Flying Officer Kyte
03-11-2014, 13:36
or, We need all the help we can get.
It was the first time that Lt. Cmdr. Chris Rogers R.N. had been in command of the entire Carriers Defence squadron. Two Carriers and a Battle fleet, even if one of the Carriers was only an Lend lease Escort was some responsibility.
125869
Added to that the fact that it was packed with Fairy Swordfish destined to beef up the Malta defences and it was enough to lay a heavy burden on any Officer.
Despite still being well over 100 miles from the Swordfish flying off point, he finished off his G&T in the Wardroom, and decided to take up a patrol of the Martlett Fighters ranged out upon the Flight deck of H.M.S. Ark Royal.
It was just as well that his sixth sense had kicked in when it did, because the three aircraft had barely reached cruising height before the Ops room came over on the RT with the news that Bandits had been picked up 20 miles out and heading for the Fleet.
125871
Must be sardines skip". came over the airwaves from Rick Nelson, Chris's Winger." We're too far from Sicily to be in range of them yet."
"Guess your right there Rick. Let's go and take a gander." Replied Chris.
The three Martletts banked in the direction given by Ops, and soon spotted two Stukas escorted by a Falco breaking through the regular patrol over the fleet who were already heavily engaged with several bombers and their escorts.
125870
"These boys look the more dangerous at the moment." Chris said. "Let's take them out."
As one the three F.A.A. machines hit the oncoming Stukas at full throttle.
Sensing the danger to his consorts, the Falco actually dropped down and got off the first shots of the engagement putting a few holes into Ricks plane.
125872
The return fire from the Martletts more than made up for the insult it, not only holing the Falco but hurting one of the Stukas as well. Jimmy "Stinker" Bell giving the pilot serious grief.
125873
Next into action was Rogers himself. Hitting the other Stuka with a full burst in a head on attack he shattered the aircraft's windscreen and wounded the pilot.
125874
"That will put paid to your dive bombing antics sonny." he was heard to mutter over his R.T.
As if to dissuade the attackers still further, they now came under fire from the fleet at long range.
No damage was seen to be done, but it did cause the Italian aircraft to veer away from the onslaught.
125875
This disrupted the formation totally, and returned them under the guns of Rogers and his merry men who had just all turned back into the fray.
125876
caught in a cross fire between Chris and Stinker, one of the Stukas found himself totally cut off from his comrades and suffered multiple hits from both Martletts. Under a welter of fire he and his Navigator had no choice but to bail out of their stricken aircraft.
125878
His friends made off still harried by gunfire from the fleet, now at extreme range, but accurate enough for one round to damage the trailing Stukas rudder.
125877
Now the hunt was up, as out of control the Italian turned directly under the guns of Rogers as he came in at the charge once more.
125878
The exchange was very one sided, in spite of the rear gunner getting a few rounds into Rick as he passed.
"Two." Said Chris over the R.T. As the second Stuka hit the briny not a stone's throw away from its compatriots, who were now paddling frantically towards the rapidly submerging plane in an
effort to aid their comrades.
125879
"Lets get after the Fighter chaps".
"Roger that skip". Came back Rick's voice, as he put a long range shot through the controls of the now rapidly receding Falco.
125880
Once again the Lt. Commander led the charge, as unable to evade due to his damaged controls the Italian could only try to outrun the slower Martletts.
125881
As they peppered him with bullets he gradually pulled away.
125882
Eventually turning in the only direction left to him, he enabled Chris to cut the circle enough to get another telling burst off, which sent him spiraling down to a watery grave. No brolly opened on this occasion.
125883
"That's three chaps, and it looks as if the rest of the squadron have seen the bombers off. Let's get back to the carrier and get those "Stringbags" off to Malta before the Ities turn up again, mob handed next time."
It was only later in the calm of the wardroom with a G&T to hand that Chris had time to reflect on his first defence of the fleet. Not one enemy aircraft had penetrated the cordon of fighters, and he had personally taken three of those down.
125884
It was too good to last, but at least they had delivered the "Stringbags" in one piece.
125887
The Butchers bill.
Ark Royal Martletts.
Lt. Cdr. Chris Rogers. R.T.S. 3 kills.
Lt. Rick Nelson. R.T.S.
Sub Lt. James Bell R.T.S.
125886
Regio Aeronautica.
Two Stukas lost. Both crews rescued by Coastal Command. One pilot wounded.
One Falco lost. Pilot missing at sea, presumed dead.
