The Flight of the Bumblebee

Originally Aired: May 19, 1952 Suspense #474, "The Flight of the Bumblebee," Lieutenant Colonel Hutchin Stone commands a B-29 bomber crew on what should be a routine strategic bombing mission over Korea. As the Bumblebee serves as lead ship of the 236th Wing, Stone reflects on his crew and their morale during the long flight to their target, a railroad center. Bombardier Max struggles with the moral weight of his role as an "instrument of death," while the Sergeant worries about surviving to meet his kid brother's replacement unit the next day. Stone reassures himself that his crew is doing fine, despite these normal concerns of fighting men with consciences. As the formation approaches the initial point at 18,000 feet, control passes from Stone's hands to Max's bomb sight for the critical 170-second bombing run. The crew debates whether to depressurize for such a short time over what has been quiet territory for weeks. But as Max begins the final approach and calls for those crucial last 15 seconds before bomb release, enemy interceptors suddenly appear at one o'clock, bearing down fast on the vulnerable bombers locked in their bombing path.