1275psi
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17/10/42
Extract from Shattering the Sword –a Cantona Publication
The first real allied probe at Tenibar island had revealed and provided useful information for the planners of Southwest pacific and central Pacific Commands.
Principal lesson was the violence and quick response that the next probe or invasion could expect to receive –the Japanese,it was apparent, would not hesitate to use whatever forces were available to throw future invasions back into the sea.
What was obviously needed would be a requirement to be able to reinforce the bridgeheads faster than the Japanese could respond.
Fortunately for the Allies, this need could now be fulfilled. At 1700 hours precisely, some 1500 American para troops land in a surprise attack at Thursday island.
They find less than 20 enemy combatants on the island.
By dawn the airbridge to Thursday is well and truly established. And the frantic build up begins in preparation for the inevitable Japanese response.
The Allied Bombers came again this night –another annoying 3 hours of droning over head as individual bombers dodged the Flak, and dropped the occasional bomb into the dark below.
The tactic is simple – keep the Japanese awake, wear them out………..
Our pilots greet dawn in a suitably cranky attitude – the bombing overnight has done the job. Nakumara views his men –he cannot fail to note the little details –grey faces, the stubble from multiple unshaven chins, the listlessness.
Even Hyakutake is not smiling today
Mission today is CAP – 30 fighters he is told are available today –leaving 4 damaged –and 2 write offs. The cracking that killed Takenaka (how quickly we forget the faces!) has been discovered this time before disaster can strike.
The day passes routinely – for a war that is – regular flights of 9 fighters at a time take to the air, patrolling widely over the Jungles and hills, waiting for an enemy that is busy elsewhere.
There is a pleasant surprise late in the afternoon, WO Inuzuka lands late in the day –claiming a Blenhiem shot down near Akyab –a claim later confirmed by the local commander
This is a confidence builder – the allied planes are all not invincible after all!
18/10/42
Operations report 47th sentai
Planes available -29
Damaged – 5
47th sentai has moved to Rangoon field for reinforcements and refurbishment
Stood down today
The mess at Rangoon is noisy –the men are crowded in, enjoying a full meal .
They are clean, refreshed. Probably not a man amongst them is not glad to have escaped the Jungles of Magwe –even for just the one day
The Sentai how ever remains at the ready – the heavy bombers can easily reach here……..
“So where do you think the Allies will try next?” asks Hyakutake
“Who cares” replies Iwaya as he continues to shovel rice swiftly into his mouth (he has a lot of eating to catch up) ‘ you heard about Tenibar island didn’t you”?
“of course I did fool! –how could our glorious Commanders let that slip by unnoticed”
“Sarcasm doesn’t become you friend –pass the soy- the Navy gave them a whipping -they won’t try again for ages –trust me”
“Hah!”
Juni V breaks into the conversation ‘ That was no victory –just a probe by our esteemed foes –just a probe”
Iwaya considered the point ‘ probe or not –it shows one thing –they won’t face our navy”
Inoue too sits at the table “ There are other ways to cross the ocean my friends, that don’t involve the Navy”
All nod in agreement. Inoue has a son in the First parachute regiment –a regiment that had boldly led the invasion of this God forsaken country.
There are other ways to cross the ocean indeed.
The men continue to eat –trying to replace what has been lost in just a week at Magwe.
Outside the field beats with the roar of many fighter engines, High command is again shuffling its Sentais, it ,means to gain air supremacy over Burma – gain it –and press it to the full.
The allies will try to stop them
47th sentai has had a very busy war – they think.
The term –sustained Combat –is about to take on a new meaning…………….
19/10/42
The new man reclines with all the other pilots in the shade of a large tree, waiting.
Other than a brief introduction yesterday, they have all ignored you –this small little group of strangers.
Your section leader is snoring beside you –laid out flat on his back –as if the world did not exist. What is his name? Inoute?, Inoue? Canoe?. You can’t remember.
The paper in your lap flaps gently in the breeze –and you try to read the headlines –again.
Its impossible.
Too much too think about.
Again you find your self staring at your new plane, sitting at the ready in the sun.
So big, so powerful, so unlike the little trainer you learnt in such a short time ago.
Your Bumb aches, the ground is hard, but you dare not figit –dare not expose your agitation –you, yes, dare not expose your fear.
Will it be alright?
Can you do it?
Will you be brave in battle, or freeze in fear?
Strangly, death is not a consideration –fear of failure in front of these hard men is the issue.
The small group stirs –its almost telepathic – papers are passed, the group slumbers again.
This waiting…………. God, this waiting…………. You need to go to the toilet –again.
