herbiesan vs Cantona!!!

[1275psi]

23/5/42


Japanese navy announces that navy bombers -Nells- have sunk the Lexington south of Tarawa

Guess what happens in china - yes -it rains

[1275psi]

24/5/42

Hyakutake and Takenaka fly today -its a repeat of 2 days ago
30 KI-21's, 20 KI-48's, 32 of the nimble nates

Ichang recieves another bombing, and everyone gains a little experience in formation flying.
The Japanese army is making a serious effort (again) near Sinyang -the AVG, apparently is again active there
The days are beginning to merge into one endless parade of getting up ridicoulously early, of briefing, of flying, of eating, of flying, of working, repeat next day.
(if the weather lets them)

The KI-48's prepare to leave for todays attack

[1275psi]

its the 27th of the May
For 3 days straight the field has been closed by severe thunderstorms -they march acroos the country side in great ranks -flying is possible -but accurate bombing over the battlefield at Sinyang is not, so the bombers remain grounded
WO Inoue is in good spirits.
He has a letter.

mail, any form of communication in the Japanese army for the common soldier is just a pipe dream, but Canton is a regular stop for a steady stream of transport aircraft from Japan to Burma.
The Transport branch is not large, and the pilots are pretty familiar with each other -and the para's they have shared battle with.
So, WO Inoue has a letter -and 1st Para has managed to survive its last fight in Northern Burma.
His son is emancipated, but alive and recovering in Rangoon.

This is enough
The letter hints at another deployment -all paras are "going south to a big place -one with a volcano"

Like all close knit groups, Inoue shares the news with his friends.
The "Big volcano" sparks some debate - but the twins settle that quickly -"Ahh Rabual"
They know of it well


The debate then turns naturally to the south pacific.
Juni B, is of course rather sceptical "if the Navy has really "got the matter under control", then why the hell has tarawa -wherever that was -not been retaken"

"But isn't your father in the Navy?" Hyakutake asks- "did'nt he have faith in it?'

To this the twin laughed - "Ah yes - I can see it now - the great Submarine rushing up from the depths, and beaching itself -and Father, sword waving, scaring the Americans into surender!"

"No wait!' laughs Iwaya , patting his stomach- "the great whale Iwaya, emerges from the depths, beaches himself -and scares the Americans into hysterical surrender!"

[1275psi]

28/5/42
Today Iwaya and Inoue fly, another escort mission of medium and light bombers on a ground attack mission against chinese troops near Sinyang.
Its another uneventual flight.

The radio this night is full of news of naval engaements around Tarawa island, The Hoko Maru claims 2 merchants, a small cruiser force another 2, the Iwata Maru beats of a destroyer

Our pilots half listen to the news as the martial music plays, they are far more interested in other news from High Command, " the design for the new replacement KI-44's has been finalised, 47th sentai will not be disbanded, expect the unit to be rebuilt to 36 plane strength in 60 days time"

However, 60 days seem a life time away

[1275psi]

29/5/42

wash, and repeat

Iwaya flies -again, Hyakutake this time
26 sallies today

Hyakutake flies a lot of the mission upside down - "just to be different"

[1275psi]

The pressure continues
Juni V, Takenaka fly today -again the target Sinyang
Today its the Sallies, and the Lillies, and the KI-27's tagging along.
Wash and repeat

Morale remain high - the allied air force has gone into hiding -possibly though its command transfixed by the events in the south Pacific

[1275psi]

There is a large naval battle in the south pacific
Nagato, Mutsu , 2 heavy cruisers encounter the Maryland and 3 cruisers near baker island.

Both sides have trained for years for this day -and ultimately it comes down to a matter of luck

The Maryland is hit repeatably, and suffers a torpedoe as well, and one cruiser (unidentified) is sunk

The Mutsu does well - Nagato has no luck -her first hit suffered is cata strophic -she burns brightly immediately and falls out of the line
Mogami and Suzaya also suffer heavily

The afternoon sees the american Carriers arrive -and Nagato is destryed with very heavy loss of life
The Imperial navy suffers its first real set back of the war


It will be 12 months before Japans public hear of the battle

[1275psi]

BB Mutsu
She suffers 3 hits in the battle -and claims a cruiser sunk.
Her sister is sunk by the Maryland, and allied dive bombers on the 1/6/42

[1275psi]

47th sentai is stood down for the last day of May -as are the bombers - the bombers suffer 3 operational losses today -and the commanders demand a rest -3 bombers is more than enemy action claimed all month.
47th sentai with its pilot rotation is still doing well -but the break is welcome.

