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RE: herbiesan vs Cantona!!!

 
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RE: herbiesan vs Cantona!!! - 2/15/2009 8:40:25 PM   
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The Americans come again .

Today there is nearly 20 odd of ‘Tojo’s Tigers’ in the air as the big bombers make their attack –and they all might as well have been on the ground for all the use they do.
Both of the twins are in the air – again well east of Kwaljien –when the Ack Ack begins to flower over the Atoll –and even as they both wing over and begin to lead their sections back towards the atoll under maximum power, they know that the Americans have out witted them, only retribution is available for what is about to occur.


Only 5 bombers are coming in –from the North west –they have obviously circled widely on their flight from Wake –and they are little disturbed by today’s ground fire. They attack the shipping in the harbour – and two 500 lb bombs strike the repair ship tucked away in the south east corner.

She is no military build this ship – the hits are devastating, within minutes she begins to shovel out massive clouds of evil smoke –and the sorry tale of rescue by the myriad fleet of small boats begins.

The bombers, eggs planted, swing sharply to the south, placing maximum distance between them and the avenging fighters –and they build up speed as they head for the deck.
Again 47th sentai is strung out. Juni V can see that this is going to be a difficult task –but he will try anyway……..
The bombers begin to wheel slowly back to the North –and the fighters are finally above and amongst them.
Juni V glances at his gauges –fuel? –barely!
Crap.
Throttle fully forward –dive! – aiming for the wing roots.
The bombers are firing back –tracer lazily winging his way –the ocean races past barely 100 feet below –crap!, crap, crap! –Juni V hauls his fighter away –there is nothing to be gained here in immolating himself on a bomber that’s already finished its mission.

The bombers simply get away – some hit, but barely damaged, and two of the Tigers are damaged in return.

Later – when things become quiet, both twins try to analyse their feelings. Its been a bad moment this turning away from the attack. Have they been cowards?, or can they justify their actions based on specific orders to “preserve our fighter strength”.
The order makes military sense –but leaves a distinct bad taste in the mouth –it certainly does not feel the samurai way .
They both vow that they will do better tomorrow.

(in reply to Treznor)
Post #: 481
RE: herbiesan vs Cantona!!! - 2/15/2009 9:26:50 PM   
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Iwaya is hot, tired, and extremely frustrated.
There are some things that money cannot buy –and today on Kwaljien –its scotch.

The Army had been the worst – there seemed to be a bewildering number of small command bunkers on this God forsaken patch of Coral –and Iwaya had seemingly seen the inside of nearly every one of them –deep dark holes covered in layer after layer of Palm tree trunks ( not a single palm tree currently remained on Kwaljien now) –each one fitted out with its radio –personal gear –endless crates of ammunition –and no Alcohol.
He’d heard the news right from the start –General Sakurai had simply banned it for the forces under his command (probably the most brutal command ever issued by a general in the history of the Imperial Army) –determined that his men “would dig bunkers instead of drinking –train instead of drinking –and “purify themselves spiritually and physically for the fight ahead”
Iwaya quickly gained the Impression that General Sakurai was the most hated man in Japan –by mid morning he hated him too.

Fourth Fleet HQ probably had Scotch –probably had just about anything he needed –but today(of ALL days) was not a good day to even approach that bee hive – the allied Carriers had been sighted today 320 miles to the south –and 4th Fleet looked like a wasps nest kicked over –orderlies running in every direction.

That left the airforce –which meant no Scotch for sure –if he, Iwaya did not have any –then there was none to be had,
Despondently Iwaya Plants his butt into the hot sand and looks across the lagoon. Hyakutake is with him –he too is hot and sweating –and both look up in envy as the next patrol of Tigers roars overhead and climbs into the cool blue.
It would be true to say that if you suggested to the pair that people would one day pay to sit on such a tropical beach -they would have thought you mad.
“We’re %$#@ed Hyakutake, Nakamura is going to kill me!”
“I think” smiles Hyakutake “ that if we don’t stop these bombers soon , he’s going to do worse than that to us!”
“Yes”, Iwaya idly throws a few shell fish shells into the calm lagoon “ and to do that, we need cannons, and the Navy fly the cannons, and to get the cannons we need some scotch, because all navy pilots are drunks –but there is no Scotch –probably because the navy has drunk it all!”
“Frustrating yes”
“yes –the great circle of life and all that crap”

The waves lap gently on the beach - they are not clean waves though – a great deal of debris line the shores edges –and the lagoon is not all that pretty at the moment.
The AR is listing noticeably – and smoke is still coming only slowly out of her port side.
4 sunken submarines lie discarded -2 on the beaches –the other 2 just conning towers sticking up. A great red belly marks one submarine support vessels upturning –the other is still upright –but the water laps gently at her main deck.
Even two Army pilots can tell –the Navy has not had a good week here.

The Navy!
OK –the Navy drinks –which means it carries, which might mean…………

An hour later sees Iwaya and Hyakutake busily paddling out to the smoldering AR.
Overhead their companions are on patrol –vital work –buththis is far, far more important.
The first thing that strikes Iwaya –is just how big a ship is –especially viewed from a canoe –at first its great steel sides defeat them –but Hyakutake won’t be deterred – the great anchor chain is still down –and with a fair effort he shimmies up it.

