herbiesan vs Cantona!!!

[1275psi]

24/4/42

Its a long day again -sitting around on the field doing what every military man is very used to -hurry up and wait!

Weather is fine at the field today -its the intended target that is covered in violent storms

So today is spent - firing up the planes, then shutting them down, waiting, and waiting some more.

[1275psi]

25/4/42

The weather opens and again canton field bursts into life
Takenaka and Inoue draw the mission, and again it is an exercise in frustration.
30 zeros and the 2 tojo’s escort 25 bombers to Kweilin, and today the enemy comes up to meet them

4 small I-16c’s attempt to intercept the bombers, they attack terribly – wrong position, wrong approach, wrong formation, everything shows that these are incredibly green pilots.
Its frustrating again for the 47th sentai pilots –they do not even get a chance to engage before the zeros have gained another 4 kills – its over that fast.

On return there is good news –some place called Thursday island has fallen to the army – the gateway to port Moresby has been forced open.

If the navy pilots were insufferable now – how would they be if the Navy took PM!
Terrible!
It hardly bare thinking about.


26/4/42

The pace of the war grinds on
Juni B, and Takenaka fly today –Juni V has a tooth ache and is getting it pulled.
Its another run to Kweilin –today the air is clear of any opposition –and the bombing is reported as “effective”

Nobody on the base even ever thinks at the time –what it would be like to be on the receiving end of bombing termed “effective”
In April of 42 –to suggest this to a Japanese airman was like saying that one day man would walk on the moon, or America would have a Black President
Unimaginable.


27/4/42
Dear Father
Its raining (again) here, so I have time to write.
I hope that the complexities of your job are not taxing you too much. Remember those words you told me before I left for here – “the Minister of production really is best thought of as minister of toys –some you break, some you lose, some are lost. Some you like more than others. Some work, some don’t.
But shed no tears over them – they are only toys”
I Hope father that you are producing lots of them!
Father, you once called me fat and Lazy –and now I know you were right.
I wish you could see me now.
I really wish to be no where else than here now –but father –I really wish you could get us some new planes!
Thankyou for ensuring that we were not merged into another unit –I could not bare to be separated from my friends now –but it is so hard sharing just 2 fighters.
Any news?

The Navy is running us at the moment –and we lack for little (except planes!) –and the zero is an impressive plane indeed!

I know I should not mention or talk about it to the others too much –but in reply to your question on the American 4 engine bombers –this I really cannot answer.
We, I think- need a BIG, heavy fighter –with big, very big cannons –to take them out.

But then –I cannot imagine that we will really encounter that many of them in this war –do you?
I think, if the war continues this way , it will be over soon, and you will have lots less to worry about with “the toys” –and we will be able to get drunk together again

Your Son

Iwaya

[1275psi]

No matter how much you dislike the navy pilots -still does'nt stop the twins gambling with them

China occupation money:

[1275psi]

28/4/42
Canton airfield is expending a vast sum of supplies -fuel, bombs, parts -as the high command attempts to get to grips with the allied airforces operating in China

They are not succeeding.
The enemy command is simply too slippery -moving his planes on a daily basis -and attacking a different target as well.

In the North of China he has a tactic of simply flying over the fields at heights that the japanese planes simply cannot obtain -dropping a few bombs helter scelter -and leaving.

This is a tactic the Navy will very soon begin to encounter in the pacific, and (not reported to the Japanese people) the defenders of parishimo in the northern islands have been annoyed with already for some time

At the moment the tactic is plain annoying -the allied planes never hit anything -but their aim is going to get better..............

So today Hyakute and Iwaya -(the good and the bad) take their turn escorting the bombers to Liuchow -and again encounter nothing

The Japanese commander of the fighters at Canton however is persistant, and (unlike many of his compatriots) flexible.

This evening all the fighters -the zeros, the 2 Tojos(piloted by Inoue and Juni B) make a quick transfer to Nanchang -the AVG is STILL operating -now in central china.
Its hoped that tomorrow, a surprise can be sprung.

[1275psi]

29/4/42

Takenaka is busy filling out a reqiuisition form (a form, other than the language, any military man in the world could recongnise) when Major Roi enters his cramped office

Major Roi is smiling broadly -iether this means more work for Takenaka, or worse -the Navy man has something new to boast about.

