Well, its 23:50, I was captured by the German's south of Calais.
3 ring circus indeed! How can I say more?
After crossing the Dover coast, the Clowns joined up with the Damned squadron. We were a good sized force of Spitfire V. Perhaps 20 in all. We climbed high and conserved fuel, but it didn't matter, I don't think anyone flew home.
About 25 minutes after launch we were in our Patrol area. Drano of Damned had requested the clowns patrol the east end of our patrol area. Not 5 minutes after seperating them Gaidin called out Bogey's at 9 o'clock, co-altitude, perhaps a little high. The Clowns as a flight of seven turned onto the 3 unidentified planes.
Soon enough, they were confirmed bandits... 190A's Straglers as best as we could tell perhaps seperated from their flights., they dispersed and seemed to run in the face of greater numbers. Dagger and I chased one for a bit while the rest of the clowns stayed in the patrol area. Our bandit was making distance on us and alone... no threat. We let him go so we could return to our flight.
During the return we could hear the battle breaking out. We don't know what happened to the Damned in the west, but we were ankle deep in 190's, those straglers must have been on the radio. By the time dagger and I rejoined the flight, they were a descending mass planes. Another lone 190, or perhaps the same one approached again... Dagger and I being the only ones at altitude chased him away again, he gave no fight, turned and ran. But now we needed to save our squadmates.
Dagger and I engaged a 190 near our altitude, it took a lot of my ammo, but I saw a wing seperate from his Left side and he tumbled away. I called Dag and told him I was low on cannons and asked him to take the lead. We proceeded into the main fight. perhaps 20 planes whirling below us as we descended from 25k feet. The fight was right on the deck. Nick called of a check six to me and I looked back to see a 190 creeping up, I pulled hard up and left, he over shot me, and headed on toward Dagger. Dagger was able to evade with help from Nick.
I turned back to find a 190 moving toward Dagger, I had position on him but I only had 3 rounds of 20mm left. I opened on him at close range with the .303's I got smoke, I popped his oil, but I was overshooting fast. I set up a big left barrel roll, pulled the engine idle and waited, looking up and right, I saw the Hun trying to work toward me, I pulled hard into his turn, but still my speed was working against me, we crossed and reversed in a scissor, I sighted him above me and pulled into him... But he was there first and pulled an expert deflection. It didn't take much from those big 20mm cannons, my left wing separated.
Suffering from Acute Asymetrical Lift Syndrome I exited my plane... I came down hard in the forest near the Ardennes river. The following morning I was collected by a German Patrol. They've not treated me badly, but I'm sure that for me at least, the war is over.
I'm not sure about the rest of my squad, many went down before me, I haven't seen them here at this prisoner camp... Some I know burned in their planes. I do not know the fate of the Damed squadron either. Each morning I hope to see a new face at the mess, but so far, nothing.
Long Live the King.
Kurt
Commanding Officer
Clowns of Death
RAF.
