Tonight we were tasked with Combat Air Patrol over A26, an airfield in Japan. As the only assigned squadron we were certain to be terribly outnumbered
so a call for all available personnel was made.
Reporting for duty were 16 pilots, Fencer assumed lead for the frame and assignments were made by him with a mind to keep the unit in large groups as we were
expecting a large enemy force and did not want to be defeated in detail. We were assigned KI-61s and we chose to take 75% internal and both drop tanks.
The following was the breakdown of the flights.
Takeoff was from A24 with TAC rolling N. We climbed to 20k and set up a patrol along the shore to the north and northeast of A26. Early reports were of a large attack force coming down the west and looping south of A4. We tracked this via contact reports. Fencer split the unit up into the two flights and had Red patrol the coast north and northwest of A26, while blue patroled the coast northwest and west of A26. A strike hit A4 with a large group of B-25s followed on by A-20s. The B-25s were seen to exit the area to the northeast. This indicated to us that we were their next target. At the same time A27 to our southwest was being attacked. Also we got reports of a large escorted force 75 miles to our north heading south. Fencer pulled the unit in closer to A26 to ensure mutual support. He placed Red Flight one KP north of A26 and put Blue one KP SW to honor the threat from A27. It became apprant that the A27 threat was disapating, so Blue turned north. At that point Bozo of Red Flight sighted bogies low. This must have been mentioned on range but by the vox chatter on squad Blue flight was able to discern that something was going on. Blue had just decided that the main attack was from the north, that there was no threat from the SW. Blue turned northeast for Red's position. Hajo spotted them and called "Location 3 9 9" and Shamus called "Yep they are passing under us now, passing under us now on the deck". Fencer called for Blue flight to punch it's tanks. Both flights started dropping down and Fencer called "Hajo, remember this might be only one of two strikes". As Blue approached Red's location Fencer called "B-25s, 1 o'clk low. Cleared to engage." Then all hell broke loose.
Fencer made one pass on two groups of B-25s which were in the lead. Unfortunately he was going to fast to accurately engage, and rather than risk a collision went for the outter bomber. He got hits on the leftmost bomber of the rear set. DrDea had smoked it seconds before. As Fencer looped up and around everyone else was engaging.
Fencer has looped up and took a quick look around. There was a set to the far right that was clear, and he went after it. Hajo likewise had noticed them and unbeknownst to Fencer was closing on them from below. Hajo and Fencer took out the lead, and Fencer raked the leftmost bomber as he went past. While Hajo, who was slower, flamed the rightmost bomber.
Fencer called out P-39s! He is a little slow and missed this factoid earlier. It turns out there were 2 P-39s with the B25s. Fencer had regained some alt after the pass on the B-25s and rolled over and engaged a orange colored P-39Q. No hits were seen but the plane later crashed gaining Fencer a kill. The rest of the squadron was wrapping up the few remaining B-25s. Fencer barrel rolled and dropped on an intact set of 3 just passing over A26. This was 3 minutes and 18 seconds after we spotted them, and there were 5 B-25s left. Fencer quickly ran out of cannons and opened up with his machine guns at close range. Fencer blew off both his vertical stablizers and the lead plane went out of control, without dropping his eggs. Fencer emptied what he had left into the right wingman and broke hard right. All three bombers went in with the lead bomber. A solitary P-39Q showed up at this point over A26. B4Buster went after the P-39 and got him.
