05.04.2009, 04:24
14:00 hrs, 8th September 1941, Vayenga Airfield
The mechanics have got another airframe fit for service. Those chaps have done a brilliant job with it. Over the last few weeks we've taken a lot of damage and I was beginning to wonder if we'd run out of aeroplanes. The last thing I wanted was Wing Commander Crawford cottoning on. Actually I think he has, being the nosey devil that he is, but he must also know I've been geeing the mechanics on.
Flight Sergeant Carey replaces Wyatt. I'm a little worried about him. He's nervous and inexperienced. I tell Jarvis, my number four, to watch out for him.
The morning came and went. Not until midday were we given a briefing and it appears we must protect an incoming convoy. The Germans have made their presence felt over the sea it seems.
The weather is good. Visibility is often an issue flying up here but today we can see for miles. The flight leaves Vayenga and turns north for the coast, rapidly climbing above cloud level. Keep up Carey. Jerry will have you for lunch if you don't stay with us.
We soon spot the convoy. It wasn't for some time later that Jarvis spottted aircraft below us. Four Messerschmitts had flown in low on a nuisance raid. Why hadn't they sent bombers? I choose the pair of 109's flying east. Even though I'm descending rapidly it still takes too long to lose our altitude. Still, there is the German wingman. I pull in behind and let loose. He flicks left and gets away. Carrying on I tackle his leader. This German sees me coming. He makes a climbing turn but with excess speed I cut across and pull up behind. I get off a burst before Mac warns me of the fighter behind.
I hear Jarvis calling for Carey to bale out. I feel like screaming but I've more important things to care of. The dogfight turns into a real unco-ordinated mess. One moment you have a Messerschmitt in your sights and the next you're dodging the one behind. For a while it's absolute chaos, then, as the fight spreads out, I find myself alone on the edge.
Mac is calling for help. He has a Yellow Nose on his tail. I can see the tracer from here, narrowly missing him. Break you idiot, break! There's a couple more 109's not far away but I can't sit here and not do anything. Diving back into the fray I pull in hard to get behind a 109. The 'G' is building quickly and I'm breathing hard. Aim... Fire... Got him! He's leaving a thin trail behind him. Once again I'm bounced by another and have to evade.
I've lost everyone. Where are they? I search the sky and see three isolated trails of smoke heading southwest for German territory. They're running! Keeping a wary eye for a fourth I command the flight to converge. Two of the 109's are very low and look like they might only just make the coast. The other isn't far ahead and doesn't have the speed to get away. He's the one I'm after. As I close in he begins barrel-rolling, losing height, trying to stay out of my sights. I fire but after that hectic furball earlier I soon run out of ammo.
Blue Flight, where are you? They confirm they're closing in but I carry on harassing the German, hoping he doesn't realise I can't fire at him. It doesn't matter. His stricken plane loses too much height and he belly lands in the snow. I've lost the other two Messerschmitts. Can't see a fourth. That worries me.
![[Image: cdafbeda5d5d3fa95b734e9636e7878e6g.jpg]](http://www3.mediafire.com/imgbnc.php/cdafbeda5d5d3fa95b734e9636e7878e6g.jpg)
Once the flight is back in formation we head home. Jarvis tells me that Carey collided with a 109 that tried to bounce him. He got out apparently. Well, I suppose a dose of cold salt water will shake his ideas up a little. Hopefully he wasn't hurt.
No-one knows what happened to the two other 109's, but I got the credit for downing the one I chased over the coast. Whilst we were keeping the convoy safe the Germans raided Kilpyavr again. Some damage, not too bad, though Kilpyavr is barely functional as an airfield.
The mechanics have got another airframe fit for service. Those chaps have done a brilliant job with it. Over the last few weeks we've taken a lot of damage and I was beginning to wonder if we'd run out of aeroplanes. The last thing I wanted was Wing Commander Crawford cottoning on. Actually I think he has, being the nosey devil that he is, but he must also know I've been geeing the mechanics on.
Flight Sergeant Carey replaces Wyatt. I'm a little worried about him. He's nervous and inexperienced. I tell Jarvis, my number four, to watch out for him.
The morning came and went. Not until midday were we given a briefing and it appears we must protect an incoming convoy. The Germans have made their presence felt over the sea it seems.
The weather is good. Visibility is often an issue flying up here but today we can see for miles. The flight leaves Vayenga and turns north for the coast, rapidly climbing above cloud level. Keep up Carey. Jerry will have you for lunch if you don't stay with us.
We soon spot the convoy. It wasn't for some time later that Jarvis spottted aircraft below us. Four Messerschmitts had flown in low on a nuisance raid. Why hadn't they sent bombers? I choose the pair of 109's flying east. Even though I'm descending rapidly it still takes too long to lose our altitude. Still, there is the German wingman. I pull in behind and let loose. He flicks left and gets away. Carrying on I tackle his leader. This German sees me coming. He makes a climbing turn but with excess speed I cut across and pull up behind. I get off a burst before Mac warns me of the fighter behind.
I hear Jarvis calling for Carey to bale out. I feel like screaming but I've more important things to care of. The dogfight turns into a real unco-ordinated mess. One moment you have a Messerschmitt in your sights and the next you're dodging the one behind. For a while it's absolute chaos, then, as the fight spreads out, I find myself alone on the edge.
Mac is calling for help. He has a Yellow Nose on his tail. I can see the tracer from here, narrowly missing him. Break you idiot, break! There's a couple more 109's not far away but I can't sit here and not do anything. Diving back into the fray I pull in hard to get behind a 109. The 'G' is building quickly and I'm breathing hard. Aim... Fire... Got him! He's leaving a thin trail behind him. Once again I'm bounced by another and have to evade.
I've lost everyone. Where are they? I search the sky and see three isolated trails of smoke heading southwest for German territory. They're running! Keeping a wary eye for a fourth I command the flight to converge. Two of the 109's are very low and look like they might only just make the coast. The other isn't far ahead and doesn't have the speed to get away. He's the one I'm after. As I close in he begins barrel-rolling, losing height, trying to stay out of my sights. I fire but after that hectic furball earlier I soon run out of ammo.
Blue Flight, where are you? They confirm they're closing in but I carry on harassing the German, hoping he doesn't realise I can't fire at him. It doesn't matter. His stricken plane loses too much height and he belly lands in the snow. I've lost the other two Messerschmitts. Can't see a fourth. That worries me.
Once the flight is back in formation we head home. Jarvis tells me that Carey collided with a 109 that tried to bounce him. He got out apparently. Well, I suppose a dose of cold salt water will shake his ideas up a little. Hopefully he wasn't hurt.
No-one knows what happened to the two other 109's, but I got the credit for downing the one I chased over the coast. Whilst we were keeping the convoy safe the Germans raided Kilpyavr again. Some damage, not too bad, though Kilpyavr is barely functional as an airfield.