26.03.2009, 04:52
16:00 hrs, 27th August 1941, Vayenga Airfield
The irate Russian officer at Kilpyavr had made his point. Our detail was to protect his airfield today. I'd had to stay overnight at Kilpyavr but got a lift back on one of Kuklev's transport planes, and I wasn't back at Vayenga until gone lunchtime.
We took off in the hazy sunshine, climbing through the cumulus and cruising toward our patrol area. I decided to start on the north side. Kilpyavr was beyond visual range, lost in the low level haze, but we knew where it was from the familiar lakes nearby. My greatest worry was Herr During. It was peculiar we hadn't encountered him lately. The Messerschmitts of his staffel were reported tangling with Russian aircraft on a regular basis. Was he avoiding us? Given how he'd shot some of us out of the sky, including myself, I wondered what on earth would bother him.
Stephens made a laconic call over the radio. "Blue Leader, can we go find some Luftwaffe now?"
"That's enough. Keep your eyes peeled or he'll find you." I replied sharply, noticing the black dots just visible over the cowling. "All right everyone, Fritz has come out to play. Pick your targets. Number Two, stay with me."
Davids answered affirmitive in his enthusiastic way. as we closed in. The formation of Ju88's came at us at a higher level. We climbed hard and began our attack. I was a little more wary after my tangle with the Heinkel yesterday. Just as well, the gunners were on their toes and tracer was passing uncomfortably close. One Junkers was trailing behind. I saw two Hurricanes diving down on him. The three ahead were waiting and I found myself drawing their fire. Another Hurricane came at them from behind - I think that was Davids - and the bomber burst into fire spectacularly. It began to wing over and descend rapidly.
![[Image: e1fa392ed65663ba7b47ab148af996de6g.jpg]](http://www4.mediafire.com/imgbnc.php/e1fa392ed65663ba7b47ab148af996de6g.jpg)
I made several bursts at the other two, neither causing much harm. Two Hurricanes closed in and settled it. One Junkers 88 exploded, the other nosing down trailing smoke.
"Good work everybody, rejoin formation." I called. Stephens had shot two down, Benson the other. A good result, especially since Davids had now scored his first. I checked my maps and looked forward over the wing to confirm my position. Then I heard the heart rending sound of breaking aeroplanes even over the noise of engine. I looked back but I couldn't see anything.
"Two and Three, Sir." Called Stephens, sounding shocked by what he'd witnessed. "They collided... One came down on the other."
I banked my wings. and turned gently, looking back. Shattered aeroplane was falling like confetti. One parachute!... Two!... Both got out. Thank heaven for that. I made my mind up to give the guilty party merry hell when they got back to Vayenga.
The irate Russian officer at Kilpyavr had made his point. Our detail was to protect his airfield today. I'd had to stay overnight at Kilpyavr but got a lift back on one of Kuklev's transport planes, and I wasn't back at Vayenga until gone lunchtime.
We took off in the hazy sunshine, climbing through the cumulus and cruising toward our patrol area. I decided to start on the north side. Kilpyavr was beyond visual range, lost in the low level haze, but we knew where it was from the familiar lakes nearby. My greatest worry was Herr During. It was peculiar we hadn't encountered him lately. The Messerschmitts of his staffel were reported tangling with Russian aircraft on a regular basis. Was he avoiding us? Given how he'd shot some of us out of the sky, including myself, I wondered what on earth would bother him.
Stephens made a laconic call over the radio. "Blue Leader, can we go find some Luftwaffe now?"
"That's enough. Keep your eyes peeled or he'll find you." I replied sharply, noticing the black dots just visible over the cowling. "All right everyone, Fritz has come out to play. Pick your targets. Number Two, stay with me."
Davids answered affirmitive in his enthusiastic way. as we closed in. The formation of Ju88's came at us at a higher level. We climbed hard and began our attack. I was a little more wary after my tangle with the Heinkel yesterday. Just as well, the gunners were on their toes and tracer was passing uncomfortably close. One Junkers was trailing behind. I saw two Hurricanes diving down on him. The three ahead were waiting and I found myself drawing their fire. Another Hurricane came at them from behind - I think that was Davids - and the bomber burst into fire spectacularly. It began to wing over and descend rapidly.
I made several bursts at the other two, neither causing much harm. Two Hurricanes closed in and settled it. One Junkers 88 exploded, the other nosing down trailing smoke.
"Good work everybody, rejoin formation." I called. Stephens had shot two down, Benson the other. A good result, especially since Davids had now scored his first. I checked my maps and looked forward over the wing to confirm my position. Then I heard the heart rending sound of breaking aeroplanes even over the noise of engine. I looked back but I couldn't see anything.
"Two and Three, Sir." Called Stephens, sounding shocked by what he'd witnessed. "They collided... One came down on the other."
I banked my wings. and turned gently, looking back. Shattered aeroplane was falling like confetti. One parachute!... Two!... Both got out. Thank heaven for that. I made my mind up to give the guilty party merry hell when they got back to Vayenga.