Landing multiples in a Kate.
Pacific setup in AvA, some newb to bombing asked me to show him how to dive bomb and so we went out a few times in Kates and Vals. We acquired a target, a field, and discussed the mechanics, flaps, speed, the sight, when to release, etc. Anyways, we approached and there was some fighting over the field, I explained Kate's unescorted were just dead anyways, and in we went. In dropping, I noticed I got a kill so there must have been a GV in there somewhere. I'm pulling up and Mr. Newly flight trained is scooting around saying "cool, look at the smoke and flames this is soooo cool . . ." and trying to figure out if he's dropped his bombs or not? Cries of "Dead, you Kates are dead" come overthe radio. The newly minted Kate driver wants to know what next and he's hovering too close to danger.
Technically, just the newb is dead, I pulled out, but I thought about it, and went back in, buzzing the upping F4Fs, I got a couple to crash, then I slowed down, flew along the line of the field, about 3-5 feet off the deck, and jumped into the gunner's pos as I hit the end and yes, yes, yes:
They were upping just as I started OT cross the go line. To think I flushed all these films.
So I sprayed them thinking I'd scare them (those F4Fs being too much for a Japanese 7.7mm anyway a shard experience had taught me), I figured "well, this will throw them off and buy the greenie some time to run" but no, I killed them. All of them. And then the new guy was REALLY hooked. And I was laughing and they were crying foul "you can't vultch in AvA it's disgusting . . ."
I pointed out that this was true, but we were, after all, in Kate's and one of us was new and . . . They would not re-up with those nasty bomber boys still in the area.
My new bud wanted to go again RIGHT NOW!!!! And I told him "Take a Val, you can dogfight in those!
Well, who really cares about my rationalization? I landed multiples in a Kate, sure I had my reasons for my egregious behavior, but it was simply hilarious and fun and what beats that? I'll never shake the image of the tail and rear gunsight of the Kate, the palm trees lining the field, the F4Fs coming out in a hive of angry activity looking to punch someone in the nose for daring to bring a Kate out . . . and the enmity, the pure, raw, indignant fury of someone not only vultched, but killed by a lowly Katherine.
Man.
