1275psi
Posts: 7979
Joined: 4/17/2005 Status: offline
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1/5/43 Hyakutake grins . It is not the happy clown grin you see so often on the ground, nor are the eyes twinkling with that bubbling mischief always trying to break out. No, this is the grin one hopes never to see –the grin of the heavyweight champion as he towers over his staggering foe –final championship blow cocked, and enroute. It’s the grin of the hunter who has stalked his prey all day – and now finds it meters away – relaxed, drinking, and firmly in his sights. It’s the grin of the killer as his hands tighten that last bit, and his victim begins to go limp. It is cold, humourless. Juni has lost his bottle of scotch –the bombers come alright –Magwe the target alright –but not a fighter in sight. 24 liberators packed tight , a dozen forts above and behind them – and 140 plus fighters are coming for them 47th leads the way –the climb has been brutal –position now is good, ahead, and above, well ahead, well above, flying almost in the identical direction. Already the Tonies are going in –attacking from astern and above –diving through the bombers – hitting, disturbing them –and already –bringing them down. Hyakutake licks his lips, judges again. He leads today – Nakamura is grounded –he won’t waste this chance. ‘Follow me –ATTACK!” Engine screaming he screws hard around –begins the attack –a head on charge –the stream of fighters following –spreading out to each side of him Hyakutake means to more than hit them –he intends to annihilate the formation in one savage attack 3 000 meters 2000 1000 picking his target Steady Steady Growing BBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBAAAAAAAAAANGGGGGGGGGGGGGGG Guns hammering, cordite stink The formations crash - black shapes flashing -wings glinting, tracer soaring, curving And planes begin to turn, to weave, to fall away.................... ON TARGET! Hard left rudder –literally skidding through the sky –the flash of aluminium, and stick down and diving, and now hard into the belly, harder rudder looking, looking, did he get? - AHHHHH - he burns –the buggar burns –and some barsted Tony is going to finish him off…………. The bomber formation has literally shattered in the face of the attack –at least 5 great machines are plunging down –the others are dumping bombs, turning and fleeing for the deck. Good. But he wants more There –below –still heading north – 3 bombers Throttle hard –diving – an interesting situation –a sky only moments ago full of fighters –and some how its just him verses three. The bombers are at 10000 maybe 11000 feet –a ragged vee –and the port one is both a B17d –and trailing smoke That of course will be the one He dives from behind –the tracer floats his way –over, adjusting his sight –aiming for the wing roots - -and the great bomber suddenly pulls up –his opponent ignoring all convention –ignoring the fact that he’s flying a bomber – the huge machine climbing through Hyakutake’s screen, forcing urgent action, he flashes desperately close under its belly -glimpse of wheels -a star -and guns turning his way..........., jinking hard right, hard left, wondering how in the hell all that lead coming his way could possibly miss. ‘Nice move American” He climbs parallel now to the beast – and for a moment considers it. One on one –who knows, who cares where they are –where the rest of the world is – where the the other planes have gone He will have this one The bombers guns point his way –too clever by half to waste ammo at this range –and he notes that the waist gunners scarf is bright yellow. The gunner in question points at his machine gun –and gives him the finger. “fair enough” “It wont help” Wing over, cutting across behind the enemies tail, getting down and below the big right wing, and hard opposite bank –and climb into his guts –and the big barsted has counter s’d him –also swinging hard towards him, and this time as the guns hammer, it’s the bomber who hits, and Hyakutake has to radically shove the stick forward, spinning hard –the shock forcing a bitter, startled curse from him. The bomber resumes course for home –and it takes the fighter a few minutes to recover –and to once again climb to the parallel position. And now the co pilot is giving him the finger too. The grin is gone now –and eyes are cold, and hard. Fuel is critical, and it matters nothing. This guy, this crew is good. But he will have them. He throttles full –emergency boost –pulls ahead, watching him falling behind, behind and to Starboard, and now he flings hard around –and attacks head on – the bomber looms, looms -he fires, and fires – the bomber flashes past so close he can see the co pilots face –his cold calm face –and in the split second –that single hard finger so defiantly pointing at him still –and the bloody guns are empty and the #@!$ is still flying, and firing and how in the hell will they ever win this crappy war when the bombers never ever go down? But this one will! And there is no conscious decision, just a madness –and plane and stick and him are one and the world is vertical and now the bomber is right in front of him – the tail looms in the screen –and TRUK you! –he rams it -a great explosion of noise and metal and straps cracking ribs –and the earth is spinning –and OH truk it! For just moment he thinks –the thought actually flashes –you idiot –now stay here –but something else takes over –and now he is out –and falling –its so quiet –and the chute opens even though he cannot recall pulling it –and bloody hell – is that a friendly tank right below? Operations report 47th sentai 1/5/43 Involved in heavy fighting over Magwe – intercepted 35 plus bombers in conjunction with many other fighters 8 confirmed shot down –enemy raid totally broken up. One fighter lost – Hyakutake injured . (he claims a kill –but it cannot be verified) Nakamura’s comments Attacks aggressively followed through –but – I am down to just 19 servicable fighters tonight =Magwe remains closed, here is damaged, supplies are unsat. Rumours of heavy fighting in PNG –and that the Navy wishes to take some type 0’s out of the theatre here. If that happens –how will I escort the bombers? If somebody comes up with a fighter that is fast, heavily armed –and very long legged with good maneuverability –they will win this war. The KI-44’s getting tired –when do we gat a replacement?
< Message edited by 1275psi -- 9/30/2009 12:27:08 PM >
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