The Japanese have a new special modified armored Zero with the best Japanese pilots in the air. If Pappy or any of his men come up against them they are to disengage and get home. This doesn't sit well with Pappy or the rest of the squadron. Pappy pulls strings and has newly 'returned to service' Ace pilot Doug Rafferty assigned to his squadron. His father is an Admiral...but Jim remembers him from previous missions and believes him to be a jinx. Pappy won't have this kind of superstitious talk going around and tells Jim to keep his mouth shut.