1275psi
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Joined: 4/17/2005
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16/2/43
Below, way way below –the shining blue of the coral sea.
Behind –the dark green of PNG
Below the left wingtip –sliding away, the black slash of Port Moresby
Above -the brilliant sun.
And Iwaya –upright and alert – climbing, climbing ever higher with his companions, Juni to the left, Hyakutake to the right.
Eyes are straining, straining – looking hard.
Come on, come on –where the truk are you?
Small dots – growing., circling. Fighters. Still above –familiar shapes.
Iwaya eases the throttle – climb complete –swings gently towards the fighters circling.
The air is smooth up here – smooth, smooth –and Oh so cold
Miyazaki and Inoue wave – relieved from the patrol. They waggle wings –and peel away for home……….
CAP patrol at 27000 feet.
Noise
Vibration
Cold
Boredom
A eye on the fuel gauge – and a ceaseless scan of the sky – 3 fighters , tiny diamonds of reflection suspended under the endless blue.
But they are not alone – even further to the west –85th sentai –and to the east –closer to Lae –the Ki 45s await.
The radio crackles.
“Vapour trails”
yes –there they are –arrows pointed straight at them – and , buggar it – well above - -
“You’d think they’d have learnt by now they can’t hit squat from up there”
“You think?”
“Well…”
“Cut the chatter.. Nakamura here. Attack!”
Iwaya takes a big breathe. Settles into his seat again. Fights the fear. Shoves the throttle to the wall, and begins the climb again.
The great white arrows are still over his left shoulder –they are cutting ahead of them, climbing above them – now the arrows have heads –little dots –so many little dots –
“I count 60”
Other little dots –glints of lights flashing through –85th Sentai attacking.
As usual, once it begins –it happens far too fast.
Wing over, steep, steep turn –diving, diving –head on attack –the bombers –dots,shapes, wings, cockpits –the crash of guns –tracer fire –the flash of hits –then through, and hard stick down, peeling over –stomach churning, churning –the great engine roaring, the stick OH so heavy here in the thin air – God she’s like a brick today………
Breathing hard, breathing hard, stink of the cordite.
Heading east now, below, behind the formation – he hit, he hit well.
There is no expectation that any of the barsteds will fall though – not these flying fortresses.
Hyakutake is still there –and grinning the dumb barsted.
Juni? –JUNI! –Oh good –here he is.
The KI 45s are going in as the coast slides below –and Iwaya braces as the climb begins again
Tail chase.
And now the enemy formation is sliding down his right again –the engine bellowing –his fighter feels like it is on a tight rope –too easy to stall up here-too trucking easy.
Fuel?
Getting low
But enough
He will not fail. Get in close –for gods sake –get in close
Hard stick over – you my friend will do
The bomber looms – it does not matter what type –he will bring it down –he must, he must
Hard left – swinging in –skidding in –firing, firing –the bombers tail looms and looms – the enemy is firing, firing –the hiss of the guns falling empty –Iwaya lets his plane roll away –points the nose down –and dives away.
He is trembling – fear? Effort? Rage? Relief?
He has never felt more alive.
Crap –that’s Lae below –has the battle really been that long –the chase that far?
His engine coughs, coughs.
Fuel?
Bingo fuel – he swings to the reserve –and can only watch now –it is a mesmerizing sight –as the bombs fall, and fall.
Five strike the runway – crap –that will be awkward
2 hit something that explodes brightly amongst the tress.
The rest kill many fish
Operations report
Lae attacked by 60 heavy bombers at 32000 feet
Intercepted by 20 KI 44 and 42 KI-45
Many planes failed to intercept – and many failed to press attacks
30 enemy bombers claimed damaged –1 KI-44 , 1 Ki-45 lost
Commanders report
Plan to intercept enemy west of PM failed –too many planes either in transit, or refueling when attack arrived.
Ki-44’s pressed attack to limit –and failed to bring down any planes
KI-45s simply lacked ability to bring guns to bear – enemy too high –too fast.
We need a heavy fighter!
Morale is good – despite failing to shoot enemy down –we are hurting him –I would hate to be a gunner in a B-17!
(Juni, Iwaya, Hyakutake flew –Inoue, Miyasaki caught on ground)
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