Posted originally on the 475th forum, but since AARs seem to be the rage, this is my version of one. A bit more history minded, but based on a flight between 17 and 18 yesterday.
Gotta have a little fun with this stuff
August 19, 1944
All in all, Corky’s transition to the 475th had been going better then he’d expected. They hadn’t kicked him out right way after seeing the wreck of a P38G he’d flown into Biak. That clearly was a good sign.
True it was still his bird, and he and his Crew Chief S/Sgt. T.S. “Broken” Parttes had been hard at it, trying to get the bird back in serviceable shape. Sgt. Parttes had introduced Corky to his Assistant Crew Chief and weapon’s expert T/Sgt. B.B. “Frozen” Gunns, and the three of them had spent all Corky’s free time working on the battered P38. All that was really left was to slow time the new left engine, touch up the OD paint and paint an appropriate name on the nose. Corky hadn’t come up with one yet, but word had just come down that he was being sent to Sydney for a week on a gunnery course. He figured, he’d have time and possibly some inspiration in the form of some Aussie gal to help him. He’d be taking his old kite for the flight down too, so if lucky Corky might even find someone to paint a pin-up girl on the nose.
None of this of course mattered at the moment. Corky again found himself in a single engine P38. This time he was on the way back from a mission where the 475th had been sweeping Japanese airfields in the area. True to form, Corky had gotten himself shot up. This time it was his right engine that sat dead, with oil streaking back. A smoke trail also shot back from the engine and at least two fuel leaks could be seen streaming out the back of the big fighter. Not stopping there, Corky had also lost the complete vertical stabilizer and rudder on the right tail boom and the rudder was gone from the left side as well. Considering this was a typical flight for Corky, he wasn’t too worried. His only regret was that it was someone else’s bird. Messing up his own 38 was no big deal, but he always felt guilty when he smashed up someone else’s. Thankfully this one was also an older H model, but it didn’t make any easier the thought of having to explain it to the regular pilot. Corky made himself a mental note to stock up on booze for his return to the squadron. Alcohol always seemed to smooth things over in these situations.
Corky also had his first two kills to land, so he hoped that might help too.
Spotting Biak off in the distance, Corky began his let down, swinging wide over the ocean to ease himself into a straight in approach. Again, as with his first 475th landing, things seemed to be going smoothly. The lack of rudder made it a bit difficult to keep the bird straight, but Corky was able to get it over the end of the runway, more or less heading in the right direction.
It was when the wheels hit that his problems began. The nose swung hard to the left. Corky stood on the brakes and slammed the throttle forward on the good left engine to try and swing the nose to the right. This helped only in swinging the nose too far to the right and soon the big Lightning began to tip onto the left wing. With a loud scrap and a bang, Corky saw the tip of the left wing outside of the engine snap off and go cartwheeling into the grass. At the same time the speed of the P38 had slowed to the point it righted itself and Corky was able to kill the good engine. He was down and safe. Of course he was facing the side of the runway and the P38 was probably good only for the junk heap, but he was down.
Opening the canopy, Corky climbed out on the wing. He could see the crash crews racing to the scene as well as his own Crew Chief, headed his way in a jeep. Thankfully his Crew Chief arrived first.
“Your bird’s fueled up and ready to go sir! I hope you have a good week in Sydney!”
Corky climbed down and walked over to the Jeep.
“Thanks Chief. How bout a lift back to Operations so I can get moving before the CO finds out about this?”....................
Images of the wreck in flight home and after the eventful landing.
