herbiesan vs Cantona!!!

[1275psi]

Strategically the war began to move towards the climax of the first phase of operations -with japanese troops poised to attack Singapore itself -and beginning what would be a patient but protracted battle for manilla
The Japanese thrust deep into the dutch east indies had had one specific objective -the rapid siezure of Palembang and Soerabaya -this had been achieved -but it left dangerous pockets of resistance at batavia, and at Teleokbetoeng -not to forget Singapore as well.

The Dutch and British fought on v-with invasions of Timor underway or concluding -evacuation of air units was no longer possible.

For 47th Sentai, deep in the heart of the thrust, there was going to be little rest for the week ahead.

[1275psi]

There are a few fundamental differences between us and the pilots of 47th sentai that we need to explain -and these also are some of the differences between the Japanese pilots and there allied foes -differences that over time are going to make a telling impact on the war ahead.

Mechanical aptitude.

2 words that mean so much.

Capt Iwaya leads the way to the planes today -The Colonel has thrown the rule book away on leadership in the air -trying to promote a team attitude -ans it seems to be becoming the norm that who ever feels the most aggressive today will lead.

Capt Iwaya is in a foul mood v-who knows why -and he is both curt and arrogant as he climbs aboard his plane.
Iwaya is a poor pilot -but he does not know it. And terms like oil pressure -cooling temp, and the like are vague terms -important to be sure -but vague in the actual concept of what they mean to an engine -to its performance.
But he is not alone.
In 47th Sentai -not a single pilot could drive -had actually owned or driven a motor car before the war.
Not one had ever pulled a spark plug, done an oil change, let alone rebuilt a buggy -unlike the hordes of teenagers that 47th sentai will soon face in the future.

And although some of them had been taught to drive since joining the forces -concepts of maintenance, wear and tear, was foriegn to many of them
Fighter planes are maintained by support crews.
You get into them -you fly them
You abuse them -they fix them
You might die in combat -they won't -that was the deal

So today the sentai departs the field - eager for action - engines bellowing -and it is "bad luck" when Izumida's engine abruptly siezes -fortunately for him where a safe return landing can be made.



Its another glorious day -clear bright -and very hot on the ground -especially as the sun beats down through the canopies -but far better as they gain in hieght.
Foul mood or not, Iwaya enjoys briefly the sight of their sentai -the sparkling ocean below -the dotted clouds below -the smudge of Malaya solidifying ahead.

They sweep over the city -hunting, eager for action.
It occurs quickly -far too quickly - 9 brewsters are spotted 4000 feet below -tracking right to left.
The Sentai dives - but the brewsters spot them -and dive even faster -totally refusing combat.
The following bombers are unmolested -so the mission can be called a success -but for the pilots -its another frustrating day of lost opportunities.

[1275psi]

Squat, ugly -and morale of their pilots obviously shot -who would blame them?

[cantona2]

damn ugly plane

[1275psi]

23/1/42

There is no fine still coolness this morning
Its not even humid –for the tropics its actually quite cool.
What it is though -is wet
Not your –gee wiz –its raining a little –maybe Ill put of the golf game wet.
Nor , Look, Ma –this will fill the damn nicely wet.

It’s the -Holy Crud –can the sky contain this much water wet!
The rain sheets down –it pours down in those great torrents that only the tropics can give you.
It rushes across the fields, its fills the great drains overflowing in minutes. It turns conversation into useless shouting –even hammering these into silence

The water pours into tents, washing bedding, gear, personal items in a great brown horrible flood. It fills gun pits, slit trenches and reverments –turning all hollows into small ponds and lakes.

47th Sentai spends the day miserably –isolated from the war –from the end of the field, from the buildings next door.

There is no war today.

[1275psi]

24/1/42

Izumida’s plane remains unserviceable -diagnosis –a cracked cylinder head –and the engine now lies forlornly on the ground.
Its replacement is on the back of a truck -100 yards away –solidly bogged.
Its going to take all day for the ground staff to get it out.

Juni B makes his way gingerly to his fighter –trying his hardest to keep his feet dry.
The field is drying rapidly in the hard sun, and the humidity is terrible –especially in his flying suit –sweat streams in rivers down his back.

The cockpit is worse –the rain has managed to get in -and the seat is wet –soaked in fact –and he squelches sadly into it.
It is not going to be a pleasant flight – enemy action excluded.

Juni B is desperate to get another kill – 2 early in the war –now nothing. It had been so frustrating –those brewsters especially.
And there was the humiliation of being the only pilot to have been shot down so far by the enemy –his brother simply would not let him forget that!

It took forever to get the sentai into the air –and the 23 Nells they had to escort.
The flight is short –to teleokbetoeng –and uneventual –some puffs of Flack –and no enemy are sighted- the bombing apparently also totally ineffective.

