Sunny flight in the Pacific

It was a bright and sunny day..... (ok...so this isn't Snoopy)

My pal Lipfert and I launched from the Saratoga behind a wing of SBDs. I flew #2 slot with Lipfert leading our wing. The three of us (Lipfert, myself and an AI) climbed and maintained high escort above the SBDs and TBFs which quickly formed up. Their target....two Jap tin cars sailing through a nearby harbor. Our flight was nice and uneventful yet somehow I seemed to fall out of formation....Lipfert and the AI were pulling away. I needed more speed! Where are you Scotty??!?

It all worked out though. I started to gain on them to rejoin when they broke off to pass over a friendly escort carrier group to our east. I chose to stay with the bombers...our primary mission. Lipfert and #3 Wildcat proceeded onto the next waypoint and found themselves jumped by Jap fighters. I arrived with the SBDs shortly thereafter and rolled in. The wildcats were in trouble!

While the wildcats were on 100% evasive, I dove in. The Japs were focused on Lipfert and #3 Wildcat, so I came in fast and unseen. Tracer fire was surrounding Lipfert and I managed some bursts which made the Zeke break off. That's a beer he owes me later...

I came around and found myself on a Zeke and sighted Lipfert coming around on the same. I soon realized that Lipfert somehow hadn't seen me and we were on a collision course! I rolled left and he buzzed over top....damn near taking my wing off. That would not have ended well for either of us. I radioed the incident after regaining my composure and broke off to target another Zeke. Lipfert downed that Zeke while I was coming to the aid of Wildcat #3. The Jap was on him good and I was closing fast on the Zeke. A half second more and I might have saved him but as it was...the Zeke opened up and #3 burst into a fireball. The Zeke and I flew through the debris and body parts and it was my time to avenge. Some maneuvers and he was in my sights. Hammer down......he flamed and went into the drink. Splash 1.

Lipfert and I regrouped and headed back towards the SBDs who had a bandit on them. The tail gunners did well and the bandit was trailing oil smoke and wounded. I came up and finished him off with a burst. He flamed big time and dark black smoke belched from the engine. A minute later, he rolled to starboard and went down. Splash 2.

With the skies clear and the SBDs back to the carrier, Lipfert and I headed for an escort carrier and landed safely. It was the first time I landed on an escort carrier ... and also the first time I shot down more planes than another pilot in game and survived. Not too shabby. Now....about that beer.....

http://home.comcast.net/~nowakjim/games/FB/JeepCarrier.JPG

Nice work Jester. I too landed on a moving CVE last night but in a flak damaged F4U-1D. It was definitely an experience thats for sure.

Yep....I almost broke off and followed the flight leader (Lipfert) but I had that scene in "Flying Leathernecks" in my head where that one pilot went off on his own and got shot down. This was kinda like the reverse...by rights, I should have followed the flight lead but instinct kept with the bombers. It worked out that I was in a better position when it came down to it. If I did follow the flight lead, I would have been stuck in the same position as them when the Japs jumped them.

Yep....I almost broke off and followed the flight leader (Lipfert) but I had that scene in "Flying Leathernecks" in my head where that one pilot went off on his own and got shot down. This was kinda like the reverse...by rights, I should have followed the flight lead but instinct kept with the bombers. It worked out that I was in a better position when it came down to it. If I did follow the flight lead, I would have been stuck in the same position as them when the Japs jumped them.

Perhaps that is why your buddies ended up getting bounced by the "japs" because........you were not there watching out for their backs !

If you broke off on your own without being directed so, then that is wrong on your part. But if your Flight Leader told you to break off and escort the bombers then that is ok.

No, the flight lead and AI Wildcat broke off the flight plan to go sight seeing...I stayed with the bombers on the flight plan.

I gotta figure out why my plane seems to fly slower than others.