have to agree it was fun, ROC. KN first spotted the Yak-7's coming in from the N. They were diving straight for A25 and we were above them. We dove in, scattered and engaged them. There must've been a second group come in cause there soon were more right over the field. Cleared each other's 6 several times which I'm thankful for. Good teamwork. Saw JG11 dive on the field and knew we could take care of business. I was covering Stampf's close 7 as he was on a Yak when the Yak pulled around some trees 180 and right into me. Neither of us got the kill and both went down as I heard the call from Stampf. Jumped into a gunner on a HE-111. Yak appeared out of nowhere just as i got into the upper turrent. Shot him as he over shot and he blew up. HE-111 pilots did a good job of landing and rearming. 2 Yaks that dove on the field were lucky gunners can't shoot while on the ground. They soon bought it anyway. Almost made it back but around A72 somehow 2 P40's found us on the deck heading for A71. Don't understand why A72 was not landable field. Much different FSO. Like it when there's an objective more than just shoot the other guys.
Well done JG11,KN,escort, HE111's. 
As we discussed at the moment we split patrol, I knew they would commit some part of their attack to the immediate destruction of the ground defences at Pitomnik. That was a given...but still, I couldn't help but feel later...due to the timing of the strikes, this was a waste of brave young men...and valuable fighting machines...but...never the less...
...I knew it was just a matter of minutes after we split N/S, that one of us would make first contact. In the event, when KoW replied "10 plus", we immediately reversed, nosed down and made best speed back to the field. As is our way...when entering the mosh...I released the schwarmen from staffel formation, and the game was on. When
I arrived on the scene...I spotted 4 dots crossing the field...and no guns firing...I almost banked over and away...but just then, KoW reported "guns down" on the field so I pressed on...barely able to copy local vox over the increasingly loud groans of complaint from my stressed crate, as I inverted over the train of four and committed.
The first dot vanished at the same time I picked up KoW's icon...the next in line was the yak followed by yourself. I let the other a/c in my own schwarm know I was...in...and closed down on the yak. Seconds before guns range...he pulled that reverse right into you...It was the damndest thing I ever saw T2, and before I could even finish my warning transmit to you...you both were gone. Funny as this may seem...it angered me enough that I transmitted on squad vox about it...and encouraged the boys to clean that place up now! Which they proceeded to do without loss. Yaks appeared to be everywhere...but well dispersed, and isolated in single ship and rotte size groups at best. This I can attribute to the initial contact and kombat that you guys engaged in. Friendly gunfire turned out to be the far and away most dangerous element to us...as we cleaned up Pitomnik prior to the arrival of the transports.
...all this...and the real game hadn't even begun yet.
<S>
