Comic Title: Star Spangled War Stories #162
Publisher: DC (National Periodical Publications, Inc.)
Address: 909 Third Avenue, New York, NY
Cover Date: Apr/May 1972
On Sale Date: February 15, 1972 Newsstand Date February 15, 1972
Source: Direct Currents, Sinister House of Secret Love #4, Page 32

Newsstand Date February 15, 1972
Source: House Ad, Star Spangled War Stories #161, Page 46

Newsstand Date February 15, 1972
Source: Comic Reader, #81

Copyright Date February 15, 1972
Source: Library of Congress, Periodicals 1972

Frequency: Bi-monthly
Cover Price: $0.25
Page Count: 48
Circulation: 156713
Editor: Joe Kubert

Title: "The Ace of Sudden Death"
Pages: 15

Feature(s):
Balloon Buster (of Earth-1)

Writer: Robert Kanigher
Artist: Russ Heath

Reprinted From:
All-American Men of War #113 (1966)

Feature Character(s)

• Balloon Buster (last appearance in All-American Men of War #112; next appearance in All-American Men of War #114)

Supporting Character(s)

• Major Michaels (last appearance in All-American Men of War #112; next appearance in All-American Men of War #114)
• General Talbot (last appearance in All-American Men of War #112; next appearance in All-American Men of War #114)

Villain(s)

• Von Sturm (a German pilot; dies in this story; no further appearances)
• Several other German pilots (no further appearances)

Other Character(s)

• Lt. Edwards (a young pilot; dies in this story; no further appearances)
• Various American soldiers (no further appearances)

Cameo Appearance(s)

• Steve Savage, Sr. (in flashback)

Synopsis:
Lt. Steve Savage visits the trenches and witnesses the carnage caused by enemy balloons. On his next flight, Savage breaks formation in order to shoot down several of the balloons. When he returns to base, the Major grounds him for disobeying orders again.

A German pilot named Von Sturm issues a challenge to Savage, having seen him in action. The Major will not allow Savage to meet the challenge and sends Lt. Edwards instead. When Edwards is shot down, Savage takes to the skies. He shoots down Von Sturm, avenging the loss of the young pilot.