herbiesan vs Cantona!!!

[CarnageINC]

Great mega awesome writing indeed!  Damn I thought Juni was lost for a minute, the last of the originals I sure hope he can hang on!

[1275psi]

17/12/43

Juni flies at 5000 feet, full throttle.

The ocean is calm, and his shadow races across it.
He cuts the throttle a little, weaves hard - and the ocean behind him bursts into small explosions, the bombers tail gunner is getting into the act.

"You will have to do better than that my friend" he murmers, much better.
The weave becomes a slanting, wing over turn, and he fires -and strikes -but the beast roars on.

Juni feels no discouragement -this he has seen so many times before.
Another tiger flashes past -gives a burst -and the tail gunner falls quiet.
They go lower.

The bomber roars in -brave men indeed -and the target is now growing, growing -a smudge on the horizon, now a grey shadow, superstructure, funnels, masts -guns -lots and lots of guns
Battleship ISE fires with all she has -and suddenly the sea, the sky is filled with tracer, death, and black Flak
"STUPID TRUKING NAVY! -STOP SHOOTING AT ME!" screams Juni -giving a desperate kick to get behind the bomber - almost as if he wants to use it as cover
The great battlewagon is a inferno of flame as they race over her - the bombers eggs tumbling down......

Another Tiger flashes in -and suddenly the bombers wing seperates, and she is gone -gone into the inferno below -and Juni swears to himself - "I bet the barsteds claim her too".

Juni's guns are empty, he wheels for home.
It is is third sortie for today, heavens how long is this day going to be?

[1275psi]

Extract from "fighting the tide" by Col Nakamura

It took the British 2 days to realise the navy had gone -gone and left us with baby.
The true battle begins on the 17th - waves of P 38's, and Liberators -how I hated those planes now.
The Morning, the morning was a draw -we lost 6 - poor 85th , again presented the butchers bill.
The afternoon was better -small unescorted bomber formations attacked the harbour area -and for once, how long since this had occurred? - we did well.
5 bombers down -50 dead men.
For no loss.

Oh, I recieved a sharp signal from the BB Ise -something about scratched paint, but today, today we won.
For that -who gave a rats arse what the navy thought.

[1275psi]

(47th now has 75 kills)


A long, long way away from Port blair, the american Army advances
They land here against little opposition, and move swiftly towards the field.
So much blood, sweat, tears japan has expended for this field, this place called Lae
Now, almost with out a murmer, it will fall.

Nobody in Japan shall hear - those that don't need to know that is -all they will hear is
"The war continues to plan"

[1275psi]

Mr Iwaya works quietly at his desk.
a difficult decision - is this an excess of shipbuilding -or just a bottle neck? he reaches for a file....
'Did you know a Colonel Aii?'
The question from his secretary is casual -a filler in the silence .
Iwaya's pen freezes for a moment.

A large wad of cash.............

he feigns dis interest 'I have heard of him - shipping?, down the hall?"

"Oh" says his staff ' some one cut his throat yesterday - they say some sort of domestic thing, I......................."
Iways hears no more

Ice flows through him....................

[1275psi]

18/12/43

Operations report
47th sentai

CAP operations over Port Blair

49 tigers intercepted 20 P38's escorting 12 Liberator bombers
2 tojo lost
1 kill to 47th -bomber (total now 76)
1 p38 claimed

Moderate damage inflicted to field.

Such dry language, for hours filled with desperation, fear, and courage.
The war continues.

[1275psi]

19/12/43

"Guns " mutters Hosho to himself , "Got to have some bigger bloody guns"
His co pilot laughs 'I heard that! -we won't get of the ground with the amount of iron you are dragging along!"
He has a point
Mexican bandit style, Hosho sports two great ammunition belts across his chest. A pistol sticks out from his left flying boot, a knife is strapped to the other.
He has a rifle too -but its not enough
From somewhere, heavens knows where, Hosho has 'liberated' a shotgun -vintage unknown, condition unknown -looks -known indeed. If you wanted to rate lethality on looks, this shotgun is a war winner.
But apparently, it too is not enough.

Hosho approaches one of the men waiting patiently to board his transport. The men of 1st para regiment have seen a lot in this war - but this apparition approaching them almost takes the cake.
Hosho wastes no time "a bottle, no, make that two of good old jonny red for that machine gun "

"What?"
'Buddy -you are about to board an un armed plane, and fly deep into enemy territory. I have a hatch that thing could stick out of, thus making us" -he pauses dramatically -' an armed plane"
'I need this"
'Not if we get shot down you wont. Come on, I'm sure you can get another, 2 bottles for that heap of crap -come on!"

