A damp, soggy sandbank is not the ideal runway, but Pilot Officer Mike Hickling was using one as he battled to coax his Gladiator into the air. And, to make matters worse, a mate of his was lying flat on the wing, holding on like grim death.

All this with a German launch slamming over the waves towards them, the trigger-happy Nazis aboard just waiting to get into range…

Story: Brunt

Art: Terry Patrick

Cover: Ian Kennedy