Frame Three - Wednesday 9th June 1999

AAR Mission 3 (Fogy) Launched from B42 with Coach on wing. Dumped. Did it again. Nursed our Jugs up to 37.5K and began sweep down column 7. When at 7,4, FWz were reported in 9,6 so turned the 343rd in that direction. Nothing heard for couple of minutes so turned back toward assigned column. Flames and Bull both reported FWz in 7, 4 and we picked them up at 8,4. Frens drove them low so we let them go. Spotted 3 co-alt 109s and passed them head on. By that time, most of the 343rd and couple of the 56th were in 8,4 and reports of 109s started coming up all over. Counted 14 dots at one time during the next 20 minutes in 8,4, with red ones predominant and above enemy--most I ever saw of 109 flavor was six. Stayed high, ate popcorn and watched the 109s being thinned out, then started over toward the buff track in column 12 as they reached row 7. Got pinged by C49 ack at 37K! Picked up the BG in 12, 6, just as FW was reported aft of buffs. Did an idle power, split-S over the buffs from 37K and made FW break away, kilt him at 24K(Mongoose). Coach was right there in case I missed. Climbed back up toward buffs and was over them as they crossed the IP and turned for secondary target. BG had to overfly target and as they were revving for drop I spotted a 109 west heading for them. Did a lead turn and went thru a barrel roll dance with him, finally made him split-S away. Coach was right there and got him when he revved back. We tagged on to AC who was trailing Dwarf and AM by about 1/2 sector with 56th covering them. FW dove on lead group and killed AM, then died by 56th guns. Another FW tried the same thing on our buff. I was high and abeam of AC, so I called BREAK, did a quarter-flugeron, crawled up on FW six and killed him(Hunter). However, just as the FW went boom, AC felt the pings and jerked the stick a little too hard.L Followed Dwarf home and landed just before END LOG. Want to publicly compliment Coach on an excellent job-some of the best tactical winging I've seen in a scenario frame. Fogy<XO>++++ AAR Mission 3 (front) Slim and front, 343rd FS, Westernmost sweep down column 5. I launched with Slim after the first mass dump. We climbed out East to 3 sectors past the rally point and then climbed back in as the 343rd turned en masse. We had just about reached the rally point when the sweep South began. I curved away from Slim and took up station at 4,000yds away line abreast to his left as we headed on down the column. Normex and Bull were to our left. When we reached row 4 we heard reports of the first Luftwaffe contacts way to the East so Slim brought us about and we leveled off to join the rest of the group. DuctTape had relaunched late and was catching up to us fast as we swung South East. We came upon a lone FW190 at 7, 4 who was under the guns of the 62nd FS. He split East and we were all dragged into 4 Bf109s at 8, 5 and at about 32k. They were slightly higher than us this frame but we charged on in. DuctTape finally arrived as myself and Slim joined Goose in the mill. Slim came around dragging a few Bf109s, I made a pass and extended, chasing a Bf109 who went North East. I ran him "down", he dove and made a pass which I avoided, and I curved back into Slim and the gaggle calling on him to "drag". He did... I curved in again and chased a Bf109 off his tail. As I swung back out of the furball I called our position on the radio claiming that the whole LW was in on us (called 6 Bf109s and am sure there were at least 5) and we were losing alt fast. Gooose died and I dove back on in. I remembered Bulls advice to lead turn the Bf109s heavily and I did on this pass. I climbed right up the six of a Bf109 who was after Bitter and he died as the 8 x .50s gave him a few light strokes. There were a total of 3 Bf109s on Bitters six for a few moments. I went right up the middle of them and got the nearest and lowest one. I blasted out of that kill with the Bf109s now hanging off my six. Slim came back in fast, I looked back and spotted a bogey saddling up. I extended and came back in yet again, and managed to lead turn another Bf109 who was climbing to the left soon after. Boom. Scratch another One-Oh-Nine. Then the skies cleared. It was Slim, myself, and a last Bf109. I swung into trail on Slim and cleared him, radioing to "press!" the last Bf109. Slim replied "cc" and we tore after him. He broke nose low to the left and we both made a high Yo-yo around him. He merged well on the second pass and got behind me. This really surprised me! I checked alt as suspicion crept into my mind and saw we were at 20k. He locked onto my six and I dove, turned, and then spun out while compressed. I thought for a second that I had blown it but calmed myself, throttled back, and "felt" my way out of it. All the while this Bf109 is 950yds on my high six and twisting down after me. This was at about 19k. I spun down to 14k but recovered much faster than I anticipated. My KIAS were not that fast going into it... I was lucky... (and God Bless CH Pedals). Slim chased that guy off me. I broke out and extended as Slim crossed his nose coming back in past me. The Bf109 reversed and killed Slim. This was bad. He then turned on me... we made a pass, I turned into him and fired a burst but missed, and I decided to leg it North West as we were now down to 11k. We were still in sector 8,5. This was well away from the main bomber group so I, and the Bf109, was out of the fight. No way was I going to fight a co-alt Bf109 at 11k in a Jug so I kept away from him and attempted to shadow him. He outclimbed me though and disappeared to the South East. He hared off to the main group who were nearing the target. I radioed that he was inbound and listened to the fight on the radio. Nothing much that I could do now except keep climbing for the main group and get there as high and as fast as I could. I felt real bad that the bombers were being hit while I was so far away but two Bf109s dead and another "mission kill" helped to assuage my guilt. I climbed out to 30k and met up with the main group at 11, 5 as one last Big Friend was racing home with the surviving Luftwaffe nipping at him. He was well protected though. The remaining LW aircraft came in as singles and pairs. DuctTape found trouble at the rear of the group and was killed while I was trying to find him. I joined up with Bull and we circled back a couple of times on the way home. A lone and low FW190 attempted to sneak in but I clipped him and dove on him as a few more of his friends arrived. I ended up in a rolling scissors with this FW190 after I had circled back on him after the first dive. "Oh-oh." thought me "I do not want to be in this with a FW190." I kept my speed up and reversed nose high a little very early each time as he went nose low. He was unable to slip in behind me and we were locked neutral for 4 reversals. Another FW190 came at us head on and my target broke right. I extended away as the second FW190 turned onto my six. I called "drag drag drag" and zoomed a little to keep him on me at about 1500yds back. Bull swooped... and whacked him. We met Flames and Pars and the last few LW aircraft fell to them. The Bf109 who killed Slim was destroyed in this fight. My fuel was in a serious state so I turned away after one last pass... It was a minute later, with Bull ahead of me, and Flames behind me, that a lone Bf109 dove down as I was gliding in. I was out of fuel, engine dead, and real low. I was still checking high 6 and copped him from well back, and managed to avoid his passes for 3 attempts. I had no chance though. He pinged me once... and I ran out of alt and augured as SpitBoy was only moments from calling the frame over. Ping and augur in the final seconds... there is no justice. I should have bailed and floated in my chute for the last few minutes. :)