博客來Call Sign Panther is the story of Jack Sommers, a young pilot who is posted to a fighter squadron at the beginning of the Battle of Britain. Central to the story are the physical, mental and moral challenges he must overcome to survive. The squadron is led by Hardy-Burton, an experienced, stern, unflappable officer. Sommers is, naïve, insecure and struggles to fit in as the majority of the other pilots are drawn from wealthier backgrounds.
The threat of invasion is present, although there has been a lull in the fighting a tense anxiety hangs over the pilots. After days of waiting, Sommers is added to the flying roster. His Flight Commander, Mac, is a charismatic pilot who takes him under his wing and mentors him. The first patrol is a baptism of fire, they attack a formation of enemy bombers, but Sommers struggles to put his aircraft in the correct position and fails to hit anything. He returns to the squadron disappointed with himself.
The battle intensifies and the pilots find themselves in the thick of the fighting. Each day they are dispatched to intercept wave after wave of enemy aircraft. Eventually Sommers claims his first kill. With his confidence growing he begins to form a bond with another pilot, Freddie.
Within weeks several of the squadron pilots have been killed and the social dynamic changes. During the day they are constantly on alert, during the evening they let off steam by drinking heavily.
Sommers becomes distraught and angry when he witnesses Mac’s death. That evening he drinks with Freddie and takes advantage of a young woman from the local town. He feels disgusted by his behaviour.
Despite the raging battle, snobbery and politics still exist within the squadron. His new Flight Commander, Cavendish, takes a dislike to Sommers. When Sommers’ radio fails he has to drop back from formation and spots three unprotected enemy bombers. Unable to notify the other pilots, he’s forced to attack them alone and successfully shoots down two of them. Cavendish is furious and accuses Sommers of lying. As he has no way of proving his story, Sommers becomes despondent, until a witness comes forward and the crashed aircraft are discovered.
Sommers is now a capable battle harden pilot. However, he sees how badly the strain of combat is affecting Freddie.
After a short leave in London with Freddie, Sommers is promoted to lead a section of aircraft. As the battle reaches its climax, he becomes hell bent on destroying a bomber and pursues it until his ammunition is spent. He’s hit by return fire and in absolute frustration rams the bomber. In doing so he damages his own aircraft and is forced to bail out. He passes out on the ground and is taken to hospital.
Several weeks later he is recuperating when he learns he has been awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross and the tragic news that Freddie has been killed.
