10.08.2008, 05:07
Log Entry: 10th August 1943 - BF109G-6 over Slovakia. Intercepted unidentified aeroplane heading toward Slovenska Luca
I check the map quickly, and yes, I am over Slovenska Lupca now. He's somewhere near, could be anywhere. There's a thick mass of cumulus to my right that blocks my view. I don't want him to emerge from that behind me... I breathe with relief as I pass the cloud.... there! Two o'clock high and he's already seen me, coming down fast. Power on and my Gustav climbs as I gently turn right, the russian plane flashing past me below my right wing. A Lavochkin LA5. Now the battle is on!
The Gustav shakes and rattles in a steep turn to go after Ivan. His plane is turning tightly, he cuts across my nose before I could fire, then he goes vertical, pulling away with ease. I pull hard and try to follow him upward, hoping to to catch him at the top of his climb, but no, he's already pulling over and dives down into cloud.
Lost him! I can't see anything in this murk. The Gustav clears the cloud and there, 3 o'clock low, I see him pulling up vertical again. Once again I go after him upward but I don't have the airspeed, the plane wallowing momentarily before lazily falling out of the climb to the left.
Lost him again! Where is he? I enter a spiral dive dive checking my six and panning around furiously.Then I see him, above me and positioning for a pass. I flick left, flick right, he's still on me! I roll the Gustav over and dive out of the turn. As soon as I have enough speed I'm back in a spiral climb. I see him turning after me. We enter a steep turn. My engine is through the gate, the plane shakes, the wings become unsteady... I use the rudder and barely keep my Gustav in the turn, but that Ivan is turing too tight. I can see him getting the better of me, but no, he pulls up and gains altitude. His mistake! Ivan, you could have won it there and then.
I spiral climb again, getting above him as he swoops down to my right. I try to get get behind him by pulling over the top of my climb and almost... almost... Agh! He always turns tighter. This time he's rattled, flicking his Lavochkin left and diving away. I let him go. I need to gain airspeed and height for another pass. There's a river valley ahead, so I dip the nose and wait for 470kmh, then pull up. Over I go in a half loop, roll upright, and Ivan is turning to face me ten o'clock low. Its going to be a head on pass!
Take aim.. take aim... Fire!... Missed! Ivan pulls past me without shooting. I go high, roll over, and try again to pull inside him, and once again I cannot match him in the turn. Wait... He's breaking away... I follow and loose off a salvo. Missed! He jinks around then pulls up into the sun...
Lost him! I cannot see forward with the sun in my eyes. No, wait, there he is, diving away over the mountains. I go down after him and fire my cannons... fire once more... Yes! A puff of flame marks the hit. I see debris flying past me. Ivan is leaving a thin trail of smoke but he still powers away low over the mountain. He's trying to lose me, barrel rolling perilously close to the pines on that ridge, and then levels out to regain speed. I fire off two more salvoes, neither hit him. He's trying to get away and I grin to myself. Close in... closer... Ivan jinks left down into a valley. I patiently follow his turn, mindful of the tree-tops flashing past my wingtip. Now he dives down the other side of the ridge, I line up, and fire! Another puff of flame!
This is ridiculous. How many shells can this russian plane take before I shoot it down? Woah, he's gone vertical, I didn't expect that. It doesn't last long. He barrel rolls, then noses down sharply before levelling out. Take aim... Fire!... His fuselage breaks in two. The wreckage begins to spin helplessly out of control. I watch him as I fly past, wondering if he's going to get out... Yes, there he is. I'll report that and the infantry will pick him up. For me the fight is over, and I enjoy the rolling countryside beneath me as I head for home.
Perhaps I shouldn't enjoy it too much.
I check the map quickly, and yes, I am over Slovenska Lupca now. He's somewhere near, could be anywhere. There's a thick mass of cumulus to my right that blocks my view. I don't want him to emerge from that behind me... I breathe with relief as I pass the cloud.... there! Two o'clock high and he's already seen me, coming down fast. Power on and my Gustav climbs as I gently turn right, the russian plane flashing past me below my right wing. A Lavochkin LA5. Now the battle is on!
The Gustav shakes and rattles in a steep turn to go after Ivan. His plane is turning tightly, he cuts across my nose before I could fire, then he goes vertical, pulling away with ease. I pull hard and try to follow him upward, hoping to to catch him at the top of his climb, but no, he's already pulling over and dives down into cloud.
Lost him! I can't see anything in this murk. The Gustav clears the cloud and there, 3 o'clock low, I see him pulling up vertical again. Once again I go after him upward but I don't have the airspeed, the plane wallowing momentarily before lazily falling out of the climb to the left.
Lost him again! Where is he? I enter a spiral dive dive checking my six and panning around furiously.Then I see him, above me and positioning for a pass. I flick left, flick right, he's still on me! I roll the Gustav over and dive out of the turn. As soon as I have enough speed I'm back in a spiral climb. I see him turning after me. We enter a steep turn. My engine is through the gate, the plane shakes, the wings become unsteady... I use the rudder and barely keep my Gustav in the turn, but that Ivan is turing too tight. I can see him getting the better of me, but no, he pulls up and gains altitude. His mistake! Ivan, you could have won it there and then.
I spiral climb again, getting above him as he swoops down to my right. I try to get get behind him by pulling over the top of my climb and almost... almost... Agh! He always turns tighter. This time he's rattled, flicking his Lavochkin left and diving away. I let him go. I need to gain airspeed and height for another pass. There's a river valley ahead, so I dip the nose and wait for 470kmh, then pull up. Over I go in a half loop, roll upright, and Ivan is turning to face me ten o'clock low. Its going to be a head on pass!
Take aim.. take aim... Fire!... Missed! Ivan pulls past me without shooting. I go high, roll over, and try again to pull inside him, and once again I cannot match him in the turn. Wait... He's breaking away... I follow and loose off a salvo. Missed! He jinks around then pulls up into the sun...
Lost him! I cannot see forward with the sun in my eyes. No, wait, there he is, diving away over the mountains. I go down after him and fire my cannons... fire once more... Yes! A puff of flame marks the hit. I see debris flying past me. Ivan is leaving a thin trail of smoke but he still powers away low over the mountain. He's trying to lose me, barrel rolling perilously close to the pines on that ridge, and then levels out to regain speed. I fire off two more salvoes, neither hit him. He's trying to get away and I grin to myself. Close in... closer... Ivan jinks left down into a valley. I patiently follow his turn, mindful of the tree-tops flashing past my wingtip. Now he dives down the other side of the ridge, I line up, and fire! Another puff of flame!
This is ridiculous. How many shells can this russian plane take before I shoot it down? Woah, he's gone vertical, I didn't expect that. It doesn't last long. He barrel rolls, then noses down sharply before levelling out. Take aim... Fire!... His fuselage breaks in two. The wreckage begins to spin helplessly out of control. I watch him as I fly past, wondering if he's going to get out... Yes, there he is. I'll report that and the infantry will pick him up. For me the fight is over, and I enjoy the rolling countryside beneath me as I head for home.
Perhaps I shouldn't enjoy it too much.