As one of the many units assigned to CAP in the northern sector, the Shills had some trouble getting up and into position. Due to map restrictions, Rip was forced to change our starting field several times, and as a result we found ourselves upping significantly further to the south than planned. Rip had tasked me to lead the northern flight, but I have to admit I really didn’t take much of a leadership role.
We were climbing out to the north in a formation of four with two stragglers. Because I’m paranoid, and am always moving around to check blind spots, I have a tendency to fall behind my own formations during climb out. So the Shills were in the middle of trying to form up when we had first contact with the enemy. There were two spitfires a bit below us, which appeared to be scouts for the incoming attack. Since I was one of only two planes in position to make an attack on these fighters, I ordered my wingman GoFaster to engage one, while I engaged the other. At the very least we wanted to take them down, and keep them out of the fight. I ordered the rest of the squad to stay high, and keep an eye out for the actual attack. Perhaps I should have released the squad COs to freelance, but I was confident that everyone already was lol. Squad structures being what they are, I think it’s more efficient to allow for this anyhow, so long as you can maintain full coverage of your mission objectives. But I digress...
I GoFaster and I tangled with the Spits for a few minutes, but both disengaged from the stalemate before we wound up on the deck and out of E. During the Melee however, we became separated. He managed to pick up on the TBM raid, while I made it back to A-20 in time to chase off the B-26s. I made several passes, however from a disadvantageous position (low 6) I broke off before suffering any real damage. I pinged up a drone pretty well, but did not manage to bring anything down.
By this time, we had lost two of our planes. The other four of us regrouped at A35, and continued our patrolling. We lost Runny when he tried a hi-speed strafing attack on a US bomber. Sometimes I think that if only I had followed him in, my friend would still be here today. Then I drink a liter of schnapps, and the pain is somewhat deadened. Then I vomit, and the pain is back again. KBall and I managed to find a lone B-26 over our territory, and Kball downed it. While re-arming after that sortie, I snapped my wing on the outhouse, and was forced to call it a night. By that time, there wasn’t much fight left in the Allies.
-Sik
