Victor Barbercane Flight Officer 79 Sqn Hawknge, AF
Jul 1940.
On another shipping sweep til Top Hat Control called snoopers at Angels 10 approaching the Thames. B flight made contact knocking down 1 and damaged 2 ( engines were smoking as they dove for France.) I missed mine then circled ,but too late for another go. RTB
Carrick, not sure what settings you have but don't forget to check the workshop page 2, new settings for flights etc, if you want more a/c around or whatever.
Victor Barbercane Flight Officer 79 Sqn Hawinge, AF
Jul 1940.
Bit browned off at the Brass Hats, 79 Sgn is on the move to 12 Group. All my hangouts are around London in 11 Group . I called Kitty over at the Head shed and she pulled strings and got me a posting to 17 Sqn at Debben. I caught a ride on a Army Co-op a/c then flew afternoon patrol over Folkstone.
William Smith of 145 Squadron was only 21 years of age when he expired upon returning from a mission. Witnesses say he appeared to stall out when attempting to clear a row of trees while landing. He was dead upon impact. He had flown 11 missions and had one confirmed kill to his credit. Tally Ho young man.
Victor Barbercane Flight Officer Yellow Section 17 Sqn B Flt Debden AF.
Jul 1940
As flight Leader, I led Yellow Section out over Convoy " Crown " To chase away Snoopers. We spotted and attacked some Do 17 or Do 215 Types Taking out One and damaging one. My wingman Got the Kill.
I will be honest, I changed the options to medium air activity,before this latest patch, and it scared me to death. I was lucky to get out and belly land at a field well away from my home base just to save my life. I don't even want to look at page 2 in the workshop for quite some time now. I am thinking the only way to live with that kind of EA activity is to climb and perform BNZ only, else end up in the fray and be chewed up by the 109s who are quite ruthless. I am not sure I have felt fear like that in any other Sim I have flown. That was a week ago and I am still contemplating whether to fly the next mission tonight or tomorrow. I can't imagine what the real pilots went through trying to stop the blitz, much less just stay alive.
Victor Barbercane Flight Officer Yellow Section 17 Sqn B Flt Debden AF.
Jul 1940.
Orders came down from HQ that response time to Scrambles should be In the cockpit on Readiness ( be wheels up in 2 mins ) . if a Flap was on then 10 min and 30 min Stand by. Setting the example, I took a marvelous British invention the folding chair and placed it by my Kite. Someone said " U forgot the Table, Old Boy. The Sqn C.O. did the same then everyone else . The Old Man called Money Penny up at Sector Ops to pass the word that 17th Sqn RAF was up to standard.
Victor Barbercane Flight Officer Yellow Section 17 Sqn B Flt Debden AF.
Jul 1940
Standing Patrol over the Shipping Lanes. No Joy
B Flight was on 10 min Standby when the word came down that there was trade heading for Convoy Colony. We acted as High cover as a Section of Spitfires engaged a Flight of e/a They knocked down 2 e/a.
Victor Barbercane Flight Officer Yellow Section 17 Sqn B Flt Debden AF.
Jul 1940.
The chaps did well. B flight was sent up as a re-reinforcement for Convoy Sword and had a punchout with a flight of Bombers. As acting Flight Leader, I called line astern and Green section to watch for fighters as we dove into them. I got a few hits on one then dove thru them while collecting bullet hits. Spotted one e/a breaking up and going down another trailing smoke then they scattered and became lost in the clouds. I was loosing fuel so flipped over and headed for Ipswich the closest field. Landed with 30 % in the tanks as she rolled to a stop. Claims: 1 Destroyed 1 damaged. Losses: 0, 1 damaged.
Victor Barbercane Flight Officer Yellow Section 17 Sqn B Flt Debden AF.
29 Jul 1940
Not much to do. B flight flew 2 standing Patrols today with no joy. The C.O and A flight had training and adjusting their a/c guns to 250 yards. I am leaving mind at 300 yards convergence. The bombers that I saw were so large that its going to take a lot of 303's to knock em down. We did have an accident here at Debden some bloke hit the fire button as he landed tearing up the grass. The station officer said " not to Moe the lawn that way again." The Sqn C.O. put out the word to check in over the RT setting guns to safe on Turning to Base on Finale