They will notice
Hold it.
Can’t
A bell breaks the afternoon slumber –urgent, rapid, high pitched.
47th SCRAMBLE!!!!
SCRAMBLE!!!
The group breaks for the planes, and you follow, heart pounding, your gut a tight, tight knot
You slip as you climb your fighters wing –barely noticing the pain in your shin.
A veteran calls to you as he passes –what escapes THEIR attention? –“Less haste –more speed rookie!”
“Sir!” you gasp –struggling to squeeze the acknowledgement past you dry throat and lips “ And for heavens sake stick to your wingman!”
“Sir!’
You struggle into the cockpit – and for a moment freeze. As every last little bit of training you ever had simply disappears from your mind –its as if you have never flown before
For half a second –a second at the most –you stare stupidly at the cockpit -but some one is yelling “Contact?!’ –and then you move, fluidly, swiftly , automatically.
The great engine roars to life –and now you are too busy to be afraid, and as you guide her onto the strip, fear goes, and there is excitement, excitement –lets go!, lets go! –and a great roar –power!, power! –man –we go!
The ground falls away, and you tuck her in behind your section leader –she handles well –God –the power!
Full boost climb –up, and up!.
You risk a look to the left, to the right – How can they be so relaxed –heavens –that one is even smiling!
The radio chatters away in your ears –indecipherable, unreadable –chatter, chatter, chatter –and “No 4! –Oxygen on!, No 4 -Oxygen on!” and with a shock you realise –you are number 4.
You nod –and fumble, and get it on.
Higher, 15000, 20000 , its getting colder –the plane harder to hold –mushier.
Concentrate, concentrate
“ Nakumara here –check guns please”
Another thrill – you cock the guns –and remember to check clear ahead.
The crack is louder, harder, sharper than you remember –the stink of cordirte the same as training.
“ Hyakutake –take left flank please”
A fighter peels of the right flank –casually barrel rolls across the top of the pack, slots into place on the left
Hyakutake is still smiling.
25000 feet
“47th –turning left”
You follow –the sky is so big, so empty
“Got em –OK? –turning right –climbing to 32000”
Got them? –got who? –got where?
You look –you look again –you cannot see anything……….. wait –is that them? –those little dots –that? – a glint, a flash, aluminium at 30000 feet
Your stomach flips
The enemy
Your enemy
You tighten the grip on your stick –no –must relax.
30000 feet – contrails
The dots slide past the left wing, a long way away -6, 7, 8, yes, 9 contrails.
You flash through them –and now Nakamura is leading you due south, and the contrails are below you –arrows pointing south –and the dots are growing, defining
Liberators
Fascist slave masters over your Asian brethren
Climbing, gaining –the time stretches, stretches –you are alive, so alive.
Nakamura knife – can you do it?
Hyakutake flips, dives, the next fighter inboard follows, the next too, and now,
Stick hard over, look, target, diving , the bomber begins to swim into view, but something is not right; your dive is morphing into an inverted spin, the world gets crazy –crap!, crap!, crap! –stick fully forward –dive –stable! –and you recover, sweat pours of you as the dive levels out.
Shame creeps across your face –failure –God –and there is Hyakutake –alongside –still smiling “Come on rookie –lets try again”
You sweep around –the bombers are still there –a long way ahead –a long way above.
Throttle to the wall –climb.
Two fighters arrow in – many guns aim their way –and the tracer fills the air
You dive in –only one choice to cover your shame –ATTACK!!
You fire –and you hit! –and hit again! –and the bomber flashes overhead .
It does not fall, this you had been warned about.
These fat barsteds take a lot of bringing down
Hyakutake is still there, right on your wing.
Full rudder, stick hard, level, build your energy.
Your attack is clumsy, but “enthusiastic” –and your tracer sprays across the sky –mostly harmlessly –Hyakutakes' does not.
Your gun falls silent –empty
The sky is shockingly empty of planes –have they been shot down? –or fled?
Hyakutake wags his wings
Follow me home .
You are trembling –and suddenly you are exhausted –every limb aches.
And you would kill for a drink.
Rangoon is below –a dirty grey stain in the green sea.
It’s a joy to remove the oxygen mask, and the wind feels magical as you slide the cockpit back – you have survived , heavens, you have survived.
19 of Tojo’s tigers have engaged 9 liberators today, defeating the attack- the bombers turning back.
You make your way to the de brief
Two men walk to you -they shake your hand. “Hi, Im Juni V, this is Juni B – welcome to the 47th comrade”
47th has gained another fighter pilot.
< Message edited by 1275psi -- 3/23/2009 6:37:51 AM >
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