The Gun Fighters were provided 10 Spit-V’s to escort two squads of 4 Bomber Boxes each, to go attack A-35 along the coast of France. We could not raise the 327th, and never did link up with them. We did, however, manage to link up with ~~~Fate~~~, and provided Bannor and his crew with a bit of escort on their way to target.
The flight across the channel was un-eventful. Fate was flying at 10K and TGF broke into two Divisions, and bracketed FATE’s formations to their left and right at an altitude of 19K. We were so deployed when the first 109’s appeared, just as the coast was in the bombers Bomb Sites. It was a single 109 that screamed through the formation from 1 O’clock. BAKER was in a better position, and so we went down to scrub him off Fate’s Tail-End-Charlie.
The 109 looped around, and he did manage to knock a bit of smoke out of one of the drones, but Catfish showed him the error of his ways and sent him to the drink. As catfish was climbing back up to the bombers, two more 109’s came in from the same 1 O’clock vector. Able was in better position this time, and they moved in to intercept and scrub, while Baker climbed back into position above the bomber group
This wasn’t the optimal deployment, Baker above, and Able behind and climbing, as we flew over the target, and we did see a whole bunch of 109s, but much to our surprise, and to our immense relief, all of the 109’s were below us! The bombers had a clean drop with their full compliment of bombers. Post-Drop, a couple of our members volunteered to anchor over the field and fix the 109’s.
This tactic was 98% successful as we only encountered 2 109’s during the bombers egresses north, and only one of them was from the furball over the base. The other came in from the East and I estimate was probably a returning scout.
By this time it was TripleS and myself who were escorting the bombers out. Able-Flight lead, Razz, had compressed chasing a 109 into the deck. Vertec was in the thick of it over the enemy base, as was Bearcat, Colt45 and the others. Catfish was still trying to catch up to the bombers, and Stretch and Triton were way up north by 46.
TripleS and I worked the 109’s in a fighting egress. Each time a 109 got into position behind one of the bombers, one of us would fly up his six and make him break. We managed to knock down one, and about that time the second decided it would be prudent to target-switch. My first indication was as I tried to vector to the right of the Bomber Stream. The 109’s range kept closing, and his profile wasn’t changing. TripleS cinched it when he said “He’s locked on to you!”
So, here I am, dragging this 109. TripleS is 2K in front of me, and busy trying to protect the bombers from a third fighter that came in from our left as we go feet wet. The guy behind me starts sending out Spray-n-Pray shots, and he’s either lucky or good because a few of his BB’s are scoring a hit or two. No damage, but I know he wants me to jink so he can close for the kill. I’d like to drag him along the bombers flank so they can scrub me, but I’m not sure I can make the angles and not have him close. The situation is starting to look grim, when I get a massive break. Just as I’m thinking this guy is got me, Catfish shows up and scrubs my six!
He blows through and heads up to help TripleS. I am now able to turn the tables on the 109 and get on his Six! He breaks away and dives to the deck. I chase him down to 1K then start a shallow climb. I figure he’ll turn back, but he never does and flies away.
We continue to egress with the bombers and eventually everyone but Catfish lands at 16 to re-arm and re-fuel. Catfish, who had gone AFK to pick up his son (Not the best thing during FSO! LOL) He radios from over A-12. He tells TripleS, Stretch and I that there are bombers escorted by 4 109’s 16K over 12 and heading south. The three of us quickly launch while he refuels at 12. We’re vectoring to intercept and just reach 7K when I spot the bombers.
To my chagrin I realize it’s way to soon to see them if they were still on their original vector. I zoom in and sure enough, they’ve turned South East and are heading directly towards us! I turn my flight around and continue to climb while we parallel their course. Just as we get to altitude, however, and about 3.5 K behind, two 109’s break from the escort, turn around, and try to interdict us.
Meanwhile we have two more that have come in from our 4 O’clock High! We’re pinched between two groups of 109’s, who hold the high ground and the numbers. But we merge and press anyway.
In the first 30 seconds of the fight we’re pushed down from 16K to 10K and Stretch looses a wing in a collision. Now it’s 4 Vs 2. The 109’s hold their advantage close to their chest and they play their hand well. They are handing off attacks, and are never allowing TripleS and I to get up to altitude, or even get a shot.
Then the inevitable happens. I have just dodged two attacks, but was unable to dodge the third. He puts about a 4 inch hole in my oil pan and I start bleeding out the black stuff at a prodigious rate.
At first I think, “Thank God I’m 8 miles from base.” I dive away trying to egress, But as I’m watching that oil pressure needle fall about as fast as my altitude I start to second guess my luck. I pull back on my Throttle and my RPM's and hope I’m not looking at a case of Almost-made-it, where I crumple my plane 50 feet from tarmac. At least the 109’s aren’t following me down!
TripleS covers my egress and goes one more merge before following me home. 4 to 1 odds aren’t to his liking any more than they are mine! We line up on 15’s runway and manage a perfect 3-point landing. As my wheels come to a stop, so does my engine. I breathe a heavy sigh of relief and tower out.
That’s when Catfish calls. “I’m approaching the coast, and I see the fighters!”
I join his plane as a second set of eyes, and have a perfect seat to watch as those same 4 109’s ply their trade. They are working from 18K to 20K and as more fighters come into the area they push them down and take turns picking. After 10 minutes of trying to get an advantage, or even a shot, Catfish and I try to extend and get co-alt before turning back in. We’ve only been away 3 minutes when we get back to the fight. We find the 4 109’s 2K below us, but apparently all the other friendlies have left the area, or been knocked down!
That 2K advantage over the 109’s is quickly bleed away in the first one and a half merges. We’re pushing one and pulling three (Cringe). I’ve got the Track-IR, so I’m twisting in my seat like I’m at a school dance for wheel chair bound students, while I try to keep a good look out the back of the plane. He’s twitching all over the sky like a fly in the death throws of bug poison, and I’m shouting at him to “break, break, Break!” about every 3 seconds. Needless to say, it is not looking good.
I’ve got beads of sweat rolling on my forehead (Pressure, or the sock-hop in my flight seat, I’m not sure) and my sphincter is threatening to let loose, and Catfish is saying “Oh, crap! Oh Crap! Oh CRAP!” over and over again.
Finally he sees an opening and we break for the deck. I’m still watching and to my horror they choose now to go low and press their attack. So, we drag them down to the deck and have to use the ACK over 15 to scrub them. We are thinking “Hey, the guys coming to our aid – for I had been putting the Bogy-Dope on 150 the whole time during this fight – will now have the advantage ‘cause we drug the bandits low.” But no one comes.
Finally, not wanting to push 4 to 1 odds any further, we take the opening the ACK umbrella gave us and shoot back over to 16 to land.
All in all, one of the better BOB frames I’ve seen.