[1275psi]

1/6/42
The game was nearing its end, lateness of the hour, and the dearth of funds in the nates pilots piles foretold that.
The twins were doing well –of course –Inoue not so well.
Iwaya had come through –again- and only the remnants of a good bottle of scotch remained at the table. It had been a very good evening.

The arrival of the 4 Blenhiems was an incredibly rude ending to the night – announced with the roar of low flying engines at full throttle, and the shattering CRUMP!< CRUMP!< CRUMP!,>CRUMP! Of bombs bursting across the hard stands only some small distance from the mess.

The windows shattered, and pandemonium ensued
In seconds Inoue and Iwaya found themselves in the slit trench beside the mess, a trench showing all the signs of neglect and ill maintenance.

In disgust Inoue found himself up to his knees in water and mud
The disgust turned to rage as the realisation struck him –some one had been using the trench for other unpleasant purposes…….
Beside him Iwaya laughed “ and to think only last week I was saying this war was crap –(CRUMP!, CRUMP!) –I really didn’t know what I was talking about (crump!) but now I do!”

The first raid lasted just ten minutes – a frustrating, galling experience as the enemy bombers circled in the dark.
The Flak thrown up (once it got going) was impressive –loud, colourful –and useless.

The second raid, at 0300 –was plain annoying.
There was fair warning this time (somebody must have kicked a few listening early warning butts) –and Inoue had plenty of time to find a more suitable trench .
The bombers growled overhead seemingly forever –before dropping their bombs in a beautiful straight line down the strip – damage that would take the construction battalion at the base all of about 30 minutes to fill
The flack claimed 4 hits – but nobody believed them..


It’s a very weary Inoue and Juni b who start off this morning.
Inoue still feels as if he will never be clean again as he opens the throttle –following the last bomber into the air
“Bloody annoying British –what in the world are they doing here in china?” he thinks as he gently banks to the right, ready to take his shepherding position on the left flank of the bombers. He is busy scanning manifolds and oil temps - doing things he should not be doing now –when suddenly Juni B peels hard to port in front of him
“What the…?”
Cold shock –enemy fighters diving in at them, hard to his left!

Height is less than 2000 feet at the moment –the bombers are scatterd, still forming up –and the half the KI-27’s are still taking to the air.
The ambush is well timed indeed
Instinctively Inoue rolls into the enemy –the KI-44 does this incredibly fast –and he faces the enemy as they flash past
Juni is ahead of him –and hitting one P40 e as they cross, and both fighters turn as hard as they can to port, but 3 iron dogs have gone to port as well, and now a great circle is being flown – 2 fighters on one side, 3 on the other.

Inoue is awake now –very, very awake
The Horizon is nearly vertical –and he is looking backover his shoulder, the g forces crushing him into the seat –the stick is no longer light , but now a great tree trunk –solid , rigid –and all his strength is needed just to move it the millimetres needed.

The turn is as hard to port as he can achieve – and already his right leg is aching from the rudder imputs needed to stop the nose falling away –an invisible high wire balancing act –but one being performed with out conscious thought – all of which is concentrated on closing the circle.

The earth spins –and Inoue reduces throttle slightly –a dangerous act –and applies some of the KI-44’s flap.
The effect is immediate.
The turn tightens –and his plane immediately “solidifies” in the air –losing its sense of fine balance –of imminent stall – and the circle noticeably tightens
His mirror reflects another P40 e has cut into the dance -4 against 2 now –Inoue grimaces –to leave the circle is instant death –for everyone to remain –it also means the same for someone

The altimeter reads 1000 feet – yet another circle –God – these guys can fly ,
The sllek fighter begins to dance into his sights – its rudder now clearly making small adjustments –its pilot too concentrating on the other Tojo ahead of him.

