Frame 3 of the Bougainville FSO:
VMF-251 was assigned with two other squadrons to escort a flight of B-24s in a deep penetration raid on northern Bouganiville. We were in F4U-1s, rather than our usual 1As that frame, with 12 pilots.
En route to target we received sporadic reports of bogies in the area by one of the lead sweeping elements of our formation. We sighted about half a dozen dots low and off to the left, which we turned to investigate. Very quickly we identified them as Zeros, heading away from us and showing no sign of having seen us. I immediately ordered the attack, and VMF-251 rolled in.
The enemy never had a chance to react as we tore into them. A Zero fell to my guns, and another was flamed by Flyboy before they could respond.
Within less than three minutes the fight was over and we began climbing back to altitude.
Later we engaged in a brawl on the deck with two or three more squadrons of Zeros, preventing them from locating our bombers which completed their run without losing a single aircraft to enemy fighters. We claimed 20 enemy aircraft overall, with four of us bringing home multiple victories. I tied the squadron record for sorties in a mission with eight scalps.
As for a solo sortie, I'd have to say going by recent events would be the fight I posted last week. A Spit XIV and 109K-4 were trying to chase down my F4U-4 while I was RTB low on gas. I finally turned to engage when I realized they were going to follow me ALL the way back to base after dragging them down into the canyons (it was the map I think with the TT enclosed within the mountains) I took them both down in a short looping fight.