A scrambling net soon comes down, and Iwaya shortly finds himself on the decks of a very strange new world.
The ship –to him – is bewildering –the crazy sloped deck –the devastation down aft –the confusing ladders and corridors.
Entry into the ship is impossible –she is smoke choked –and both men pause immediately as they open the first door leading into the ship –the distinct sound of water rushing into the ship can be heard in the silence
“I don’t think we have much time” notes Iwaya
“Oh –enough –we might have to swim for it though!”
But Hyakutake seems to have a good third sense about this ship –he leads them steadily up to the bridge –and from there its only one short passageway and ladder into the ships deep dark gloom –and the wardroom.
“Success!!!” yells Iwaya “you genius!”

The bombs struck at a bad time –but for these guys –a good time
“Jonny Walker Black –the good stuff!”


From the Combat diary of Colonel Nakamua……

Visited the Navy fighter unit today –we have come to a new operational agreement…………….



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Post #: 482
RE: herbiesan vs Cantona!!! - 2/15/2009 9:30:33 PM   
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Operational agreement -Tojos to attack enemy bombers first -the more vulnerable but heavier hitting zeros, to finish them off
(the agreement will probably last as long as the scotch does)




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RE: herbiesan vs Cantona!!! - 2/15/2009 9:50:08 PM   
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Operations report 47th sentai

Planes available 36
Pilots available 36

Combat patrol missions flown all day –nil contacts

Unit beginning to show some signs of fatigue –and 2 cases of de hydration treated today. Some pilots report severe tropical rashes and the like –remain on duty
Base on maximum alert –enemy carrier task force operating near Tarawa island.

Have been informed that 70th sentai is coming to reinforce us –and that a third KI-44 unit is being raised in Takao.

Pilot morale remains good


21/8/42

Three men stand face to face on the narrow submarine casing
Two of them are brown, deep brown, already burnt this way by the tropical sun. The third in sharp contrast is pale, a paleness resulting from weeks hidden beneath the waves away from its warmth.

The men embrace –for the twins it has been a good hour, for the Father, it has been magical –to be able to see them again beyond his wildest wishes.
Twice already in this war, he has thought he would never again see them.
I-26 has finished refuelling –he must go.

“Fight well Sons –fight well”
They Bow –“yes Father –bag us a carrier eh?!”
He smiles
“I will try, I will try”

22/8/42

Another day of eerily quiet over the Atoll.
The sun bakes the sands, turns metal surfaces into frying pans. Little moves on the island, men hide in what shade they can find, or spend it underground –digging deep holes even deeper.

At regular intervals the fighters roar into the sky –a reassuring presence to the men on the ground –and at regular intervals they return.
The Atoll gets even quieter today as the Navy removes its last major sized vessels –only barges and the like scurry about now – shuttling in and out on regular runs to the outer lying islands.

These are a entirely different story to the one currently on the island – the enemy submarines are making life for the barge men a very lethal business indeed…………..

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Post #: 484
RE: herbiesan vs Cantona!!! - 2/15/2009 10:24:40 PM   
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Status: offline 		Little ant lines of these guys -and the bigger versions, are scurrying all over the pacific




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RE: herbiesan vs Cantona!!! - 2/15/2009 11:06:19 PM   
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Another very quiet day – but the Atoll is positively abuzz with rumours – the Japanese fleet is about –this is “reliably’ confirmed by the crews of the big Mavis Flying boats still operating from the Lagoon

These are men Inoue really respect. Mostly they are manned by men slightly older than the normal Combat pilot - many look down at them as inferior types, but Inoue can relate. Reactions may be slowing –but these are tough, tough men –patient and enduring.

They are also cunning –they have to be.
One crew last week managed to track an enemy carrier task force for nearly 3 hours –and remained alive –an incredible feat in Inoue’s eyes.

The big boats this week have been particularly busy –some allocated to recon missions over Wake.
So the rumours flow –maybe the navy has decided to remove Kwaljiens tormentors at the source?



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Post #: 486
RE: herbiesan vs Cantona!!! - 2/16/2009 1:41:32 AM   
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The “new operational agreement” begins very poorly
There are nearly 20 zeros in the air, and 23 KI-44’s as well when the word is relayed that 3 Liberators are coming in from Wake

By some miracle, today the radios are not hissing with static, not blindly dumb, or deaf –the ground has even managed to contact them.
Hyakutake spots them first – its not very difficult -3 contrails way, way above them, and still a considerable distance from them.
Hyakutake is not dismayed –its for this very purpose the Ki -44 has been built.
Again the throttle goes to the wall, and the climb begins.
Climbing is all about power to weight ratio –and the great radial hammers away, the propeller clawing at the atmosphere, as the world again falls away, the curve of the earth becoming more and more pronounced.
They climb steeply –it will take nearly 5 minutes this climb – it leaves though even the zeros floundering in their wake.
15000, 17000, the hated oxygen masks go on –they restrict you, tie you to the plane –make the radio even more difficult to use.
It gets colder, and colder –and as the cloud tops fall below , the air gets silky smooth, and even colder still

They climb, and climb, and the contrails now have little crosses leading them –glinting, silvery crosses, that grow into twin tails, big wings, beating engines.

