"Virtual Dogfight (Aerial Combat)"
First Mission.
1st Lieutenant Derik Rinehart
328th FS 352nd FG
Bodney Air Field, England
06 Sep 1943
0630 Mission briefing: Target- St. Omar
Mission- Fighter Sweep
Today our mission was to engage and destroy any enemy aircraft we encounter over St. Omar. The forecast was heavy clouds, which can be bad when giving chase to a bandit, but great when you need to hide from a Nazi on your tail! Our take off was at 0730, at which our squadron of 12 P-47s formed up and headed to St. Omar. We arrived over the target at about 0831, cruising at 9,000ft.
Red 4 called out bandits at 6 o'clock. We broke left to face them, approx. 12 e/c (enemy aircraft). They were Me 109G-6's in tight line across formation, 4 to a line. I flew straight through while firing. I saw a couple of strikes on 2 but no kill. As I pulled hard left banking, I spotted one and gave chase.
Just as I started the turn, 3 109's pulled vertical in front of me at 11 o'clock low. I immediately fired on the first, the e/c caught fire and broke apart.
Continuing my turn toward my initial target, I fired on the 2nd of the 3 e/c, his engine started smoking heavily. By the time I got lined up on my initial bandit, he was too far to shoot.
I started after another at my 2 o'clock low when I noticed an e/c firing on a P-47 at my 3 o'clock low. I immediately dove hard right into the bandit. I fired a short burst from 2200ft. and saw several strikes. The e/c broke chase and climbed, I followed by pulling up behind him. Firing from 685ft. the e/c exploded.
As I broke toward the deck, my wingman called out "6 o'clock!". I spiraled and pulled in the direction of my attacker. He was about 3725ft. out when I gave chase. He was good. Lots of rolling, climbing and diving. He started a right turn when I managed to pull tighter inside of his turn. Firing ahead with a deflection shot, (think throwing a football to a running receiver, you throw ahead of him so he meets the ball at a specific point) I scored direct hits on the engine and cockpit. The e/c started smoking and rolled inverted toward the ground.
My next bandit came into view with a scare, he crossed from right to left, directly in front of me! We nearly collided. I rolled hard left, slightly climbing. As I leveled, he crossed back to my right. We started the famous "weave" engagement, but I decided to level off and let him cross back in front of me. As he did I fired a very short burst and nailed him.
Red leader called "all clear" when I spotted 2 more departing the area at 1 and 2 o'clock. The 2 o'clock e/c was closest, so I went after him. It looked like it might be an easy kill. He didn't appear to see me, that is until I got within about 2500ft. The e/c pulled up and to the right. I pointed my nose a bit higher than his climb and fired. He flew right into the bullets as they struck his engine. Smoking heavily, the pilot bailed out. I flew right past his chute.
The last bandit was a ways out, but I eventually caught up to him. Another seemingly easy kill. Not so. He did the same as the last, pulling up and to the right. I fired in the same fashion as the last kill, but missed by a long shot. He rolled down and to the left, but I did the same much quicker and popped off a short burst which struck his engine. His plane started pouring smoke and oil as he dove down to tree-top level. I came in at his 8 o'clock high, nosed down and to the left. I lined up for a classic deflection shot, fired and the plane erupted into flames.
At about 0853 all was clear, not a bandit in sight. We headed home with no losses, 10 e/c destroyed. I claimed 7. It was a successful mission and I became an "ace". It only takes 5.
Until next time....
(This was kinda fun to write. It was hard to remember all the details though!!) Hope it's fun to read, even if it is cheesy!!! :)
1st Lieutenant Derik Rinehart
328th FS 352nd FG
Bodney Air Field, England
06 Sep 1943
0630 Mission briefing: Target- St. Omar
Mission- Fighter Sweep
Today our mission was to engage and destroy any enemy aircraft we encounter over St. Omar. The forecast was heavy clouds, which can be bad when giving chase to a bandit, but great when you need to hide from a Nazi on your tail! Our take off was at 0730, at which our squadron of 12 P-47s formed up and headed to St. Omar. We arrived over the target at about 0831, cruising at 9,000ft.
Red 4 called out bandits at 6 o'clock. We broke left to face them, approx. 12 e/c (enemy aircraft). They were Me 109G-6's in tight line across formation, 4 to a line. I flew straight through while firing. I saw a couple of strikes on 2 but no kill. As I pulled hard left banking, I spotted one and gave chase.
Just as I started the turn, 3 109's pulled vertical in front of me at 11 o'clock low. I immediately fired on the first, the e/c caught fire and broke apart.
Continuing my turn toward my initial target, I fired on the 2nd of the 3 e/c, his engine started smoking heavily. By the time I got lined up on my initial bandit, he was too far to shoot.
I started after another at my 2 o'clock low when I noticed an e/c firing on a P-47 at my 3 o'clock low. I immediately dove hard right into the bandit. I fired a short burst from 2200ft. and saw several strikes. The e/c broke chase and climbed, I followed by pulling up behind him. Firing from 685ft. the e/c exploded.
As I broke toward the deck, my wingman called out "6 o'clock!". I spiraled and pulled in the direction of my attacker. He was about 3725ft. out when I gave chase. He was good. Lots of rolling, climbing and diving. He started a right turn when I managed to pull tighter inside of his turn. Firing ahead with a deflection shot, (think throwing a football to a running receiver, you throw ahead of him so he meets the ball at a specific point) I scored direct hits on the engine and cockpit. The e/c started smoking and rolled inverted toward the ground.
My next bandit came into view with a scare, he crossed from right to left, directly in front of me! We nearly collided. I rolled hard left, slightly climbing. As I leveled, he crossed back to my right. We started the famous "weave" engagement, but I decided to level off and let him cross back in front of me. As he did I fired a very short burst and nailed him.
Red leader called "all clear" when I spotted 2 more departing the area at 1 and 2 o'clock. The 2 o'clock e/c was closest, so I went after him. It looked like it might be an easy kill. He didn't appear to see me, that is until I got within about 2500ft. The e/c pulled up and to the right. I pointed my nose a bit higher than his climb and fired. He flew right into the bullets as they struck his engine. Smoking heavily, the pilot bailed out. I flew right past his chute.
The last bandit was a ways out, but I eventually caught up to him. Another seemingly easy kill. Not so. He did the same as the last, pulling up and to the right. I fired in the same fashion as the last kill, but missed by a long shot. He rolled down and to the left, but I did the same much quicker and popped off a short burst which struck his engine. His plane started pouring smoke and oil as he dove down to tree-top level. I came in at his 8 o'clock high, nosed down and to the left. I lined up for a classic deflection shot, fired and the plane erupted into flames.
At about 0853 all was clear, not a bandit in sight. We headed home with no losses, 10 e/c destroyed. I claimed 7. It was a successful mission and I became an "ace". It only takes 5.
Until next time....
(This was kinda fun to write. It was hard to remember all the details though!!) Hope it's fun to read, even if it is cheesy!!! :)