Its the worse of the two.
The Major hands him an intelligence report - its pretty brief, and Takenaka is pleasently surprised
" This evens it up hey!" crows the Major - "They can do it -well so can we"

" Navy debuts new 4 engine bomber"
The new G5n -operating from fields in Timor, today debuted by sinking a battleship north of Darwin.
The crews of the bomber report that this new plane -developed entirely on Japanese plans -is far superior to the American B17 in every respect.
This bomber ensures that any allied ship foolish enough to travel in its range -will be sunk"


G5N in Timor preparing for first operations

[1275psi]

30/4/42

Juni B gritted his teeth.
This was hard -went against everything that he felt he must do.
But orders were orders.
He glances to his left to the other cockpit where Inoue also is studying intently the air below them.
This would take timing
Steady as a rock the 2 fighters cruised staright and true at 10000 feet, while the 6 P40E climbed up from the fields below, climbed up, behinfd, and now up ABOVE and behind the two Ki 44's.

Craning his neck Juni casually turned gently to the left, Inoue sticking to his wing.
"Nothing to see here guys, just 2 blind Japanese dunces on a routine patrol........" he mutters to himself
The P40es adjust to match, and he notes with satisfaction that the sun now is at their backs, and squarely above the sharks preparing to dive on them.

Timing........timing...................NOW!
Throttle to the wall, and stick hard back -the Tojos climb viscously straight for the heavens -will they get above the diving enemy?
They time it just right-someone tries to shoot them down at a ridicolous range as they leave the curtisses behind -6 enemy fighters all now in the perfect low energy state of climbing pursuit -and sitting ducks for the 50 plus zeros diving down on them from the sun.

The two army pilots do not engage, observing the swirling fight below them -its very cool and calm here at 15000 feet, far from the hot death below.

[1275psi]

1/5/42 -4/5/42

The next 4 days are repeats -Our two Tojo pilots leading the big pack of zeros in sweeps to various parts of china -and all are with out incident.
The AVG has gone missing again

On the 4th 3 significant events occur

Abruptly Major Roi and his zeros depart, leaving the 2 Tojos the sole occupiers of the fields, they return to Canton, the other pilots both relieved to see them, and envious that the enemy has been encounterd(its been a very boring week for them).

Port Moresby falls to the Army/Navy invasion

The Emperor declares a National Holiday

That night Tojo makes a speech

Its a long rambling affair -but the pilots can sum it up in a few lines

In just 4 months Japan has secured all of its pre war objectives.
"Now we will build a bulwark of steel and Bushido spirit that the allies will smash themselves sensless against -until they come to terms"

[1275psi]

Extract from “Shattering the sword” –a Cantona publication


The fall of PM marked the end of the Japanese pre war objectives.
Where would they strike next?
Would they strike again now that 2 fleet CV's had been removed from the available ship list?

The Allies would not wait to find out.
In one of the most daring operations yet seen, they would quickly show just how brittle that "wall of steel and bushido spirit" was.

[1275psi]

5/5/42

In a desperate attempt to beat a rapidly expanding belly, Iwaya has taken to following Takenaka on his early morning runs.

between frantic attempts to merely breathe, they are discussing the war
" I think(gasp, gasp) that the allies must sutrely know how futile a come back will be"
Takenaka smiles, mentally adjusts his pace so that his friend can keep up" Maybe, but surely you know, what with your connections just how big the difference is between our nation and America"
"Difference? (gasp, gasp)
"Yes - look my friend -here you are -the only man on this field who has gained wieght in the last 4 months"
"So!"
"Have you considered why? "
"And what has that got to do with the war?- me getting fatter?"
'OK, OK, not fatter -lets say bulkier. As I was saying (here he begins to pick up the pace)
Look -the war has been good to you Iwaya - you have unlimited funds, and you have freedom from your Father, what you want, you have.
You have grown -both physically-but also in maturity. Now think of America. Its the same. Here is a country that will thrive in this war -free at last to unleash its industry, no restrictions.
Your father is battling Im sure , straining to build what we need -while an American can look 12-18 months down the road -and see unlimited largess of war machines, of supplies, of power"

Takenaka began his sprint to the finish, leaving Iwaya floundering in his wake " No my friend, I can't see this war ending too soon at all............."