The old para regards this mad man in front of him. Is this gorrilla really the pilot? This madman?. If he was, what chance of using the gun?, and those bottles............


Hosho chucks the gun to his co pilot. "Mount that will you?"
'How?'
"You'll figure it out. We've got 30 minutes"
"Then what are you going to do -leave me to figure this out myself?"
"Yes - Im going to try for some grenades, never know when you need a grenade.............."

[1275psi]

Nakamura joins circuit, flaps out, throttle off, a bounce, another.
A taxi towards the 'hardstand" -if the area of gravel hastily spread could be called a hardstand.
Nakamura's eyes dart left and right -taking it all in.
His armourers -already waiting for him, the cans of fuel, lines up neatly, hand pump at the ready (oh for more trucks)
Around, ahead, half a dozen fighters, scattered -some just down, some half way through replenishment -a few, almost ready to go.
Good, things are good

The enemy have not come today -not here -although moulmien is a furball from the snatches he gets on the radio
he brings his beast to a halt -but the engine remains idling- and the air from it is cool and sweet as he shoves the canopy back

Crew chief hands him a canteen, he sucks it eagerly
And darting eyes see action around Akano's bombers -torpedo's being chained into position.
'Chief" he grabs the old mans arm -" keep everyone down at the moment down -I smell trouble"
Hie!'

A figure is jogging across the field - yes, its him.
Lcdr Akano hauls himself up onto his wing - he is grinning -and his blue, blue eyes sparkle.
" How is the hunt old man?"
They are shouting over the beat of many cylinders - but there is no need to talk long
"Crud ! - something worth your precious fish?"
The grin widens ' A carrier! -240 miles from here -what can you give me as escort?'
'what do you want!?"
"Everything you have! -the Navy is panicking -the battlewagons are storing ship!"
"Stuff the navy! -let em come - we will shoot em dowm here!'
"Oh come on old man -have a heart -its a carrier!"
Nakamura shakes his head - oh to have such enthusiasm as this...........
"Just for you Akano, just for you"


Of course, there never was any choice in the matter -a carrier , any enemy naval presence -must be tackled.

At 1400, they depart - 30 Tigers forming up around the 11 francis bombers Akano has gathered -all he can gather.
For Nakamura's men - this is different -for many -in fact- for nearly all of them, acting as escort -is a new and strange thing.
Flying so far over water - on an attack -also different.

Get damaged out here....................

They climb, and cruise, Port blair fading astern
Nakamura must trust Akano now -must follow him wherever he goes -must trust that the Emily stalking the carrier will live long enough, that at least one bomber will live long enough to guide them home.

Nakamura shifts in his seat -close escort -close escort. Not how they usually fight........

His radio crackles
Its Akano ' "target in sight"
The sea glares back ay him -in sight? -where the hell......ahhh -there-on the horizon -those little dots.
"Are you sure about this Akano?"
"yes - go get them tiger"
Nakamura tightens his straps, waggles his wings -and throttles full.
Akano too, wags his wings, and peels down, and way to the south, headed for the deck.....

The dots are growing, growing -now long wakes are visible -and tiny flashes -AA -and dark bursts all about them, and they stop
"watch for the fighters!"
'Coming in from your right sir! -20 plus!"
He feels calm. Would this work? it had to work
'Attack'

The sky breaks into a chaotic snarling swirling beast -pure fighter on fighter combat -and the British are very, very good
A minute
2 minutes.
5 minutes -a lifetime in combat terms.
It goes on. and on - and the tojos -many, go down.
The fight drifts -drifts over the enemy ships - and the flak begins anew -thousands of eyes looking up at the circling enemies and friends above .

CV Formidable and her escorts have radar.
Good radar I suppose. Good enough to pick up Akano's tactic, to see him sweep around to the south, to turn in, to come in from there -low down, as the fight drifts in from the east.
Good enough to see him, track him, direct a response.

But radar cannot shoot daown planes -only guns can -and most are now exhasted in the fight against the tigers -some spitfires do intercept in time -some -not enough -ony one Francis tumbles into the sea
The francis is fast. very fast -and Akano leads them in -his wingman is the only one hit - and the carrier killer lives to his name today.

Its Akano's torpedo that strikes the wildly gyrating carrier - a single one - but the ammunition explosion makes it at least three's worth........