We still had 14 people up. We had lost Nicet and DrDea, both KIA. Yet we had wiped out the enemy strike and the base was still in good shape with 2 hangars down (by Stang) and 2 fuel depots ablaze. We had shot down 26 B-25s and 2 P-39Qs for the loss of two KI-61s. At this point we had several people low on ammo or completely out. There was a high probability of another strike inbound but when it was going to arrive was the question. Hajo said "I gotta land to rearm gentlemen, I am outta ammo." (Note who made the call to rearm) Fencer recognizing Hajo's expertise in these matters decided to follow him. Fencer, Hajo, Dace, DanoJ and 4510 went to A26 to attempt to rearm. And as luck would have it, the second enemy strike arrived. This one consisted of A20s and LA7s with the A20Gs on the deck. Those attempting a rearm goosed it and got back up. Everyone else turned to engage. Fencer called for those low to get our east or south. The strike was 9 A20Gs and 6 LA7s. We had about half of our guys at 5k to 10k and the rest on the deck. The A20s tore the remaining field buildings up.
We got 4 of the A20Gs and 1 of the LA7s of the second strike. We lost Lothmog, B4Buster, Shamus, Bozo, ESears and Corrs to the LA7s. We would have given a better showing had half our guys had ammunition. Fencer, Dace, DanoJ, Gavagai, Hajo, Akondo, 4510 and Jenks all got clear and RTBed to A27. DanoJ pranged his kite on landing by bending his prop. The 4510 had gear damage and had to belly it in. Rest of us rearmed and headed back north to fighter sweep enemy territory.
We headed for A108 dropping our tanks as we did not need the extra fuel. As we got about a half sector out, the Arabian Knights upped after their GV battle, from A27 in KI84s. We coordinated with them and stayed a half sector ahead as we both headed for Korea. As we closed on A108 it was apprant that there was a fight going on. There were 6 LAs, 5 Yaks and 5 39Qs on 3 of our guys in KI61s. PDM went down as we dove in but JB11 was still up and in deep trouble. Gavagai coordinated with the AKs and secure in the knowledge backup was inbound we went in. With full guns again, Fencer hit a P-39Q hard as it passed in front of him. As Fencer fired he noticed a Yak coming at me from higher and feet wet. Fencer pulled up into him and he nosed down, so Fencer chopped throttle, rolled, pulled and dropped on him. Fencer was unable to get his nose completely around. Fencer called out "I can't get a shot at him Gava, kill him!" Only to find that his wingman was loitering at high altitude covering everyone. "Gava your not there nevermind." Gava then explained he was covering my six from above. Fencer responded "Fine, cover JB". Gava told him to "Do your killing I will cover your six", AKDogg came up on range and said he could hear Fencer but didn't see him. Fencer responded that "We are right over the field". Fencer told Gava to "Get down here and kill something yourself." (note that this was NOT the time to be having this discussion on squadron channel, Fencer was wrong, he appologizes). Gava called out "AKs are here, AKs are here" and our reinforcements had arrived, and two of the three guys who were in trouble were still alive. AKDogg want to know if "Do you guys need help down there or are you guys ok?" Fencer ever the diplomat responded "Heck ya there are a bunch of them down here! Lotta stuff low." Fencer called out "I got a Yak climbing up behind me, gava? GAVA?.." (note Fencer has a sarcastic sense of humor) "I am on my way Fencer Hold on Hold on!" Fencer is meanwhile taking cannon fire and rolling to avoid it.. Hajo was nearby and took a high deflection shot at the Yak as it went by. Gava said he wishes he was closer, Fencer responded "YOU wish you were closer!" Gava takes the Yak out.
The AKs evened the odds up all around and the Russkies were not at all pleased. AKMig17 was chasing a Yak inshore of the base when an LA7 dove on him. Mig broke hard right and the LA7 went past extending. Fencer was not closing so he opened up with his MGs in an attempt to get the LA7 to turn, and it worked. He broke real hard, and Fencer chopped throttle to stay with him. A Yak dropped on Fencer prompting several 6 calls. Gava called out Fencer was ok, so he stuck with the LA7. Fencer watched the LA7 impact the ground flying straight with his wings 90 degrees to the ground. At this point the Russkies bugged out. We gave chase for a bit but then turned for A3 and eventually ended up at A4 to land and call it a day.
And what a day it was. 37 kills, 28 assists, for the loss of 5 pilots and 8 planes.
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