Originally posted by dedalos
Two days ago I was chacing your a20 with an a20. Good fights by the CVs. You had like 7 kills I think. I had 3 kill messages without the number displayed. Did not get to land to see if I was going to get credit since I augered trying to get on your six. I think the grownd came up too fast, lol.
It was strange to see those kill messages. "You have shot down dedalos". No number next to it.
Yes, I remember that well. I was just about out of fuel having spent too much time furballing. I throttled back a bit to conserve fuel. My thought being that when I reversed to engage, even if I ran out fuel, I'd be close enough for a deadstick landing. When I arrived at the base there was a low enemy B-26 and a higher F6F over the field. That seriously complicated my outlook on survival. Once I crested the ridge south of the field, I made a diving reverse and then climbed above the ridgeline to merge. My thought was that I'd get a good shot when your greater E carried you past or your higher speed reverse would leave you vulnerable. However, right after you flashed by you caught a wingtip on the ridge (ouch).
As I reversed, I saw the F6F coming in for the easy shot, which I made tougher by rolling into him. But, my poor A-20 was considerably beat up from engaging B-17s and taking several friendly ack hits (yes boys and girls, friendly ship auto-ack can tear YOU up too) that had knocked off a flap and disabled two MGs. What would normally be a few minor pings took off my wing just as I ran out of gas. In retrospect, I probably should have trapped aboard our second CV which was closer than the base. However, you know what happens when you enter the pattern with critical fuel, some knucklehead ALWAYS turns the fleet! LOLOLOL.....
A similar thing to your auger happened to AKCurly last night. Flying an A-20, I had just dumped a load of ord on a VH, taking several auto-ack hits in exchange. Nothing serious, just pings. As usual, I took the absolute minimal fuel and had to head to out nearby CV to refuel and rearm. So, I'm flying at about 500 feet above the water when a pair of Bish fighters appears above and behind me. One of them, an F4U-1D dives down for a run. Well, there's no point in maneuvering as he will get a decent angle no matter what. So, I wait for him to generate a good head of speed. I'm getting check 6s up the wahzoo, but I hold my course. I want him in real close before I break. I switch to the F3 view to better observe his approach. At 700 yards out on my FE, he starts firing. Took some minor hits, but no damage...just a little longer..more hits... Now! I break hard left into a climbing turn. He tries to follow but has way too much speed. Surely he's blacked out. With that realization I reverse to the right and probably still blind, he flies straight into my tail at a right angle and explodes....
I land aboard the CV without further incident, missing part of my rudder. Another dogfight interrupted by misfortune.
I suffer several collision deaths every tour.. Being too aggressive is usually the cause.
Maybe next time we can enjoy a good A-20 duel without mitigating circumstances, like the ground, no gas and cherry pickin' Hellcats!
A-20s are great fun to dogfight in. Many players don't realize the threat. Still others grossly underestimate the plane's agility and speed. Yet, it takes a gentle hand to avoid overspeeding and breaking it. I've lost 3 of them that way so far, and ditched without ailerons in one case or elevators in the other. It's a wonder that I land any kills in that claptrap, but it sure is fun. That and the SBD-5.
My regards,
Widewing