32 000 feet – the absolute limit of the Tigers envelope –and well above the zeros.
Normal flight here is impossible –the controls barely effect –the prop seems to claw at the thin air

And its so cold

The sentai has split into 2 indistinct groups –the first(not surprisingly) contains all 5 of our veterans – the second everyone else –strung out all over the sky.
Hyakutake leads the attack –there is no need for conversation, its all instinctive.
All five come in together, 3 and 2, slashing at the side of the rear Liberator.
Hyakutake is good, very good –he simply lines up the bomber –and charges in, he does not have to think about leading his sights, or adjusting the intercept –it happens naturally, smoothly.
For Hyakutake its not just cold physically here at 32000feet, it’s a cold emotion less attack –its what has given him 3 kills so far – the calm ability to aim his plane at 300plus MPH, to shoot thousand mile per second bullets to strike another plane also moving at 300 plus MPH.
He does not have to think about it –he just does it

His guns hammer –a solid, solid burst – and they strike hard.
Even as he pulls his plane as hard as he dares around, the inner engine of the bomber grinds to a sudden stop.

It flies on
Inoue too shoots well –but so does the bomberone shell strikes his plane just above his head –the instinctive duck –and everything else misses –and inoue is out of this fight as he flicks over hard and down

Iwaya follows –but over kicks his left –the bomber skids across his vision – and he sprays empty sky. He will claim hits –but he is mistaken
The twins attack more from the rear –daring the fire from the other 2 bombers –they charge in close, fire, fire, and strike –and dive away.

Abruptly the bombers open their bays, and dump their loads –they will miss the atoll by 20 miles, and turn away.
The turn catches the Tojo’s out. The thought of the Americans quitting an attack has never occurred to them, and they are very slow to react.

We will call today a draw

There is one more surprise though on return – every single Tojo has not a few small holes in it.
The Americans too –probably would like cannons……………….





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Post #: 487
RE: herbiesan vs Cantona!!! - 2/16/2009 2:55:56 AM   
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Take an atoll of stuff all size.
Plonk it in the middle of the pacific
Stuff it to the gills with army, navy and air force men.
Cram every inch with fortifications, guns, facilities and buildings.
Bomb regularly.
This is Kwalijien in August 1942.

Its not how its meant to be –according to the grand plan the outer defence lines should have included Suva, and Wake, and pago, pago – but they did’nt, and the troops designated for these places still remained crammed on this little atoll.
The ant trails of barges was slowly distributing them all over the aouter islands –but far too many remained.

To be blunt –too many men –not enough water.
The island had a single distilling plant –and its struggle to keep going was a daily topic of conversation. The General had taken to posting daily water production to consumption figures –and they depressingly keep on trending the total down.

47th sentai now stinks –literally.
For Japanese this is a very serious matter – especially for “samuri”.
Already our men are as far removed from the picture perfect pilot the public are seeing in the propaganda as ruffians can get
Flight suits are dirty, some are torn. Hair cuts really are needed by many.
Only beards are lacking –oxygen masks cannot function with them, so the exchange/hording/trading /borrowing of razors is often the days most important task.
When not flying Col Nakamura has had the men very, very busy, and already the mess area is a crazy patch work of pipes, tarps, salvaged bath tubs and sinks from the wrecked ships –and barrels, lots of barrels.
Nakamura is thinking ahead –water harvesting is a consuming passion of his –and every spare drop is being squirrled away under ground.. He has foreseen that a single bomb on the bases wheezing boiler –and that water will become far more valuable than any bottle of scotch he has down underground as well.

So today the operations report will simply say
Early morning patrol –nil action
Heavy thunderstorm and showers afternoon –nil flights.

And it will totally fail to convey the sight of 36 men, butt naked , washing themselves , and their clothes, in the glorious rain, and the sheer joy of being clean, and cool for just a while.


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Post #: 488
RE: herbiesan vs Cantona!!! - 2/16/2009 3:11:38 AM   
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Status: offline 		For those reading cantona AAR -im doing my best to catch up -about a month behind I think.
(During this week coming the Imperial fleet advanced on Wake -cocked it up -got a blood nose, and retired)


Its a bad week for the recon men too -i lose too many Mavis this week.
Transport run to Narua...........





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RE: herbiesan vs Cantona!!! - 2/16/2009 3:27:09 AM   
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Kwaljien has yet another eerily quiet day –the recon planes go again early in the day –but nary a sight of the enemy is reported.

A large convoy arrives in the Lagoon – 6 transports, many MSW vessels, even a tanker
Soon the small barges and rafts swarm about the ships –and the first thing unloaded are yet more barges.
47th sentai are kept very busy flying a constant CAP –all are sure the enemy must come in –but the sky remains empty.

News comes with the ships –including some movies –and a small propaganda unit and all!
The Army has another new fighter deployed in the frozen Norths –a twin engined machine –and (if the movie is to be believed) its being devastating against the B17 raids on parishimo.

The pilots of 47th meet the movie with derision and cat calls –that – that a fighter!
That is until someone points out that unlike them -it has a cannon.

The argument goes on and on –well what else is there to debate –manoeuvrability verses firepower -2 engines verses one.
What about the ME110 –wasn’t it killing bombers in Europe – but weren’t spitfires killing them?.
And so on, and so on, and so

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Post #: 490
RE: herbiesan vs Cantona!!! - 2/16/2009 3:38:39 AM   
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Status: offline 		Hyakutake would hate them
Inoue rather likes them
The twins want their cannon
Iwaya thinks they look rather hard to fly..........

KI-45's -other than the Tigers -the only plane currently able to engage the bombers at great heights.





