1275psi
Posts: 7979
Joined: 4/17/2005
Status: offline
|
9/11/42
The arrival back at Canton airfield is bittersweet.
The sentai has lost 2 irreplaceable men enroute to the fields –their planes and bodies lost some where in the green jungles of Burma –almost certainly the result of mechanical failures. Our small group of veterans do what has to be done –they curse the loss –and then brutally shove those faces into the “vault” - the memory bank –that place only survivors of war can really appreciate.
Its good to be back at the field – a lot of welcoming faces –the original ground crews still here –the facilities still here – all untouched still by the war – a little shabbier maybe, but all familiar, comfortable.
The great big radio is even still in place.
The day is spent settling in – the field is very busy with a large range of planes using it, light bombers, KI -43’s, some betties, even some navy fighters.
Nobody is sure why they are here, or what the mission really is.
Nakamura has been told that a new KI-44 unit is about to arrive –and its 47th sentai’s job to help train them up.
Iwaya has a sneaking suspicion –kept to himself –that his Father may have had something to do with it – not a pleasant thought.
Never the less, all agree, its good to be free of the jungle.
And to add spice to the move –the Chinese airforce is active – there may be a chance of action yet.
Hyakutake gets away from the field at the first opportunity.
It only takes a few minutes to get to where the small farm used to stand.
There is nothing there. A small patch of grass –a few blackened stumps, the remains of some of the fences.
He doesn’t look too hard – he’s not sure if he could stand it if he found a grave.
Despite everything of the last year, it takes until today before the last of Hyakutake’s innocence dies.
10/11/42
Operational orders of the day:
47th sentai has been relocated here to support local Army operations around Wuchow.
I intend that this Sentai will achieve the following :
Establish total air supremacy in the area of operations.
Ruthlessly destroy all enemy opposition either in the air, or on the ground –wherever it is to be found.
Facilitate the deployment of new units entering the battle.
47th sentai will commit to battle at 100% strength, and I will spare no one who declines to fight for our empire with every part of their being.
The commitment to a substantial bounty for our first Ace remains in force!
Good Luck, and good hunting!
Col Nakamura
11/11/42
Extract of a letter to Iwaya, from his Father (the Minister of production)
………….and to be honest no one in the cabinet really expected this war to go beyond six months –that some sort of terms would have happened by now.
So there you have it – the enemy are going to get stronger, and stronger -and the idiots here just keep talking about victory.
But enough of my worries.
I did not, I repeat this Son –I did not have anything to do with your units withdrawal from the front . 47th sentai is the best unit (don’t let that go to your head) we have.
We need it in good shape for the enemies counter attack –when it comes –Im sure you will get more than your chance to finally take down some of the imperialists.
Use China wisely –train, build experience.
I will send everything you need………….
Inoue makes his way to his fighter
The sun is yet to fully rise above the curve of the earth, and the air is still, crisp and cold. What a difference a week makes –from sweating, to shivering.
His boots swish, swish, in the wet grass –the field sparkles with the dew –a shimmering golden field.
Inoue can see the footsteps of his fellows leading out to the planes – dark patches in the grass.
His fighter is wet –covered in the moisture –and he breathes on his fingers briefly trying to warm them.
For a moment he contemplates his beast . Planes are a bit like your wife, he thinks.
They start out shiny, new, exciting. Every moment a new discovery. Then, then one day you suddenly notice they have become a little shop worn, dowdy, maybe –dare he think it –dull.
But just like your wife ( Im so sorry honey)) –you overlook the little bumps, the scars, the scrapes –because you love them.
A long, long time ago, Inoue really did not like this plane –but now –now as he walks around her – runs his fingers over her wet, cold skin, he would have no other plane in the world.
He notes that some of the paint on her art work has flaked away a bit – his Tiger is lacking some stripes, an eye is missing too. Must do something about that.
The T on the tail however is still strong.
Inoue shivers. Too many ghosts here at Canton
His old girl bangs a hollow bang – a slight protest of flexing aluminium as he climbs up the wing –slides his canopy back.
More water – damn –now his gloves are wet.
He settles in. Thinks quietly for a moment , waiting for the ground crew.
There is no Hurry today –today is Combat Patrol day.
The support men arrive –breaking up the quiet with chatter and laughter.
Down to his left, the first whine of starters –the coughs, the roar of the first engines.
‘ Well old girl – once more into the breach’
Prestarts
The great propeller blade kicks to the left –hesitates –the engine fires –dissolves into its deadly blur.
Its cold again.
Left and right fighters are taxying across the field.
He waves his arm –“Chocks away!’
The field here is smooth, good, hard.
He kicks the rudder left, right –co ordinating with the wheel brakes –the great nose totally blocks the view forward –steering on the ground is a trick that takes time to get used to.
His beast vibrates, waiting to get into the air. Automatically the checks go –pressures, voltage, revs, temperatures.
Row the stick
Operate the flaps
Throttle -full!
No bounces today, the world falls away –the sun blasts into his eyes –big, red, dominating the sky.
Peasant huts, smoke from countless fires, a company of soldiers, falling away, the land becoming a patch work of fields, lines, small wriggles denoting the rivers
Clear sky.
It’s a beautiful day
Wuchow
Wuchow is a column of smoke.
Wuchow is a great black scar – the wrong war is here –great networks of trenches, great pock marked fields.
Mud
Water
Blood
Death
Two great Armies locked in a pounding struggle.
Its very, very hard for the pilots here to be anything but de tached from the world below.
here its clean, and death is very, very impersonal.
9 fighters begin to circle the scare below, waiting, waiting for the enemy.
For Inoue it doesn’t matter today.
He takes a long look above him –at the great deep blue of the infinite sky above him
“ happy birthday wife”
He hopes she is watching
The patrol ends with out incident, and they turn for home.
|
Printable Version
RE: herbiesan vs Cantona!!! - 
Good luck to the 47th!
New Messages
No New Messages
Hot Topic w/ New Messages
Hot Topic w/o New Messages
Locked w/ New Messages
Locked w/o New Messages
Post New Thread