Its a long flight back - and never are men so glad to see land in the gathering dusk as these men are.


later
Akano sloshes the drink as he passes it to Nakamura " now thats how it should be done hey?'
Nakamura rolls his eyes " remind me to tell you to get stuffed next time Akano"
Akano drains his beer . His eyes are still sparkling with excitement " I hope they keep coming"


Operations report

Combined strike on carrier to north west of port blair
30 Ki-44, 11 francis

20 odd enemy encountered -nil claimed
10 Ki -44 lost - (85th 7, 87th 2, 47th 1)
Enemy CV Formidable heavily struck.

Also conducted continous CAP over port blair -no contacts.

It appears Army assualt has failed.

[1275psi]

It appears army assualt has failed


A simple sentence

But for a japanese division -one that attacks until victory, or death -these are potent words indeed.
3 days of fighting
12000 casualties

And tommy remains on the ridge -and wonders at the impossibility of it all.............

[1275psi]

20/12/43

Hosho never got to fire the gun.
Around him the flak had been heavy -terribly heavy -shrapnel literally raining against the transports wings and body -her passengers grimly hunching down , waiting, waiting for the green light.
Around them, chaos - just 3 Tbolts have penetrated the screen -more than enough to claw down a good handful of fat transports.

To be honest, in the drama of the approach, Hosho simply forgets plans to mount guns, or any crud like that - he is busy enough dodging gyrating planes, and the flak.
'Where the truk is it!"
It being the drop zone
"There! -just there!"

"Thank heavens -get ready with the light!'
But then........
"What the ?................
power is being lost -rapidly -both engines -already the overloaded beast begins to squash in his hands.
Oh CRUD! -look at the fuel! -we must have been hit somewhere -Oh , stuff it.
Hosho glances at his friend
Despite everything -he has to grin
"Guess what buddy -we are going to crash again"
I don't truking believe this................."
They don't crash - the drop field is large -very large - and although poor Hoshos bird will never rise from here again, nobody is hurt

The silence is stunning.

The stick exits the plane, gathers itself.
Faintly -to the east -sounds of battle.
A radio is with them, the young officer in charge of the stick fiddles for a while -then with a grunt of satisfaction, begins conversation with some one else -some where.

Hosho remembers his guns and gets busy.


By the time he emerges, the dozen or so men are advancing cautiously westward - spreading out in classic patrol formation.
The officer looks disgusted
"the attack has failed"
There is little doubt that what he really says -the attack failed becuase I was not there-and its your fault that i was not there -and now you will pay for it. Not verbally -but the eyes do.

'Oh" says Hosho -what else can he say?
'"We march to hanoi"
'and how far is that?"
"300 miles -give or take" (and won't you feel every inch flyboy)
the Officer smiles "I see you have a heavy machine gun -very useful -make sure you look after it very, very carefully"

Hosho's co pilot grins "Come on gorrilla -it cant wiegh that much!"








(japanese attack west from vietnam towards nanking is stopped cold -the para drop is a failure as well)

[1275psi]

ripping us apart in Solomons, and the t bolts in burma as well

[1275psi]

21/12/43

never give a sucker a equal chance

how many times have we said this?

The 38's come in low -on dusk -streaking across the circuit as tired men prepare to land -minds on other things.
One pass -low, lightning fast -a snarl of engines -the chatter of guns -the crump, crump, crump, crump of planes hitting the deck -the columns of fire.

30 seconds
4 planes down
47th lose 2

Nothing can be done -or said.
47th must 'continue to hold the baby'

[1275psi]

22/12/43

Juni doesn't think about much these days -its one task at a time, event following event.
Get through the day -don't get killed. Thats what its distilled to now.
Don't get killed. If a chance to kill comes along -take it.

He hears the bombers call the P38's -silver angels. Twin tailed devils. if juni thinks about anything -its about those cannons in their nose. How many bombers would he have had by now -but for a cannon?
Trouble is -they are just so damn good...........

The days work will begin so early -well before dawn. Its still cold here before dawn, the ground wet.
The shelter he lies in is pathetic -a hole in the ground.
But that he is used to.
getting wet, the filthy 'bedding"
That too.
But the bugs.
But worse of all -that grimey, I have slept terrible feeling, the stiffness in the bones and joints, the aches.
And the itching. The scar still itches, itches like hell.

