
I had a rather interesting sortie yesterday which just goes to prove, even if you get the breaks sometimes things just don't work out!
While in a 1C, hunting bombers which had been hitting one of our bases, I came across a flight of B-17's, set up my approach proceeded to dive in for the "kill"! But, alas, a Spit 8, which I hadn't noticed moved into my 4 O'clock position, so I cut off my attack on the 17's, which I had hit one, but he killed one of my guns. With the Spit having a height advantage, decided just to dive out, get some distance between us and sure enough, he was about 4.5 back and broke off and went his own way. I am now in "Indian" country about 2 sectors, so decided I needed to get back closer to home.
I came up on a flight of KI-67's, about 2K below me and to my right. Dove in for the attack and in the ensueing exchange of gun fire, killed two of them and ran out of cannon. Still had 62 rounds in the damaged gun, but what the heck, think I will just go home.
I am now down to about 5K when I noticed behind me a F4U1A about 4.5 back! OK, no problem, I am about 30 miles or so from friendly base, started a swallow dive to gain speed, engaged wep and looked back, now this guy is 3.5 back with a minus on the distance, so I know he is gaining on me. The 1A will out run the 1C, but with a little luck, I can get to friendly base and the base ack will drive him off. Nope! he is now 2.0 back gaining on me, even tho I am doing right a 500MPH IAS!
Finally, he is 1K back, so I turn hard left, pulling g's to where I only have a small view and thought, see if this guy can turn that thing! Round and Round we go and I am actually gaining on him, to where I can just barely can see him and thought, "Now what ET, you got no ammo"! Glancing at the DG, I waited until the rough heading to home, rolled left 270 degrees and headed for home! Gained a little on him, he is now 1.5 back, but closing a little bit, but I am about 2 minutes from base. We are now down in the bushes, running like "ber rabbit" and he aren't going to give up.
About that time, he must have hit a tree or something, because I got the kill on him, now have 3 kills and about 30 seconds from landing. Relaxed a little, started to turn final and "boom", a PT boat sitting right off shore killed me. I had not noticed a enemy CV about 5 miles off shore.
Oh, well, another day in the life of a Aces High throttle pusher! LOL
