Nightmares sat around in the ready room waiting anxiously for our mission to be set. In the meantime, we welcomed two pilots, Fester and Drex, to wing with us. After a long wait, orders came through the wire... Orders for the Nightmares were as follows:
To the Commanding Officer of VMF-101 Nightmares:
You are to launch Bf109G2 aircraft from A3 and provide defence of D44. Loadout at CO discretion. Recommend DT but no gondolas. Conduct best climb to altitude using WEP. Target alt for CAP is 25,000ft. Provide a defensive screen N and Ne of D44.
La5FN fighter aircraft are expected to launch from A19 to the NE. Expect to see these aircraft at high altitude. Enemy attack aircraft are operating in the area. Main threats are il2 and Yak 9T aircraft from A8 (NNE).
Immediately, a heated discussion broke out on the load out and the capabilities of the plane. "How is the performance of the Bf109G-2?" "How long does fuel last?" "Should we carry on gondolas? How much performance does it affect?" "How does it compare with the La5FNs?"
Initial recommendations were not to carry gondolas as it would affect performance and comparative analysis showed La5FNs were simply superior to the Bf109G-2s. Concerns were raised although we were still undeterred from our intention of doing inflicting the most possible damage to the Russians. Our leader, Ghost Dancer, showed no signs of fear and remained confident.
During the briefing, the spirit was high. We were exchanging beer cans from all over. A late analysis was presented which showed that gondolas do not affect performance of the Bf109G-2 as much as feared. Recommendations turned to installing the gondolas with a fuel tank of gas and drop tanks. I was assigned to wing with Dobe. A total of 17 Nightmares were listed to fly that morning.
We took off from A3 South without incident, and we continued to climb and circle around D44. When we got to the east side of D44, contact were reported on the northern side of the front. We were directed further and further north which raised concerns that we were directed too far away from our primary objective. We passed by A8 which should no signs of the enemy. When orders came to head back south, contact was reported over V27. I found myself close to V27 together with Dobe, Fester and Drex. I asked permission to go check it out. Clearance came for the four of us to detach and go scope for the enemy. Flying at 25k, we soon spotted three dots low just over the clouds. I sent Fester and Drex to engage. Keeping my altitude, I watched them race toward the enemy, forgetting about the con range of the arena. While typing in reports I lost them. Fester soon reported that they were La5s and they were running. I ordered them to break off the chase. However, as soon as Fester broke off, he was engaged. I dove immediately in a frantic effort to look for them, with only a vague idea on where they were. 20K... 15K... 10K... I spotted dots just below the edge of the clouds and on a hunch, I raced towards them. Just west of A8, Fester and Drex were dancing with several La5s. As I got to the con range of the La5 with Dobe in tow, I saw Fester*s plane spewing out smoke. I ordered Dobe to engage and tried to clear Fester's six. I knew I was asking for trouble when I was getting low. A low altitude dance continued when I learned that there were at least three of them. I radioed for help as I was sure that if we didn't gain more advantage, we would all be wiped out. Soon Fester met his fate and Dobe was also hit. I finally managed to get on the six of one of them and blew him out of the sky. Then I saw Dobe in tow of another La5 which was smoking. I turned around only to see Dobe go down. In vengeance, I gain the six of the La5 and put enough shells into him to break half his left wing. I broke off satisfied that he would crash. I soon caught a glimpse of BFD, and I ordered Drex to form up and grab. We were clear of the bogeys.
Drex reported downing two and I had two kills. (although reviewing the film, Drex downed the La5 with the broken wing, therefore we shared one kill) As soon as we got to the clouds, we turned around to engage again. I soon found a melee with the rest of the Nightmares. Moments passed dodging the enemy, grabbing altitude and soon we were running out of fuel. We were ordered back to A3 for refueling. Drex bagged another while clearing the six of Pyroman. Initial reports indicated that we downed 8 to 10 La5s at the cost of four of our planes. (Is the Bf109G-2 really that inferior? The final tally will tell)
On the way back, BFD's ejection seat malfunctioned and put him into the sky unintentionally. Pyroman ran out of fuel and ditched, Concho failed his landing while gliding his fuelless plane into A3. Orvil ditched his due to lack gears.
We re-upped at least seven Nightmares for which I was in charge. Our mission was to kill the Il2s. However, the cloud cover was hindering us from finding any. I sent Plink to go low and report any contact. Reports came of contacts at A42. Once again fearing that leaving D44 will put it in danger, I directed our flight toward A42. We walked from base to base, D75... nothing, A8... nothing, V26... nothing, V35... nothing..., A46... nothing. Finally, at A42, Plink reported contacts most of them refueling at A42! Now is the chance to get them. I ordered the main flight down to cloud level. I found some La5s on CAP. I broke low and headed toward A42. Several La5s were taking off, braving compression and the hail of acks, I downed one La5s on first pass, taking a hit from the ack. On second pass, I braved compression and acks again, taking more hits in the process but failing to hit any. I zoomed up to regain altitude, then a dialog box came up "Host Error: Disconnected".
I was frustrated beyond belief.... I was having so much fun. Oh well...