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RE: herbiesan vs Cantona!!! - 2/16/2009 3:42:21 AM   
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Still quiet in the Pacific

Extract from “Fighting the tide”
By Colonel Nakamura, Amazon books, first published 1962



What one has to remember was the absolute certainty of victory we all had at the time
Japan had overran all she desired to this stage of the war, and we were all sure that soon yet another great offensive would be launched, the Americans bought to bay –and final victory achieved.
The heavy bombers were a concern –but they still remained no more than a nuiscance military – I remember distinctly that we keprt hearing reports of them being turned back time and again –or that they would only attack from somewhere in the stratosphere –never really hitting anything.
So we were confident, we were young, we were besting their best.
That Convoy was a highlight –suddenly everyone had more food than they knew what to do with, and I had the embarrassment of trying to find space for the spares and supplies.
We’d lost just 2 men since I took command –both to bad luck, and although we’d only shot down one enemy bomber –I knew we would have to soon score more.

August was drifting to a close. I still think most of us thought victory would come by years end……………………


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RE: herbiesan vs Cantona!!! - 2/16/2009 3:57:35 AM   
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Today the “operational agreement” works perfectly
All but 5 of the Tigers are in the air – Nakamura has had them in the air “on a hunch” since just after midday –and he has it spot on.

They intercept this flight nearly 50 kilometres out -8 fat fortresses at 15000 feet.

There is time enough, and he leads the pack today , first in a stern chase, carefully outside the defensive guns, climbing steadily up and above the bombers – Nakamura’s Knife has plenty of time to be wielded today.

He leads the invert wing overs, and the pack follows him down in the screaming dive through the formation.
The formation shudders, wobbles –and several begin to smoke under the hail storm of machine gun fire that the Tigers deliver.

It’s a very good attack –delivered well –and not one of the pilots can look back and say –“I could have done better’
Five fighters are hit on that first pass –but Nakamura’s magic continues to hold –no one is hurt –and all will make it back to base.

The Tigers begin to reform below the bombers – and the zeros finally come in.
Its enough today for the Forts – they ditch bombs –and turn away.

That night is a very good night –the convoy commander sends several cases of “gifts” in appreciation, and 47th sentai spend much of the night learning Navy songs, and trying to teach new comrades army ones in return

Nobody on the Atoll that night complains about the noise emitting from the bunkers housing 47th sentai –compared to last months run of bombing –this is sweet music indeed.


(moral 99!)

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RE: herbiesan vs Cantona!!! - 2/16/2009 4:10:34 AM   
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Status: offline 		manouvering to get above the big buggars...............




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RE: herbiesan vs Cantona!!! - 2/16/2009 9:01:28 PM   
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You wake well before dawn, and for a moment or two you lie there, staring at the sheet of corrugated tin that serves as your roof, and appreciate the coolness of the pre dawn. Your back hurts –the thin matress still does not give you enough padding from the rough plank floor of the dug out. You can hear outside the sounds of the morning –breakfast is being prepared by the sound of mess panniers, someone is singing a rough song, you can smell tea.
You arise carefully –careful not to track any mud into your little home.
You great the morning, breath deep –its going to be a fine day –nod welcomes to fellow men –and dress
Combat Patrol this morning –behind your revament the sound of an aero engine crashing into life breaks the early morning stillness –things are happening to routine
You slide into your thin cotton undergarment – and then struggle into your flight suit –it’s a thick heavy beast –but is slips on like a second skin, comfortable, familiar –almost comforting.
The chute is heavy, long –chaffs your inner thighs

Breakfast, a small circle of men squatting around a simple pot this morning –it’s a good one today –rice, seaweed, some fish –and from the lagoon even –some crab today –and blessing –tea as well!

Time to go, six of you leave the area, climb the 2 foot bank that marks the edge of the field, begin the short walk to the flight line.
Juni B is leading today – you listen very carefully to his instructions –sparse, “follow me, stick close –and for $%#@!sake Fly smoothly! –and the essentials –radio frequency, call signs, rally point.

The ground crew are already waiting –you crunch across the crushed coral, circle your bird –carefully looking for damage. Already she is a bit rough around the edges, little dints here –paint missing there –but the big T on the tail is still fresh and vivid.
Grab rope, up!, across the wing root, and into the cockpit –the seat is low, and it’s the chute you really use as a seat.

The routine is almost automatic – left rudder(come to you!) right rudder (go way), left stick ( aileron UP to you), right stick(aileron Up to you), round the world.
Trim –full forward. Fuel on!, throttle –one third. Flaps, in, out, off!, one third!
Switches on! –and so it goes, and goes
You take ground man in eye –wave clear –and press the start.
The great propeller swings, swings, catches –fires, a few black coughs, and she rumbles into life –the slip stream blowing dust back momentarily, its cool and good.

Magnetos? –good –oil –good!
The great radial takes time to warm up – as this is a routine flight we will warm her properly –so far 47th sentai has cracked 22 individual cylinder heads in rushed scrambles –you don’t want number 23

Around you 7 other Tojos are exploding into life, and the noise is now tremendous, drowning out any voice .
Juni V waves his arm, and moves out.
Visibility in the KI-44 on the ground is, frankly-crap. You will manoeuvre looking out the side, or by little wobbles.
Brake off –look right –wait! –give way to this guy, throttle fwd, the plane vibrates under the power –you can feel her almost crouch down somewhat –and you roll forward, bouncing heavily.
Left brake, left rudder.
Engines bellowing –Juni leads.
Throttle full, flaps full, you begin to roll, vaguely aware of fellow planes to your right, left
Nose down, tail up, flaps half, 70, 80, knots, bounce, lift, up, oil good!, magnetos good!, flaps up!, gear, gear up!
1000 feet, throttle 2/3 rds –Juni leads, you bounce a bit as the atolls edge slides underneath -2000feet, good climb.
You slide the canopy forward –and now its you, the beat of the engine, vibration, flight. Banking left – gentle, the ocean is really, really blue today.

