22 april 44
The task force , crawling now, shepherds Japans latest cripple slowly North. Today is a beautiful day, calm, the sea shimmering. Overnight, 4 E class ASW vessels have joined, like small terriers they scurry about on the task groups flanks. Extra destroyers are due to arrive tonight.
Yet for all the tension, lying hidden just below the surface, it is a easy day......takeji , for the first time it seems in ages, finds himself almost with nothing to do. He dare not move too far from the bridge, yet at this slow speed the OOW is hardly going to need his help.
It gives one time to think, yet, there are so many things one would rather not think of. The strain, he knows, is beginning to show. Not on his men, but on Zuiho itself. Defects are piling up, he see's Minobe rarely in the course of a normal day (and to be honest, on some days, never, when the whisky wins), but this week he has seen him often, and more alarmingly, at times he has been sweat covered, once, incredibly, there had even been oil on the overalls.
This , above all, conveyed more clearly than any briefing the true state of affairs below.
His little ship needs a rest.
Gods, they all do...........
Hidaka joins him. Zuihos Jills are gone again, hunting those hidden buka's, his fighters settled below.
"All quiet?"
'Yes..............and that what worries me........"
They stare together at the cripple to port. Both minds are sharing the same thought.........when will it be Zuihos turn?
A thought that pops up too frequently these days.
Hidake removes his cap, wipes his brow....."Japan will be so good.........to be able to rest with out the fear of attack"
Takeji turns his head. Hidaka talking of fear?...............surely not...............no, not him.
The next signal arrives, one of the hundreds Takeji will read today. He reads it.
So many of these now bring black news................
'You may not get much rest I am afraid my friend........B-29's have bombed Manilla port...........six only, but we have lost 6 submarines in one blow...........
The little ship that could.
Moderators: wdolson, MOD_War-in-the-Pacific-Admirals-Edition
RE: The little ship that could.
big seas, fast ships, life tastes better with salt
RE: The little ship that could.
Fuchida climbs wearily from the cockpit. The KI-44C may be the latest model, the seat is still shite.
kendari.
The same depressing features every japanese base he has seen in the last year or so. Dirt strip, battered trucks that serve as fuel tenders. The same drooping palm trees, the same discarded fronds scattered averywhere as camoflage.
The heat , the same, oppressive, even, gods be damned, the same smell of something rotting faint upon the air.
Even the crew chief looks like all the others, skinny, dirty, cap askew, the same nochanlant ease.
'Welcome to kendari sir"
Fuchida takes another look.
Same pathetic air of indifference.........he nods towards the largest hut at the edge of the field..........'The mess?"
The Crew chief grins, 'Actually no, its furher back, thats the supply HQ, too bloody prominent for clever people like yourself sir, what with this place being in bomber range"
Ahh, yes, another blood feature............what airfield now was NOT in enemy range?
"Have we been vistited yet chief?"
a shrug........."two, three times, the port mostly"
As the rest of 47th swing into the field Fuchida begins walking towards what is obviously the command bunker, while the chief and his truck of men begin to tend to his craft, that at least is an improvement, too many fields have seen too few men for too many planes.....
The bunker is underground, a narrow tunnel, surprisingly comfortable. Two long benches along each side, radio communications, a table, maps, a good dozen men.
11th airfleet HQ..........a busy HQ indeed.
The news is simple.
A massive enemy carrier force south east of Koepang............
Doing what?
squat all.
Orders for 47th?...............wait.
Somehow though, Fuchida does not think that order will last very long.
kendari.
The same depressing features every japanese base he has seen in the last year or so. Dirt strip, battered trucks that serve as fuel tenders. The same drooping palm trees, the same discarded fronds scattered averywhere as camoflage.
The heat , the same, oppressive, even, gods be damned, the same smell of something rotting faint upon the air.
Even the crew chief looks like all the others, skinny, dirty, cap askew, the same nochanlant ease.
'Welcome to kendari sir"
Fuchida takes another look.
Same pathetic air of indifference.........he nods towards the largest hut at the edge of the field..........'The mess?"
The Crew chief grins, 'Actually no, its furher back, thats the supply HQ, too bloody prominent for clever people like yourself sir, what with this place being in bomber range"
Ahh, yes, another blood feature............what airfield now was NOT in enemy range?
"Have we been vistited yet chief?"
a shrug........."two, three times, the port mostly"
As the rest of 47th swing into the field Fuchida begins walking towards what is obviously the command bunker, while the chief and his truck of men begin to tend to his craft, that at least is an improvement, too many fields have seen too few men for too many planes.....