[1275psi]

6/5/42
The Zeros leave Canton field - but are replaced by a KI-27 unit -hardly an advance in power!
The 2 Tojos sweep Sinyang today -a brave move - and Juni V and Takenaka get a bit of a thrill as they approach the Sinyang area - the sky is full of fighters -but the excitement fades immediately as they recongnise the common shape of KI-43's on LRCAP -almost 60 in number.

High Command is still chasing the Allies, and still basically being outwitted.

KI-43's on patrol

[1275psi]

7/5/42

It rains
Its a boring day -the navy pilots have left -the Army bomber pilots are far too aware of the twins card playing prowess -so no game gets going today.

Its a depressing day.
East Of Homan, an entire Japanese brigade is destroyed to the last man - and despite all the censorship, the news has spread like lightning through the Japanese Army.
There will be revenge.

6th, 12th, 14th heavy sentai, 54th fighter sentai sit powerless on the ground, and it continues to rain

[1275psi]

8th of may to 18th of May 42

There comes a time when diminishing returns for effort becomes obvious.
records show that 47th sentai flew just twice in this period of time -2 non contact sweeps to the north from canton

The rest of the time is spent doing very little - watching other units depart on missions, hearing in envy that the AVG was finally ambushed(18 to 2 kills), and generally wondering what the future held

High Command twice seriously looked at disbanding the unit -looking for a suitable oscar unit to transfer the pilots into -but somebody must have found it all to hard , and the unit remained together -the replacement fighters are 6 weeks away -close enough.

The war drifted for these ten days - the convoys returned from Port moresby, the allies tried to intercept them( but generally failed), and the Japanese debated what next.

What next?
2 CVs are crippled -one the Allies believe must be sunk -and the Japanese are deeply shocked at how vulnerable the flight decks are -the rash go anywhere attitude has been destroyed, replaced with a deep uncertainty that will in fact last several months

On the 18th 47th sentai apparently was "re activated from training to escort', and the Allies opened up the next, daring phase of the war.
If the Japanese hoped that a good period of consolidation was coming, they were hoping wrongly

[1275psi]

18/5/42

2300 hrs

The control room, I-26, 120 miles due North, Tarawa island, Gilberts, course 010, speed 9 knots, surfaced

"Sir! -message from garrison at Tarawa -in the clear."
"Read it" LCDR Juni inwardly winces, the best laid plans of mice and men -he had been so, so looking forward to a bath.
"Am being heavily bombarded by many enemy battleships, cruisers and destroyers. have reports of landing craft approaching outer reefs"
"An invasion? -no, surely not!"

The control room was quiet, every eye upon him.
The cruise had already been a very long one, and fuel was low, and the food almost gone.
But what choice was there?

" Come right , stbd 25!. new course 165, full ahead!. All stations, rig for battle!"

Japanese SS control room

[1275psi]

19/1/42

On the bridge of the Kongo Maru, convoy TF 163, 12 ships, 240 miles North east of Kwalejien island, destination -Tarawa

" message from 4th fleet HQ sir"

Regret to inform that Tarawa island fell to enemy forces this morning.
You are directed to divert to Majuro island at best speed at deliver your construction battalions and equipment, and to return to Kwalejien island.
Air cover can be expected from same.
Should you be attacked by enemy carrier aircraft, you are to deliver troops to Majuro regardless of losses.
End

"Oh Crap.'

[1275psi]

At herbiesans HQ, 19/5/42

As Tarawa falls -no forts yet constructed

Oh crap

[1275psi]

Iwaya sits down opposite Takenaka on the rough mat.
The sun is shining weakly today, and its cool, the rice that he hands Takenaka is steaming

'I think you were right my friend"
"Huh?'
"You were right - about the Americans. Just heard on the grape vine -big offensive in the pacific"
"Already!"
"Already"

Silence as the men eat their meal

"Do you think we will go there?"
'Where?"
"There"
"The pacific I mean"

Takenaka looked around at the vast field.
The bombers, the ramshackle buildings. the mud,their 2 remaining ramshackled fighters
The mud

' I hope so, anything might be better than this crap"
Iwaya too looked around.
'Yes, this is -as you say -crap, isn't it"

[1275psi]

19th/20th of may, 1942

It rains on 47th sentai -and it rains again


After looking back over the last couple of months of 47th sentai in China -I conclude China is the wettest place on the planet.

High command (although obviously 47th sentai pilots cannot possibly know this), also is sick of the rain, and swears, once built back to 36 planes -they are going to go south out of it!

