1275psi
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Joined: 4/17/2005
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4th and 5th /8/43
Nanchang
Cornerstone of the Japanese defense in China. A strange term thinks Nakamura as he wings his fighter over into final approach – seeing how Tokyo rose is always talking about the latest offensive, victory or advance in China
When, he wonders, did Nanchang become part of the defense?
Cornerstone or not –the place stank. A decrepit field, manned by decrepit units –rookies, second rates. Something the allies have clued onto.
Something Nakamura intends to take advantage of.
47th settle in, the briefings are held.. the orders are simple. Standing patrol over the bridges to the North. Look for trouble.
15 Ki 44’s circle high above the great brown plains of China. Today the horizon is limitless, the sky above the same.
Below, the zeros circle. Somewhere below them, the KI-43’s –merging into the land.
Juni adjusts his mask –again. He swivels his head again –the never ceasing search. Rookies to his left – some veterans to his right. Nakamura ahead.
And swift moving shapes, left to right –there, on the horizon –same height.
At last
“BANDITS, bandits –4 o clock –level –5 k’s!”
a rookie –voice high with excitement and fear
‘Roger everybody –free chase men –good hunting!” cold, calm. Nakamura
Wing over, stick over, throttle full!
Level, swinging right, swinging right –the dots grow, grow, crosses now –crosses, wings, canopies –P40’s! –iron dogs, Firing, firing as the P40 flashes across the bow, miss!
Wheeling, wheeling hard, hard, breathe! –P40 upside down, pilot bailing.
Good, some one scores
The iron dogs break hard right, dive, , and Nakamura follows them, and they all dive, down, down into the wheeling melee below.
DOGFIGHT!
And now he is hammering down, down, the glints and shapes wheeling each way about.
Juni picks his target - and another plane picks him – too slow my friend, a hard kick, turning in and under the diving fighter trying to get his six – a fat, fat thing –a Lancer! –and now you really should not be playing with the big boys in that my friend.
The lancer knows this too –and it peels away for safety.
Crap
Pulling up –47th rejoin the wheeling melee –and for nearly three interminable minutes 2 dozen odd men try to kill each other, and mostly fail –the fight spreading all over the sky.
Ammunition expended Juni dives away, several Tojo’s follow.
Nakamura pulls up along side –indicates going for home.
The AVG hit them.
Juni see’s them –too many years of experience, too many fights to allow the deadly relaxation of a fight thought done to catch him –he wheels under the diving attack –rolls onto his back –and clears the area -empty guns leave no choice.
Many, however, have yet to learn – and four 44’s fall,.
Nanchang –a frantic field now –straining to sustain the fight. The fighters return in ones’, and twos. The ammunition belts are raced to the machines. Men grab a few mouthfuls of fluid, while the hand pumps are frantically turned.
Then they race away again – the fight continues.
Dusk
Nakamura takes the score. Maybe ten enemy are down today.
But 47th have lost 10 men as well. Many, faces barely learnt. Quickly to be forgotten. But veterans too have gone.
Too many .
Of the 26 pilots he has left, only 9 have kills to their names –far too many will at this rate, never kill.
Tomorrow –he feels it –Nanchang will be hammered. Should he fight? Can he fight.?
He spies Juni
‘And?’
‘too much chatter.’ Too few wingman doing their job. Poor shooting. No, terrible shooting. Basic skills –the lack off”
In his heart Nakamura knows he is right. But what can he do?
Operations report
47th sentai
Conducted LRCAP operations in conjunction with mixed numbers of navy /army fighters.
Engaged in a series of combats Hurricanes, lancers, mixed variety of P40.
Losses 10 Ki 44
6 AM3a/AM3
Kills 1 P40E (pilot unknown)
8 to other units.
Total kills now 43
(experience level has sunk to low 60’s!)
Midnight
And miracles happen
From
HQ southern command
To
47th sentai
In anticipation of forthcoming allied offensive –47th is transferred to reserve training.
Transfer to ####### immediately
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Printable Version
RE: herbiesan vs Cantona!!! - 
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