The bunker is underground, a narrow tunnel, surprisingly comfortable. Two long benches along each side, radio communications, a table, maps, a good dozen men.
11th airfleet HQ..........a busy HQ indeed.
The news is simple.
A massive enemy carrier force south east of Koepang............
Doing what?
squat all.
Orders for 47th?...............wait.
Somehow though, Fuchida does not think that order will last very long.
big seas, fast ships, life tastes better with salt
RE: The little ship that could.
Herbiesan views the map again.
The empire still seems so large, yet now, thanks to the B29's, it has shrunk overnight. Nowhere, it seems, is safe..
a million places to guard, to defend..................an exagerration maybe, but the shortage of fighters to do it with is not.
But now, it seems, another crises.
"And port blair?"
His navy minister (a mouse of a man........sometimes one pines for the hulk of Yamamato..........) blanches...........
"Its wrecked..........the power of these bombers is frightening.......'
An understatement.................what a skill we Japanese have to shrink mountains into molehills, until of course, the mountain falls upon us.
Herbiesan cuts through to the issue none of his underlings wish to confront."Our fleet is crippled, and near home, miles from the front. A massive fleet is swanning about of Timor, and Port Blair is definately on the list!. Pray tell me, what have we to oppose what is obviously coming!"
'There is a battleship at singapore, CVE Chunyo, 2 heavy cruisers, some destroyers............
"that is all?"
The silence gives truth to the reply............
damnation to hell...................alright then..............be sunk now, be sunk later.............or who knows.........?
"Send them!"
The empire still seems so large, yet now, thanks to the B29's, it has shrunk overnight. Nowhere, it seems, is safe..
a million places to guard, to defend..................an exagerration maybe, but the shortage of fighters to do it with is not.
But now, it seems, another crises.
"And port blair?"
His navy minister (a mouse of a man........sometimes one pines for the hulk of Yamamato..........) blanches...........
"Its wrecked..........the power of these bombers is frightening.......'
An understatement.................what a skill we Japanese have to shrink mountains into molehills, until of course, the mountain falls upon us.
Herbiesan cuts through to the issue none of his underlings wish to confront."Our fleet is crippled, and near home, miles from the front. A massive fleet is swanning about of Timor, and Port Blair is definately on the list!. Pray tell me, what have we to oppose what is obviously coming!"
'There is a battleship at singapore, CVE Chunyo, 2 heavy cruisers, some destroyers............
"that is all?"
The silence gives truth to the reply............
damnation to hell...................alright then..............be sunk now, be sunk later.............or who knows.........?
"Send them!"
big seas, fast ships, life tastes better with salt
RE: The little ship that could.
Hosho sits in the mouth of his bunker. There is a small tree down near the river, 100 yards away. Rumour has it, that there are small fruits on it. They may be poisonous............then again, they may be not.
They are definately in enemy machine gun range.
Another day of this hunger...............
The fighting overhead appears to have faded away.
21.
21 eagles down...............and still the bombs fall upon them.
They are definately in enemy machine gun range.
Another day of this hunger...............
The fighting overhead appears to have faded away.
21.
21 eagles down...............and still the bombs fall upon them.
big seas, fast ships, life tastes better with salt
RE: The little ship that could.
25th April
The enemy carriers still lurk of Koepang, inviting attack.
Japanese forces remain grounded...........they will not fall for what undoubtably is the greatest CAP trap ever to float these seas.
Port blair is pounded by B-29's again.
Singapore harbour empties.............
Fuchida and 47th move to an even smaller field..Endah, a mere 120 miles from Koepang. If the enemy remain as they are, tomorrow they must be in the thick of it.
Zuiho and her companions make the final run into Japan. There is an important moment, Zuiho's airgroup departs for Shimonoseki.
Diogawa expresses what is uppermost in many minds..........."don't you dare get sunk tonight!"
It is said in jest................but their is some truth in it, the waters here are literally crawling.............
The enemy carriers still lurk of Koepang, inviting attack.
Japanese forces remain grounded...........they will not fall for what undoubtably is the greatest CAP trap ever to float these seas.
Port blair is pounded by B-29's again.
Singapore harbour empties.............
Fuchida and 47th move to an even smaller field..Endah, a mere 120 miles from Koepang. If the enemy remain as they are, tomorrow they must be in the thick of it.
