Frame Six - Saturday 19th June 1999

AAR Mission 6 (SkinnyBoy) Before Air Malta and I found Mags, we were on our patrol route. I had commented to AM that I thought we were out of the loop as far as engagements. I had hoped by the end of our sweep path we would see the Buffs with their escort, not quite. When I heard the Buffs posrep we turned north east to meet them and provide what CE we could. otw to meeting Mags we saw dots between where I guessed Mags to be, it was two FW's. I dove in on one FW while AM got tangled with a Jet and another FW. The FW did a fantastic job of dying with out me losing much alt at all. At this time I see the other FW has broke from AM and the jet is bugging him. He breaks from the jet to join me, I'm glad he did as I would need him in a bit. Mags called for me but I didn't hear, didn't matter, I had been on my way for a bit<g>. I see dots behind Mags and swoop in for the kill, not quite. My intercept path put me on mags 6, with a FW 300yds on my 6<g>. This is where I have to thank AM for his wonderful winging, never lost him my entire flight. I was happy to be in between the FW and Mags but didn't want to die there. I evaded a bit but stayed behind Mags in the way, I can make an enticing target<g>, no worries as AM blew him to bits right of my 6. I tried to set up close behind Mags for CE. A 109 came in between Mags and I, Mags evaded with a sharp turn while I stayed with the 109 to make sure he was off. Not long into my turn I knew the 109 was diving away so I broke off the rejoin Mags. I joined up again and chased something away, headed back to Mags again. This time I saw Mags blow up a few thousand yards away. My whole meaning for being in the air was gone, I took out some frustration on another 109 that should have left me alone. All in all it was one of the better flights I've had. Long and boring till the nerve rattling since of purpose sets in and the enemy is there. AM saved my butt and did a fantastic job. My heart sunk a little when I didn't see much of an escort. I know it's a little late, but the better frame seemed to be when the sweepers joined the Buffs for the run, I joined for CE and got a kill off a buffs 6 plus 2 assists. AAR Mission 6 (front) I launched with Bull, Fogy, and Coach as the 343rd FS, in P-51Ds, from B:42 for the final time. We climbed out East once again. Bull had some mechanical problems and as we turned South to head for the rally points he disconnected. I then joined Fogy and Coach as a three-ship and we headed South West and then South to the rally point. We saw no contacts until we turned East. We ran into two co-alt FW190s and they split slightly and ran as we caught up to them. I stayed high as Coach and Fogy went down to chase them. The FW190s ran into Sector 8,6 whereupon we broke off the chase and headed to the bomber group to the North East. Two higher Bf109s (co-altitude with me) approached head on and turned into us. We got caught up in a tangle with these Bf109s and they delayed us on our way to the bomber group. The Bf109s dragged us down through 25,000feet and one killed Coach. Fogy killed the that one and the second Bf109 latched onto Fogy and he dove. I followed and caught up with them, breaking high and following the Bf109 as he turned away. I got a hit on him and he broke away but by now we were down to 15,000feet. Fogy took us back North and then East towards C:49. We climbed back to 30,000feet, keeping our speed up. Bull had rejoined the frame and was with the bomber group by now. Fogy led us around C:49 to try and intercept the bomber group on their way South just as the main LW force found them. We passed two higher FW190s heading North East but they overflew and ignored us. We had just about reached the main group when the last bomber died. Fogy rolled over and augured... I followed soon after.