You scan.
Left, right, up, behind. Bank a little –look –bank other way –look, another circle of the head.
You won’t stop this until flights end –or contact

10000 feet today –Juni is saving the oxygen –good, its pleasant here.
The patrol today will stretch for 3 hours –it will be long, boring, essential.
You wont speak to anyone for the next 3 hours, yet you are intensly close to the 7 other men here at 10000 feet.
You are a formation.
Your guns are cocked
You are a fighter pilot




Nil contacts today
The first fighters from 70th sentai will arrive today –more KI-44’s !





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Post #: 495
RE: herbiesan vs Cantona!!! - 2/16/2009 9:25:46 PM   
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Examination of 47th records show that the unit was at maximum operations tempo this week as the Imperial fleet operated near Wake island
3 aircraft are reported as “damaged”, and the hours being put in must have been tremendous.
The base remained un attacked, a vast contrast to the weeks previous, and the men on the island must have been encouraged indeed – fighter numbers continued to grow as 70th Sentai continued to fly in.

30/8/42
Extract from Shattering the Sword, a Cantona publication


Japanese plans for the conquest of Wake island had remained still born ever since the Tarawa invasion, but the base had by mid 42 become down right annoying.

Nevertheless Yamaguchi had disagreed almost violently over his objectives –to use his airpower to crush it – it was a terrible waste of assets in his eyes – and he was intensly aware of Kag’s and Akagi’s fate at the hands of land based bombers.

Nor did he intend to get caught in dual objectives –trying to combat the base –and any carriers that might turn up.

His plan thus devolved into a enemy carrier centric operation –he would use his 4 battlecruisers to nuetralise wake –not his carriers

As we have described, the first 2 days went well – the Japanese culled all attacks from Wake against it – and by dusk on the 29th, he was close enough to dispatch the 4 battle cruisers.

Fate intervened only 15 minutes after detaching the strike force, with a boiler room fire in the Hiei. Although contained quickly, incorrect fuel isolations caused the great ship to have a complete steam failure, and it was nearly 4 hours before she could steam over 6 knots.
Reluctantly Yamaguchi at this point cancelled the operation, and began to retire .

How 2 light cruisers and 4 destroyers could fail to get the message of cancellation, would cause mass resignations in the fleet at a later date –the subsequent impaling of 3 of the destroyers onto wakes minefield would become known as Subachi’s scandal.

The only comfort for the botched operation came the next day –the allied CV’s were East of Wake –in perfect ambush position.


(High Command avoids what could have been a ‘midway moment’)

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RE: herbiesan vs Cantona!!! - 2/17/2009 1:17:24 AM   
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Major Jones (just Jones, just call me Jones) was scared.
No amend that, he was Trucking terrified. Even as he watched the little dots come closer, he could feel his testicles rise even further, and a certain muscle tighten even more
Truck!
Oh Truck
Got to stay calm, come on buddy –they are looking to you Jonesy boy
But Oh truck.
Thirty plus against three.
Not good, not good at all
“Captain to crew –incoming. Everyone stay calm, stay to your sectors. Watch the truckers close, conserve your ammo’
“Holy truck captain –you kidding, half the trucking Japanese airforce is out there –and you want us to conserve ammo!’
“Can it Maleski” -(it’s a gunner) “bring the Truckers on –I’ll send em home to mamma!’
Three Liberators bore towards Kwaljien, and a swarm of fighters are coming up to them, , splitting up, preparing to attack
The beat of the engines isolate Jones from the world, the cockpit view is not the best, he will need to depend on his crew for eyes and ears
Truck! 30 to 3!
“how far to target navigator?”
“Six trucking minutes”
“Ok” Stay calm, sound calm –you are the captain.
The engines beat on, the ocean sparkles 33000 feet below

Its Bryce in the tail “here they come –three truckers, my 6, left to right!”
The crash of the rear guns from the rear, drifts to the cockpit, joined now by new sounds –disturbing sounds - the sound of rain? –something striking Big Betty down aft, wha?.............
“TRUCK!” as a Japanese fighter flashes feet past his left, the bright T imprinting onto his mind as it dives down and left – BBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBB bang! As Steve hammers with the fwd gun –“GOT The TRUCKER!” he cries in triumph.
“Nope (upper turrent) you missed the trucker”
“Truck”
The engines beat on.
Two truckers above us!”
“Look out! –get em Steve!”
More rain strikes Big Betty –holy Cow – hang in there girl.
“Anyone Hurt?”
“Nope –hang on” –more gunfire fire the rear, the upper “Stay still Trucker, stay-
(Christ , they are coming in from everywhere)
still!”
‘Time to target!?”
“hold your horses skip ---------3 minutes, can you come right a bit?