Zuiho and her companions make the final run into Japan. There is an important moment, Zuiho's airgroup departs for Shimonoseki.
Diogawa expresses what is uppermost in many minds..........."don't you dare get sunk tonight!"
It is said in jest................but their is some truth in it, the waters here are literally crawling.............
big seas, fast ships, life tastes better with salt
-
ny59giants
- Posts: 9902
- Joined: Mon Jan 10, 2005 12:02 pm
RE: The little ship that could.
Hi NY59 giants
Ship sunk list shows 98..........so I think about 75 for real.
So, about one every 10 days. Not enough, unfortunately. [:(]
[center]
[/center]
[/center]RE: The little ship that could.
26th April
In the skies above some pitiful out post called Endeh
They wait, staggered across the skies.
At 20000 feet, 47th tigers circle, below them, staged at various altitudes, the zeros, the NK1's.
Nearly 100 strong.
They wait, but they do not wait for long, the americans come.
They are sighted, 50 fighters, 200 plus bombers, nearly 80 miles out, coming for Endeh, coming for their field, coming for their home.
47th are our best, our very best.
The others, too, are not too shabby.
Fuchida see's them under his port wing, passing underneath, course due north,..............the zeros already angling in from behind.
Leader waggles his wings, another section leader waves his, the tigers bunch, turn north as well, then split, half racing now at full throttle above the great formation, the other, Fuchida amongst them, wheeling to the port, coming parrallel, waiting for the moment.
Fuchida watches the unfolding scene..........the stream of bombers, the zeros sweeping in from astern, the Tojos above, themselves on the flanks, NK1's coming up from ahead.
He smiles, savagely, for their is no humour in this.the hell cats have...........to put it mildly.......a problem.
$7ths top section peels and dives down and into the fight.
Fuchida adjusts his goggles, the world wheels, and they join the attack.
In the skies approaching Endeh, battle, great battle is joined
In the skies above some pitiful out post called Endeh
They wait, staggered across the skies.
At 20000 feet, 47th tigers circle, below them, staged at various altitudes, the zeros, the NK1's.
Nearly 100 strong.
They wait, but they do not wait for long, the americans come.
They are sighted, 50 fighters, 200 plus bombers, nearly 80 miles out, coming for Endeh, coming for their field, coming for their home.
47th are our best, our very best.
The others, too, are not too shabby.
Fuchida see's them under his port wing, passing underneath, course due north,..............the zeros already angling in from behind.
Leader waggles his wings, another section leader waves his, the tigers bunch, turn north as well, then split, half racing now at full throttle above the great formation, the other, Fuchida amongst them, wheeling to the port, coming parrallel, waiting for the moment.
Fuchida watches the unfolding scene..........the stream of bombers, the zeros sweeping in from astern, the Tojos above, themselves on the flanks, NK1's coming up from ahead.
He smiles, savagely, for their is no humour in this.the hell cats have...........to put it mildly.......a problem.
$7ths top section peels and dives down and into the fight.
Fuchida adjusts his goggles, the world wheels, and they join the attack.
In the skies approaching Endeh, battle, great battle is joined
big seas, fast ships, life tastes better with salt
RE: The little ship that could.
Its a running brawl, the zeros snapping at the back of the pack, the Hellcats weaving, the bombers the great core the fight will swirl and dance about
Fuchida banks right, levels, sweeps in , the hell cat floats into his sight, finger clenches, but it pulls away to his left, tracer finding air.
He barrell rolls, coming out, behind the bomber, ....dauntless, gun swinging his way, guns chatter........going underneath, pulling up, gods, planes everywhere, twisting, another hell cat, throttle full, hauling into her..............and his engine suddenly coughs, coughs, splutters, shovels smoke, and dies ............
A curse, he inverts, dives, rights, and seeks Endeh.................a long way on this barsted of an engine...............he judges, calculates............yes he will make it.
Just.
Fuchida banks right, levels, sweeps in , the hell cat floats into his sight, finger clenches, but it pulls away to his left, tracer finding air.
He barrell rolls, coming out, behind the bomber, ....dauntless, gun swinging his way, guns chatter........going underneath, pulling up, gods, planes everywhere, twisting, another hell cat, throttle full, hauling into her..............and his engine suddenly coughs, coughs, splutters, shovels smoke, and dies ............
A curse, he inverts, dives, rights, and seeks Endeh.................a long way on this barsted of an engine...............he judges, calculates............yes he will make it.
