Only on squad nights do I have a genuine wingman. Other nights, I'm as likely not to fly with the squad as with it. Since I do about 70% of my flying from carriers, and few of my squadies are interested in CV ops, I tend to find myself alone or with other unattached pilots. However, in most cases we will organize on the spot and work as a team. Some guys won’t cooperate, but the majority do, and in most cases it pays off.
One problem I have with wingmen I don’t know is their inability or unwillingness to stick close to me. Watching a wingy wander off into a horde of red dots is a never-ending source of amusement.
“Hey, where are you going, stay close to me!”
“I’m just chasing this niki.”
“Don’t go down there, there’s more than a dozen of ‘em.”
“I’m almost in range…… Crap, I’m down. Never saw ‘em.”
Time to go back to the TA to work on SA and using the dar to avoid gangbangs.
One of my squadies, who happens to be one of the nicest people I know, always seems to find himself in the middle of a watermelon sandwich. His most common words uttered on voice com are, “I’m in my chute.” But he doesn’t care, he’s having fun and that is the bottom line. Besides, there’s not an ounce of fear in him. Regardless of the odds, he dives straight in, with typical results. Picture Buster Keaton flying fighters, and you will undestand.
My regards,
Widewing