“here they come again!
BBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBB BANG!, BBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBB bang!
The engines beat on
“ Losing oil pressure stbd inner”
‘Truck”
More hits –another Tojo screams past so close he can see the moustache on the little truckers face…….
“OK, Feather Stbd inner. “ Controls are heavy here – upper turret –you see any damage to stbd wing?”
The texas drawl reflects no fear (how the hell does he do it?) “Well if you don’t count the half an oil field coming out of the Stbd inner BBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBB bang! –sorry, and the new polka dot decorating pattern skipper –BBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBB bang! TRUCKER!, sorry –I’d say that the fact that half the Stbd aileron is missing might explain your problem skipper.”
“OK” Ok, ok, just remember , no violent banking, and pray that a third is enough –****, she’s flying like a trucking cow………….
The engines beat on
Truck
Lets get this over with, please, lets get this over with.
“ Five Truckers coming in , your quarter Guys!”
Big Betty shudders as the next pass comes in – gunfire, screams, a sickening smell of cordite.
“Bombs gone!”
Truck, truck Truck!
Come on old girl, you can get us home……………….



Colonel Nakamura almost screams in frustration
What in the Trucking world does it take to take one of those Truckers down!
Truck
Truck
Truck!



Operations report
47 th sentai in co operation with 70th sentai engaged 3 B-30 liberator bombers in running battle.
4 Ki -44 damaged heavily ( 2 engines, 2 props, one rudder, one cockpit damage)
Nil bombers shot down – but all 3 heavily damaged
A/c available 22
Under repair 14





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Post #: 497
RE: herbiesan vs Cantona!!! - 2/17/2009 1:32:47 AM   
1275psi

 

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“Let go all lines”
“Half ahead both”

I-26 slips quietly out of Rabual harbour.
Captain Juni is very pleased indeed, he leads the deployment today –its probably the highlight of his career.
17 long narrow shadows slip from the harbour, and head south………………

1/9/42

47th sentai loses a pilot today, and a precious plane.
Its going to become a depressingly familiar story, but at the moment its still a bit of a shock.
A new man reports for duty at 0900, fresh from the Emily supply plane from Truk –raw, new, fresh from flight school
By 1000 he is being sent off for a familiarisation circuit by the Colonel.
He’s dead at 1002.
Once they fish the remains of him and his fighter from the Lagoon, its easy to see the rookie mistake –pitch control still in fine pitch –enough to move -not enough to fly……………

2/9/42

Col Nakamura hands the CAP to 70th sentai today –and tries to rest the unit.
It works out well –the Allies are busy elsewhere it seems.

3/9/42
4/9/42

Two totally quiet days. The sentai returns to full strength, 70th sentai gains full strength.
The destroyer Shirayuki crawls into the lagoon –a nightmare of twisted , burnt metal.
She promptly –as if too tired to fight anymore- settles into the bottom of the lagoon.
Kwaljien medical facilities will struggle for days with her injured

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Post #: 498
RE: herbiesan vs Cantona!!! - 2/17/2009 1:35:49 AM   
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Post #: 499
RE: herbiesan vs Cantona!!! - 2/17/2009 1:58:20 AM   
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To Col Nakamura
From
4th Fleet HQ

Colonel,
Fortifications at Mujuro atoll are now deemed sufficient. We are going to retire 5 Engineering units via fast convoy. You (combined with other navy fighter units and 70th sentai) shall redeploy to MAJURO atoll on receipt of this message, and provide maximum CAP

Enemy bombers are operating in strength from Tarwa, with occasional fighter escort.
Good luck, good hunting.


6/9/42
“What a dump”
Hyakutake has probably said it a dozen times already. He probably wont tire of saying it either
The entire Sentai is lined up on the edge, or at the end of the field, which basically is the entire atoll. Nakamura has kept them in their cockpits –ticking engines over every 15 minutes or so.

Its bloody hot sitting in the cockpit, but really, there is little other choice.
Hyakutake really is right –Majuro is a shattered piece of real estate –destroyed fighters scattered all over the place.
It is hell for the troops here –even in their deep bunkers.

Little wonder the Construction troops are singing and cheerful as they are painfully barged out to the transports in the bay –they are quitting this pimple in the Pacific.

Overhead 70th sentai are on patrol, their turn.

A Flare suddenly rises across the end of the field
Hyakutake reaches for his starter..”Once more into the breach once more dear friends, once more…………..”

This time the tale is somewhat different
70th sentai is heavily engaging the bombers by the time 47th arrive – a dozen heavies, and half a dozen new planes to them –mitchells.

Navy fighters muck in

Its another long running brawl.
Only Juni B and Inoue get in hits today –the others simply can’t get into position in time, but all note with delight today as not one, but two of the big liberators go down -one in flames, the other loses a wing tip –control- and life.

WO Kimura has a kill
WO Higashiyama also has a kill

A msw is hit in the harbour –it sinks( “Died of fright “ reckon the twins), but the transports remain unhurt.
The enemy must have seen the men on the barges, the helpless transports lying off the lagoon.
They will have to be back.