Its been a long time, finally Inoue shoots
Misses
The crack of guns behind him –tracer flies past
The circle tightens even more –and the ground is getting closer – a small hill will soon become part of the circle
Muscles are shaking now –and breath comes in great gasps –he fires again –pieces fly from the enemy –he doggedly stays in the circle
“Crap”
Crap”
Crap”
“Stay still you @#$%!”
Fire.
Miss
Bang – the barsted behind him doesn’t
The hill now is playing a part –this lap around they have to straighten slightly to go around it.

The flight now seems eternal –he just cannot get a bead on him –he is just too good!
Nor can he shake the barsted behind him

The end came quickly –with out warning his motor quit –one moment blaring at 90%, the next stopped cold.
Shocking silence –and then the thud of shells striking him again somewhere near the tail.
He inverts, falls –the earth comes racing up –he rolls-------out, pulls up hard , speed for height –and by some miracle spies a suitable track to land on.
WO Inoue has not flown for so long to fail this test now –he gets the bird down safely.

For a few minutes he sits in the silence of the cockpit –the tick, tick of the cooling engine the only sound.
Finally he pulls the canopy back – letting in the continuing sound of the dogfight still blaring away intrude into the beautiful country quiet, his quiet

Juni vb blasts by at about 30 feet –he waves cheerily

And despite it all, Inoue wishes he was still up there with him.

[1275psi]

2/6/42

Operations diary, 47th sentai -operating from canton

47th sentai has been in almost constant contact for the last 2 weeks, escorting bombing missions to the battles around Sinyang

2 fighters only available –one damaged (cut fuel lines, superficial fuselage damage)

Prior to this day

Pilots
Hyakutake - 37 missions
Juni V 40
Juni b 40
Iwaya 38
Takenaka 37
Inoue 37

Remembering that only missions of a combat nature are being recorded

Despite the actions, the unit continues to struggle to score any kills –Juni b has 2, Hyakutake has 3 –these all from the very early days in the war
Undoubtably if the Japanese airforce recorded ”shared kills” these totals would be much higher –for example on the 1/6/42, during the furious engagement over the fields at canton, the KI-27’s were able to score 2 kills –both almost certaintly previously damaged by the tojos

The fact remains though –until the new fighters arrive -47th sentai only exists as a nuisance to the enemy

[1275psi]

2//6/42

The blenhiems came back tonight – and paid for it.
The base was on high alert – the base commander had bashed in quite a few heads that day –and there was no way the base defence personal were going to let last night happen again.

This time the AA was effective – 1 blenhiem definitely destroyed –and the bits well and truly souvenired by all concerned.

The slit trenches too –were back to how they should be –clean, dry –thin –military

The bombs missed.

The fighters came back

This time though Hyakutake and Juni V, and the entire nate unit were already up and waiting for them – and even though the Nates got the bounce –the iron dogs weren’t hanging around to fight.

One however ploughed unto the very hill of yesterdays fight – a poor way for a pilot to die in a war –as an operational loss.


the nates engage

[FeurerKrieg]

Nicely written!

ORIGINAL: 1275psi

1/6/42
The game was nearing its end, lateness of the hour, and the dearth of funds in the nates pilots piles foretold that.
The twins were doing well –of course –Inoue not so well.
Iwaya had come through –again- and only the remnants of a good bottle of scotch remained at the table. It had been a very good evening.

The arrival of the 4 Blenhiems was an incredibly rude ending to the night – announced with the roar of low flying engines at full throttle, and the shattering CRUMP!< CRUMP!< CRUMP!,>CRUMP! Of bombs bursting across the hard stands only some small distance from the mess.

The windows shattered, and pandemonium ensued
In seconds Inoue and Iwaya found themselves in the slit trench beside the mess, a trench showing all the signs of neglect and ill maintenance.

In disgust Inoue found himself up to his knees in water and mud
The disgust turned to rage as the realisation struck him –some one had been using the trench for other unpleasant purposes…….
Beside him Iwaya laughed “ and to think only last week I was saying this war was crap –(CRUMP!, CRUMP!) –I really didn’t know what I was talking about (crump!) but now I do!”

The first raid lasted just ten minutes – a frustrating, galling experience as the enemy bombers circled in the dark.
The Flak thrown up (once it got going) was impressive –loud, colourful –and useless.