Breakfast is a quiet affair -the cue of fellow pilots, the steaming pots -the indescribable whatever that counts as sustenance.
On the horizon -the never ending flash and rumble -and again, as every night -that Booooooooooooooom, Booooooooooom
Juni looks at breakfast -smells it. Not too much of it wriggles at the moment.
Squats, then toilet, then the amble to"the tarmac".
In the growing light, he reads Nakamura's roster -pinned to a crude board.
second notice today.
Juni grunts -this puts him at 5 minutes notice -nakamura's ready reserve. The fighters have been coming in from the north east -the bombers the north west -Juni will play back stop today.

The fighters are dispersed - well dispersed.
juni takes his gear, and he, Miyazuki, some other unknown "Stick with me or heaven help you!", begin the long walk across the field.
For Juni -its the best moment of the day - the quiet, the dew, the cool air, the rustle of the long grass against boots.
Ones body awakening truly to the beauty of the world -the dawn -the rising sun
Nothing is said -what is there to say -the world asks you to pause for a moment, before the filth of man sucks you into the day ahead

The ground crew await - tired, tired men.
The salutes -always the salutes.
Idly juni wonders -would they salute at worlds end/ at the judgement?
He supposes they will

Into the cockpit.
The newbie struggles with something - ahhhhh, ready now.
start up -run up -now the mind truly is empty -the job fills all.
The bellow of avaition at full power -and down to idle

The field shakes to the first flights going away -the angels are coming.
And then -the flag -and the flare. His radio crackles.
"8 bogies - big boys - north west -6 minutes"
6 minutes -a lifetime
'Height please?'
6000
more than a lifetime available.
swiftly the throttles go forward -and juni goes to battle.

The sun, beginning to rise -sunbursts on the horizon.

[1275psi]

break for dinner[:)]

[1275psi]

the sun rises rapidly -they climb into clear blue skies, clear blue sea below.
3 minutes down -and there they are -easy to see - flak bursts on the horizon -and half a dozen transports -like shags on a rock.
Swiftly they bank, level ou, the transports now on the fwd port quarter -the bombers bearing in from the other side.
transports level now on the left wing -wing over -hard -hard, vertical to the sea, a 2 count, then hard again the other way -Juni's mind cold again -eyes cold again -ignoring all -the tracer, the flak -eyes just for that brief, brief moment of intercept.
Guns fire -and is that a gasp -a gasp of pleasure? -as the bullets strike -or a grunt of satisfaction?
The bombers flash past -almost a head on -pale faces, uniforms as he hauls her around to the right -1000 feeet -the ocean close -and now the speed is so apparent.

Now he is truly grunting, struggling to breathe as the Gees build up. A glance left -the newbie is still there -grim;y hanging on -but Miyazuki?
Level out - the transports are still firing -at them -useless fire -annoying as Truk -can't those useless barsteds tell the difference?
But one is burning -and , and? - what the hell does he care -the bombers are gone

Juni climbs again, beginning to circle over the convoy - and Miyazuki joins them.
"I lost you in the s -sorry"
For a moment the retort - 'or I didn't like the flak" flashes through his mind -but is not spoken -not nowdays

8000 feet -and more business - 10 liberators now - and already some tigers are dating in and out of them.
Juni turns to meet them -they are coming in low -they pass below -almost lazily, and then the gut churning wrench of the vertical inverted dive -the Nakamura knife

Miyazuki swallows hard -and follows him
He must brave the Flak -must ignore it, he cannot do that again.

Juni leads -ocean above them . filling the world as they dive towards it -and the bombers float into view -guns hammer -they scream through -so close, so close!, and a frantic, arm straining, eyeball watering pull out., and the ocean is close.

One bomber smokes -but that is all -and they rush over the convoy - and some strange flat looking ship shudders, jumps -disintergrates in the mountains around it.

The Tigers pull away -and still some idiot is shooting at them, and its a rappid swing left, swing right -finally clear.
"Truking navy!"
Juni spits it out "Truking navy! -lets go home -I'm done"

They shoot along -500 feet -back to the comfort of land, back for fuel, bullets, a break.

The land opens up at them -and Miyazuki notes with horror -hard against the land -the grey land -the great line of grey ships - battleships, aother ships.

"Oh for heavens sake!" Juni growls -"'we will have to go round"
And something strikes his plane hard under the cockpit -and it shovels smoke.
'Oh for TRUKS SAKE!"

The tiger wobbles -and Miyazuki , even as he pulls away - oblivious to the hurricane of fire around him -can tell Juni is not going to make it.

