All-American Men of War #112 is an issue of the series All-American Men of War (Volume 1) with a cover date of December, 1965.
Synopsis for "Lt. Steve Savage The Balloon Buster!"
Steve Savage grew up in Mustang River, Wyoming where his father taught him to become a consummate marksman. By the time his father was on his deathbed, he urge Steve to make himself to mean something. But without real schooling or trade, Steve worked a menial job at a general store. When two cowpoke began insulting Steve and his father, Steve angrily beat them up. Consequently, the local sheriff banished Savage from Mustang River.
When the United States entered World War I, Savage enlist in the Army Air Corps. However, Savage perform poorly during practice. But Savage insists that he would do better in an actual fight. His wish for combat is soon granted as German attack balloons and their escorts have taken the skies of Verdun and making any attack on the balloons virtual suicide.
As the Air Corps is short on pilots, Savage is reluctantly allow by Major Michaels to join on an air patrol with ace pilots Larry Green and Nick Baker. When the patrol spot the attack balloons, Savage break formation and single-handedly destroy the balloons while deftly avoiding German Fokkers and AA guns. Savage soon finds out that his actions has cause Baker and Green to be shot down. They had been fighting to cover Savage. Savage lands his plane and is able to recover his fellow pilots, whom he believes are injured but alive. He then fights his way back to base after losing his pursuers inside a cloud.
After landing, Savage is furiously reprimand by Michaels who tells him that Baker and Green are already dead. His disobedience has cost them their lives and Savage is threaten with court-martial. However, they are approach by General Talbot, who has come to congratulate Savage for his actions that was witnessed by observers, who refer him as the "Balloon Buster." So impressed that the General is putting Savage in for a DFC regardless of his disobedience, as the military is in need of fighting men like Savage. Savage has escape from a court-martial, but the deaths of his fellow pilots weighs heavily on him.
Appearing in "Lt. Steve Savage The Balloon Buster!"
Featured Characters:
- Balloon Buster (First appearance)
Supporting Characters:
- General Talbot (First appearance)
- Major Michaels (First appearance)
Antagonists:
- Luftstreitkräfte
Other Characters:
- Larry Green (Single appearance; dies)
- Nick Baker (Single appearance; dies)
- Steven Savage, Sr. (Single appearance; dies)
Locations:
- Wyoming (World War I era)
- France
Vehicles:
- German planes
- Savage's SPAD S.XIII
Synopsis for "Grounded Sparrow"
Appearing in "Grounded Sparrow"
Characters:
Locations:
Items:
Vehicles:
Notes
- "Lt. Steve Savage The Balloon Buster!" is reprinted in Star-Spangled War Stories #160.
See Also
Recommended Reading
- World War II Recommended Reading
- Adventures in the Rifle Brigade (Volume 1)
- Adventures in the Rifle Brigade (Volume 2)
- All-American Men of War (Volume 1)
- All-Out War (Volume 1)
- Blackhawk (Volume 1)
- Blitzkrieg (Volume 1)
- Capt. Storm (Volume 1)
- Four-Star Battle Tales (Volume 1)
- G.I. Combat (Volume 1)
- Men of War (Volume 1)
- Military Comics (Volume 1)
- Our Army at War (Volume 1)
- Our Fighting Forces (Volume 1)
- Sgt. Rock (Volume 1)
- Sgt. Rock (Volume 2)
- Star-Spangled War Stories (Volume 1)
- Unknown Soldier (Volume 1)
- Weird War Tales (Volume 1)
Links and References