The second raid, at 0300 –was plain annoying.
There was fair warning this time (somebody must have kicked a few listening early warning butts) –and Inoue had plenty of time to find a more suitable trench .
The bombers growled overhead seemingly forever –before dropping their bombs in a beautiful straight line down the strip – damage that would take the construction battalion at the base all of about 30 minutes to fill
The flack claimed 4 hits – but nobody believed them..


It’s a very weary Inoue and Juni b who start off this morning.
Inoue still feels as if he will never be clean again as he opens the throttle –following the last bomber into the air
“Bloody annoying British –what in the world are they doing here in china?” he thinks as he gently banks to the right, ready to take his shepherding position on the left flank of the bombers. He is busy scanning manifolds and oil temps - doing things he should not be doing now –when suddenly Juni B peels hard to port in front of him
“What the…?”
Cold shock –enemy fighters diving in at them, hard to his left!

Height is less than 2000 feet at the moment –the bombers are scatterd, still forming up –and the half the KI-27’s are still taking to the air.
The ambush is well timed indeed
Instinctively Inoue rolls into the enemy –the KI-44 does this incredibly fast –and he faces the enemy as they flash past
Juni is ahead of him –and hitting one P40 e as they cross, and both fighters turn as hard as they can to port, but 3 iron dogs have gone to port as well, and now a great circle is being flown – 2 fighters on one side, 3 on the other.

Inoue is awake now –very, very awake
The Horizon is nearly vertical –and he is looking backover his shoulder, the g forces crushing him into the seat –the stick is no longer light , but now a great tree trunk –solid , rigid –and all his strength is needed just to move it the millimetres needed.

The turn is as hard to port as he can achieve – and already his right leg is aching from the rudder imputs needed to stop the nose falling away –an invisible high wire balancing act –but one being performed with out conscious thought – all of which is concentrated on closing the circle.

The earth spins –and Inoue reduces throttle slightly –a dangerous act –and applies some of the KI-44’s flap.
The effect is immediate.
The turn tightens –and his plane immediately “solidifies” in the air –losing its sense of fine balance –of imminent stall – and the circle noticeably tightens
His mirror reflects another P40 e has cut into the dance -4 against 2 now –Inoue grimaces –to leave the circle is instant death –for everyone to remain –it also means the same for someone

The altimeter reads 1000 feet – yet another circle –God – these guys can fly ,
The sllek fighter begins to dance into his sights – its rudder now clearly making small adjustments –its pilot too concentrating on the other Tojo ahead of him.

Its been a long time, finally Inoue shoots
Misses
The crack of guns behind him –tracer flies past
The circle tightens even more –and the ground is getting closer – a small hill will soon become part of the circle
Muscles are shaking now –and breath comes in great gasps –he fires again –pieces fly from the enemy –he doggedly stays in the circle
“Crap”
Crap”
Crap”
“Stay still you @#$%!”
Fire.
Miss
Bang – the barsted behind him doesn’t
The hill now is playing a part –this lap around they have to straighten slightly to go around it.

The flight now seems eternal –he just cannot get a bead on him –he is just too good!
Nor can he shake the barsted behind him

The end came quickly –with out warning his motor quit –one moment blaring at 90%, the next stopped cold.
Shocking silence –and then the thud of shells striking him again somewhere near the tail.
He inverts, falls –the earth comes racing up –he rolls-------out, pulls up hard , speed for height –and by some miracle spies a suitable track to land on.
WO Inoue has not flown for so long to fail this test now –he gets the bird down safely.

For a few minutes he sits in the silence of the cockpit –the tick, tick of the cooling engine the only sound.
Finally he pulls the canopy back – letting in the continuing sound of the dogfight still blaring away intrude into the beautiful country quiet, his quiet

Juni vb blasts by at about 30 feet –he waves cheerily

And despite it all, Inoue wishes he was still up there with him.

