412th AAR
The 412th were 6 strong (BLUEmako, se, iron2, bearkat, SHOVELHD and Nefari) and launched 190A5's from A19. After the acting CO (me) and another pilot were discod at launch we had to work hard to form up so we headed away from the danger zone to the NE while grabbing altitude and trying to assemble into a flight. As we reached 20k we had mixed reports of spits and low typhoons mixing it up with our friendly planes. One of our pilots jumped the gun and turned into the fray so, not wanting to leave a squadron mate to his fate we all turned in. In the ensuing fight we bagged at least 4 spits (2 for me) and a typhoon (Nefari) without loosing any planes. 1 pilot reported a landing gear malfunction due to battle damage and elected to continue his flight until he ran out of fuel, defending the fatherland to the last drop of petrol in his tanks (iron2, bagged 2 spits total).
Having refuelled, we took off again, now 5 planes. We headed for the enemy coast, as we did so we passed a large gaggle of enemy planes. Correctly guessing that it was a mixed fighter force, we continued on hoping to find bombers. Instead we found a large co-alt force of spits and typhs. After a brave but reckless decision by the acting CO, we dove into the fray. We were mixed up in a large furball when the first gaggle of fighters returned. Obviously the ground controllers had decided that we were too much of a threat to the spits so they turned the outbound fighter force back to us as well. Now hopelessly outnumbered, we soon fell to the sheer weight of numbers, unfortunately without any confirmed kills.
Final tally:
6 aircraft lost
5 destroyed
Several damaged
Many more enemy pilots requiring change of underwear
