Flying Officer Kyte
10-07-2014, 07:17
Fighter attrition over Malta.
Air Commodore Kyte was sweating profusely as he pedaled
his bicycle the last few hundred yards to his office at Kalafrana.
147324
It had been a long day visiting the outposts, but with so many of the roads full of bomb craters from the proceeding nights raids, it was virtually impossible to get his Staff car through, even to Takali. That was if his driver could magic up any petrol for it.
The important thing now was to get his bike stowed away before any of Squadron Leader Loukes' chaps Sgt Dimmer, or F.O. Collins got hold of it. The Magicians as they were known, were dab hands at spiriting bicycles away.
147325
The next time you saw them, they were incorporated in one of the Gladiators' air frames. Such was the scarcity of spare parts becoming.
147326
Even before he had settled on the veranda overlooking the airfield with a Gin and Tonic in his hand the next air raid was starting somewhere over towards Hal Far.
147327
Well the only aircraft still available there were three Hurricanes and the remaining two Gladiators which were cover for the Hurricanes when returning to refuel.
He reflected that if the Italians continued these bombing raids three times a day, which they had been stepping up throughout September, there would soon be no aircraft for the Gladiators to cover anyway. A Convoy was needed very soon, or the Island would be starved into submission. As it was the AA batteries around Valetta were restricted to ten rounds a day.
His bicycle ride tour of inspection had proved to be a very salutary lesson indeed.
The upsurge in Italian bombing raids had made a great impression on Peter Bouncer-Smythe, and his Flight.
They were now down to the three operational Hurricanes, and were putting up three sorties a day, with very little chance of any rest at night due to the incessant bombing raids.
Sitting in the aircraft in the heat of a September afternoon with full kit and a Mae West was impossible, so most of them were now wearing shorts, shirt, and had removed the cockpit canopy entirely to try and keep cool.
147329
Even so Peter was sweating, when the three red very lights went up for the second time that day.
With switches on, and chocks away he started to taxi toward the runway, trying to get off before the idling Merlin overheated.
he was closely followed by Ginger Blaney and Ronnie Sanderson whom he could just make out through the rising clouds of dust that each machine was kicking up.
The three aircraft hardly had time to get their wheels retracted before the RT crackled into life.
"Banjo to Red Leader do you copy Peter". came the voice of the Director of Opps over the airwaves.
"Red Leader receiving you loud and clear sir". replied Peter.
"Good! We have big jobs and little jobs about 20 miles out from Hot Dog, vector 45. Looks like about 20 of them at about 20,000".
"Thank you sir. We will intercept" replied Peter.
"Good hunting Peter. Kyte out".
"Get that chaps?"
"Yes Pete." came the voices of Ginger and Ronnie in unison.
"Good then we will get above them and execute the new plan.
Ginger and I will scatter the chickens, whilst you go for the hen house Ronnie."
"Wilco that Pete came back their voices".
Climbing to about 30,000 feet they could see the whole of the island spread out below them and the inlet of grand harbour , together with Kalafrana bay was easily picked out between the scattered clouds.
147330
As Peter scanned the sky for the first view of the enemy the RT sprang to life again.
"Banjo to Red Leader. The jobs have split up. some are heading towards Kalafrana. Change course to intercept Peter."
"Wilco sir".
Banking in unison, they soon picked up the Italian machines heading towards the FAA base in Kalafrana bay.
147331
"Looks like about three Stukas and four Macchis as escorts Pete." came Ginger's voice.
"Righto! let's get at 'em boys, but keep your eyes peeled for any top cover they may have waiting."
With that the three Hurricanes, screamed down onto the enemy fighters, with Ronnie carrying on straight through the middle of them to get at the dive bombers below.
147333
The ploy worked like magic as the chickens scattered, and Ronnie got after the Stukas, just before they started to dive on the naval base.
147334
147335
Peter picked out the two rearmost Macchis to lavish their attention upon and soon had them under their guns, as they dropped onto the Italians' tails.
147336
Giving a quick 30 rounds squirt each, both enemy machines were hit, and Peters' opposing pilot gave an involuntary jerk as he was hit in the shoulder.
"Got the devil". came over the RT. for all to hear.
Meanwhile, Ronnie was also getting his Stuka, although receiving some attention in return from its rear gunner.
147337
Peter and Ginger could not be shaken by their adversaries, and continued to punish them.
147338
Just as they were about to send the two Italians down for an early bath, another Macchi appeared from nowhere and at extreme range, and by dint of surprise hit Peter's hurricane.
147339
"Bugger got me". said Peter clutching his right shoulder for an instant. blood was seeping through his shirt, just above the elbow. Giving the shirt a twist and buttoning it back was just enough to stem the flow of blood for the time being.
"You O.K. Leader".
