Mission 4: Attacking the Transports
Once again, the Dragons take to the skies - this time to patrol along the French and Belgium border, searching for airborne targets of opportunity. After Maj Franks’ dressing down by the Group CC, he elected to lead this sortie.
The four ship of P-38s took to the clear skies without incident, arriving at mainland Europe in search of targets. Below them, James catches glimpses of far off dots spread along a broad front, all headed towards them. Franks breaks his flight up into the two elements, his element checking out some bogeys to their left, with James’ element investigating the bogeys on their right. As they get closer, both elements spot their targets: two Bf 109s to their left, and two Bf 109s and two Ju 52s “Aunt Ju” transport aircraft to their right.
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| The targets revealed |
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| The two elements advance on their targets |
Seeing their targets, James leads Hawkins in a head on attack of the two transports, out for blood. He fires an extremely short burst at the lead ship, observing strikes along its left wing, which immediately bursts into flames and the Ju-52 veers off to the right.
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| The lead transport bursts into flames |
As the Bf 109 flight leader observers the P-38 making his head on attack, he maneuvers to dive on him. However, before he can commence his attack, Frank yanks his element around to protect James, while James, simultaneously screams past the transports and attacking 109s. Out of danger, he and Hawkins climb for another two ship of 109s that were caught off guard by the sudden P-38 attack. Off guard no more, the pair of 109s see their flight leader pursued by the American fighters and position themselves for a head on attack on Franks.
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| The fighters in their tangle |
The Ju 52 wingman trucks on in an attempt to put distance between him and the fighters. The lead Ju 52 pilot puts his aircraft in a desperate dive, loosing 15,000 ft in the process now only 500 ft above the ground. The gamble pays off, the wing fire now extinguished.
The 109s head on against Frank and McCarthy let loose a salvo, the cannon shells ripping into McCarthy’s wings and fuselage. McCarthy feels his flight controls go sluggish, but is able to still control his P-38 and breaks for home. Franks, now without his wingman, dives on the 109 flight leader, firing as he passes. The rounds connect, and the lead Messerschmitt explodes!
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| Franks’ dive attack on the 109 leader |
As the 109s who attacked McCarthy pass, the leader realizes that his guns had jammed in that last attack, and attempts to recharge them but to no avail. Meanwhile, the now leaderless 109 attempts a shot on Hawkins, but misses widely, and the rest of the 38s and 109s continue to tangle.
The two transports continue, reforming at around 5,000 ft, attempting to lose their pursuers. James and Hawkins disengage from the 109s, and dive towards the escaping Ju 52s, attacking from out of the sun. They split their formation, each lining up on their individual targets. Letting loose their deadly salvos, both transports take catastrophic structural damage, spinning wildly towards the ground, white chutes blossoming behind them.
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| James and Hawkins attack their targets |
The P-38s, having completed their mission, break for home. The pursuing 109s attempt to catch up to the departing P-38s, but are unable to reach a firing position and break off. The Dragons (McCarthy’s crippled bird included) reach and land at High Cliffe uneventfully, and are praised by their group commander after debrief.
Having succeeded at their mission for no loss of life or aircraft, their reputation begins to recover from their earlier sorties. Additionally, they find that their empty Ops Officer position has been filled by a man named Maj Keith Hull, a cunning officer who has a reputation as both a good man and an exceptional pilot. Lastly, more Air Medals are awarded: Franks, James, and Hawkins are each awarded their first!
Caleb
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