The Glory Hunters — Jon Burmeister

Oliver Evans is destitute on a Pacific island when he gets a job aboard the 'Marion B. Lovemore', a rusty old tramp steamer flying the Panamanian flag, yest is ivermanned and run like a U.S. naval ship. A low-flying Japanese aircraft drives acrazy shipmate of Evans to shoot at it, wounding the pilot and killing the gunner causing the Japanese to seek revenge. Evans tries to unravel the mysteries aboard ship. Why is it harbouring abundant arms, and has it anything to do with the rumour of a famous air-ace disappearing in the Pacific?