ARR From Frenchy
It was an another hot day at Souk El Alba, the newly arrived P47-D25 where standing there, all lined up ready for combat. Ripsnort already armed the planes and briefed MRPluto, Ammo and RA for the mission. the mission... I was expecting a ground attack for our first day, but we got assigned to escort b17's to Sardaigna. Load out, 75% of fuel plus 2 drop tanks... max amo of course. Intelligence officer advised us we could expect Ju88s, Machi 205s and Me109s.
We took off heading 360, to establish a CAP half way between the north African cost and the Sardaigna. I had only one concern in mind : Not loose any aircraft. I saw many times in combat eager pilots getting fixated by their target and forget about basic Situation Awarness... Especially in those early days of combat. We separated in two elements (Ripsnort and his wingman MRPluto) and (my wingman Ammo and me). At 27K 30 NM south of Sardaigna we spoted a massive formation higher than us. I our division to turn 180 to the South to gain more altitude. When came back toward the south at about 32K and encountered the enemi formation again. They were slightly above us. I dispatched Ripsnort/MRPluto to do a quick pass thru them and drag them back to us. Meanwhile, Ammo and me, turned away still grabing altitude. "205s!!!" Announces Ripsnort... "12 of them!". They flew thru them and dragged back toward us. Instead of following, the 205 divided in two groups, we kept our patience and flew away from them. We met RA who joined with us, he took off late from our airfield.
Our division was starting to get low on gas, we decided to go check over A1, do a quick B&Z if spotting any bad guys and come back home to refuel to then join the buffs for the escort.
Over A1, we encountered some lower contact. As we dived toward them, they dove away. I ordered Ripsnort/MRpluto to engage them while Ammo and me stayed high to cover them in case they are in trouble or in case an another enemi flight comes around.
Ripsnort went very low (scared me) but he could achieve a kill and egress the area thank to his wingman cover. From high, I saw Ra manouevering with 2 205's in his 6. I rolled 110 degrees and dove in. I did a quick pass thru the 205s, I was too fast to shoot at them but I scared them enought to oblige them to leave RA's six o'clock. An another 205 thought he could catch up with me while I was zooming by his teamates, but it was a mistake. Ammo dove in and blew his tail away. We all kept our speed and egress toward the south.
When clear from the combat zone, we regrouped and congratulated each other... 2 kills.... no losses yet... all that thank to our teamwork covering each other, not getting fixated with targets, looking at each others 6.
We went to refuel at A7, streessing moments... we established an order for landing, stayed in line, then 1 after the other taxing to the refuel point, then took off with interval, still in the same order. it was a beautifull seight to see those P47's upping in line, going on a shallow left climbing turn one after the other. There again, our pilots discipline made our refuelling safe, no collisions.
We went back up to rendez-vous with the buffs, somewhere along their intended route, North of North Africa. Over the radio, we learned that their mission was aborted. We also noticed that the P38s where not at their CAP point, we all wished they were "ok", not somewhere in the sea below.
We proceeded to a last flight toward A1 to see what's left there. We encountered a flight of 10 bandits, co-alt. About 8 205s and 2 Me109s. "Ok boys, remember... stay alive.. we doing great so far... don't die now!"
We did some quick passes, trying to find some opportunity kills without getting too much in trouble. We spotted a lost B17 way lower, around 25K. "the fool"... I saw at least 3 205's diving toward him, I followed them at high speed. I remember Ripsnort calling other the radio :" Now, don't go all dying because of this guy". I checked my 6, I was fast... 520-550 TAS, I was fast enought to be safe. The B17 blew up 4K in my 12 while I saw 1 of the 205 pitching back up in a shallow climb. "Buddy, you are next...". I closed on him very fast, close from compressing, i opened fire at 900y. I saw bullets impacts all other his wings... from the left to the right, then back left, then left again. While zooming past him, I was stuned to see him in one piece, braking away. I was disapointed... I saw 205's blowing up with way less lead into them... oh well, next time. While leveling I checked my 6. A Me 109 was trying to catch up with me about 2k away, but I was still very fast. I also spoted my wingman Ammo diving on him. I smiled, I kept my flight path straigth, the 109 was still fixating on me, he never saw Ammo blowing up his left wing with his 8 50 caliber. Teamwork payed again.
Time for the Return to base. We all landed safely. I was surprised. We never really knew each other but we could work toghether great. No losses... 3 kills... what a day. I believe we are the only squadron who didn't loose an aircraft. Teamwork, good judgement, skill and luck. I don't know if we will be as sucessfull in the future, but I'm looking foward to work with this great bunch of guys. Salute to the 345th!