" Yes Ginger, bit of a scratch but I'm going to have that son of a.......".
"Well you got your first one anyway Pete. look at him go".
Peter glanced down just in time to see the Macchi hit the water with a splash.
147340
With no more time to spare he quickly glanced around to find the other aircraft.
Ignoring the one that had wounded him, both he and Ginger got after the already damaged machine which seemed to be making off.
147341
This time Ginger was quickest on the button, and he had hardly opened fire before a silken parachute billowed out beneath the diving aircraft.
147342
"One all" said Ginger over the RT.
147343
Now with two on two, all aircraft manoeuvred to try and gain the ascendency.
147344
Peter, got in first this time, and as his aircraft took some superficial damage, he fired directly into the cockpit of the oncoming Macchi and saw it veer off course just in time to avoid a head on collision.
147345
Both he and Ginger simultaneously pulled a banking turn to get after the obviously wounded pilot.
147346
Peter now found himself going head to head with the pilot who had wounded him on their first pass and, both now sustained engine damage as they raked each other's machines in a fly by.
147347
Peter intent on gaining revenge now Immeled to get on the tail of his antagonist, but in so doing his wound caused him to fail to open fire, plus the fact that he had left himself open to attack from the other Macchi which had also Immelmanned at the same time.
147348
Continuing to be hit from the rear, Peter resolutely stuck to the tail of his own victim, until outfoxing his pursuer and with with one last sustained burst he finally sent it down to join its compatriots in Kalafrana bay.
147349
147350
147351
147353
Deciding that without ammo and badly hit himself he decided to try and save the precious Hurricane and head for home.
147354
With a quick message to Ginger he left the last Macchi for him to dispose of.
Opening up on the Italian, Ginger realised that the pilot was intent on taking down Peter's still smoking and crippled machine.
147355
"Watch your tail Pete. I'm on my way" he radioed.
147356
Peter, well aware of his precarious situation, and trying desperately to keep out of the Macchi's range dived for home, and the covering fire of the Malta AA batteries on the cliffs.
147357
The end chase was now on, with none of the aircraft able to bring their guns to bear.
Eventually, Ginger managed to cut across the turning circle of the Italians plane and delivered a short burst.
147358
Whilst doing no damage it did appraise him to the fact that the predator was now the game.
147359
Veering away from the coast and the lurking AA, he attempted to circle out to sea in an attempt to escape.
147360
Ginger was having none of that, and first set him on fire, then followed him down to watch him finally extinguish himself in the bay.
147361
147362
"Two all" came the clarion call over Peter's RT.
147363
"Now let's get you home my lad before you have a real accident" With that he set out after Peter's still smoking Hurricane.
At the other end of the bay, Ronnie was not getting things his own way. Having chased off the first Stuka fairly easily, after it jettisoned its bombs harmlessly into the sea, he arrived back in time to see the second machine in mid dive over the engineering shop.
Firing at the next in line his glycol delivery pipe was punctured by the rear gunners return fire and he started to trail a white emission in his wake right across the bay.
147364
Reaching the first bomber at its most vulnerable at the bottom of its dive Ronnie let it have both cannons and machine guns in its under belly.
147365
As its bombs exploded, not on the Machine shop, but on Kyte's bike shed, the shockwave hit Ronnie's Hurricane like a tidal wave and carried him up several hundred feet along with the climbing Stuka.
147366
As one Stuka made off towards the east, Ronnie regained control of his aircraft and hared off in the opposite direction after the nearest enemy.
147367
As he gained on the fleeing Italian pilot, he saw Ginger, having seen Peter on his way home, returning to the fray.
147369
Unfortunately the Italian also saw the trap closing upon him.
147368
Slipping through the rapidly closing gap and escaping some desultory fire from both Hurricanes, he slipped out to sea.
147370
In spite of a last engine hit from Ronnie, who then ran out of cannon shells, he put his nose down, and skimming the wave tops escaped back to Sicily with his badly damaged machine.
Ronnie and Ginger, almost out of fuel let him go.
147371
The aftermath:-
Did Air Commodore Kyte's bicycle survive?
147374
How did the wounded Peter Bouncer-Smythe fare when he tried to land his aircraft?
You will have to await the pronouncements of Squadron Leader Skafloc to find out.
The Butcher's bill.
261 Squadron (Hal Far)
Flt. Lt. Peter Bouncer-Smythe RTB. W. Two victories. 13 damage.
Flt. Lt. Patrick (Ginger) Blaney. RTB. Two victories. No damage.
Flt. Lt. Ronnie Sanderson. RTB. 8 damage points.
Kalafrana Repair shops one bicycle shed destroyed.
147372
Regia Aeronautica.
Four Macchi fighters shot down.
Three. Stuka Dive bombers RTB. Damaged.
