Mission 3: Target for Today
33rd Fighter Squadron took to the skies once more today, this time on their inaugural bomber escort mission. They were assigned with linking up with a bomber stream on its early outbound leg, as it crossed the channel headed for the Belgium coast.
The lineup for this mission was as follows:
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| B-17Gs head towards their target |
Due to rough weather, The Dragons were late with the rendezvous, finding two schwarms of German fighters attacking the bombers: one of Bf 109Gs and one of Bf 110G Zerstorers. The 110s were to hit the bombers with their 30mm cannons, while the 109s kept the fighters off. The P-38s screamed towards the bomber stream, seeing the German attackers rushing on for a head on pass.
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| German formation prepares for a head on attack |
A three-ship of 110s, led by a junior ace, closes within firing range of the lead Fortresses. Before the destroyers can start their attack run, the lead B-17’s .50 cal machine guns open up, causing the junior ace to loose control of his aircraft. Chew takes his flight of four 38s to disrupt the charging Messerschmidts.
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| The 110 Zerstorers line up for their attack run |
Just prior to Chew carrying out his attack on the 110s, a pair of 109s dive from above and open up on his flight. In classic 33rd fashion, the once acting squadron commander takes direct hits - his P-38 immediately explodes and he is killed. This squadron is beginning to earn a reputation for its killed commanders.
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| Chew’s ship goes down in flames |
Chew’s wingman, Graham, sees his opportunity and lets loose on the out of control 110. His 20mm cannons rip into it, causing catastrophic structural damage. The ace inside is able to throw open his canopy, and he and his gunner parachute safely to the ground. The remaining 110s fire into the Fortress formation, shattering the nose section of one, killing its bombardier and nose gunner. Yet the Fortress presses on in formation. Their initial attack complete, the 110s and 109s wheel about for a reattack from the rear. The flak from below causes the P-38 formations to fall apart, and Holcomb dives on of the 109s, getting firmly on his tail.
The remainder of Blue Flight maneuvers to intercept the wheeling German attackers, and both Price and Combs open fire. Price’s long range shot goes wide, but Combs nails his deflection shot, and a 110 explodes. The two crew members are later spotted floating under full canopies.
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| Combs and Price make their attack |
Holcomb maneuvers off of the 109 he was tailing, spotting a fancy flying 109 with squadron leader markings, and plants himself firmly on his tail. The 109 ace spots Holcomb, and flips his ship over, pulling into a tight Split S, shaking his tail in the process.
The two ship of 110s maneuver foolishly behind to the aft of the rearmost B-17, letting loose a volley of 20mm and 30mm cannon rounds. The shot misses, but the return fire from the combat box does not. The leader of the two ship is peppered by .50 cal fire, and his fuel tanks begin to leak, leaving a trail behind him.
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| Learning the dangers of a Combat Box |
Having been shaken off, Holcomb takes the moment to observe the situation. Knowing the objective is to defend the bombers, he dives after a 110, but the rear gunner is able to keep him off the tail. A separate, lone 110 attempts to hit a 17 from the rear, but likewise misses.
Lawrence, having fallen of the wingman of Holcomb, gets on the tail of the two ship of 109s, led by the squadron commander ace. Just prior to him opening fire on the leader, the wingman all of a sudden explodes, hit by a 88 flak shell meant for the bomber formation. Pressing past the black cordite burst and the stricken remains of the Messerschmitt wingman, Lawrence lets into the leader, ripping off a wing. Unlike his wingman, the lead German is able to get out of his ship and floats slowly down to earth.
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| An unfortunate Messerschmidt takes a direct flak shell |
The 110 leaking fuel decides to press his attack once more, and lets loose one more deadly salvo. The 30mm cannon shells rip into the rear Fortress, resulting in a catastrophic explosion. Having destroyed a bomber, he and his wingman break for home, leaving a stream of fuel behind him.
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| A Flying Fortress goes down in flames |
Holcomb wheels about to attack the retreating 110s, and lets into the one leaking fuel. The mix of machine gun fire, cannon fire, and leaking fuel causes the fuel tanks in the 110s wing to combust. The Zerstorer plummets towards the earth, bringing its crew with it.
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| Holcomb adds another kill to his tally |
Holcomb wheels on the remaining 110 returning for home and fires into his #2 engine, which subsequently starts spitting oil and coolant. He fires one more time, and the 110 departs controlled flight, spinning into the ground.
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| The Bf 110G in its death throws |
With only one 109 and one 110 remaining, the remaining Zerstorer breaks for home, but the 109 gets on the tail of Price’s 38. He opens fire, but his guns jam. To further his bad luck, Holcomb slides squarely onto his tail. Seeing this Lightning stuck firmly behind him, and now with jammed guns, he breaks off of Price and dives for home. Holcomb sticks with him, firing as he dives. The shells rip into the fuselage of the 109 and the pilot feels his flight controls go sluggish, just emphasizing his need to return home.
Both the remaining Bf 109 and Bf 110 are able to continue their dive away, and the rest of 33rd give up the chase, having driven them off the bombers and reached their bingo fuel. They reform for their flight home, and are able to RTB and land without incident.
Upon returning home, the reputation of 33rd drops a bit, having been late for the rendezvous and losing both a bomber and their DO. The Group CC berates the Squadron CC, Maj Franks, for the lack of leadership and continuing loss of high ranking pilots. It may take a bit for the Dragons to get back on the good side of the colonel. In the end, they receive no replacements, with 8 pilots and 8 aircraft, looking to get some rest before their next sortie. Despite their troubles, a series of Air Medals are awarded for kills that day. Graham and Lawrence receive their first medal, Combs receives his second, and Holcomb his third and fourth.
Caleb
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