I wad recently reading Last of the Few by Max Aitkens. One of the pilots described a story of crash landing near his airfield after being heavily damaged in a dogfight, only to be back up in the air on another patrol within 30 minutes of touching the ground. That would have to get to you emotionally.
Tough to find time to fly these days! Even less time to crash!
Jeremy Pluck The fighting 56th! Mission 2 - now, after claiming the kill, the window came back in a weird ratio (way too large) and I could never click on the continue button, so I had to kill the game from the task manager. Therefore this is one of those missions that takes place in an alternate universe and won't show up on the official tally...still fun though!
The older I get, the more I realize I don't need to be Han, Luke or Leia. I'm just happy to be rebel scum...
Luthor Linderman Hauptman Komander IV Staffel Gruppe JG 2 Beaumont le Roger Victories 15 ( WWI ) Current : O
21 Aug 1940.
My pilot got the C H O P today. His staffel was over the same areas Clearing Frane test fire guns, then Enemy Coast ahead, check fuel Make a right turn over the tall towers on towards Box Hall. 2 Enemy fighters called and we chased Horrido ! 1 down by my schwarm as I chased mine low over Lympe AF . A few test shots at him for range and lead then FLACK all over. One broke with a roar then sputter smoke blood in the cockpit. I headed for the coast but hit the ground . Like strawberry jam , My Pilot was spread all over the place KIA. Moral of the story: Dont chase low over enemy Airfields with flack guns. KAPUT.
(Mechanic comes in to the waiting room as you are watching the Maury Povich show) "Well, sir, I think we tracked down your problem sir. Seems your plane is a big flaming wreck in the middle of a field. We're going to do an oil change and then send you on your way, I just came in here to show you the condition of your air filter. Now we can replace that for $19.95. And, of course, on a big flaming total loss like this, we also recommend a transmission flush, which I can get you the manager's special at just $149.95. So if you can just sign here, we'll get started. Oh, and the coffee should be out shortly. Sorry, all we have is decaf..."
The older I get, the more I realize I don't need to be Han, Luke or Leia. I'm just happy to be rebel scum...
I say, bit of luck . Our 6 a/c ran into 2 109's over Hastings and Mixed it up. I banged away at my bloke till the guns hissed air then had to let him go. The flight claimed 1.
Bagged a ME 110 today and shared in a Stuka. B flight was directed by Lumbra control over the Convoys at Margate. Upon arriving we spotted down low a flight of Stukas just finishing up on a Convoy 2 ships were sinking. Flight Leader yelled Tally ho then we went down. My wing-mate and I banged away at a Stuka then Me 110's dropped on us ( I saw 2 ,but the may have been 4 ) I was able to get off Two 4 second bursts and he fell apart.
B Flight went up with 5 and came back with 4 Hurri's. We were orbiting Chain Home near Margate and caught 3 a/c Snoopers or weather ships. Leader called line abreast ,but Yellow 4 ( P/O Rowland ) shot ahead closed the e/a and midair crash ! Just too Keen to come to grips with the enemy.? I saw both go down.
I did a little exploring and found where the Boffins hang out. I thought that they could explain this Chain Home ( the tall towers along the coast that we circle above) thing. However, No luck. The Prof. was very cheerful, but I still dont have a clue.
Jeremy Pluck The Fightin' 56! Here's another brief encounter. We were vectored in south-east of Mersea just after my first cup of tea. Expecting bombers, we ran into a flight of 109's about 200 feet above us. We met them in a climbing turn and then we formed a chain of everyone-shoot-the-guy-in-front-of-them-whilst-avoiding-the-bloke-behind-them. I got some nervous shots on the fellow attacking Leader, but never got to follow through with the kill. After several round-abouts, Jerry headed for home and despite slamming the throttle to the stop, I couldn't make any headway and watched them go. As I was circling back, I did see one enemy A/C going down with a dead prop and was able to provide confirmation for one of my squad mates...
Ended up a dangerous day with two of us lost against at least two of them...
The older I get, the more I realize I don't need to be Han, Luke or Leia. I'm just happy to be rebel scum...
Im really enjoying reading/watching these reports thanks. I hope that canteen at Northolt is serving your men good food Carrick
They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old: Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn. At the going down of the sun and in the morning We will remember them.
Dylan Watson P/O 257 Sqn B Flight Northolt AF. 1 and 1/2 Kills.
28 Jul 1940
Its a Sqn Scramble: Off we went and checked in with Top Hat, Vector mid Channel of f Southamton. Re- reinforce Convoy Cover ( 303 ? ) Buster Angels 10000. Coming to Grips , we spotted Stukas attacking the second line of ships. B flight stayed high, I joined A flight attacking 2 Stukas down low. Never got in position to fire saw 2 e/a go down. Started to rejoin and heard RT calls of Tallyho. Spotted and chased a 109 all over the channel . Finally, he turned for home so cut across his flight path and used the rest of my ammo. The e/a's motor cut out and in he went Splash, one Me 109. I was by then alone so put about and RTB. We claimed 5 destroyed for 3 losses.
Jeremy Pluck The Fightin' 56th Squadron! Another scramble to Margate. Seems the RDF has a hair up its bum over the North Sea entrance to the Channel...Anyway, it was at least later in the morning so we got a proper breakfast...As we were circling our ships, we spotted a flight of bombers west of us, closer to shore! Heading in, I attacked one, but Kennicot with his steadier hand finished the bugger off! I thought I was going to go home empty handed (again) when I spotted explosions near our ships back to the east. I headed out that way and ran into a whole flight of Heinkels! Settling in on the leader, I was able to take him down but only after he put seven holes in my left wing and shot away the controls for my gear and flaps. That necessitated a rough belly landing at the field and a new plane and pair of trousers for me!
The older I get, the more I realize I don't need to be Han, Luke or Leia. I'm just happy to be rebel scum...