Dusk Patrol - 7th April

I lifted my 109G6 from Bertrix (Originally from Wiltz, rearmed/repaired and refueled here)..
Sun was almost setting as I arrived over target - Ste.Menehold

Objective - Defend town against enemy paratroopers:

I had heard reports on comms that enemy constantly flew para planes, C47s mostly from Montfaucon against Ste.Menehold.

As I arrived, i saw the first one and a Hawk-87.. The C47 had already emptied its load over town,
so I targeted the Hawk and managed to kill it on my first pass. Short burst, 3-4 30mm with some 13mm - Hawk lost it's wing
After that I noticed the C47 is already engaged with a few friendlies, so I loitered SW-W and gathered altitude..

Then I heard reports of another C47 - it managed to empty it's paratroopers again, but I shot it down as it tried to RTB..
About 10-15 rounds of 30mm spent at this time.

I turned towards Montfaucon, decided to hunt them lower this time.. Saw some tracers - friendly on 2 Blenheims..
as I veered towards them, I noticed a fourth con below, right on the deck. C47 !!! ENROUTE!

- I engaged that, max speed, not maybe wise... but I pressed 13mm trigger from maybe 200 meters out and tapped on the cannon as
I started to pull out - flamed that C47. (After combat records indicate I killed 10 Paras and the C47)

I turned back towards the Blenheims, one was fighting with the frienlies who had already come..
Another was "free" for me - Engaged it, easy kill. As the Blenheim went in on flames I spotted a Hawk on a friendly,
pulling up, I had speed on him - I pulled up and killed him there and then. Another short burst..
this time maybe half of 30mm spent.

I wish I had video recorder - I feel good now..

Flying SE on the W side of Montfaucon at 1000 meters, I spot yet another C47. WAY out there, on my 9 o'clock..
I'm slowish at the moment, cooling my engine at about 400 km/h..
"Ok, lets keep this heading" I said to myself, he'll come right in front of me - eventually he did

LOONG burst from the 13mm again with a tap of 30mm on the hull.. no kill on the C47 - I pull up - high yo-yo.
Another pass - this time I decided to kill the C47, aim on the wingroot - Double-tap on the cannon trigger: Flamed!
(examination of the wreck granted me 11 paratroopers and the C47 this time)

Ok.. now it's time to head home.. out of ammo soon... about 90 13mm left with ... can't remembe accurately...
I remember having 7 left at some point, but i think it was later... maybe 13 left at this time...

As I pass the road West of Montfaucon, yet another contact appears - first I see a big plane, then the ring appears...
"A third full c47!??!" - Nope, another Blenheim, I edge right behind him
- maybe 3 shells from 30mm and a burst of 13mm on the engine and he goes down in flames.

Heading out now, i see buncha friendlies on map.. look ahead - around carefully now!

I spot a furball ahead, 3-4 friendlies and 2-3 EA - 1 EA goes down, a friendly goes down..
I see a Hawk 81 on doing head on trades with a friendly.. no vis on type of friendly, so dark!
I enter the fray - stay on the H81!! he manages to do about 3 more head ons - neither of 'em seems to hit the other.
I save my 30mm, shoot bursts of my few 13mms... 1-2 30mm when I think a snapshot might hit - no joy.
Some hits with 13mil, but he doesn't mind... Eventually i edge up to within 50m of him...
3 30mm left - I target his wingroot: Squeeze the trigger when I see I cannot miss:
  All guns fire - shortly.

BOOM! - He loses his wing.

Out of 30mm - red light is up now... Time to head home.

I scan around frantically.. Radar contacts report some EA around Bertrix as I come home.
The AAA is not firing as I ease myself to land - nice and easy..

Mechanics empty my machine guns.. 13 rounds in the guns ammo bins. Ammo well spent.

I'm credited with
- 3 C47s
- 21 Paratroopers from the 2 loaded C47s I managed to find.
- 1 Hawk 87
- 2 Hawk 81s
- 2 Blenheims

My single best sortie ever.

With just one ammoload - I consider myself lucky. Sometimes things just work out nicely.

--
Major Juuba
Apr 07, 2009