But at least they are in the war –there was that

[1275psi]

despite Juni B's opinion of a boring (and wet) flight -5 of the GM 3s are damaged in this futile raid.
High Command is reluctant to use them in this role -but so many Army bombers are tied up elsewhere there is no choice

[1275psi]

25/1/42

Japanese troops enter Tilitijap, begin to reduce the forts at Batavia, continue to pound at the gates of Manilla.
Troops approach Jahore Bahru –the gates of Singapore.

For 47th sentai –it’s a typical day of war – Hurry up and wait!

The small group of men spend the entire day within 30 yrds of the planes –all lined up at the edge of the field –waiting for the go –then a standown –then a go again.

Enemy attacks on the field cannot now happen –the last operating fields in range are either taken –or under direct attack Japanese fighter flights are now increasingly assuming the escort role –Singapore has some fighters available to the British – but are not considered a threat
So the men wait – at times one of them can slip away – only 7 planes are available for the eight pilots –and all of them have vital things to do.

Their laundry – there is still the chaos of the storm to sort out.

Juni B, and Iwaya do get to fly late in the afternoon –chasing spurious contacts.

It’s a long boring day

[1275psi]

Colonel Kanbayashi sighed a deep breath.
Below him the seas sparkled –above him the sky was an endless arc of blue. Here at 10000 feet the world looked wonderful.
This was good –it was good to be in the air today.

He was steadily leading Iwaya and Izuumida north east wards –obstensivly “on patrol” –but in reality seeking trouble –and seeking to clear his head.

The incessant moves of his Sentai were straining the group – this he knew.
He suspected it would get worse – the Allies were bombing Rangoon and Lashio with B17’s –and the Army fighters there so far had failed utterly to hurt them.

But this might, or might not happen. There was now. Him, the plane, his men, the chance for action…………..

To his right –slowly taking shape –little gaggles of black dots –and more dots –lots of dots –aircraft!
The Colonel brings his flight around, and cautiously approaches the formation –and quickly breathes another sigh of relief, which turns to grins of joy.

The might of the mobile fleet –a great aerial fist, is in the air –target Singapore
In great terraces the Vals, the Kates, the zeros fly steadily towards the target, he waves to some of the zero pilots –but they don’t wave back

The Colonel counts –or tries to count –the massed formation –how fantastic it is!
300 plus? More or less.?

It is sight he will never forget.

[1275psi]

27/1/42
There was no planning.
No warning

Just a swift order
deploy 47th Sentai to Kuantan!

Again our pilots are forced to hurridlypack - they are all getting experienced at squeezing the essentials into the little nooks and cranies the fighters have -and soon the 8 fighters are winging there way north

The Colonel leads today -WO kuroe remains behind to try to pack up the support -he will follow.
The Colonel takes the unit via Singapore -easy to see -its column of smoke and fire can be seen for 50 miles -the oil tanks have been hit by the Mobile fleet hard. They are looking for trouble -but there is none to be had -the British simply are not going to recover from the blow recieved yesterday.

The battle for Singapore is gearing up -kuantan is packed with bombers to its limits.
The sentai is expected -some things are working!
Although enemy resistance appears to have been brocken -there is a severe shortage of fighters in malaya - and the bombers require at least nominal cover.
They will be it -until the state of the British resistace is confirmed.

The Pilots are not unhappy -kuantan is well supplied -the british have left much behind -and there is a chance to eat very well tonight.

[1275psi]

Singapore burns

[1275psi]

27/1/42

47th sentai now based (temporarily) at Kuantan

Hyakutake 14 combat missions
Juni v 16 combat missions
Juni b 15 combat missions
Iwaya 15 combat missions
Izumida 10 combat missions
Takenaka 17 combat missions
Kuroe 18 combat missions
Inoue 12 combat missions

Unit is only recording missions where enemy planes encountered or sighted

The war continues, with Japan also on the offensive in the Solomons, with invasions of Dobodura, Buna, and naval interdiction of Port Moresby.

Batavia the battle rages, Cagayan also is the sight of very tough fighting, and Manilla repels the first serious Japanese probe –this too will be a long battle
Troops are entering Rangoon –and again the allies deploy the B-17s here

In China the news remains confused –enemy troops repulsed at Lashio
Morale of the Sentai is good.



28/1/42
Once again 47th sentai will escort the bombers on a mission of terror.
Capt Iwaya is tucked in behind Takenaka, some 2000 feet above and to the left of the bombers –some 60 plus –as the straights of Singapore start to come into view.
He tightens his grip on the stick and again stares deeply into the sun, looking for the enemy fighters.
This is the worst time –before the action starts.
Hell !!!–he is too close to Takenaka!. How in the hell does he do it! His grip tightens even more –exactly the wrong thing to do when flying such a plane as the Ki-44.

The bombers drone on, the straights now below –the target –the docks –now heaving into view.
FLAK!
And his stomach tightens as the little black bursts blossom ahead.
Some shrapnel pings off his plane –like gravel thrown onto a tin roof –and he cannot help but to begin to weave a little……. Until Takenaka gives him the evil eye.
Curse his calmness – this just flying in a straight line is crap – the Flak !
2 bombers are streaming earthward –one straight down –chutes streaming out –the other spins down –broken into many bits. There are no chutes from it.