[1275psi]

20/5/42

0430

"set depth 10 meters!"
"10 meters sir"
"port ten"
"port ten"
"steady, wheel admidships"
"Admidships"
"Damn it! -I said ten metres!"

this was going to be tricky.....very tricky
"Up scope!"
LCDR Juni quickly bent and in a well practiced motion"took a quick look'
" DOWN Scope! -quickly!
SET 30 Metres!, port 30 -slow ahead both!

Sweat drips from every mans brow as the swush, swush swush of a destroyers beating propellers grew rapidly louder, and louder.
"Contact is 100 yards ahead, moving rapidly right to left sir, and there is another heavier contact approximately port beam sir, moving rapidly to astern"
"Good! - thats an American Heavy cruiser gentleman -Los Angeles class" Juni bows his head , thinks hard. "Admidships! -stop engines!

The destroyer fades away.
"Set ten metres!"
"ten metres sir"
A well done task -almost impossible to hold at stop -but they manage it.
His crew make him proud
he must risk it
"Up scope!"
a look
"Down scope!"
"Set course 210! -full ahead, ready tubes 1 to 4!"
Another look
"target is a heavy cruiser -bearing 010 degrees true -range 2000 meters -standby to fire!
The crew, the attack officer work frantically
Solution sir!
"Very good"
Give me the mark!
Quickly, and almost automatically the crew do as they have endlessly drilled -the cruiser must be hit.
"Mark!"
"Fire one!, fire two!, fire three!, fire 4! Close tubes!, port 30, full ahead both -set 90 meters!

Its a good effort, but CA Salt lake City lives a charmed life -even as the fish depart, the Captain is giving a routine zig zag order, and she curves safely out of the fishes path -never even knowing how close to disaster they have come.


1430

The control room -never the healthiest place, now stinks, reeks of tension. I-26 has been submerged for over 20 hours now -and her batteries are low.
The hunt is continuing, doggedly Juni is not going to let this prey go -not if he can help it
She is manouvering hard, this target -recovering planes, and if he could only get a bit closer!

"target is identified as USS Lexington -large carrier! - we will attack! -down scope!"
"CONTACT sir! -destroyer, bearing 280, closing fast!
"Down scope!" ...dont panic, dont panic, you must not let the men see panic " Port 20, take her deep -set 100 mtres."
Damn!

DD Balch launches a single salvo -4 charges only -but it is enough -the last charge distorts the port hydrplane -and a serious leak develops -one that effectively terminates any chance of continuing the mission.
I-26 reluctantly turns for Kwaljien

They are lucky -they live.

[1275psi]

Extract from -shattering the sword -a cantona production

The invasion of tarawa goes well -initially - but supplying the invasion would soon turn into an expensive and hazardous operation.
By chance the Japanese had just finalised positioning a vast submarine patrol line (every submarine available) east of tarawa - the initial first step of now cancelled further operations.

Like bees to Honey -these SS swarmed towards the battle.
It would be brutal -in 3 daysI-156, I-154, I-121 would be sunk, and 3 more damaged.
They in return would claim sunk the BB Tennessee several DDs and several AKs - the Tennessee however would return.

The Lexington only survives undamaged another 2 days - the furious naval air attacks from the gilberts would soon put a torpedoe into her.

Battle had been joined in the South Pacific -would Japan try to take Tarawa back, or would it be satisfied with the stream of casualties that would result from trying to supply it.

[1275psi]

There has been constant movement of units in and out of canton in the last weeks, the latest fighters -the KI-27's, are a new unit just raised in Japan - and they in no way can be called crack.

Their Commander is an amiable type, unlike many of his compatriots he has no pretensions of his abilities, or that of his group.
He does the sensible thing -2 tojo's cannot really help the offensive power of his unit -but they can be good shepherds over the dangerous paddies of central China

So today Iwaya and Inoue find themselves on the opposite wings of the very large formation heading inland -35 Sally bombers, 24 lighter Lillies.
The KI-27's fly top cover

It is not a good day

The 7 P40e come down from a great height, and they are learning.

They make one swift dive, passing straight through the escort, and several bombers are badly damaged, and men killed, almost before anyone can react.
There is no pursuit -no way can the KI-27's -or the 2 KI-44's for that matter -catch the iron horses in a dive -nor would anyone be so crazy to do so.

The whole action takes all but 90 odd seconds.
Ichang is hit -but its still been a bad day


KI-27