As he kept a lookout for Japanese fighters, he wondered if they would make it back to their carrier. He knew what the captain was doing. When the plane finally died on them, they would get a few more miles away from the island as they coasted down toward the sea.

As he looked to his left, all he could see were miles and miles of empty ocean and above him was a massive blue sky. He felt like a pebble on a mile-long beach. How would anyone find them if they went down?

Far away from the island battle, the Japanese navy destroyer known as the Daisei [Great Spirit] received the message of the island attack. The duty officer was given the message, and he read it over. To his dismay, he learned that American bombers had attacked one of the islands that they were responsible for protecting. He quickly went over to his phone, picked up the receiver, and spoke into it. His concern was considerable as he read the message to his commanding officer.

Captain Bush kept his plane in the air for eighteen minutes, which was impressive. Before they crashed into the sea, he told his crew to prepare themselves. They each knew how to get out of their compartments, but as George got away from the plane, he didn’t see his other two crew members. He shouted for them but knew too much shouting would attract the sharks, and he didn’t want that happening, so he couldn’t do much more.

Eventually, as the plane went beneath the surface, he knew he’d lost his crew. As he looked around, he felt terribly alone. But then he heard planes off in the distance—and machine gun fire. When he pinpointed the sounds, he saw a dogfight taking place between American and Japanese fighter planes.

Bush watched an American plane go down several miles in the distance. It splashed, and that’s when he saw the Japanese ship heading right for the smoke trail his own plane had been making before he had crashed into the sea. It was coming straight toward him.

Quickly, he kicked off his shoes and started swimming as fast as he possibly could out into the open ocean. He was doing the best he could to get away. Before long, though, he heard an explosion and turned back to look at the ship to see if it was still gaining on him. It was still afloat but it was on fire now. One of the American planes had shot it up considerably, and it had erupted in flames at the stern.

George began to wonder what his next move should be when he heard another plane coming toward him. It sounded different to the fighters. It seemed to have more power in its engines. He looked toward the sun and saw a water plane. They had seen him and were attempting to rescue him right now.

Eagerly, Captain Bush swam to the plane as it landed on the ocean and started coming toward him with its engines reduced. Somebody on the plane opened one of the side doors and had a rope ready to throw to him. They were only a few hundred yards apart from one another now.

Inside the rescue plane, the senior pilot watched through the window as he steered it toward the downed pilot, but he was distracted by another plane that suddenly exploded in the air several miles away from where they were. The brave pilots were doing their best to kill each other above them in that clear blue sky.

Soon, they were close enough for the rescue operator to get a rope out to him, and then he was pulled toward the plane as it started to turn. Bush was soon pulled to the body of the plane and smiling from ear to ear.

The rescue technician got him out of the water and into the plane, shouting at Bush all the while. Are there any other survivors out there?

Captain Bush shook his head as he noticed another wounded airman lying on a cot at the rear of the plane. They’d been able to rescue somebody else too.

The sergeant nodded but said nothing as he put Bush onto a seat and buckled him in. The co-pilot looked toward them and tapped a wrench on the metal wall. Sergeant Young looked up and saw the co-pilot wanting to know if they could take off. Young gave him the thumbs up.

Lieutenant Moore then told his captain that they could take off, and the senior pilot then opened the throttle and started accelerating the aircraft. It roared to life and was soon picking up speed.

At the back of the plane, Bush thought they’d soon disintegrate at any moment with all of the noise from the engines and the battering of the plane as it cut through the sea. Eventually, though, it got into the air and headed back to its original destination, which was several hundred miles away.

Sergeant Young sat down near Bush to have a look at him and offered him some water to drink. This is your lucky day, Captain, he said, grinning.

Bush nodded. Thank you for rescuing me, he replied as he took hold of Sergeant Young’s canteen.

Chapter 1

June 3, 1942

Location: Mountains of Northern France

Time: 1300 Hrs

The sounds of German machine-gun fire and mortar bombs exploding echoed through the trees as Corporal Babcock, Sergeant Mitchell, and Corporal Oliver moved through the woods as fast as they possibly could. They had been ambushed by at least three companies of German infantry, and they held the high ground too. Sadly, there were dozens of bodies from their group a few hundred yards behind them. Most of them were made of members of the French Resistance, which had rescued them several weeks prior. But there was no doubt in anyone’s minds that there were also dead British soldiers too.

There were pockets of people who were still alive, but Sergeant Mitchell’s group had no idea who had gotten away from the attack. Mitchell knew where the other rendezvous point was situated, and that’s where they were headed. Hopefully, some of the others had survived and would meet them there.

Suddenly, a Sten gun went off in their vicinity not more than fifty yards deeper into the woods. Babcock stopped and started doing his combat breathing technique while he looked around to see what their options were. It sounded like the Germans were right behind them. They heard them yelling at them in German while they fired their machine guns at anything that moved. As he knelt down behind a tree, he looked over and saw that Oliver was also hiding behind one, and Mitchell was lying behind