125885
Rob.
It was the first time that Lt. Cmdr. Chris Rogers R.N. had been in command of the entire Carriers Defence squadron. Two Carriers and a Battle fleet, even if one of the Carriers was only an Lend lease Escort was some responsibility.
125869
Added to that the fact that it was packed with Fairy Swordfish destined to beef up the Malta defences and it was enough to lay a heavy burden on any Officer.
Despite still being well over 100 miles from the Swordfish flying off point, he finished off his G&T in the Wardroom, and decided to take up a patrol of the Martlett Fighters ranged out upon the Flight deck of H.M.S. Ark Royal.
It was just as well that his sixth sense had kicked in when it did, because the three aircraft had barely reached cruising height before the Ops room came over on the RT with the news that Bandits had been picked up 20 miles out and heading for the Fleet.
125871
Must be sardines skip". came over the airwaves from Rick Nelson, Chris's Winger." We're too far from Sicily to be in range of them yet."
"Guess your right there Rick. Let's go and take a gander." Replied Chris.
The three Martletts banked in the direction given by Ops, and soon spotted two Stukas escorted by a Falco breaking through the regular patrol over the fleet who were already heavily engaged with several bombers and their escorts.
125870
"These boys look the more dangerous at the moment." Chris said. "Let's take them out."
As one the three F.A.A. machines hit the oncoming Stukas at full throttle.
Sensing the danger to his consorts, the Falco actually dropped down and got off the first shots of the engagement putting a few holes into Ricks plane.
125872
The return fire from the Martletts more than made up for the insult it, not only holing the Falco but hurting one of the Stukas as well. Jimmy "Stinker" Bell giving the pilot serious grief.
125873
Next into action was Rogers himself. Hitting the other Stuka with a full burst in a head on attack he shattered the aircraft's windscreen and wounded the pilot.
125874
"That will put paid to your dive bombing antics sonny." he was heard to mutter over his R.T.
As if to dissuade the attackers still further, they now came under fire from the fleet at long range.
No damage was seen to be done, but it did cause the Italian aircraft to veer away from the onslaught.
125875
This disrupted the formation totally, and returned them under the guns of Rogers and his merry men who had just all turned back into the fray.
125876
caught in a cross fire between Chris and Stinker, one of the Stukas found himself totally cut off from his comrades and suffered multiple hits from both Martletts. Under a welter of fire he and his Navigator had no choice but to bail out of their stricken aircraft.
125878
His friends made off still harried by gunfire from the fleet, now at extreme range, but accurate enough for one round to damage the trailing Stukas rudder.
125877
Now the hunt was up, as out of control the Italian turned directly under the guns of Rogers as he came in at the charge once more.
125878
The exchange was very one sided, in spite of the rear gunner getting a few rounds into Rick as he passed.
"Two." Said Chris over the R.T. As the second Stuka hit the briny not a stone's throw away from its compatriots, who were now paddling frantically towards the rapidly submerging plane in an
effort to aid their comrades.
125879
"Lets get after the Fighter chaps".
"Roger that skip". Came back Rick's voice, as he put a long range shot through the controls of the now rapidly receding Falco.
125880
Once again the Lt. Commander led the charge, as unable to evade due to his damaged controls the Italian could only try to outrun the slower Martletts.
125881
As they peppered him with bullets he gradually pulled away.
125882
Eventually turning in the only direction left to him, he enabled Chris to cut the circle enough to get another telling burst off, which sent him spiraling down to a watery grave. No brolly opened on this occasion.
125883
"That's three chaps, and it looks as if the rest of the squadron have seen the bombers off. Let's get back to the carrier and get those "Stringbags" off to Malta before the Ities turn up again, mob handed next time."
It was only later in the calm of the wardroom with a G&T to hand that Chris had time to reflect on his first defence of the fleet. Not one enemy aircraft had penetrated the cordon of fighters, and he had personally taken three of those down.
125884
It was too good to last, but at least they had delivered the "Stringbags" in one piece.
125887
The Butchers bill.
Ark Royal Martletts.
Lt. Cdr. Chris Rogers. R.T.S. 3 kills.
Lt. Rick Nelson. R.T.S.
Sub Lt. James Bell R.T.S.
125886
Regio Aeronautica.
Two Stukas lost. Both crews rescued by Coastal Command. One pilot wounded.
One Falco lost. Pilot missing at sea, presumed dead.
125885
Rob.