[1275psi]

/6/42
The spring rain has well and truly passed
The Mud is but a memory

Canton field is now a barren dust bowl – hot, dry, and the dust gets into everything
The men get around in shorts and white singlets –and all are rapidly turning brown.
Base morale is strong, the army has been kind enough to pass on its appreciation of the bomber support that the base has been suppling –the battle for Sinyang is nearing its climax –as is the battle east of Nanchang

Dispatching the raids is now very much a routine – though now the lines of men “to wave them off” no longer is occurring –there is simply too much work to be done to lose the time

For the third day in a row the allies try to stop the bombers –this time it’s a great long rolling brawl – 17 P40 e follow the bombers for nearly 200 miles –sniping here, ducking in there – the Nates shepherding the flock to the target.
Juni B and Iway are in the fray today –they are very tired by their return.

Neither has scored, but the guns are empty.
2 Ki-27 have been lost, as has a KI-48

One P40 is confirmed killed

[1275psi]

Wow -some one reads this!

tah


4/6/42

Private Asko studies the problem for a few moments.

Fortunately it is an easy one to solve, the bakerlight knob of his Fighters Flap handle has simply come unscrewed –a simple fix.
Its hot in the cockpit –how do they stand it? –but its good to be able to work away from the hated gaze of the flight sergeant.

He could even have time to imagine himself flying such a magnificent beast.
He sure had come a long way from dragging Lobsters from pots at home.

A shadow falls across the cockpit, and the plane rocks gently to port as somebody else leans over the cockpit.

Asko is very careful not to stop his work –instead putting all his attention into screwing in the new screw the last thing he needs is another beating from that tyrant.
Finished, he looks up

Takenaka is smiling down at him Asko visibly relaxes. Takenaka has always been descent to him.
“ Just finishing sir!’

“That’s good my friend –no trouble?”
“It was just a screw loose” – Asko braves some extra information, “ Im glad it was not the entire handle –I would have had to make an new one”

Takenaka nods “And the screw?”
“Screw?”
“The loose screw –its missing is it not?”
This is something Asko has not thought of “ Ahh –yes, sir –it must be”
He can sense trouble –but what?. What about the screw?

Takenaka purses his lips –thinks –changes his mind –and finally decides to let the punishment that is due pass – how in the world could this poor peasant boy know how lethal a loose screw could be amongst the flight controls under the cockpit.?
The whole concept of a machine would have been strange to him only 12 months ago.

“ We need to find that screw Asko –let me know when you do –then I can go and try to shoot down some Americans OK?”

“yes sir”
“Good –and keep up the good work –remember every day we fly, keeps japan safer”

Takenaka , Inoue fly late in the day –a sweep to Sinyang escorting a recon flight –no contacts today

[FeurerKrieg]

Indeed I read this. You might not see me on the 'online now' list because I am subscribed so I tend to just read it in my email.

Keep up the good writing!

[1275psi]

KI-48s over China

[1275psi]

5/6/42

Canton field dispatches 30 plus bombers again to the battles at Sinyang

The pace has been tremendous – straining the entire southern China logistic effort.
Aircraft at Foochow and other port cities have been ordered to stand down to reduce the logistical load of bombs, parts, and fuel –especially fuel

A special tanker convoy has been diverted to hongkong, as have other supply ships, all to stoke the fires of the war.
The operation finally brings success –Today Hyakutake and Juni V are able to observe the great long brown strings streaming east from Sinyang , the army has triumphed at last.

There will be little rest though –already the army is pushing hard at Nanyang –and again will call “for maximum effort”

[bbbf]

Me too bud - there are always more people reading than you think!

[1275psi]

6/6/42

From

The Minister of Production
to
Commander, Army Training Command (Aviation)

Commander:

It has come to my attention that the availability of totally quailified fighter pilots is suffering from"A temporary shortage".
It is very much in this Ministries interest that our latest and best planes are piloted by the best pilots.
Thus I am extremely interested in the class of 41 graduation list -I understand that there are some 60 names still yet not allocated.

I Humbly 'request' that at a minimum 40 of these are assigned to 47th sentai as the new KI-44 production ramps up -this new fighter is desperately needed against the Allied 4 engine bombers -and we require a quality sentai flying them.

I hope that you can accomaodate this request.

The Minister of Production


PS

The recent capture of Hong Kong has liberated several British cars called Bentlys - they are surplus to our needs -and I believe they are a fair car -would you like one for your command?