1275psi
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Joined: 4/17/2005
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4/4/44
The Burma, Thailand border is being its usual barsted –scattered clouds , low mist –and a sky threatening to break into the usual great white, black based monsters in the afternoon.
Veterans of the front here know the score –take off today, you better have alternatives lined up a plenty –home may well be clouded in, or worse when, if you return.
It’s the weather that dominates today – no mass combats – just a series of rolling brawls all around Moulmien, stretching over Rangoon, to Rahaeng to the south.
The allied plan becomes obvious from the beginning –sweep the sky clear using P-38’s –pound with the following bombers.
The weather disrupts everything – the 38’s arrive, so do some mozzies –the Japanese throw just about everything into the sky over this busy, busy morning
Before the weather closes everyone down for the afternoon – there has been over a dozen different scraps -some the allies win, some Japan wins.
12 P-38’s are killed, but 6 Franks go in, as do half a dozen zekes.
47th lose another man -3 days, 3 men –the maths is frightening.
47th’s kills reach 117 –and Juni has a rival, Chuzaburo climbs from his machine grinning – 2 fingers today –now he too has seven.
5/4/44
The rain sheets across the field –and with it, great gusts of wind. In his cockpit, Juni frets, feeling his beast shake and quiver in the gale. He feels like a fish, deep in the sea –water streaming over the glass.
“Damn the rain, damn the rain”
But its OK, it won’t last –not this quick squall. Its actually a good moment this, the pause before the day, time to be alone for a moment, to gather himself.
His poor crew shelter under the wings, its not cold, this rain is simply unpleasant.
Then, as if a switch operates –the squall passes, and the sun, already hot, breaks out.
Cockpit canopy back -and quickly –its simply suicide to sit on the ground in a closed cockpit in this sun.
Steaming, the world is steaming, and bright, and fresh. Except for the mud of course.
Faintly, Juni can hear water being pushed of the roof of a tent, the splash, some laughter. Life continuing, as they wait.
Below, the smell of cigarettes, some murmured laughter, his crew too waits.
A dozen or so strong, Juni and the reserve CAP wait.
Juni has a new item, and its earning its keep today –a pretty parasol –light, silk, Geisha girls as a pattern . It does a marvellous job against the sun.
They wait
Does he need a piss? –should he go through the hassle of unstrapping, getting out, finding it under the flying gear ?
A green flare, a radio crackle makes the decision for him
“Section 2 -12 bandits reported. Juni cover please”
Only 12?
A probe?
Never mind – they will find out.
A young boy takes the umbrella –carefully –anothergives the screen a final wipe, others wait at the wings – and the chief stands ahead –fist upwards and clenched.
Engine start
And we go again
No more conscious thought into this than taking a dump, actions are automatic, the crew a ballet around him.
Clear!
Throttle on, the usual hassle of getting clear, and the turning climb –his section following, following
Canopy banged forward –and the world, again, is him
Now, where is Chuzaburo? – ahh, there. Good
Sky is a mess –clouded, bumpy, and worse –a terrible haze. Visibility 2-maybe 3 miles at most.
Never mind
Climbing
Still climbing
Oxygen on
And still climbing, and the air is now cool, cold, and non life supporting –as they continue to climb still –Juni determined to clear above this mess of a sky………..
And there- BELOW – half a dozen P-38’s
There is no hesitation, a quick point of the finger –and 47th peel over and down –and attack
The 38’s spot them –spot them early –and they leap away – turning a little –climbing too, dependent on greater power, and speed and energy –and they don’t have it -today -the frank is as fast, and Juni is gaining on his Bird, easy, easy, he twists, twists, and DAMN –Chuzaburo gets the split turn so much better –and takes him down right in front of his eyes.
They exchange grins – it was well done, and turn together seeking another prey –and another does present itself cutting across them, Juni swings hard, down, fires –and the tracer intercepts time, space, and contacts plane, fuel and flesh.
This 38 staggers, folds, a and falls, brocken
And Juni, as always , feels cold, and nothing ---------no –wait –that’s eight to eight now –you grinning little snit…………
From the Diary of Col Nakamura
…………a really good day – kills again, lots of them to tally today –and no losses either for us in 47th
Vic point got hit today –Port Blair is operational I see for the enemy!
Still –reinforcements keep coming. If we can hold this patch of sky above here –deny the bombers –I can’t see how the enemy hope to cross the river…………..
Captain Hara consults his wing commander
“How many submarines today?”
“6 sightings sir, 3 attacks by our planes, no hits though”
Hara raises his eyebrows in his XO’s direction
“If the allies aren’t aware of a carrier operating near Ulithi by now –I will be the tail on the donkey………..”
Setsuko reads the paper –real news is hard to find, and now , with Iwaya gone, REAL news even tougher to get.
But this, this she knew, had a grain of truth –her Husband had talked of this ,,,,,
Tokyo Times
………..and denied that the Allies would soon deploy a new big bomber –the B-29 in any base capable of reaching the homeland. In fact, stated the Great Leader – he doubted that such a plane could operate from anywhere outside of the Empires “still mighty boundries” and threaten Japan proper. Such a bomber remains……..
Setsuko of course, knows a great very much about this plane –and surprisingly, it does not fill her with any fear –just admiration.
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RE: herbiesan vs Cantona!!! - 
didn't see that one coming!
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