Flying Officer Kyte
10-08-2015, 12:45
178006
Hugh Pugh, as he soon became known, popped over to Luqa early one morning for a chat with Ron von Bleyswick of 148 who was Warby's (Alan Warburton) second pilot on the Maryland Observation flight.( Hugh was a hands on CO.)
"Got an interesting one for you here my boy." he said to Ron.
Just pop over to Sicily tomorrow morning, and take a shufti at Cosimo for me. We think a few ships are waiting to nip across to Tripoli any time, and would like to nip 'em off at the pass as it were. Ginger Blaney of 261 from Hal Far will give you a bit of top cover, but I don't expect much of a show from the Regia, now that the Luftwaffe have pulled out."
Early next morning Ginger rendezvoused with Ron over Valetta.
178007
It was a clear crisp morning and the coast of Sicily was visible some 60 miles off on the horizon.
Ginger had met Ron previously, but when he was greeted by Ron's voice over the RT. he was surprised that the Laconic Dutch accent seemed to be tinged with a slight American twang, which had not been apparent in normal conversation.
"Black one, to Red one. Goedemorgen old chum. over."
"And the top of the morning to you me Bucko." came back Ginger's response."I'll look after your tail. Lets go and get those photos. Over and out."
With no more ado, both aircraft headed North towards the enemy coastline.
178009
About 20 minutes later both pilots could make out their objective and swung in over the coastline.
178013
178011
They were not unobserved, however, and already a flight of four Macchis had been scrambled from the Airbase further inland.
178012
They were very soon clawing their way up the sky to the altitude of the Maryland and her escort.
178014
Ginger thumbed his switches to on, and dived upon the centre of the Italians formation, intent on scattering them to the four winds.
178015
Exchanging fire with the nearest Macchi, he immediately set it on fire, as a few return rounds hit his starboard wing.
For an instant the Italian pilot made as if to climb, and then dived away still burning.
178016
As the other three machines banked to come up behind the now receding Maryland, Ginger threw his Hurricane into a racing turn to get onto their tails.
178017
He also took the opportunity to get a snap deflection shot off at the tail end Charlie as it followed its companions.
178018
Ron von Bleyswick now came under fire for the first time, but his robust machine just shrugged off the long range attack.
178019
Meanwhile the burning machine seemed to be getting its fire under control as it overdived towards the sea.
178020
Unperturbed by the commotion behind him Ron dived, and then started his photographic run at slow speed over the town and docks.
178021
178008
The burning Macchi still plummeted toward the bay.
178022
Ginger now closed with the next Macchi and walked his bullets along the fuselage from nose to tail.
178023
Within seconds it nosed over and ploughed into the hillside.
178024
Continuing the turn automatically brought the next Macchi under Ginger's guns. "Just like a duck shoot." He remarked to Ron over the RT.
178025
Now turning back low over the coast, the first machine managed to extinguish its fire, but was far too low to effect the slaughter taking place above.
178026
The leader of the Italian Flight had finally got onto Ron's tail, but with half a mind on what was taking place in his rear, did not get a very good burst into the Maryland.
178027
Ginger was by this time pumping a series of short bursts into the enemy leader's Wingman who was now also on Ron's case.
178028
Manning the turret gun Flt.Sgt. Neil McFadden was returning the complement.
178029
Next the Wingman went down in a ball of flame to explode in the centre of the town.
178030
That just left the Italian Flight Leader, whom Ginger had finally driven off Ron's tail.
178031
Deciding that he could not outrun Ginger, the brave pilot Immelmanned, and went chicken with the Hurricane.
178032
One brief exchange was all that it took, and the Italian pilot took to the silk, whilst Ginger overflew the Macchi as it hit the drink.
178033
Although his own engine was now smoking and starting to stutter,
"Three in on one mission was not bad." Ginger thought as he looked for Ron.
However, he had reckoned without the bravado of these Italian pilots. The Macchi which had been on fire has spent all this time climbing back into the action, and was now giving Ron's Maryland a hard time of it.
178034
As it nipped behind the photo recon aircraft , Neil McFadden got a fleeting shot in as it emerged from behind his aircraft's tail, but not enough to worry the pilot.
