31.12.2008, 08:25
I just had to write my sortie down, because this is the first time I fly the Spitfire Mk I online!
I took off from Biggin Hill at 03.40, with the summer sky lit up by the sun below the horizon. It was
a really cloudy morning and I proceeded south toward a point between Hastings and Lympne AF. Climbing steady, I used +8 lbs/sq.in boost with 2800rpm. I noticed how fast the temperature went up in a spit, so I leveled out at 10.000ft, and cooled off for a bit. There was not much activity at the time, except a polish hurricane that I first had assumed as E/A. He headed off over the canal by himself, which seemed odd. I for one planned on staying on my side of the canal, letting the germans come themselves.
Reaching Lympne AF, I had climbed to 18.000ft, now making good progress in my flying. There is a good visibility in the spitfire, and the mirror really helps noticing incoming aircrafts. I kept good check on all sides and altitudes, knowing that it is a whole lot of empty air to hide in
I guess I had been flying for 30 minutes when I spotted an aircraft to my right, apparently with the direction aimed at Hastings. The visibility wasn't great but I gave more throttle, around +9lbs/sq.in and 2900rpm, closing the radiator and kept sight of both oil temperature and speed while I pursued. When I was about a couple of kilometers away from the E/A he made a starboard climbing turn, ovaled then swooshed down past me and I noted it as a type E-4 messerchmitt due to the green body and yellow nose used in offline gaming. I easily cirkled him, giving him a short burst before he managed to gain distance between us and I thought it to be useless to fire at over 400m range. He was obviously nervous so I didn't think of him as a big threat. It is a comfort patroling ones own country's border, especially if it's an island we're talking about!
But then it was my turn to get nervous. I spotted two more E/A headed straight at us as we were in the chase towards Hastings again. So apparently there was three 109s! I checked the sky above them and behind me before I aimed the machine at the leader. Still at around 18.000 ft, I don't think they noticed neither me or the pursued 109. I hit the leader with a short burst of about a second and saw smoke come out of the engine. They both headed out for the canal and I lost sight of the first pursued 109 which I think dived. I don't like diving after those at these kinds of altitudes because when there is more 109s above it's hard to gain advantage again. With such a cloudy sky I figured it was little chance of him coming back up to attack me again. I then felt a twitch in my aircraft as tracers flashed by, apparently nr.2 was after me now with both cannons and MG, noting it too as a 109 E-4 model. I had no trouble evading his bullets now that I had him in my sight, and he broke off realizing it was impossible to outturn me. Making two circles at separate bearing, we ended up against eachother again, but me a bit ahead, being able to stay out of his guns whilst firing mine. He started to leak some fuel and dove, this time me after him! My engine was now furiously hot but I just couldn't let this one go. I fired some more bursts, but it was almost impossible to hit him. I had no trouble at all reaching him and staying around 200 yards behind, but he made such hard bankings and rudderwork so I could just get in some small bursts. If I had a automatic cannon on my spit, I would have made the process quick, but with small peashoothers it was harder. Non the less, I hit him good from 100 yards, black smoke pouring out over the canal. By now we had been flying all over the canal from Hastings and I started noticing the contours of France. I broke of the attack but as I did, I saw him gaining slight altitude, of perhaps 1000ft, then bailing out. I later was credited for the leader too.
I landed at Lympne AF due to fuel shortage to make it back to Biggin Hill.. I was delighted when I turned off the engine. Deligthed and sweaty!
Thanks for letting me write!
Cheerio!
I took off from Biggin Hill at 03.40, with the summer sky lit up by the sun below the horizon. It was
a really cloudy morning and I proceeded south toward a point between Hastings and Lympne AF. Climbing steady, I used +8 lbs/sq.in boost with 2800rpm. I noticed how fast the temperature went up in a spit, so I leveled out at 10.000ft, and cooled off for a bit. There was not much activity at the time, except a polish hurricane that I first had assumed as E/A. He headed off over the canal by himself, which seemed odd. I for one planned on staying on my side of the canal, letting the germans come themselves.
Reaching Lympne AF, I had climbed to 18.000ft, now making good progress in my flying. There is a good visibility in the spitfire, and the mirror really helps noticing incoming aircrafts. I kept good check on all sides and altitudes, knowing that it is a whole lot of empty air to hide in
I guess I had been flying for 30 minutes when I spotted an aircraft to my right, apparently with the direction aimed at Hastings. The visibility wasn't great but I gave more throttle, around +9lbs/sq.in and 2900rpm, closing the radiator and kept sight of both oil temperature and speed while I pursued. When I was about a couple of kilometers away from the E/A he made a starboard climbing turn, ovaled then swooshed down past me and I noted it as a type E-4 messerchmitt due to the green body and yellow nose used in offline gaming. I easily cirkled him, giving him a short burst before he managed to gain distance between us and I thought it to be useless to fire at over 400m range. He was obviously nervous so I didn't think of him as a big threat. It is a comfort patroling ones own country's border, especially if it's an island we're talking about!
But then it was my turn to get nervous. I spotted two more E/A headed straight at us as we were in the chase towards Hastings again. So apparently there was three 109s! I checked the sky above them and behind me before I aimed the machine at the leader. Still at around 18.000 ft, I don't think they noticed neither me or the pursued 109. I hit the leader with a short burst of about a second and saw smoke come out of the engine. They both headed out for the canal and I lost sight of the first pursued 109 which I think dived. I don't like diving after those at these kinds of altitudes because when there is more 109s above it's hard to gain advantage again. With such a cloudy sky I figured it was little chance of him coming back up to attack me again. I then felt a twitch in my aircraft as tracers flashed by, apparently nr.2 was after me now with both cannons and MG, noting it too as a 109 E-4 model. I had no trouble evading his bullets now that I had him in my sight, and he broke off realizing it was impossible to outturn me. Making two circles at separate bearing, we ended up against eachother again, but me a bit ahead, being able to stay out of his guns whilst firing mine. He started to leak some fuel and dove, this time me after him! My engine was now furiously hot but I just couldn't let this one go. I fired some more bursts, but it was almost impossible to hit him. I had no trouble at all reaching him and staying around 200 yards behind, but he made such hard bankings and rudderwork so I could just get in some small bursts. If I had a automatic cannon on my spit, I would have made the process quick, but with small peashoothers it was harder. Non the less, I hit him good from 100 yards, black smoke pouring out over the canal. By now we had been flying all over the canal from Hastings and I started noticing the contours of France. I broke of the attack but as I did, I saw him gaining slight altitude, of perhaps 1000ft, then bailing out. I later was credited for the leader too.
I landed at Lympne AF due to fuel shortage to make it back to Biggin Hill.. I was delighted when I turned off the engine. Deligthed and sweaty!
Thanks for letting me write!
Cheerio!