Just.
big seas, fast ships, life tastes better with salt
RE: The little ship that could.
Above him the fight rolls on, the defending fighters have failed...............the fighters, 47th in particular, are in amongst the bombers.
Fuchida nurses his plane down, the engine barking, coughing, vibrating....his teeth set on edge, he walks the narrow path between speed and stall, between glide and falling short of the strip.
He banks, hands fly, the wheels come down.
Tracer hammers across above his left wing, blue spinning death fills his mirror.
Action instinctive.....hard left rudder, but stick forward and harder into right thigh, his bird slews, the right wing dives, the nose swings left, she crabs down and sideways, the enemy snarling above and past.
The field rises, straighten, down, bounce..........and all about the earth is exploding as the bombs begin to fall,
Bouncing, bouncing, on the very edge of out of control he tries for the trees..............a curtain of dirt stitches across the nose......Helldiver!........nothing for it...ground loop.earth, dust noise, ............
Out!
The scramble...50 yards to the trench................lungs, legs pounding....... .and in!
the earth heaves, above, again, again, again, gods, how many!, and again and again, the howl of the dive bombers, the scream of the bomb, the air actually pulsating, the earth convulsing...........
The raid, seemingly lasts forever.
For the dead, i suppose it does.
Endeh is obliterated.
The Tigers try to land.
Few make it in one piece.......again, and again, the touch, the wobble.the crater, the collapsing gear.....the belly slide.
The liberators come an hour later, they incredibly miss.
Well maybe they don't.........there is nothing really left to bomb here
Dusk.
47th have 7 servicable planes left
30 damaged.
Only 1 pilot lost.
But moral is, despite the carnage, soaring.
From 59 to 83 kills, in a single day.
Good enough return for a nothing place called Endeh
battle result, carrier strike, liberator strike on Endeh
48 hellcats shot down
24 liberators shot down this day
11 helldiver
8 avengers
5 dauntless
for 18 zeros, 6 tojo shot down, 6 NK1's
total today, 90 allied to 35 japanese.
The shattered groups are ordered to retire. Others take their places in the nest of fields north of Koepang.
We hold the bombers.and wait...........
Fuchida nurses his plane down, the engine barking, coughing, vibrating....his teeth set on edge, he walks the narrow path between speed and stall, between glide and falling short of the strip.
He banks, hands fly, the wheels come down.
Tracer hammers across above his left wing, blue spinning death fills his mirror.
Action instinctive.....hard left rudder, but stick forward and harder into right thigh, his bird slews, the right wing dives, the nose swings left, she crabs down and sideways, the enemy snarling above and past.
The field rises, straighten, down, bounce..........and all about the earth is exploding as the bombs begin to fall,
Bouncing, bouncing, on the very edge of out of control he tries for the trees..............a curtain of dirt stitches across the nose......Helldiver!........nothing for it...ground loop.earth, dust noise, ............
Out!
The scramble...50 yards to the trench................lungs, legs pounding....... .and in!
the earth heaves, above, again, again, again, gods, how many!, and again and again, the howl of the dive bombers, the scream of the bomb, the air actually pulsating, the earth convulsing...........
The raid, seemingly lasts forever.
For the dead, i suppose it does.
Endeh is obliterated.
The Tigers try to land.
Few make it in one piece.......again, and again, the touch, the wobble.the crater, the collapsing gear.....the belly slide.
The liberators come an hour later, they incredibly miss.
Well maybe they don't.........there is nothing really left to bomb here
Dusk.
47th have 7 servicable planes left
30 damaged.
Only 1 pilot lost.
But moral is, despite the carnage, soaring.
From 59 to 83 kills, in a single day.
Good enough return for a nothing place called Endeh
battle result, carrier strike, liberator strike on Endeh
48 hellcats shot down
24 liberators shot down this day
11 helldiver
8 avengers
5 dauntless
for 18 zeros, 6 tojo shot down, 6 NK1's
total today, 90 allied to 35 japanese.
The shattered groups are ordered to retire. Others take their places in the nest of fields north of Koepang.
We hold the bombers.and wait...........
big seas, fast ships, life tastes better with salt
RE: The little ship that could.
And now desperation rules
BB fuso, battered, rusting, leaking Fuso, departs Singapore
CVE Unyo accompanies, Tone, tenryu, Yubari, 7 DDs.
Her torpedo bulges may be bent, dished. She may carry 500 tons of water in places water is not meant to be.
