Characters & Leaders
Who was the formation leader described as the “ace of aces”?
Flight-Lieutenant Pattle
What type of plane did Dahl fly in the battle?
A Hurricane
How many German planes were in the sky, according to ground observers?
At least 200
In paragraph 22, what does “soggy controls” mean?
The plane was very difficult to navigate.
What does Dahl’s decision to stay until out of ammunition suggest about him?
He was brave and committed.
Why does the author think Flight-Lieutenant Pattle was a strong, experienced pilot?
He could fly brilliantly and led the others with skill.
How many guns did the Hurricane have, and where were they?
Eight, all immobile, in the wings
What did Dahl see another pilot do when his plane was in flames?
Climb onto a wing and jump off.
What figurative phrase does Dahl use to describe surviving the battle?
“I had been into the very bowels of the fiery furnace and had managed to claw my way out.”
What can you infer about the German pilots from Dahl’s description of the crowded sky?
They sometimes collided or interfered with each other.
In paragraph 18, what did Pattle assume about the other pilots?
That they could fly as brilliantly as he could.
What made aiming the Hurricane’s guns difficult?
The pilot had to aim the whole plane, not the guns.
What detail from paragraph 21 suggests the German planes interfered with each other?
They “got in each other’s way because there were so many of them.”
What word could describe the language in paragraph 20’s cockpit description?
Vivid, sensory detail to immerse the reader.
How does Dahl compare himself to the other pilots in the Operations Room?
He notices they were just as wet and shaky as he was.
How did the author feel about Pattle’s leadership?
That he was highly skilled but perhaps expected too much of less-skilled pilots.
What happened to Dahl’s Hurricane during the fight?
It was hit and became difficult to steer.
What did the mechanic say when he examined Dahl’s plane?
“This kite’s got so many ’oles in it, it looks like it’s made out of chicken-wire!”
What contrast does Dahl make when landing safely?
Between the fiery danger of the air battle and the peaceful sun and wildflowers on the ground.
What overall idea does the passage convey about war?
The chaos, danger, and human cost of battle, but also resilience and survival.
What does the detail “we broke formation and now it was every man for himself” reveal?
The overwhelming attack forced individual survival, showing the chaos of battle.
How did Dahl manage to land safely despite the damage?
He steered with the ailerons and lowered the undercarriage successfully.
What was unusual about Dahl and the other pilots after the battle when they returned to the Ops Room?
They were soaked in sweat and shaking so much they couldn’t light their cigarettes.
Why does Dahl’s describe his sweat and shaking hands?
It conveys the physical toll and emotional intensity of the battle.
What is the word for a true story about a certain time in a person's life?
Memoir