MICKY THORNE

Real Name: Micky Thorne

Identity/Class: Human (World War II era to post-World War II era)

Occupation: Pilot

Group Membership: Red Fox Squadron

Affiliations: Jean Dulleaux, Pete McNeil, Johnny Papp, Red Fox Squadron, Smirnoff, Smithers, Vinsetti, Erich Werner

Enemies: Otto Stahl

Known Relatives: None

Aliases: Baker Two

Base of Operations: Burma Far East Air Freight Company base, Burma;
    formerly England during World War II

First Appearance: True Adventures I#3 (May, 1950)

Powers/Abilities: Micky Thorne was an accomplished aircraft pilot of both commercial and military crafts. During World War II, he flew a combat craft with mounted automatic guns.

Height: Unrevealed (approximately 5'11")
Weight: Unrevealed (approximately 160 lbs.)
Eyes: Blue
Hair: Black

History:
(True Adventures I#3/5 (fb)) - During World War II, Micky Thorne served as a U.S. Air Force combat pilot in Red Fox Squadron from 1944-1945, fighting in the European Theater. Erich Werner was Micky's wingman in battle. On February 3, 1945, Micky and Erich had only five more hours of combat duty before being sent on a 30-day leave to the United States. Talking to Erich before their mission, Micky learned Erich's brother Otto was a pilot in the Luftwaffe and he feared he'd meet his brother in combat. Micky told Erich it was very unlikely they would meet.

    During the mission, Red Fox Squadron was engaged by enemy planes. Micky was targeted by a German plane but Erich saved him. However, another craft came up behind Erich and shot his plane's tail. Micky advised Erich to drop his landing gear and set the plane down, thinking the Germans wouldn't open fire on a plane attempting a landing. However, their radio conversation was being monitored by the German who had fired on Erich. Calling out "Goodbye, Erich" over the radio, the German ruthlessly blasted Erich's plane apart, killing him. Micky assaulted the German plane and blew it apart but he saw the pilot bail out. Micky promised he'd never forget that German.

    Micky returned to the United States after the war but he found himself haunted by the moment he saw Erich's plane explode. He drifted into alcoholism and found difficulty in obtaining a new job. Micky's friend Johnny Papp met with him and told him to get a job as a civilian pilot. Micky replied that civilian airlines didn't want ex-combat pilots because they required too much retraining. Johnny confided that he knew a man in Burma looking for pilots and gave him his address. Micky met with the man, Pete McNeil, who hired Micky to pilot a C-47 cargo plane for the Burma Far East Air Freight Company.

    Micky traveled to Burma and met the lead pilot, who told Micky most of the other pilots working there were ex-combat pilots like him and many of them were running from something in their pasts. Micky was assigned as co-pilot to Otto Stahl. Next, Micky met Smirnoff, who took him around to meet fellow pilots Jean Dulleaux, Vinsetti and Smithers. When Micky mentioned he'd been assigned to Stahl, Smirnoff judged that "a bad start," telling Micky that Stahl was the only kill-joy among the crew. When Stahl arrived at the canteen, Micky took an immediate dislike to him. Micky learned Otto claimed to be pursued by a ghost plane, which the other pilots made light of. When Smirnoff introduced Micky to Otto, Micky recognized his voice but couldn't place from where. Otto wondered where Micky learned to fly and Micky answered in the European Theater of Operations: "We had the best ducks you ever saw to shoot at! You'd be surprised what experience you can gain shooting at ducks!" Otto retorted that he served in the Luftwaffe as "one of those ducks." He angrily wished Micky was one of those he sent to their graves.

    For the next two weeks, Micky served as Otto's co-pilot on a C-47. Although he gained respect for Otto's piloting abilities, he found him silent and morose. One day in August 1946, Micky found Otto had dropped an identification card which identified him as Otto Werner and immediately wondered if he were Erich's brother. Micky returned the card to Otto as they began another flight. As they started out, Micky mentioned his best friend was Erich Werner and wondered if he were of any relation. Otto didn't betray any emotion by answering "possibly." However, Micky then mentioned he had shot down the pilot who killed Erich, drawing a reaction from Otto. Micky accused Otto of murdering his best friend and promised to settle accounts with him once they landed. Otto replied flatly that his brother was a traitor. Just then, Otto spotted a ghostly plane flying before them, the same model as Erich's World War II P-47 plane. Erich's voice came over the radio stating "I've been waiting for you, Otto!" Micky sent a message back to him, identifying himself. Erich's ghost told Micky to bail out of the craft because there wasn't much time.

    Micky grabbed a parachute, ignoring Otto's pleas that he remain with him on the plane. As Micky bailed out, he saw the ghost plane open fire on the C-47. Micky shouted to Erich's ghost to go back where he came from. Exploring the wreckage of the C-47, Micky found the plane's stabilizer filled with bullet holes.

(True Adventures I#3/5) - Carrying the stabilizer, Micky journeyed on foot back to the Burma Far East Air Freight Company air base. In the canteen, Micky showed the damaged part to the other pilots. Smirnoff recognized the markings as having been made by a .50 caliber machine gun. Micky told the pilots the full story of what happened to Otto then challenged them to offer him an explanation for what he'd seen if they could. The other pilots were silent.

Comments: Created by an unidentified writer and Bob Powell.

    Look, every German who guns down a fellow German during a World War has to be haunted by their ghost for the rest of their life. That's the rule, as codified by Hermann von Reitberger.