500 yards from the lead battleship -he goes in - a bang -a spray of water - and mercifully -Juni is scrambling from the cockpit.
And finally, some one recongnises the Tigers for what they are -and the guns go silent

They circle -helpless, as Juni is reduced to a small dot in the ocean -his tiger already gone.
The offending battleship turns to him -and (even an airman can recongnise the risks taken here) stops beside him.








From Battleship Ise
Capt Takeda commanding
To
Col Nakamura
47th sentai

regret we shot down your Lt Juni today.
Pilot safe onboard -slight injuries.
Regret at current time I cannot deliver him to you due to injuries, operational demands.


He is very angry


Editors note
I could not believe it when his name came up on WIA list -again
I lost 3 tigers today -1 operational -as i did not watch replay right through -well....................

[1275psi]

Juni's new home
(extent of injuries currently unknown)

[hosho]

bloody hell!
but wonderfully written!

[flaggelant]

is Juni's new home remodeled to carry more aircraft or not yet?

(just curious [8|])

[1275psi]

Ummmmmm -well spotted -I did not notice that when I posted the pic.
No -she is still the old un!


(thanks for the interest!)

23/12/43

No enemy didturb the CAP over port blair today -but they cannot fail to notice the numbers on patrol -a mere 36 planes now. The cripples are building up.


Unknown to the men of the 47th, a critical situation is developing.
2 years ago -a japanese Army of half this size here on port blair, defeats and destroys an Army that makes what hangs on here look insignificant

But this "pocket" is totally different. The men who man its rampants are different. They believe in victory. They also know what defeat means now uin the hands of the japanese.
So -they stand, and they fight with grim detirmination.
And they have shattered the forces against them
The battle tonight is meant to be the final push -it is nothing like that. the vaunted moral of the Japanese soldier is cracking.
That of the Indian troops doesn't bare thinking about.

47th should have been escorting the victorious troops home by now -covering the convoys.
They should be elsewhere -slowing the american advance in PNG.
But here they are -stuck.
Port blair is becoming a nightmare.

[1275psi]

Juni slowly comes out of the fog.
For a moment, his eyes struggle to focus. Then he remembers.
A figure comes into view -a white gown, a smile.
A medic.
"Ah -you are awake. Good. Do you know where you are?'
Juni glances about him. White steel walls, Comfortable bunk beds, stainless steel. Ise's sickbay no doubt. The bed moves under him, rising, rolling gently. At sea still no doubt.
"yes"
The smile grows. "Good. By the way, petty officer Suzuki forgives you - black eye and all"
For a second or two, Juni struggles to form the picture in his mind -then it all rushes back -'Oh -the man who shot me down?'
'No -the one who fished you out. You were a little upset we think"
" Oh" Well -what could he say?
Juni becomes aware of something about his belly -a bandage?
And a dull ache in his guts as well.
The doctor -for that who it really is - bends , fiddles with it -a disturbing process. "You are very lucky Pilot -a shrapnel fragment made quite a mess in there you know. I fixed it- but" and the voice becomes very serious ' you must not be moved, or move for quite some time. You remain here, here until I clear you."

Juni looks around the room - it is large enough -and only one other man occupies it.
The doctor notices. "Just relax -sleep -we will get you some books. No solids for a while yet 'Just don't get up. You need a toilet -ring the bell"

The doctor turns to go - 'Captain Takeda may come and visit -he feels sorry for yesterday, he's a good sort -please behave"

behave? what the...............Juni falls to sleep again

He Awakens to the sound of activity -the clanging of watertight doors, the whir of machinery. The Motion of the ship has changed too -and there is less vibration, but a more pronounced roll.
A juniour sailor comes in-smiles -and hands him ear plugs.
"We are under the focastle -and the fwd guns"

What happens next -is simply appalling. A massive CRASH! -a giant smashing a titanic hammer into the ships very side.
The sounds of things breaking, and a vibration that hammers into the skull.
'OH SH5T!", yells Juni
And the next gun fires, another CRASH! - and then ANOTHER, and ANOTHER.

The noise is beyond description -and now the stink of cordite fills the compartment.
But what is worse -is the reaction of those about him. The man in the other bunk continues to read some sort of paperback -nary a flinch as the guns bang away. The orderly is busy at something -also oblivious to the sounds around them.

Were they mad? - -surely this wasn't normal!

But it is normal. For the 7th night in a row, the battleship will pound the british positions -and pound poor Juni into almost insensibility through sheer noise............





( this author used to sleep underneath a 5 inch gun firing -just one deck down - what a 14incher sounds like is beyond my imagining) (by the end of that trip -I would actually sleep through the firing -but if the turbines went quiet..........!)