Marechallannes
10-04-2014, 07:39
Two Grumman Wildcats of USS Saratoga’s VF-5 were on a CAP over the Bismarck Sea.
http://www.wingsofwar.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=143159&d=1410278695
Lt. Cmdr. Robert Schneider & Lt. Kenneth Bowmann, both veterans of the Battle of Midway, were looking for enemy planes.
http://www.wingsofwar.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=143157&d=1410278669
„Bandits, 3 o’clock“, reported Schneider, when he spotted a formation of Japanese Navy planes between light clouds.
http://www.wingsofwar.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=143158&d=1410278669
The two Wildcats gave full speed to catch up with the Japs. It was a small formation of Aichi Val dive bombers and a Mitsubishi Zero escort fighter.
http://www.wingsofwar.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=143152&d=1410278638
Schneider fired the first shots at the leading bomber and get well placed fire from the rear gunner in return.
It was a risky decision to irgnore the intercepting Zero for the bombers and Bowmann's Wildcat, the "Black 13" catched a partial burst from the Jap, but the experienced pilot avoided a bigger damage.
http://www.wingsofwar.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=143153&d=1410278638
When the Zero passe behind them, both US pilots were able to concentrate on the bombers for a short time.
http://www.wingsofwar.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=143154&d=1410278638
The second dive bomber was shoked by the impact of Bowmann's salvo and the rear gunner was silenced.
http://www.wingsofwar.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=143155&d=1410278638
The Zero was in range again and aimed at Schneider's plane.
Then the disaster happened, when rear gun bullets from the leading bomber hit into the left wing root of Bowmann's "Black 13". An explosion ripped of the wing and Bowmann's plane fell out of the sky like a stone.
http://www.wingsofwar.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=143156&d=1410278638
"What the hell..., thought Schneider, but there were no chance to look after his comrade now.
Between the bombers, he reduced speed and was directly behind the leading bomber. Before it's rear gunner was able to react, a burst from six .50 cal machine guns ripped the Val in pieces.
http://www.wingsofwar.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=143147&d=1410278589
A wave to the right shook off the irritating Zero for a second and Schneider waved back to the left immediately and finished of the second bomber with a long burst.
http://www.wingsofwar.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=143148&d=1410278589
The bomber went down to the sea in flames.
http://www.wingsofwar.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=143149&d=1410278589
Again, Lt.Cmdr. Schneider used a moment, when the Zero wasn't directly on his six and performed an half loop and impacts of his bullets gave the Jap a taste of his near end.
http://www.wingsofwar.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=143150&d=1410278589
With full throttle, using the higher speed of the Wildcat the US pilot turned around in half loop again.
http://www.wingsofwar.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=143151&d=1410278589
The second close range hits shot down the Japanese escort fighter.
http://www.wingsofwar.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=143142&d=1410278547
"This was for Bowman, you damn basXXXX", he shouted and dived down to the sea to watch for the area where the "Black 13" went down.
http://www.wingsofwar.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=143143&d=1410278547
After a short search without result the leader of VF-5 had to return to USS Saratoga, due to his low fuel reserves.
During his approach he informed the communication station on board of the ship about the location of the fight, to start search and rescue mission as soon as possible, hoping the best for his comrade and member of his squadron.
http://www.wingsofwar.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=143144&d=1410278547
http://www.wingsofwar.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=143159&d=1410278695
Lt. Cmdr. Robert Schneider & Lt. Kenneth Bowmann, both veterans of the Battle of Midway, were looking for enemy planes.
http://www.wingsofwar.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=143157&d=1410278669
„Bandits, 3 o’clock“, reported Schneider, when he spotted a formation of Japanese Navy planes between light clouds.
http://www.wingsofwar.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=143158&d=1410278669
The two Wildcats gave full speed to catch up with the Japs. It was a small formation of Aichi Val dive bombers and a Mitsubishi Zero escort fighter.
http://www.wingsofwar.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=143152&d=1410278638
Schneider fired the first shots at the leading bomber and get well placed fire from the rear gunner in return.
It was a risky decision to irgnore the intercepting Zero for the bombers and Bowmann's Wildcat, the "Black 13" catched a partial burst from the Jap, but the experienced pilot avoided a bigger damage.
http://www.wingsofwar.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=143153&d=1410278638
When the Zero passe behind them, both US pilots were able to concentrate on the bombers for a short time.
http://www.wingsofwar.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=143154&d=1410278638
The second dive bomber was shoked by the impact of Bowmann's salvo and the rear gunner was silenced.
http://www.wingsofwar.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=143155&d=1410278638
The Zero was in range again and aimed at Schneider's plane.
Then the disaster happened, when rear gun bullets from the leading bomber hit into the left wing root of Bowmann's "Black 13". An explosion ripped of the wing and Bowmann's plane fell out of the sky like a stone.
http://www.wingsofwar.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=143156&d=1410278638
"What the hell..., thought Schneider, but there were no chance to look after his comrade now.
Between the bombers, he reduced speed and was directly behind the leading bomber. Before it's rear gunner was able to react, a burst from six .50 cal machine guns ripped the Val in pieces.
http://www.wingsofwar.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=143147&d=1410278589
A wave to the right shook off the irritating Zero for a second and Schneider waved back to the left immediately and finished of the second bomber with a long burst.
http://www.wingsofwar.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=143148&d=1410278589
The bomber went down to the sea in flames.
http://www.wingsofwar.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=143149&d=1410278589
Again, Lt.Cmdr. Schneider used a moment, when the Zero wasn't directly on his six and performed an half loop and impacts of his bullets gave the Jap a taste of his near end.
http://www.wingsofwar.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=143150&d=1410278589
With full throttle, using the higher speed of the Wildcat the US pilot turned around in half loop again.
http://www.wingsofwar.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=143151&d=1410278589
The second close range hits shot down the Japanese escort fighter.
http://www.wingsofwar.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=143142&d=1410278547
"This was for Bowman, you damn basXXXX", he shouted and dived down to the sea to watch for the area where the "Black 13" went down.
http://www.wingsofwar.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=143143&d=1410278547
After a short search without result the leader of VF-5 had to return to USS Saratoga, due to his low fuel reserves.
During his approach he informed the communication station on board of the ship about the location of the fight, to start search and rescue mission as soon as possible, hoping the best for his comrade and member of his squadron.
http://www.wingsofwar.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=143144&d=1410278547