    This profile was completed on 10/07/2025 but its publication was delayed, as it was intended for the Appendix's 25th anniversary celebratory event.

Profile by Prime Eternal.

CLARIFICATIONS:
Micky Thorne should not be confused with:

Jean Dulleaux

Jean Dulleaux was a former member of the French Foreign Legion who fled the organization. By 1946, he had taken a job as a pilot with the Burma Far East Air Freight Company. Jean met Micky Thorne when he came to work for the company and heard his story about an encounter with his ghostly friend Erich Werner.






--True Adventures I#3/5 (#3/5 (fb), #3/5,

Pete McNeil

Pete McNeil was the owner of the Burma Far East Air Freight Company. Pete hired Micky Thorne as a pilot for one of his C-47 planes. He told Micky the flights were rough but the pay was good and nobody cared who you were, where you came from or where you were going.





--True Adventures I#3/5 (fb)

Johnny Papp

Johnny Papp was Micky's friend and served with him in Red Fox Squadron during World War II. When Micky struggled to find a new life for himself post-war, Johnny suggested he find a new career as a civilian pilot, as Johnny himself had done. Johnny knew Pete McNeil was hiring pilots for the Burma Far East Air Freight Company and gave his address






--True Adventures I#3/5 (fb)

Smirnoff

Smirnoff was a Russian pilot who had fought in World War II. By 1946, he had taken a job as a pilot with the Burma Far East Air Freight Company. Smirnoff met Micky Thorne when he came to work for the company and introduced him to the other pilots. After the death of Otto Stahl, Smirnoff heard Micky's story about an encounter with his ghostly friend Erich Werner. Smirnoff confirmed that the stabilizer Micky brought from the C-47's wreckage had been hit by a .50 caliber machine gun.





--True Adventures I#3/5 (3/5 (fb), 3/5

Smithers

Smithers was a former pilot in the RAF who was drummed out of the service. By 1946, he had taken a job as a pilot with the Burma Far East Air Freight Company. Jean met Micky Thorne when he came to work for the company and heard his story about an encounter with his ghostly friend Erich Werner.






--True Adventures I#3/5 (3/5 (fb), 3/5

Otto Stahl

"Otto Stahl" was an alias assumed by Otto Werner. During World War II, Otto served as a Luftwaffe pilot while his brother Erich served as a pilot in the U.S. Air Force. Otto was aware his brother was on the opposite side and when he engaged Red Fox Squadron in combat, he deliberately sought out Erich and opened fire on him. Although Erich attempted to land his craft, Otto taunted him over the radio and shot down Erich's plane, killing him. Micky Thorne shot down Otto's plane in return but Otto safely bailed out using his parachute. After the war, Otto dropped his real surname and began calling himself "Otto Stahl" as he became a pilot for the Burma Far East Air Freight Company. Otto was haunted by the ghost of Erich. After taking on Micky as a co-pilot on one of their runs, Otto was pursued in the air by Erich's ghost. Micky bailed out of the plane to safety but Erich's ghost gunned down Otto.





--True Adventures I#3/5 (fb)

Vinsetti

Vinsetti was an Italian pilot. By 1946, he had taken a job as a pilot with the Burma Far East Air Freight Company. Jean met Micky Thorne when he came to work for the company and heard his story about an encounter with his ghostly friend Erich Werner.







--True Adventures I#3/5 (3/5 (fb), 3/5

Erich Werner

Erich Werner was Otto Werner's brother. Eric was born in Germany but left for the United States as a child while Otto remained in Germany. During World War II, Erich served as a wingman to Micky Thorne in Red Fox Squadron. When Erich learned Otto had become a Luftwaffe pilot, he became convinced that during his last day piloting in the European Theater, he would end up having to face his brother. True to his fears, he was engaged in aerial combat with Otto, who recognized Erich by hearing his voice over the radio. Otto shot down Erich's plane and he died in the crash. Thereafter, Erich's ghost pursued Otto until finally in 1946, when Otto became a pilot with the Burma Far East Air Freight Company, Erich targeted him in the air and shot Otto down. Erich warned Micky to bail out of the craft before killing his brother.





--True Adventures I#3/5 (fb)

images: (without ads)
True Adventures I#3/5, page 1, panel 1 (Micky, main)
True Adventures I#3/5, page 2, panel 6 (Micky, face)
True Adventures I#3/5, page 7, panel 1 (Jean)
True Adventures I#3/5, page 6, panel 3 (Pete)
True Adventures I#3/5, page 6, panel 1 (Johnny)
True Adventures I#3/5, page 7, panel 2 (Smirnoff)
True Adventures I#3/5, page 7, panel 1 (Smithers)
True Adventures I#3/5, page 7, panel 4 (Otto)
True Adventures I#3/5, page 2, panel 1 (Vinsetti)
True Adventures I#3/5, page 3, panel 4 (Erich)

Appearances:
True Adventures I#3/5 (May, 1950) - unidentified writer, Bob Powell (artist), Stan Lee (editor)

First posted: 09/20/2026
Last updated: 10/07/2025

Any Additions/Corrections? please let me know.

Non-Marvel Copyright info
All other characters mentioned or pictured are ™ and © 1941-2099 Marvel Characters, Inc. All Rights Reserved. If you like this stuff, you should check out the real thing!
Please visit The Marvel Official Site at: http://www.marvel.com

Special Thanks to http://www.g-mart.com/ for hosting the Appendix, Master List, etc.!

Back to Characters