hope you guys enjoy.
today was supposed to be nothing more than a quick patrol. my planned altitude was only 10,000 ft, and i was supposed to rendevous with a flight of p-39's. it was a long flight, so i had the crew load up both drop tanks for me, hoping that the p-39's did the same. i headed towards the river at my assigned altitude, looking for my flight.
that;s when it all started to come unraveled. over to the west, a glint just under the sun. not good. i was pretty sure none of our guys had crossed the river as yet. without thinking, i hit the release lever with one hand, as i reached to the fuel selector valve, and switched to internal fuel. made sure the gun switches were on, set the pipper for 200 yards, and rolled into the contact.
i wasn't sure what i'd be facing, so i entered a shallow dive to gain some speed for the merge. i was worried as i saw a 109 flash past just below me to my left. i was doing around 350 indicated, and surmised he was faster.(this could've been an illusion, as the 109 is a very small aircraft compared to my p-38g) i eased back on the yoke, wanting to get above my prey, but not wanting to bleed off too much speed in the process.
i rolled out at the top, only to find the 109 a little above me, and rolling over, as if he expected me to be still going the other way. i lifted my nose, hoping to gain a shot on him as he came down right in front of me.
he rolled as he came down, taking away my shot, so i quickly pulled the throttles to idle, stood on the rudder, and rolled after him, it never ceased to amaze me how these aircraft could maneuver.
we continued our dance, trading advantages several times, me sweating, and almost concentrating on not "death gripping" the yoke. he made an unexpected move, and we passed very close...so close, i thought i was about to die in the iminent collision. we missed, and i still don't know how or why, but i noted the tail of this aircraft. it was covered with painted on "bombs". the germans marked their kills on the tails of their aircraft, much like we mark kills on the nose or under the canopy.
seeing this strengthened my resolve. he took down at least 40 bombers. there was no way he was leaving this fight alive. i hunkered down in the seat, and continued to work for a good shooting position. dove, i followed. he climbed into a high yoyo, i followed him through it.he rolled, i stayed on him, thanking god for the best equipment in the world.
finally, he made a mistake!! i take a shot, and see hits land on his left wing, then he rolls slightly, and flashes past underneath me. i nearly stalled the plane trying to roll and pull under to stay on him. i thought i let him go at that point.
as i rolled under, and got sight of him, he was going back up. i couldn't let him get above me no matter what. i had to keep what little advantage i had. as he came over the top, i took a shot, and missed.
at one point, he appeared to be diving away from the fight, which he could easily have done as my p-38 could not dive with him. i was wrong, as he pulled sharply up, i tried to match his pull, and momentarily blacked out. we were going back up hard, and i was now gaining on him, as he rolled right at me.
finally, i got the break i needed, and found him directly in my sights. i pressed on both firing buttons, unleashing the full fury of the p-38's guns on him.
i felt relief as i saw something blow on his plane....probably a fuel tank. i leveled out, and tried to get my bearings, and find the p-39's i was supposed to meet up with. couldn't find them, so i returned to base, barley able to land, i was so exhausted. my trusty p-38 saved my skin again.