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Post #: 500
RE: herbiesan vs Cantona!!! - 2/17/2009 2:00:35 AM   
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Status: offline 		Kimura's Kill!
(at last)




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Post #: 501
RE: herbiesan vs Cantona!!! - 2/17/2009 2:15:55 AM   
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The twins are sitting in the bunkers entrance.
It is that pre dawn light, when all is fuzzy, and faces are just a pale blur.
The sound of the surf crashing onto the reefs is very distinctive –omnipresent, eternal.
“”Do you realise its been nearly a month since we came to the south pacific?”
“That long? “
“That long”
Somewhere a seagull is calling, he sounds awfully alone

“Do you think we will ever go back to China, or even go home?”
One of the twins snorts –it’s a sound of derision.
‘Home brother?. The only way the empire sends us home is when we are ashes.”
“if we are lucky”
“Yes, if we are lucky’

The camp begins to stir
“It’s a long war, isn’t it?
“Sometimes I think its only just beginning…….”


( coming –the furball)

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Post #: 502
RE: herbiesan vs Cantona!!! - 2/18/2009 10:11:15 PM   
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With such fat juicy targets at Kwaljien it is inevitable that the Americans must come again.
Kamura leads nearly 60 Tojo’s into the air well before Dawn, and the Navy adds another 30 odd Zeros –Kamura is betting everything that the Allies will come at Dawn –and today he guesses right.

The battle starts nearly 80 Kilometres south of Majuro, and its another great long running brawl -11 great Liberators in a very tight formation, beating of the swarms of fighters.

70th sentai lead the attack -, sweeping in from the port quarter –slashing attack after attack -2 tojos fall from the battle heavily damaged, the bombers go on.
Nakamura then leads the dives down with 47th sentai –again and again the bombers are struck –but still none will fall.
Few can doubt the ferocity or the courage of Nakamura today – how he misses colliding with the bombers is a mystery –mere inches must have separated him from them as he leads the fighters through.

The Liberators are in trouble though –how many wounded men?, how many silenced guns?
Enough.
The Zeros attack as the Army fighters re gather for another try – and it’s the cannons that now begin to tell.
The first liberator falls. Flaming for minutes its crew bail –they will have to face the perils of the seas –and pray that one of the many submarines crawling down below find them .
Engines begin to grind into silence as the shells hammer home –and now everyone can sense –American and Japanese- that this formation is in deep trouble.

Juni B and Hyakutake lead the next waves , Hyakutake is as accurate as ever , when he peels away, guns empty, his target, the formation leader, is in deep, deep trouble. A zero flashes in, and like a great knight of old who’s mount has been cut from under him, the great bomber tilts slowly to the left, the tilt becomes a wing over, the wing over the fatal dive.

This moment seems to signal the formations dissolution, bombers begin to peel away, to ditch bombs, to escape.. Five bombers for a few moments seem to try to press the attack, and fail, 3 more liberators are literally hammered apart, and fall.

And then the sky is empty again, and the defenders are in control of the sky for today.
Nakamura is almost savagely pleased. The Army fighters have crippled the crews, the navy has brought them down.

Operations report 47th sentai

Planes operational 30
Planes damaged 6
Pilots available 36

In conjunction with 70th Sentai, navy zeros, intercepted 11 plane formation B-30’s south of Majuro
Nil confirmed individual kills –but many shared kills – 6 enemy bombers destroyed for no Loss.

Our pilots are almost stunned upon return.
They have truly seen the elephant today – hardly a man does not have a tale of a near miss, or of damage –or of an attack to relate.
Pride in themselves, their machines, in Japan, is at its peak. The best has been met (they believe) and beaten
Let the Americans beat themselves to death on the wall of steel they are building, let them.

The first Liberator about to go down!




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Post #: 503
RE: herbiesan vs Cantona!!! - 2/18/2009 10:26:19 PM   
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Joined: 4/17/2005
Status: offline 		Dear Father


Salutations from your son somewhere deep in the south pacific
Im sure you have heard of our exploits herein the last few days -the new KI-44 is really a very good plane, although I still wish you would see to it that we could get a heavier plane with a heavier gun.
I am very well -quite brown, and surprise, surprise, quite Skinny now.

We have lost a couple of men since I last wrote -mostly through silly accidents, and poor Takenaka was lost a while ago.
Its so strange when we lose friends, we all know now I think deep in our hearts that few, if any of us, are going to be spared the honour of giving our lives to the empire -but its how quickly that their faces fade from us that I find so strange.

I think we all miss Japan so much, some times its almost physical the pain of seperation from home.
I know we all have "duties" -but even the toughest of us are human.............

I must give you many thanks for last letter -you have no idea how helpful the money is -the influence it brings is worth many times a new fighter!
Our Commander is a terror - and I would follow him into hell.
I have counted at least 2 bombers go down under his guns this week -but he never claims anything, always gives the credit to some one else.
To my regret father I have to say I remain a terrible shot, and Hyakutake is still -he says -trying to teach me to fly.
If I ever actually shoot down anyone, I think Ill be the most surprised of all!

Anyway father, I hope the planes and ships are continuing to be churned out under your steady hand, your son is in good health.

Your Son
Iwaya

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Post #: 504
RE: herbiesan vs Cantona!!! - 2/19/2009 3:00:58 AM   
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Status: offline 		8/9/47

47th sentai continues to fly Combat Air patrol over Majuro island.
The ground crews are stretched to the limit, of the six fighters damaged yesterday, only 2 have been repaired today. The other sentai is in worse shape -5 of its fighters remain grounded.
The navy zeros are in better shape.
The unit reverts to 6 plane patrols, with everyone on scramble alert.
This basically involves most of the men spending the day trying to sleep in what shade they can find within 20-to 30 yards of their planes .

