Comic Title: Star Spangled War Stories #160
Publisher: DC (National Periodical Publications, Inc.)
Address: 909 Third Avenue, New York, NY
Cover Date: Dec/Jan 1971
On Sale Date: October 14, 1971 Newsstand Date October 14, 1971
Source: House Ad, Star Spangled War Stories #159, Page 46

Newsstand Date October 14, 1971
Source: Etcetera, V1 #8

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

Title: "Lt. Steve Savage -- the Balloon Buster"
Pages: 15

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

Writer: Robert Kanigher
Artist: Russ Heath

Reprinted From:
All-American Men of War #112 (1965)

Feature Character(s)

• Balloon Buster (Lt. Steve Savage; first appearance; next appearance in All-American Men of War #113)

Supporting Character(s)

• Major Michaels (last name not given in this story; next appearance in All-American Men of War #113)
• General Talbot (last name not given in this story; next appearance in All-American Men of War #113)

Villain(s)

• Several German pilots (no further appearances)

Other Character(s)

• Steve Savage, Sr. (Steve's father; dies in this story; no further appearances)
• Nick Baker and Larry Green (pilots; die in this story; no further appearances)
• Wilson (a pilot; dies in this story; no further appearances)

Synopsis:
Steve Savage from a small frontier town in Wyoming enlists in the Army Air Corps during World War I. Savage is an expert marksman with a desire to make a name for himself. However, his flying skills are not great.

When a German attack occurs, Savage is ordered into the air with two other ace pilots. Savage disobeys an order to stay in formation in order to attack several German attack balloons. Savage proves his marksmanship by shooting down three enemy balloons, he sees his fellow pilots shot down.

Savage lands to pick up the injured pilots. He then returns to the air and shoots down two enemy fighters. When he returns to base, the injured pilots are dead. His commanding officer wishes to court-martial Savage for disobeying orders. However, a General, having seen Savage in action, commends him for his fighting ability. Savage is named an ace, but the Major still blames him for the death of the two pilots.