Her boilers struggle.
It matters not. Her fighting spirit shines. She hurries North, detirmined to shoot her arrows one last time.
BB fuso, battered, rusting, leaking Fuso, departs Singapore
CVE Unyo accompanies, Tone, tenryu, Yubari, 7 DDs.
Her torpedo bulges may be bent, dished. She may carry 500 tons of water in places water is not meant to be.
Her boilers struggle.
It matters not. Her fighting spirit shines. She hurries North, detirmined to shoot her arrows one last time.
big seas, fast ships, life tastes better with salt
RE: The little ship that could.
Fuchida and some 30 off his companions sit deep in the belly of the Emily.
Mixed emotions course through them all.
47th have been dissolved, a shattering blow.
But on the other hand, they are going home to Japan
Mixed emotions course through them all.
47th have been dissolved, a shattering blow.
But on the other hand, they are going home to Japan
big seas, fast ships, life tastes better with salt
RE: The little ship that could.
Extract from Shattering the sword, a Cantona production
Babar has been taken, keeping it supplied, getting the Marines off is an altogether matter.
The allied carrier fleet sails westward, now deep into the Indian ocean. ( a deployment filling Japanese HQ with more than a touch of panic)
Taking advantage , dilli field is visited by a flying squad.
22 Judys escorted by a pack of fighters attack babar, NK1's have swept the way operating from Ambon.
Carnage
2 DEs are sunk, a AK, and 4 LCI are obliterated, men and vehicles flung across the reddening sea..
The allies are using a club
japan a razior.
The trick is, of course, to never let the club strike the sword.
Babar has been taken, keeping it supplied, getting the Marines off is an altogether matter.
The allied carrier fleet sails westward, now deep into the Indian ocean. ( a deployment filling Japanese HQ with more than a touch of panic)
Taking advantage , dilli field is visited by a flying squad.
22 Judys escorted by a pack of fighters attack babar, NK1's have swept the way operating from Ambon.
Carnage
2 DEs are sunk, a AK, and 4 LCI are obliterated, men and vehicles flung across the reddening sea..
The allies are using a club
japan a razior.
The trick is, of course, to never let the club strike the sword.
big seas, fast ships, life tastes better with salt
RE: The little ship that could.
Zuiho comes alongside.
"Finish with main engines"
For a moment Takeji takes in the sights surrounding them. Japan. Home. It even smells like home........
Aso salutes 'Your intentions sir?"
"48 hrs leave, for all hands, watchkeepers as well , we will muster the crew in 72 hrs"
Takeji does not catch the smile breaking across the XO's face, he turns swiftly, and makes to his cabin.
There he strips, lays down, and sleeps for the next 18 hrs without stirring.
Home. The only place a captain can
"Finish with main engines"
For a moment Takeji takes in the sights surrounding them. Japan. Home. It even smells like home........
Aso salutes 'Your intentions sir?"
"48 hrs leave, for all hands, watchkeepers as well , we will muster the crew in 72 hrs"
Takeji does not catch the smile breaking across the XO's face, he turns swiftly, and makes to his cabin.
There he strips, lays down, and sleeps for the next 18 hrs without stirring.
Home. The only place a captain can
big seas, fast ships, life tastes better with salt
RE: The little ship that could.
Admiral Abe does not sleep.
Fleet commanders rarely can
The allied fleet is still heading west.............still!
Now almost due south of maccassar, but deep in the Indian ocean.............
What does it mean?
Invasion of Java?
Redeployment to the British?
It must be an invasion fleet..............surely???
A single division protects soerabaya...........65th brigade is coming, planes there are a plenty...............no ships, a few destroyers............
"If it has search capability.......get it out there..........track that fleet!"
Fleet commanders rarely can
The allied fleet is still heading west.............still!
Now almost due south of maccassar, but deep in the Indian ocean.............
What does it mean?
Invasion of Java?
Redeployment to the British?
It must be an invasion fleet..............surely???
A single division protects soerabaya...........65th brigade is coming, planes there are a plenty...............no ships, a few destroyers............
"If it has search capability.......get it out there..........track that fleet!"
big seas, fast ships, life tastes better with salt
RE: The little ship that could.
Moulmien cannot support them any longer
3rd army begins to pull out the artillery. There has been lately, not even a trickle of supplies. Stand, and starve. retire, and refresh............
Hosho watches them go.