Fortunately the airstrikes on the base have left quite a few palms still standing, no buildings remain, but palms are amazingly resilient.

It’s a long boring day for our men.
The water looks inviting as evening comes –but swimming is out –there are several large, nasty shadows lurking in the waters……………..

9/9/42

Extract from Shattering the Sword –a Cantona publication

Early September brought a new situation into the South Pacific.
Whilst plans on both sides began to turn to other areas, the Gilberts reached an un easy stalemate. The Japanese, on their part –seemed unwilling to waste assets attacking Tarawa, the Allies found themselves unable to effectively attack back from its small strip.
The 6 bombers lost on the seventh were joined by another 4 on the 9th, the KI-44’s in conjunction with the zeros becoming a very effective defence –for the moment.
An un easy quiet descended on the Pacific……………



9/9/42

“ Just hold still you big baby” urged Juni V
“Ill give you big baby” retorts Inoue “you try to bloody stay still while some one fishes around in you!”
Inoue winces again –and even Juni V winces as he views the medics attempts
“Well –an old man like you should have enough experience to know when to duck –instead of dodge’
“Thankyou” Inoue groans, the sarcasm dripping almost as heavily as his blood is dripping onto the rough floor “for that advice –its noted”
Hyakutake sticks his head into the crowded bunker – “ Hey old man! –Nakamura reckons you owe him a plane!” her grins – everyone knows the state of HIS plane at the moment –scattered pieces half way up the field.
“You tell our esteemed leader OUCH! –careful there buddy! – that he can send the bill care of the American bomber force”
“Ha!” –you should have dodged –not ducked”
“Hyakutake –my young friend –why don’t you just………..”


Operations report 47th sentai
26 planes available
6 damaged
4 lost – (3 enemy action, one write off mechanical failure)

Pilots -36 –one injured (WO Inoue – shrapnel wound upper thigh)

Combat against 8 liberators bombers in conjuction other fighter units Majuro
4 enemy destroyed

47th sentai withdrawn to Kwaljien


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Post #: 505
RE: herbiesan vs Cantona!!! - 2/19/2009 3:33:38 AM   
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Operation reports state -47th sentai return to Kwaljien

One has to wonder what this really means. Did some one move into their digs?. Did they have to re locate accommodation? Were some personal belongings still there?.

These are things that the veil of history has already closed upon, and those that could tell us what it was really like, regretfully get fewer and fewer every year.
Many, for reasons we must respect, will never talk about those days anyway –they have lost to many friends, seen too much.
They will look at you with grey old eyes – and they don’t have to say it
Don’t speak of sporting “heroes” to me young man ………I was there, the eyes say, and still the pain can be seen there.

We have some photos of course –anomonous young men –all fit, all skinny. What would they have done but for the war –would some have risen to great heights?
Or would some have remained anomonous forever –fishermen, clerks or whatever?

None Im sure, ever imagined that they would spend the best years of their lives on an isolated spec in the ocean fighting for their lives and emperor.

Then, of course –some, like Hyakutake, could probably think of no better way to live

(in reply to 1275psi)
Post #: 506
RE: herbiesan vs Cantona!!! - 2/19/2009 9:07:31 AM   
CarnageINC


Posts: 2208
Joined: 2/28/2005
From: Rapid City SD
Status: offline 		This is my favorite AAR, good ...no...great job Herb! Any new guys going to make a debut, would hate to see you loose *knocks on wood* any of 5 main pilots left.

I gotta ask...where did you get all your knowledge of prop planes, you write great descriptions and actions.

_____________________________


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Post #: 507
RE: herbiesan vs Cantona!!! - 2/19/2009 8:03:38 PM   
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Posts: 7979
Joined: 4/17/2005
Status: offline 		29th sentai fly into Kwaljien.
100 plus strong, hearts swell with pride.
Let the Americans come






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Post #: 508
RE: herbiesan vs Cantona!!! - 2/19/2009 8:05:21 PM   
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Joined: 4/17/2005
Status: offline 		Hi carnage

Some pilot experience -but not much
(wrong picture posted -no hangers left on Kwaljien -all been blasted to bits)

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Post #: 509
RE: herbiesan vs Cantona!!! - 2/19/2009 8:17:16 PM   
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Joined: 4/17/2005
Status: offline 		11/2/42

Inoue remains at Majuro while 47th sentai attempts to re organise again
With 27th sentai now here, the field is packed -3 fighter groups, a Helen Bomber group on anti submarine patrol, and a slew of float planes, patrol aircraft and the like.

The navy has even returned –a new AV support vessel, and another repair ship has come into the Port –some one in high Command really is being optimistic that this single vessel can salvage anything out of the wrecks scattered all over the place.

There is little to report for today – our History books though cannot convey the frantic effort the ground crews are throwing into the unit .

9 planes this week will require 1000 hourly inspections, 6, 500 hourly inspections.
Three engines will have to be replaced. 17 Guns removed, replaced.
28 tires replaced, 9 wheel struts/ shock absorbers replaced.
5 canopies replaced. Hyakutake needs a new plane –and somehow he “organises” the ground crew to paint his ‘T’ about 3 inches bigger than anyone elses on his new plane.

This happens , and of course he goes for a test flight – spins his plane at 10000 feet to 3000, pulls it out and pops a whole string of rivets on one wing –he’s lucky not to rip it off.
So that has to be repaired as well –again

No, things are really quiet for 47th sentai………………..

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