Greetings Comrades. Here is the write up of a Game of Blazing Skies played last night set in the Pacific.
It was late in the afternoon June 1943 and operating from a temperory jungle strip a Kittyhawk flown by Pilot Officer Barrington and a Wildcat (Martlet) flown by Sq Ldr Fortesque-Smythe were returning over a rather calm blue ocean.
"I say Squadron Leader" expulged Barrington,"The drink looks like a painted tabletop from up here"
"Indeed Bazzer old pip, a Rather badly painted one…Still, not long to go now and we are home free!"
"Did you know its National Jingoism day Sq Ldr? All our experience for this caper is doubled due to mindless patriotic fervour"
"Keep your eyes on the skies Baz."
The pair droned on. Barrington suitable chasened swiveled his head around him. He did a double take.."
"OMG!Sq Ldr! Japs 5 O Clock High!"
5 thousand feet above them a pair of Zeros A6M5 flown by Lt Junior Grade Hirohityou and Lt Senior Grade Mustawhackhe were tracking the pair.
"Imperial decadant running dogs below us Sir", said Hirohityou.
" Then lets show them the beautiful grace of the Imperial Navy! TORA TORA TORA!"
The Wildcat and P40 hacked round in level right turns the Kittyhawk slugging round a C and the Wildcat nipping round a B both at speed 4. The Zeros dipping their noses and heading for the allies. They did rather overcook it and needed to tap their rudders to bring them back round a notch. The Sakea engines howled as the Zeros went downstairs!
The Allies continued their turn and remained level keeping their speed for a climb next turn. The Zero's throttled back as they shallow dived not wanting to exceed their crackup limits.
"Let Him Have it Baz! " shouted Fortesque Smythe and they concentrated fire on the lead Zero which in their gun camera footage for some reason looked like an Oscar. The writing on its side spelling "Proxy" was also confusing, but what the heck!
Hirohityou's Zero staggered as cables snapped and huge holes appeared in his crate. He himself punched his cannons at the kittyhawk and was rewarded with a flash on its tailfin. Mushawackhe was out of range.
There is a time for Zoom and Boom tactics and this was not it. Mustawackhe ordered a climb expecting the Britishers to zip past them. It was bad timing however and the Brits shallow climbed also. The end result was the RAF bods were staring at the bellies of the Zero's. Focusing fire on Hirohityou's damaged kite a rattle of dice in a snapshot ripped up the Zekes rudder and spars leaving it on 2 structure left!
The furball began and the P40 banked left with its damaged rudder. Unfortunatly Mustawackhe's Zeke flipped into a wingunder and leveled out behind him. Cannon blazed and consulting his "Ach Nein" table, a shell blew open the coolant tanks. Every turn Barrington would have to roll a 3+ or his engine would seize solid!
As Hirohityou checked his six he saw the Wildcat coming off the top of a half loop. With his structure at 6 points remaining he had attempted to turn away right to escape. This just brought him into the wildcats sights. He barrel rolled at the gunports flashed in his mirror.
Fifties pounded and the Zero's tailplane was shredded and its belly perforated.
The ripping sound of paper filled the air as bullets zipped by and aluminium tore and The Jap player ripped up his Kites Record Sheet. Hirohityou hit the silk!
The Kittyhawks engine boiled. Barrington slammed the stick over and hauled back into a wingunder. Mustawhackhe however was treading rudder to take a leading shot at the staggering Wildcat coming into a turn and trying to build its speed back up. The Wildcat would have been pounded save for its heavy armour plate which deflected most of the Zero's damage.
Barrington with his engine redlined and smoking took the express train down leveling out at height 1 skimming the waves.
Mustawhackhe used the zeros amazing turning ability to zip round behind the struggling Wildcat which clawed its power back. Cannons blazed and Fortesque Smythe saw large chunks of wing fly off.
"Blast it all Baz! I cant Shake him!" ejacted the Sq Ldr.
"I Say! On my way Skipper!" cried Barrington who swept his red hot Kittyhawk into a sweepin climb left. Fortesque Smythe knew he would not return in time. He had one chance! Throwing the throttle open he increased speed to 4 and half-looped. The Zero and wildcat faced each other head to head. Both machines blazed till their guns glowed like the rising sun, but the Wildcat could take the punishment and a stream of .5 bullets smashed the Zeros Sakea engine into junk. Mustawhackhe Ejected using his personal retro fitted ejector seat.
The Allies level off in their battered machines.
"Cor Blimey Govener!" said Barrington, suddenly changing his accent to cockney. "Vat was a close un and nahh mistake"
"Do shut up" sniffed the Sq Ldr
's commission from one of our own.
