Squalls Frame 3

[daddog]

Was a great night for me. I did not lock up!  Other than that it did not go real well, but I think our escorts did a great job of pulling the CAP away. We engaged some fighters about two sectors away from the target. I think several of you dispatched them quickly, but fell behind. About a sector from the target many Ki-84's came in. About 4 or 6 I think. I forced two of them to break, but we lost a couple TBM's. With the poor weather the rest were quickly lost in the haze and I continuted on toward the target with the remaining 5 TBM's. I could hear the rest of you were still engaged and that our scouts had been shot down but pulled the CAP down. About the time many of you were catching up to us we dove on the target just as several more Ki-84's dove on us. It looked like 4 or 5 TBM's managed to drop on target. Again I forced a couple to break off TBM's, but then we became scattered. I saw forHIM engaged with one or two and headed that way to give him a hand, but was also dragging 2 myself. Then I spotted 2 TBM's running and in trouble so I broke in thier direction. About this time I started taking hits. Rolling and looking back I saw 3 Ki's 200 to 800 behind me. Not good. Suddenly some cannon shells exploded in my cockpit and moments later I blacked out just at the rise of a hill. 

Hope it went well for you guys.

[skernsk]

I saw the initial group of Ki's coming into the group from my 3 o'clock and turned to greet them.  I damaged one initially as he began trailing black smoke but found myself in deep trouble with 2 on me.  I was forced to split S for the deck and outdive them.  The fight ended up pretty low and I again pinged an emeny plane that was chasing one of us.  As soon as we had control I was on the deck and turned for the radar facility.

I was on full WEP and a few miles out when you were wounded daddog, as I got to the target I was alone and there were 4 KI's picking on 2 TBM's.  I fired on two and shot one down, but at the cost of one of the TBM's ... I was just a little late.  Looking back I had a few on me and they were tearing me up a piece at a time.  I dragged them low towards the beach (North) and was wounded .. as I was blacked out I heard some loud hits and was taken out.

I got 1 for sure but was more of a spectator than anything.  Some of my shells apparently hit Heavy as I was credited with an assist on him.   I will have to look at the film, because I don't remember seeing Heavy at all in the first furball.