01.04.2009, 04:40
11:00 hrs, 4th September 1941, Vayenga Airfield
I saluted Wing Commander Rhodes Crawford as I passed him on the way to the squadron office. "Ah Hendon, just the man." He said, "Got some gen you might be interested in."
I waited for the information. He filled his pipe for no other reason than dramatic effect. I suspect he does that on purpose.
"Heard of a chap called Kenneth Davids?"
"Why yes Sir. He was my wingman. His Hurricane blew up."
"Indeed. Well the cheeky beggar managed to get the Red Cross to send a message to us. He's alive in hospital, due to be sent to a POW camp. Sends his greetings and all that. Thought you might like to know."
"That's brilliant news Sir." I responded. It really was something to smile about. I thought he'd been killed.
"Yes. I thought so too. We've also been tipped off about the Germans from the Russian interrogators. It seems a certain Erich Wisseman is proving to be a competent ace. Eight kills and looking to tackle you. Do watch out will you? There's a good chap."
We took off later that morning for a patrol. Ivanov's flight went ahead to cover Kilpyavr. The weather was clear. Glorious sunshine soon made the cockpit quite warm and not long after we received notice of German recconaisance to the south. My flight set off in pursuit, climbing hard to reach angels fifteen.
We saw the Ju-88 and spread out to attack. I arrived there first and made two passes, clearly causing damage. jarvis, our number four, nipped in and got a good burst in. The bomber began to burn as it began to descend to our left. I'll let him have that one, his first.
We resumed patrolling near Vayenga until the radio traffic became quite animated with Russian voices. It had to be Ivanov. Soon after that we received a call from Vayenga directing us towards two bandits believed heading for our field. Having been vectored in we spotted them two thousand feet below us. I called for the attack. We came down on them and one trailed smoke, turning west for his lines. A German managed to get on my tail and gave a few hairy moments, but I shook him off, and once MacDonald, my wingman, managed to see him off I gave chase to my former target.
![[Image: 41d79081949bf78653ca7fc1909a259a6g.jpg]](http://www1.mediafire.com/imgbnc.php/41d79081949bf78653ca7fc1909a259a6g.jpg)
I could hear Wyatt being congratulated. The other 109 was shot down. My target was proving elusive. I don't know if he knew we were trailing him at six o'clock low, but he was certainly putting on some speed. Slowly, ever so slowly, we gained on. Finally I was able to get three good bursts in. Only after the third did he begin evasive manoevers, ending up flying on the deck and apparently losing atitude. Just past the lines in German territory his battered 109 gave up and he force landed. Kill confirmed.
Ivanov had shot down two others. It seems his former skills are re-emerging. The Russian pilots were holding a celebration for his efforts and I made a brief appearance out of goodwill, dragging Wyatt along and rewarding him for earning a mention in despatches. As yet, relations with Ivanov were still frosty.
I saluted Wing Commander Rhodes Crawford as I passed him on the way to the squadron office. "Ah Hendon, just the man." He said, "Got some gen you might be interested in."
I waited for the information. He filled his pipe for no other reason than dramatic effect. I suspect he does that on purpose.
"Heard of a chap called Kenneth Davids?"
"Why yes Sir. He was my wingman. His Hurricane blew up."
"Indeed. Well the cheeky beggar managed to get the Red Cross to send a message to us. He's alive in hospital, due to be sent to a POW camp. Sends his greetings and all that. Thought you might like to know."
"That's brilliant news Sir." I responded. It really was something to smile about. I thought he'd been killed.
"Yes. I thought so too. We've also been tipped off about the Germans from the Russian interrogators. It seems a certain Erich Wisseman is proving to be a competent ace. Eight kills and looking to tackle you. Do watch out will you? There's a good chap."
We took off later that morning for a patrol. Ivanov's flight went ahead to cover Kilpyavr. The weather was clear. Glorious sunshine soon made the cockpit quite warm and not long after we received notice of German recconaisance to the south. My flight set off in pursuit, climbing hard to reach angels fifteen.
We saw the Ju-88 and spread out to attack. I arrived there first and made two passes, clearly causing damage. jarvis, our number four, nipped in and got a good burst in. The bomber began to burn as it began to descend to our left. I'll let him have that one, his first.
We resumed patrolling near Vayenga until the radio traffic became quite animated with Russian voices. It had to be Ivanov. Soon after that we received a call from Vayenga directing us towards two bandits believed heading for our field. Having been vectored in we spotted them two thousand feet below us. I called for the attack. We came down on them and one trailed smoke, turning west for his lines. A German managed to get on my tail and gave a few hairy moments, but I shook him off, and once MacDonald, my wingman, managed to see him off I gave chase to my former target.
I could hear Wyatt being congratulated. The other 109 was shot down. My target was proving elusive. I don't know if he knew we were trailing him at six o'clock low, but he was certainly putting on some speed. Slowly, ever so slowly, we gained on. Finally I was able to get three good bursts in. Only after the third did he begin evasive manoevers, ending up flying on the deck and apparently losing atitude. Just past the lines in German territory his battered 109 gave up and he force landed. Kill confirmed.
Ivanov had shot down two others. It seems his former skills are re-emerging. The Russian pilots were holding a celebration for his efforts and I made a brief appearance out of goodwill, dragging Wyatt along and rewarding him for earning a mention in despatches. As yet, relations with Ivanov were still frosty.