Finally the bombs drop –and the savaged bombers turn away. It has been a heavy raid –and costly – but the bombs have been delivered.

Iwaya is more than pleased to get home today –and he thanks his father once again that he did not end up flying those trucks…………



47th Sentai moves to cover the bombers:

[1275psi]

28/1/42

The word came -again-with out warning
Transfer the sentai north again!
Kuroe met the news with a scowl –“I’m starting to think that we are Japans only fighter unit at the moment! –what crises do we meet this time!”

The move –at the end of a day already filled with action, was tiring, but fortunately short

Kompong Som -in the middle of Burma –can be described simply –a crud hole.
Single dirt strip –a few ramshackle huts around its edges, lots of trees –in venerating humidity and heat

And a very uncomfortable night on the field – fighting mosquitos
Fuel was scarce as well, supplies were short here – not a place one would want to stay at for long.

The next day –a simple camp fire meal –and then thankfully another transfer –to Tavoy.

[1275psi]

29/1/42

Hyakutake 14 missions
Juni V 17
Juni b 15
Iwaya 16
Isumida 10
Takenaka 17
Kuroe 18
Inoue 12

47 sentai now stationed at Tavoy – refuelling and arming for combat missions.
Nil flown today – on standby but not called upon.
Several orientation flights flown.

Rangoon is reported as taken –expect to fly patrol mission here tomorrow .

Tavoy shared with KI 48 sentai –and has again come under Burma command

[1275psi]

Ki -48 -only other unit at tavoy at the moment

tavoy is delightful -a nice sea breeze every day.
Not that 47th sentai are going to get to enjoy the beaches very much!

[1275psi]

30/1/42

it rains

it rains

it rains some more

Bloody weather in this war!

[1275psi]

31/1/42

AM

AT 20000 feet over Rangoon

From here the great sweep of the burma coast can be seen – a sparkling ocean, and the great contrasting jungle, also seemingly sweeping forever

Visibility is today, exceptional –the horizon seems to be somewhere over the curve of the world, and the air also this morning is still calm and smooth.
It’s a delightful morning to fly.
Takenaka and Inoue are on patrol, loosely flying off each other, and they both sight the incoming bombers many, many miles away
There is no need to hurry, they turn almost lazily to the right –almost running parallel to the formation, they can see the quarry easily, which meant the quarry could see them as well.

This would not be easy .

12 big B17s, immaculately formed up – barely wavering on their path towards Rangoon –or moulimien –or even maybe tavoy –at this height –today- –one could almost fly to the end of the world .
2 vs 12

That last line is almost wasted, after all, these 2 fighters are manned by warriors of bushido, they will attack. But even that is silly. These two fighters are manned by young men –immortal men –unable to even think that they could be shot down –thinking only of how to shoot them down.

The two fighters wing over together, and slant in from the front quarter of the formation, attacking the outer bomber.
A storm of fire meets them – but misses.
Inoue does it best, the first bomber grows amazingly fast, and he see’s strikes from his own guns –flashes on its great bulk, and then , Hard right rudder, stick hard over, and then inverting down, striking the lower , last bomber in the formation.

Takenaka simply charges in, fires, dives hard down.
He misses

In two years time many german pilots are going to die trying to do what they just did –Inoue has been particularily lucky –one just should never turn like that while inside the enemies gun envelope. Maybe the gunners are green too in this new warfare.
Or maybe the dice just rolled well today for them.

They pull up –no plane falls –but one may yet not get home –two engines are smoking as the bombs fall –miles off target.
The fighters fuel is exhausted, as are the guns.

In the Afternoon the weather returns to typical tropical haze mess – and Juni V and Iwaya never get in range of a second raid

They have met the B17. Luck has been with them.

[1275psi]

A poor place to attack from.......

[1275psi]

1/2/42

From the diary of Col Kanbayashi….


………….and then the so called leader of the KI 48’s confirmed it. Close escort indeed!. How in the hell are we to get to grips with the enemy if he does appear if we are tied to the bomber aprons……………
The whole operation here in southern Burma is a fiasco – all these fields seized –but no aviation support provided at all! –a few men with a few spanners. Total rubbish.

I understand that Rangoon fields are empty –and all those precious assets unprotected simply due to the fact that nobody thought that we might need a fuel truck or two!

Must be a bloody idiot running this war……………..

[1275psi]

1/2/42
Although the old radio has not made the journey with 47th sentai –news is relatively easily to obtain here at Tavoy –several army radios are in use.
The Japanese armies seemingly have hit several road blocks.
Singapore remains defiant
Manilla has not fell –and is actually pushing back
Cagayan –is a great frustration –the defenders have fled to the hills surrounding the city –and from here they dominate it. It will be a bloody battle to winkle them out.
And Batavia also continues to resist.

The war in Burma is speeding up –if the weather clears, then they will be supporting the bombers as the army races towards mandalaby.