55 division stays, and starves
3rd army begins to pull out the artillery. There has been lately, not even a trickle of supplies. Stand, and starve. retire, and refresh............
Hosho watches them go.
55 division stays, and starves
big seas, fast ships, life tastes better with salt
RE: The little ship that could.
Northern Burma
'Ahh squadron cCommander?"
"Yes warrant?"
"List of new joiners for tomorrow............"
The Commander surveys the list, fingers twisting a carefully maintained moustache.......
A name leaps out
'Pilot officer Graham'
Long pig Graham............"A celebrity I see"
The WO laughs.........I hope he is happy that there's no Jungle under him this time"
"No..........get him straight into it, recon over Port Blair ASAP"
'Ahh squadron cCommander?"
"Yes warrant?"
"List of new joiners for tomorrow............"
The Commander surveys the list, fingers twisting a carefully maintained moustache.......
A name leaps out
'Pilot officer Graham'
Long pig Graham............"A celebrity I see"
The WO laughs.........I hope he is happy that there's no Jungle under him this time"
"No..........get him straight into it, recon over Port Blair ASAP"
big seas, fast ships, life tastes better with salt
-
british exil
- Posts: 1686
- Joined: Thu May 04, 2006 6:26 pm
- Location: Lower Saxony Germany
RE: The little ship that could.
Yes!! Long Pig Graham has risen from the ashes. I can't wait to see what mess he gets into this time.
Mat
Mat
"It is not enough to expect a man to pay for the best, you must also give him what he pays for." Alfred Dunhill
WitE,UV,AT,ATG,FoF,FPCRS
WitE,UV,AT,ATG,FoF,FPCRS
RE: The little ship that could.
[;)]
Appear at places to which he must hasten; move swiftly where he does not expect you.
Sun Tzu
Sun Tzu
RE: The little ship that could.
28 April
Zuiho lies alongside, awaiting an empty dock
She is quiet, resting, her crew mostly ashore. It is hard not to think, that she too, is sleeping, utterly exhausted by the months just past.
In japan, two stories of contrast are about to begin
In Tokyo, the great Dictator reads his reports, consults his maps.
A little ship has returned. So has his son, its squadron at Hiroshima.
And a man, all powerful, wonders if his son will weaken, and see him...............
In japan, a great Emily slices the waters, powers to a wharf. 30 tired, dirty men emerge, almost in wonder at the peace of the surroundings about them.
One, in particular, spies something beyond dreams
A little ship, alongside, just there..............
Fuchida smiles. Father, at last...............
Zuiho lies alongside, awaiting an empty dock
She is quiet, resting, her crew mostly ashore. It is hard not to think, that she too, is sleeping, utterly exhausted by the months just past.
In japan, two stories of contrast are about to begin
In Tokyo, the great Dictator reads his reports, consults his maps.
A little ship has returned. So has his son, its squadron at Hiroshima.
And a man, all powerful, wonders if his son will weaken, and see him...............
In japan, a great Emily slices the waters, powers to a wharf. 30 tired, dirty men emerge, almost in wonder at the peace of the surroundings about them.
One, in particular, spies something beyond dreams
A little ship, alongside, just there..............
Fuchida smiles. Father, at last...............
big seas, fast ships, life tastes better with salt
RE: The little ship that could.
Pilot Officer"Long pig" Graham settles into his pilots seat, the smile of astonishment still plastered across his face.
Once, several lifetimes ago, friends would have been kind, to call him "largish"
The jungle, twice, has cured that problem.
taught, trim, terriffic......and able to fit a single fighters seat now.
The Spitfires magical merlin bursts into life.............a real plane, a real, real plane at last!
His spitfire will fade into the horizon, recon.....tavoy today.
And totally against character, its a trouble free flight, delightful indeed, pleasant almost.
There, and back.
Maybe, maybe, thinks Graham, things have finally turned for the better.
Of course, Mars, god of war, may have something to say about that.
Once, several lifetimes ago, friends would have been kind, to call him "largish"
The jungle, twice, has cured that problem.
taught, trim, terriffic......and able to fit a single fighters seat now.
The Spitfires magical merlin bursts into life.............a real plane, a real, real plane at last!
His spitfire will fade into the horizon, recon.....tavoy today.
And totally against character, its a trouble free flight, delightful indeed, pleasant almost.
There, and back.
Maybe, maybe, thinks Graham, things have finally turned for the better.
Of course, Mars, god of war, may have something to say about that.
big seas, fast ships, life tastes better with salt