herbiesan vs Cantona!!!

[1275psi]

The daily gathering around the radio this evening was a little more subdued than normal- down the field one could here the celebrations of 64th sentai - they had scored kills this day - un doubtably some of the men were wondering when their unit would finally get to blood itself.
The news however was very encouraging, Palembang had fallen this day, a naval action at legaspi -"many enemy ships sunk", and a report from the navy stating "that no less than 30 submarines had been damaged or sunk in this first week alone"

This had bought an uncontrolled burst of laughter from the twins

"30 submarines sunk" exclaimed Juni B" thats a laugh -more like thirty contacts attacked"
2Lt Inoute took up the argument" but why would the navy lie about that -we don't lie about our engagements do we?"

'No" replies Juni V, the other twin" but how many false claims do we manage to honestly make -purely in the heat of combay?'
' And unlike us " his twin drily added" we can see our targets, see the hits -submarines on the other hand......"

the argument went for some time...........

Lt Hyakute had the final word on this one though - "thirty contacts in the first week - that does give one pause for thought"

[1275psi]

I-16? on sweep over canton - just before our falcon friends tore them to bits.

[1275psi]

Operations diary
47th sentai -Canton

17/12/41
Weather: Am -clear, PM -Clear


reported mission totals

LT Hyakute 5
Juni V 4
Juni B 5
Inoute 3
Iwaya 4
izumuda 4
takenaka 4
Kuroe 5
inoue 2

LTCOL kanabayashi 5

Squadron stood down - "to await movement orders"
damage nil damage inflicted nil

[1275psi]

The orders came to Col Kanbayashi before dawn. Stand down the unit - and make preparations to travel light -"be prepared to operate at a forward base - so take what spares you may immediately need with you -if you can fit them in" the voice from HQ -even 30 miles away in canton - sounded stressed. " you are an intercepter unit - and we need to test you in the role you were designed for..... written orders will soon be dispatched"

Interceptor unit -that meant bombers, meant targets that had to be protected -vital targets.
I wonder if the twins will bet me on palembang? he thought as he called for his staff.

[1275psi]

Lt Hyakute took the news very hard.

What of his pride and joy -what of his cow? source of so much income -safely encosed in its barn a mere 100 yards from the base?
Could he trust the farmer to keep his side of the bargain -even if they were gone for some time?
Dammit -war was hell.

Still -a move -but where?. Maybe Burma? -somewhere out there his father was in the Imperial guards - could he get a chance to see him? somehow?
Or would they go south -help with the rolling offensive.
he sighed -so much to do -so much to prepare!. 2 things he knew
One -they would probably be living rough
two -there would be much flying
This was good.

[1275psi]

and here is the news for the 17th of December

Enemy naval forces again attempted to interfere with naval landings -this time our navy has landed at Lingayen gulf - the enemy "destroyer" fleet was beaten off with no loss

British troops have began to contest the landings at lashio - assisted by heavy 4 engine bombers of a new type. Air force spokesmen claim that this bomber has been singularily ineffective and poses no threat to our superior fighters.

In the Phillipines another landing has siezed Catabo, tightening the noose on the islands to the south.
The Minister of production today asked.............

[1275psi]

How Lt Hyakute likes to spend his spare time.................

[1275psi]

Operations diary
47th sentai -Canton

18/12/41
Weather: Am -clear, PM -Clear
47 sentai now comes under the command of 3rd Air division -Gen Nobe


reported combat mission totals

LT Hyakute 5
Juni V 4
Juni B 5
Inoute 3
Iwaya 4
izumuda 4
takenaka 4
Kuroe 5
inoue 2

LTCOL kanabayashi 5

Squadron transits to Hanoi

(Finally worked it out - game appears to only log a mission if the pilot involved was involved in a combat mission)

[1275psi]

The Sentai departed Canton field at dawn, and made a un eventual flight to Hanoi.

There arrival however was unexpected -and only seem to add to the chaos at the field
Upon landing the Sentai was hustled with little care for protical or normal procedures for dispersion to one corner of the field -and ordered to"keep out of the way until we get you out of here tomorrow"
However food did come -food, water and most importantly fuel.
No mechanics, no support staff even approached them all day.
The reason for the rude reception however quickly came clear.
As regular as clockwork the transports came in -one every 15 to 20 minutes - lining up again as the stretched ground crews loaded them with supplies, or in some cases a half dozen or so soldiers.
Whithin an hour they lumbered into the air again, headed north

The day for our squdron quickly became another case of "hurry up and wait".
We recieved our orders -and a thrill went up Col Kanbayashi's spine when they were read -tomorrow was really promising to be a big day.

It was to late to move again -and the field simply was too busy for the transports -some simply could not wait to land their fuel was that low - and the next field could not be reached by dark.

So the sentai settled in under its planes wings -played cards, slept, wrote, read, and waited.
Eventually it got too dark to see -and some of the finest Army pilots of the empire found themselves reduced to infantry status -trying to find comfort on a cold, dark, hard field.

few, if any of them would be sad to leave Hanoi

[1275psi]

2Lt Inoute slept like a log.
Time in China had caused this situation several times -especially while moving to forward fields.
Tomorrow would be better.
So far the new commander seemed to have done well -the real test would come in combat -real combat.

His last thoughts as he drifted off to sleep were not of home, or of women, or loved ones.

