chapter summary- the air raid Danielle Gipps

- after stealing another potato after dinner he goes up the the balcony of the assembly hall to eat it in privacy and to complete his Latin homework which Dr ransome sets him. whilst doing this he often admires the Japanese airfield just outside the camp and watches the rituals as the suicide pilots prepare to fly. however this is disturbed when a loud drone fills the air and shots are fired at the airfield. Jim recognises the drone as that of an American mustang fighter plan. he suddenly fills with excitement as the mustangs fly lower and lower above him, Jim making hand signals and waving at them as they fire at the Japanese. anti-air weapons on the Japanese air-field and aircraft are able to fire at the flames sending two planes up in a blaze of flames and smoke. one carrying its pilot, the other allowing him to escape. however this time the assemble hall had to been hit covering Jim in rubble and dirt. not knowing whether he had passed out or not, he heard the voice of Dr ransome calling him, asking whether he was okay and saying that they needed to register. there was always a few deaths in an air raid, from both shock and exhaustion and injuries. Jim could see when walking with Dr ransome, that one man was close to death and Jim was admiring his gold looking ring, wondering whether he woukd be the first the acquire it after the death of the man. after deaths Jim would often take valuable possessions and give them to the Japanese in exchange for a belt or a pair of braces, although Dr ransome objected to the idea of grave robbing. sergeant negates was always obsessed with how many prisoners the camp held and why he continually repeated the roll call, Jim was able to fill with excitement as he replayed the air raid over in him mind.