Congo Chronicle 27: Congo Bill Joins The Flying Tigers!

Finally fully compensating for the loss of Professor Kent and the absence of close male companionship in his adventuring, Action Comics #51 (August, 1942) sees Bill join The Flying Tigers, the elite volunteer force formed in the wake of Pearl Harbor to defend Chinese interests in the Pacific (clearly this tale was written before the Tigers were absorbed into the 23rd Fighter Group in July of that year).

Let's meet our cast of All-Americans, shall we?

We know that Bill was an air ace in the first World War, so he has no trouble falling in like Flynn with this new group of youngsters. Just one problem though - -

Almost immediately, Bill starts piecing together clues to the identity of the queer saboteur!

A furious aerial battle with the Japanese ensues, and some of our brave boys don't make it back!

But later that night, Bill is investigating the airfield and comes upon a no-goodnik!

As Bill's a crack shot, he knows he hit the saboteur right where he wanted to! All the more curious, then, when the next day....

We're ALL wondering, Bill!  No time for that, though, look who just crawled out from the Burmese jungle!

Luckily, Tex kept his wallet with him through his ordeal, only dropping it as he re-entered camp...giving Detective Bill the final clue he needs!  Can you guess the identity of the saboteur now, gentle reader?

Never fear, Congo Bill will lay it all out for us!

 

Ha ha, stupid Nazi!

Tex is finished off by an attack from his own Japa-Ratzi "friends", and the Tigers live to fly another day!

Congo Chronicle 4: Gloria Desmond's Quest!

Well, we knew their He-Man paradise couldn't last. Along comes little miss Gloria Desmond in More Fun Comics #59 to foul things up - just like a girl.

"Yes, missy, we are, and don't you forget it! Meanwhile, why don't you give us some endless exposition about you and your problems?"
Bill, ever itching for action as usual, has to be reminded - quite snippily, I must assume - that he's part of a partnership!

One good thing this adventure has to offer - more information on Bill's mysterious background!
Assuming he was 16 or 17 when he flew in World War I (a manly man of action like our Bill would have certainly lied about his age!) that would make Bill....gadzooks! Pushing 40 and still fit as a fiddle!

The plane lands and is soon spotted by a group of savage "Horned Tondurs".
For the record, I can find no evidence that a tribe called the "Horned-Tondurs" ever really existed. The foolish natives, completely oblivious to the marvels of the modern world, makes a fatal - - gaaaaaah! This was a comic book?!? For KIDS???!!!?
Oh, well, it was just a savage. And despite the injury to their chief the filthy moon-worshippers capture Gloria and spirit her away!
Again for the record - several moon-worshipping tribes do inhabit Central Africa, in particular the Baganda tribe - but I can't vouch for the sacrifice business.

Nonetheless, Congo Bill knows there is only one way to rescue Gloria - impersonate their Moon-God by wearing nothing but an aviator's helmet and his underwear!
Well, unless he's a very good actor, he must appear old enough to be her father - so maybe 40's not so off the mark? Bill solidifies his act with an 11 o'clock number, his "Hymn to the Moon God".......
...I don't make this stuff up, folks.

The episode ends with Gloria being brutally murdered by the sava....oh, wait, no, that didn't happen. The episode ends with Gloria flying off in triumph with Congo Bill and Professor Kent, vowing to pester them some more - but what's this? It actually seems to be Professor Kent's idea? Perhaps their separate vacation was more of a warning sign than we guessed!

Now, let's take a moment to recap what we've learned about the manly and mysterious Congo Bill:
He was an air ace in World War I;
He can sing (I imagine a rich, masculine baritone timbre, don't you?);
He wears briefs;
He could be Irish;
He's a picky eater;
He has a fear of captivity.
Stay tuned as we continue to explore the myth and mystery of CONGO BILL!