But of how to bring down a B-17

[1275psi]

To the 47th sentais north -the 1st paras recieve bombs from heavy bombers -but also reinforcements from the air bridge - a bridge under attack now from p40's

To the east -the army-3 divisions strong -enters Hongkong -and immediately attacks.
Brunie is taken, and navy bombers begin to operate from Rabual -sinking small frieghters

The enemy ss are lethal - but this news will be suppressed by the navy.

[1275psi]

Hanoi airfield in action

[1275psi]

Operations diary
47th sentai -Canton

19/12/41
Weather: Am -clear, PM -Clear
47 sentai now comes under the command of 3rd Air division -Gen Nobe


reported combat mission totals

LT Hyakute 5
Juni V 4
Juni B 5
Inoute 3
Iwaya 4
izumuda 4
takenaka 7
Kuroe 6
inoue 3

LTCOL kanabayashi 6

Squadron transits to Lashio

A/C available 8
One plane punctered tire on landing - no current spare.

[1275psi]

The Sentais transfer to Lashio was simply harrowing.
Weaving through never seemingly ending Thunderheads, and other heavy rain showers, the 9 fighters grimly clung to the tail of the Topsy transport guiding them to the field.

Fighters are not made for comfort - and all of them felt the fatigue settling into their bones as the field finally came into view.

For Takenaka, Kuroe, Inoue, there was little rest -they were immediately fueled, and sent back into the air as CAP. perhaps they were fortunate that the enemy did not attack this day.

The field was chaotic. A Single strip hacked out of the jungle -no facilities at all.
Just a single fuel truk commandeered from God knows where -and piles of stores hastily piled here and there.
several wrecks littered the field.

77th Sentai already was here - 2 dozen pilots, maybe 20 oscars, and virtually no support crews -they were still coming in.
And to the west -the sound of battle

Our sentai though is here to fight, and the pilots know what to do. As the evening comes -and plunges the field into pitch dark -they work -hand fuelling their planes, discussing the situation, preparing as well as they can for tomorrow.

There was no doubt.
tomorrow they fight!

[1275psi]

Capt Iwaya was not happy

where were the ground crews?
Why was he here!

This was terrible.
And here is that Cursed CO -smiling as usual " Tomorrow we fight hey! -have you put into the pool yet? Ive got my Money on Kuroe -what do you think?"
For a second a retort floated........... and then he saw the challenge in Kanibayashi's eyes

was he ready?

yes -tomorrow he would show this fool.

[1275psi]

from the diary of COL Kanbayashi


............and the place is as expected -a forward field near the front -hanging on.
The enemy are trying to bomb the place -77th sentai are doing OK -they say.
It appears that the British are coming from the west -but are a long way away yet.
No word on WO inoue's son - he must be near though -1st paras are the perimeter defence.


Funny how the news can travel - we are attacking in Hong Kong, george town has fallen, and the chinese thrown out of Nanchang -apparently.
We can pick up the BBC from here - mandalaby has a transmittor -21st base force troops are our link.
Im confident for tomorrow -the Sentai seems to be in good spirits.
Much to do yet - I have the Warrant officers hunting up a tent -and Im sure they won't let me down.
100% CAP tomorrow - Ill rotate 6 up, 3 down, punishing -but we must protect the transports!

[1275psi]

Our expected opponents tomorrow.........

[1275psi]

Operations diary
47th sentai -Lashio

20/12/41
Weather: Am -clear, PM -Heavy Thunderstorms in area
47 sentai now comes under the command of 3rd Air division -Gen Nobe


reported combat mission totals

LT Hyakute 5
Juni V 5
Juni B 5
Inoute 5
Iwaya 4
izumuda 5
takenaka 7
Kuroe 6
inoue 3

LTCOL kanabayashi 7

Combat Air Patrol flown all day in concert with 77th Sentai - airfield attacked by 8 Blenhiem, and P40 escorts
Nil damage sustained -nil inflicted

[1275psi]

from the diary of COL Kanbayashi

............and the day went as expected -well almost
The 6,up, 3 down for the day worked well , although the support crews have really struggled. We got our chance today though -and regrettably missed it.
Tomorrow we will do better.
I have struggled all day to establish some accomodation for us -and some food.
The British tried to throw us out of Lashio today -and we sent them retreating -the british were no match for our Paratroops - WO Inoue is very proud -he located his son today -heavens know how - and he has been in the thick of it -and fighting well.

The air bridge continues, and despite the rain, the mud -the lousy storms, our strength here grows daily............

[1275psi]

Capt Izumida took of in the finger three sometime after the midday meal -the Col in the lead, Inoute to his left.
Somewhere ahead Juni V was waiting - held up from the original 6, fuel sufficent for a further 15 minutes or so of CAP

They began to circle at 15000 feet, below some 15 or so oscars circled. The weather was terrible, and he was struggling in the terrible air.

And then, well, well below them -the bombers.
The Col spotted them -and the command to engage came. Izumida glanced quickly -once -but hard -into the sun above them - and followed the dive down.

It was over before it began -the dive -the growing shapes below -the bellow of his engine -the P40's flashing into view -the gut wretching turn to engage -the flip, the struggle -and the clouds looming up -the wet blackness as the chase failed.

They had missed. 77th sentai had not -2 bombers claimed shot down.
But one of the oscars too was gone.

They had been too high -far too high. And this free for all. This was wrong. They needed to stick together. But nobody had flinched -no one had hesitated -and this was good.