147373
Rob.
Air Commodore Kyte was sweating profusely as he pedaled
his bicycle the last few hundred yards to his office at Kalafrana.
147324
It had been a long day visiting the outposts, but with so many of the roads full of bomb craters from the proceeding nights raids, it was virtually impossible to get his Staff car through, even to Takali. That was if his driver could magic up any petrol for it.
The important thing now was to get his bike stowed away before any of Squadron Leader Loukes' chaps Sgt Dimmer, or F.O. Collins got hold of it. The Magicians as they were known, were dab hands at spiriting bicycles away.
147325
The next time you saw them, they were incorporated in one of the Gladiators' air frames. Such was the scarcity of spare parts becoming.
147326
Even before he had settled on the veranda overlooking the airfield with a Gin and Tonic in his hand the next air raid was starting somewhere over towards Hal Far.
147327
Well the only aircraft still available there were three Hurricanes and the remaining two Gladiators which were cover for the Hurricanes when returning to refuel.
He reflected that if the Italians continued these bombing raids three times a day, which they had been stepping up throughout September, there would soon be no aircraft for the Gladiators to cover anyway. A Convoy was needed very soon, or the Island would be starved into submission. As it was the AA batteries around Valetta were restricted to ten rounds a day.
His bicycle ride tour of inspection had proved to be a very salutary lesson indeed.
The upsurge in Italian bombing raids had made a great impression on Peter Bouncer-Smythe, and his Flight.
They were now down to the three operational Hurricanes, and were putting up three sorties a day, with very little chance of any rest at night due to the incessant bombing raids.
Sitting in the aircraft in the heat of a September afternoon with full kit and a Mae West was impossible, so most of them were now wearing shorts, shirt, and had removed the cockpit canopy entirely to try and keep cool.
147329
Even so Peter was sweating, when the three red very lights went up for the second time that day.
With switches on, and chocks away he started to taxi toward the runway, trying to get off before the idling Merlin overheated.
he was closely followed by Ginger Blaney and Ronnie Sanderson whom he could just make out through the rising clouds of dust that each machine was kicking up.
The three aircraft hardly had time to get their wheels retracted before the RT crackled into life.
"Banjo to Red Leader do you copy Peter". came the voice of the Director of Opps over the airwaves.
"Red Leader receiving you loud and clear sir". replied Peter.
"Good! We have big jobs and little jobs about 20 miles out from Hot Dog, vector 45. Looks like about 20 of them at about 20,000".
"Thank you sir. We will intercept" replied Peter.
"Good hunting Peter. Kyte out".
"Get that chaps?"
"Yes Pete." came the voices of Ginger and Ronnie in unison.
"Good then we will get above them and execute the new plan.
Ginger and I will scatter the chickens, whilst you go for the hen house Ronnie."
"Wilco that Pete came back their voices".
Climbing to about 30,000 feet they could see the whole of the island spread out below them and the inlet of grand harbour , together with Kalafrana bay was easily picked out between the scattered clouds.
147330
As Peter scanned the sky for the first view of the enemy the RT sprang to life again.
"Banjo to Red Leader. The jobs have split up. some are heading towards Kalafrana. Change course to intercept Peter."
"Wilco sir".
Banking in unison, they soon picked up the Italian machines heading towards the FAA base in Kalafrana bay.
147331
"Looks like about three Stukas and four Macchis as escorts Pete." came Ginger's voice.
"Righto! let's get at 'em boys, but keep your eyes peeled for any top cover they may have waiting."
With that the three Hurricanes, screamed down onto the enemy fighters, with Ronnie carrying on straight through the middle of them to get at the dive bombers below.
147333
The ploy worked like magic as the chickens scattered, and Ronnie got after the Stukas, just before they started to dive on the naval base.
147334
147335
Peter picked out the two rearmost Macchis to lavish their attention upon and soon had them under their guns, as they dropped onto the Italians' tails.
147336
Giving a quick 30 rounds squirt each, both enemy machines were hit, and Peters' opposing pilot gave an involuntary jerk as he was hit in the shoulder.
"Got the devil". came over the RT. for all to hear.
Meanwhile, Ronnie was also getting his Stuka, although receiving some attention in return from its rear gunner.
147337
Peter and Ginger could not be shaken by their adversaries, and continued to punish them.
147338
Just as they were about to send the two Italians down for an early bath, another Macchi appeared from nowhere and at extreme range, and by dint of surprise hit Peter's hurricane.
147339
"Bugger got me". said Peter clutching his right shoulder for an instant. blood was seeping through his shirt, just above the elbow. Giving the shirt a twist and buttoning it back was just enough to stem the flow of blood for the time being.
"You O.K. Leader".
" Yes Ginger, bit of a scratch but I'm going to have that son of a.......".
