Green Section, Flt Lt Gresham Flight section leader, had been scrambled to provide cover over the skies of the French coast specifically to make contact with the bombers that were punishing the retreating Allied forces.
Looking around him he saw his No 2 FO Ollie Chamberlain to his right but no Green 3.
" Where's Fuller ops" he enquired "
Engine problems Green leader" came the reply.
"Go to Angel18 vector 35 Bandits at Angels 15 heading East , you should see them in 5 mins"
"Wilco" Jonty replied , " Did you hear that Chamberlain"
"Yes Sir" came the crackled reply.
"Follow me and stick close you here" .
Chamberlain waggled his wings in response.
Following Ops instructions Gresham and Chamberlain found their targets , a section of 4 HE 111s 2000 ft below them , heading towards the coast with no visable fighter cover. Gresham flicked his intercom on.
" Line astern No2 , we will take them head on for the first pass "
"Right sir on your mark"
The 2 Spitfires peeled off and dove at the unsuspecting bombers.
Gresham’s first pass takes out the lead planes pilot (2+pilot,2) and Chamberlain hits the wingman peppering the fuselage.(4,3) Following through the formation Jonty fired a short burst at the last bomber, happy to see his bullets hit their mark.(8,0)
The bombers broke formation as the Spitfires streaked past. Jonty prepared to Immell while Chamberlain tried to swing round on the last plane in the formation firing as he goes (1) but taking damage from the nose gunner of a 111 in the process (2,2)
The rookie No 2 found himself caught in a mass of angry German bombers. " Get out of there Ollie" rings clear in his headset, so giving his Merlin full throttle he heads for clear sky.
. But a persistent 111 tails him as he passes, fortunately for the RAF pilot to closely for his gunners to get a shot at the Spit until he turned away and the waste gunner opened up hitting the starboard wing (3)
The main formation was heading away with the Spitfires trailing in their wake, But Chamberlain spotted a straggler and made after him. Firing at long range his tracers were off target but the salvo from the German tail gunner smashes through the Spitfires cockpit and thud into Chamberlains right arm. (2 + pilot)
Gresham hears the cry of pain from his wingman over the RT, Glancing over to his left he sees Chamberlain caught in a left hand turn, Searching the sky for enemy fighters and seeing none Gresham presses on in his pursuit of the bombers.
"Breaking off Skipper " a weak voice sounded in Gresham’s ears.
Gresham acknowledged and turned his attention to the bomber rapidly growing large in his gun sight. A short burst from the Heinkel fell wide , and as Jonty pressed the fire button he saw metal shear from the Germans tail (2,2). His next burst saw the port engine stutter to a halt (7+engine,5) . The bomb bay doors opened as the pilot jettisoned his load. However it was a little to late as Gresham’s bullets tore a gaping hole in the fuselage. The bomber dipped its wings and rolled over to the left in what became a spiral to the ground below (1,3,5) Gresham resisted the urge to follow his kill down.
Flicking the Spitfire to port he watched the last of the remaining bombers head into the clouds. Low on ammo and concerned for his wingman he broke off the pursuit and plotted a course back to Kenley.
Result
RAF
F.O Chamberlain (R) AI. WIA/RTB. (Neil or Dave a roll please)
Flt Ltn Gresham (V) RTB 1 Kill.
VP total 4
Axis
2 planes exit from right hand side edge
1 plane exit from other edge.
1 bomber shot down after jettisoned bomb load.
1 pilot wounded
VP total 2.
An exciting game with the rookie paying the price with inaccurate shooting and getting caught in a melee with the bombers. Slow they may be but they take a lot of punishment.
Sorry no photos as the card got corrupted and I lost them all . In the old days I would have had some negatives, but there again it would have taken a week to get the prints developed out here
Bookmarks