178035
Ginger meantime was having to contend with Italian Flack. The gunners having finally decided that only enemy aircraft were now overhead.
178036
Fortunately nothing came close.
178037
The Macchi continued to harry Ron. Its pilot intent on preventing the photographs getting back to Malta.
178038
178039
In his attempt to destroy the Maryland he came ever closer.
178040
At last he made an error, had to avoid a collision and Neil got off another burst, which shattered the Macchi's canopy wounding the pilot.
178041
Ginger meanwhile was clearing the town in pursuit, when another flack burst shuddered his Hurricane tossing it about the sky, and damaging its airframe.
178042
Things were starting to look black for the team, as at the same moment the Macchi' s tenacious wounded pilots got a hit on one of Ron's engines, forcing him to shut it down.
178043
In return Neil peppered the Macchi.
178044
One more exchange was enough for the hard hit Italian.
178045
Despite the Maryland struggling along on only one engine, he turned away and headed for his home airfield.
178046
With even more bad luck coming his way, he flew right across Ginger's nose.
178047
Reluctant to allow him to escape, Ginger gave him a squirt, and turned onto his tail.
The Macchi very wisely dived away.
178048
178049
Now at long range, and refusing to put his wounded bird under more strain by diving after the Italian, Ginger gave up the chase and turned for home with barely enough fuel to get him back to Hal Far.
178050
178051
"Oh well a hat trick is better than nothing." he mused as he caught up with Ron and his crew.
"Red one to Black one. Think you chaps can make it back on one engine Ron?"
"Ja mijn vriend. It vill take more than a few Ities to stop von Bleyswick."
Rob.
The Butcher's Bill.
261 Sq, Flt. Lt Ginger Blaney. RTB.Engine damage. Three kills.
148 Sq. Flt Lt. Ron von Bleyswick. RTB. Mission completed.
Crewmen Flt Sgt. Neil McFadden, and PO. D1ck Richardson RTB.
178053
Italians.
Three Macchis shot down. One with wounded pilot escaped.
178052
Rob.
Hugh Pugh, as he soon became known, popped over to Luqa early one morning for a chat with Ron von Bleyswick of 148 who was Warby's (Alan Warburton) second pilot on the Maryland Observation flight.( Hugh was a hands on CO.)
"Got an interesting one for you here my boy." he said to Ron.
Just pop over to Sicily tomorrow morning, and take a shufti at Cosimo for me. We think a few ships are waiting to nip across to Tripoli any time, and would like to nip 'em off at the pass as it were. Ginger Blaney of 261 from Hal Far will give you a bit of top cover, but I don't expect much of a show from the Regia, now that the Luftwaffe have pulled out."
Early next morning Ginger rendezvoused with Ron over Valetta.
178007
It was a clear crisp morning and the coast of Sicily was visible some 60 miles off on the horizon.
Ginger had met Ron previously, but when he was greeted by Ron's voice over the RT. he was surprised that the Laconic Dutch accent seemed to be tinged with a slight American twang, which had not been apparent in normal conversation.
"Black one, to Red one. Goedemorgen old chum. over."
"And the top of the morning to you me Bucko." came back Ginger's response."I'll look after your tail. Lets go and get those photos. Over and out."
With no more ado, both aircraft headed North towards the enemy coastline.
178009
About 20 minutes later both pilots could make out their objective and swung in over the coastline.
178013
178011
They were not unobserved, however, and already a flight of four Macchis had been scrambled from the Airbase further inland.
178012
They were very soon clawing their way up the sky to the altitude of the Maryland and her escort.
178014
Ginger thumbed his switches to on, and dived upon the centre of the Italians formation, intent on scattering them to the four winds.
178015
Exchanging fire with the nearest Macchi, he immediately set it on fire, as a few return rounds hit his starboard wing.
For an instant the Italian pilot made as if to climb, and then dived away still burning.
178016
As the other three machines banked to come up behind the now receding Maryland, Ginger threw his Hurricane into a racing turn to get onto their tails.
178017
He also took the opportunity to get a snap deflection shot off at the tail end Charlie as it followed its companions.