"Well you got your first one anyway Pete. look at him go".
Peter glanced down just in time to see the Macchi hit the water with a splash.
147340
With no more time to spare he quickly glanced around to find the other aircraft.
Ignoring the one that had wounded him, both he and Ginger got after the already damaged machine which seemed to be making off.
147341
This time Ginger was quickest on the button, and he had hardly opened fire before a silken parachute billowed out beneath the diving aircraft.
147342
"One all" said Ginger over the RT.
147343
Now with two on two, all aircraft manoeuvred to try and gain the ascendency.
147344
Peter, got in first this time, and as his aircraft took some superficial damage, he fired directly into the cockpit of the oncoming Macchi and saw it veer off course just in time to avoid a head on collision.
147345
Both he and Ginger simultaneously pulled a banking turn to get after the obviously wounded pilot.
147346
Peter now found himself going head to head with the pilot who had wounded him on their first pass and, both now sustained engine damage as they raked each other's machines in a fly by.
147347
Peter intent on gaining revenge now Immeled to get on the tail of his antagonist, but in so doing his wound caused him to fail to open fire, plus the fact that he had left himself open to attack from the other Macchi which had also Immelmanned at the same time.
147348
Continuing to be hit from the rear, Peter resolutely stuck to the tail of his own victim, until outfoxing his pursuer and with with one last sustained burst he finally sent it down to join its compatriots in Kalafrana bay.
147349
147350
147351
147353
Deciding that without ammo and badly hit himself he decided to try and save the precious Hurricane and head for home.
147354
With a quick message to Ginger he left the last Macchi for him to dispose of.
Opening up on the Italian, Ginger realised that the pilot was intent on taking down Peter's still smoking and crippled machine.
147355
"Watch your tail Pete. I'm on my way" he radioed.
147356
Peter, well aware of his precarious situation, and trying desperately to keep out of the Macchi's range dived for home, and the covering fire of the Malta AA batteries on the cliffs.
147357
The end chase was now on, with none of the aircraft able to bring their guns to bear.
Eventually, Ginger managed to cut across the turning circle of the Italians plane and delivered a short burst.
147358
Whilst doing no damage it did appraise him to the fact that the predator was now the game.
147359
Veering away from the coast and the lurking AA, he attempted to circle out to sea in an attempt to escape.
147360
Ginger was having none of that, and first set him on fire, then followed him down to watch him finally extinguish himself in the bay.
147361
147362
"Two all" came the clarion call over Peter's RT.
147363
"Now let's get you home my lad before you have a real accident" With that he set out after Peter's still smoking Hurricane.
At the other end of the bay, Ronnie was not getting things his own way. Having chased off the first Stuka fairly easily, after it jettisoned its bombs harmlessly into the sea, he arrived back in time to see the second machine in mid dive over the engineering shop.
Firing at the next in line his glycol delivery pipe was punctured by the rear gunners return fire and he started to trail a white emission in his wake right across the bay.
147364
Reaching the first bomber at its most vulnerable at the bottom of its dive Ronnie let it have both cannons and machine guns in its under belly.
147365
As its bombs exploded, not on the Machine shop, but on Kyte's bike shed, the shockwave hit Ronnie's Hurricane like a tidal wave and carried him up several hundred feet along with the climbing Stuka.
147366
As one Stuka made off towards the east, Ronnie regained control of his aircraft and hared off in the opposite direction after the nearest enemy.
147367
As he gained on the fleeing Italian pilot, he saw Ginger, having seen Peter on his way home, returning to the fray.
147369
Unfortunately the Italian also saw the trap closing upon him.
147368
Slipping through the rapidly closing gap and escaping some desultory fire from both Hurricanes, he slipped out to sea.
147370
In spite of a last engine hit from Ronnie, who then ran out of cannon shells, he put his nose down, and skimming the wave tops escaped back to Sicily with his badly damaged machine.
Ronnie and Ginger, almost out of fuel let him go.
147371
The aftermath:-
Did Air Commodore Kyte's bicycle survive?
147374
How did the wounded Peter Bouncer-Smythe fare when he tried to land his aircraft?
You will have to await the pronouncements of Squadron Leader Skafloc to find out.
The Butcher's bill.
261 Squadron (Hal Far)
Flt. Lt. Peter Bouncer-Smythe RTB. W. Two victories. 13 damage.
Flt. Lt. Patrick (Ginger) Blaney. RTB. Two victories. No damage.
Flt. Lt. Ronnie Sanderson. RTB. 8 damage points.
Kalafrana Repair shops one bicycle shed destroyed.
147372
Regia Aeronautica.
Four Macchi fighters shot down.
Three. Stuka Dive bombers RTB. Damaged.
147373
Rob.