Italy Friday night

[daddog]

Not quite as many dogs as I expected last night, but we had about a dozen stick around for some action. I was disappointed several opted out and went to other arena’s or logged off, but I understand why. As it turned out we had plenty of action. Before we dropped on our first target we were attacked by 5 enemy aircraft and TANK lost one buff and we lost some escorts. After that it was a running battle. We dropped on our first target and were then attacked by 3 more enemy aircraft before we dropped on our 2nd target and then a run for home pursued by 109’s and 109’s. Tsnow and I landed. Not sure about TANK. Since he was down to two buffs and one was smoking they really worked him over. At one point dichodog dove in and forced a 109 off of Tsnow when we were close to home. I think a couple escorts survived the flight and 6 of the 9 buffs. After that we all did some furballing.

Well done gents. Here are some screen shots.

TANK, Tsnow, and myself being worked over by  some 109’s and 190’s.


Olds in a P-51B. He and I were working a 109.

[Tsnow]

((Please keep in mind this is all from memory. Everything herein is disputable and
possibly warped from years of watching John Wayne movies, smoking cigarettes
and playing with my star wars action figures.))


 
A B26 this time, a little more plane than I'm used to but I'm ready for the mission.
Across the air Field I can see P51's and 47's launching into the sky. My own bird takes
a weird lurch on take off, and almost ends my flight early. With a quick dip to the runway
I gain control and begin to slowly climb trying to catch up with Daddog. Beside me Tank
makes it look easy as he slides up close to DD.

 I can see a pair of fighters circling above me, Bison and TeeRex, I know there are more
in the escort group below me but it's nice to see them, watching over us. We level off at
10k and I do my best to stay close to Tank and Daddog.
 
A check six is called. A 109 hot on my tail. Streaking by me he targets Tank, who tosses
out lead diverting the attack. The smoking 109 attempts a second pass at Tank who politely
ends his sortie with a quick burst of his rear gun. The 109 twirls to the ground and Tank and
I close our formation on Daddog, letting the fighters finish off the attack.

 We approached our target and I watched as Daddog swoops down on the base. NoWay! was
I trying that move, I thought as I jumped into the bombardier seat. I calibrated and made a few
quick directional changes. I pressed my secondary fire botton once, twice, nothing.
Dang! I forgot to open the bomb bay doors.
 
 Daddog was pulling up from his dive, bombs erupting underneath him. As for Tank I had lost
sight of him and hoped he had hit his mark. I again closed on Daddog as a second wave of attack
fighters was spotted and we headed for our second target. I opened my bomb bay doors. Tictok
arrived as a gunner just in time and held off the attackers as we made our approach.

 "Open your doors" Daddog said as he again dove in on his target. I double checked to make sure.
In the bombardier seat I let loose my entire payload and quickly jumped into the pilots chair.
I dove down picking up speed and made my way for the coast.The return trip was a harry ride. I
spotted Tank, in flames, for just a second and then he was
out of my sight.

 I touched down to far and to fast on the runway. I cut my engine, and toggled my break on and off.
The hangers whizzed by, I applied full break and pulled back on the stick I began to slow down, 
but I was ruining  out of pavement, quick. Lurching to a stop I was amazed to find myself still on the runway.


Tsnow <S>

[daddog]

Great AAR Tsnow!