178018
Ron von Bleyswick now came under fire for the first time, but his robust machine just shrugged off the long range attack.
178019
Meanwhile the burning machine seemed to be getting its fire under control as it overdived towards the sea.
178020
Unperturbed by the commotion behind him Ron dived, and then started his photographic run at slow speed over the town and docks.
178021
178008
The burning Macchi still plummeted toward the bay.
178022
Ginger now closed with the next Macchi and walked his bullets along the fuselage from nose to tail.
178023
Within seconds it nosed over and ploughed into the hillside.
178024
Continuing the turn automatically brought the next Macchi under Ginger's guns. "Just like a duck shoot." He remarked to Ron over the RT.
178025
Now turning back low over the coast, the first machine managed to extinguish its fire, but was far too low to effect the slaughter taking place above.
178026
The leader of the Italian Flight had finally got onto Ron's tail, but with half a mind on what was taking place in his rear, did not get a very good burst into the Maryland.
178027
Ginger was by this time pumping a series of short bursts into the enemy leader's Wingman who was now also on Ron's case.
178028
Manning the turret gun Flt.Sgt. Neil McFadden was returning the complement.
178029
Next the Wingman went down in a ball of flame to explode in the centre of the town.
178030
That just left the Italian Flight Leader, whom Ginger had finally driven off Ron's tail.
178031
Deciding that he could not outrun Ginger, the brave pilot Immelmanned, and went chicken with the Hurricane.
178032
One brief exchange was all that it took, and the Italian pilot took to the silk, whilst Ginger overflew the Macchi as it hit the drink.
178033
Although his own engine was now smoking and starting to stutter,
"Three in on one mission was not bad." Ginger thought as he looked for Ron.
However, he had reckoned without the bravado of these Italian pilots. The Macchi which had been on fire has spent all this time climbing back into the action, and was now giving Ron's Maryland a hard time of it.
178034
As it nipped behind the photo recon aircraft , Neil McFadden got a fleeting shot in as it emerged from behind his aircraft's tail, but not enough to worry the pilot.
178035
Ginger meantime was having to contend with Italian Flack. The gunners having finally decided that only enemy aircraft were now overhead.
178036
Fortunately nothing came close.
178037
The Macchi continued to harry Ron. Its pilot intent on preventing the photographs getting back to Malta.
178038
178039
In his attempt to destroy the Maryland he came ever closer.
178040
At last he made an error, had to avoid a collision and Neil got off another burst, which shattered the Macchi's canopy wounding the pilot.
178041
Ginger meanwhile was clearing the town in pursuit, when another flack burst shuddered his Hurricane tossing it about the sky, and damaging its airframe.
178042
Things were starting to look black for the team, as at the same moment the Macchi' s tenacious wounded pilots got a hit on one of Ron's engines, forcing him to shut it down.
178043
In return Neil peppered the Macchi.
178044
One more exchange was enough for the hard hit Italian.
178045
Despite the Maryland struggling along on only one engine, he turned away and headed for his home airfield.
178046
With even more bad luck coming his way, he flew right across Ginger's nose.
178047
Reluctant to allow him to escape, Ginger gave him a squirt, and turned onto his tail.
The Macchi very wisely dived away.
178048
178049
Now at long range, and refusing to put his wounded bird under more strain by diving after the Italian, Ginger gave up the chase and turned for home with barely enough fuel to get him back to Hal Far.
178050
178051
"Oh well a hat trick is better than nothing." he mused as he caught up with Ron and his crew.
"Red one to Black one. Think you chaps can make it back on one engine Ron?"
"Ja mijn vriend. It vill take more than a few Ities to stop von Bleyswick."
Rob.
The Butcher's Bill.
261 Sq, Flt. Lt Ginger Blaney. RTB.Engine damage. Three kills.
148 Sq. Flt Lt. Ron von Bleyswick. RTB. Mission completed.
Crewmen Flt Sgt. Neil McFadden, and PO. D1ck Richardson RTB.
178053
Italians.
Three Macchis shot down. One with wounded pilot escaped.
178052
Rob.