Aaron's Warbirds Gallery

May 27 1997 : Memorial Day, (and Free Flying in the European Theatre!)

Raxx's Story....

I got an email in the post from Glrs that there would be free flying time in the European Theatre to commemorate Memorial Day in the United States, (similar to ANZAC Day in New Zealand and Australia). The only problem was the time started at 2am Tuesday morning, (NZ time), and would finish about Midnight on Tuesday. Oh dear, only 6 hours to fly after work =). The last 2 days have been spent in anticipation. So with work finished, I grabbed my flying jacket and goggles and ran to the hanger.
Only 120 pilots were in the arena so I hopped into a B25J, that the recently promoted Gardener Hirohito had warmed up for me. Making a long story short, I flew, I bombed, I landed and here is the score.

The next thing I knew K1w1 had arrived and there was a bomber run heading to Belgium. K1w1 decided to let someone else lead until I "suggested" that with all the RNZAF bomber group there that bard, glrs or myself might lead. K1w1 must have known bard was there as they almost shared the same cockpit, (or is it a 5 engine p38 variant =).

Well we made it into the air and then some b_____d jammed a brick in my tailplane so I couldn't get any lift. The group was spread from 6000ft to 12,000ft so we just headed in a gaggle for Lille and blew all the snot out of that. Someone hated the gunner on the middle North AAA. I counted 6 craters around it. Not long after bard was on the recieving end of the Luftwaffe 20mm reception comittee, I followed quickly after, (gotta hate those 190's).

bombers.in.the.air.jpg 14k

Bard made a run on Abbeville and along with Bmbm and Axxx, I flew as a fighter escort. Bard made it back and I augered after dofighting with, (of all people), Bogg. I still hate those 190's.

The last run of the night was a heavy bomber mission to Berlin. Six b17's tookoff and headed to berlin. I took a p38 and flew fighter escort. Honk wanted to join in so I headed back and gathered him into the herd. Sog1 managed to get up and away from everyone so I had to chase of after him and bring him back. By this time Ozzi/Strl turned up in another P38. Ozzi was in the back seat having dinner which must have affected the fuel efficiency of the plane. As I turned back with 50% fuel ozzi had only 25% left. With a little tweaking and trimming we tried to get back to England. This proved difficult as Ozzi ran out of gas over Holland.
And thus started the world, (WB world), record for the longest glide starting at 21000ft.

ozzi.glide.comment.jpg 48kb

Ozzi desperatly fought the stall horn and the ever present threat of Luftwaffe straffing runs to battle on to England. With about 5km to go and only 2000ft of altitude it was time to bail out. The distance covered was almost 3 grid squares!! A great achievement.

ozzi.still.gliding.jpg 7kb

The Automated controller wouldn't let me fly as an Allied pilot so I changed sides =) and took up the Messerschmit bf109 to go hunting Buffs. As soon as I swapped over the radio blared with the golds talking about where the bombers were.
The Germans had already started hunting the group I had been protecting. With the help of a small transmitter planted by ex-Gardener/Spy Otto in Bard's plane I was able to head to the general direction of the bomber group. After a flypast to wave hello at my friends I was shot at by them.
Gardener Hirohito has left his glasses behind and didn't recognise my new German aircraft and managed to put a few bullets through the wing before I rolled away.
I lost the bomber group in the process of evading their fire and by the time I made it back a couple had already started smoking.I recieved a transmission that Honk was realy a fifth columnist. Mistaking Axxx for Honk I shot Axxx down. Realising the error of my ways I bailed out and when I reached the ground the Germans captured me and I was left in a prison camp for the remainder of the war.

The Final Score......

I found that the threat of only having 4 lives made pilots more cautious with their flying. It meant different styles came out and it was essential that you had wingmen or escorts on any flight you took part in. I enjoyed myself thoroughly and wish to thank the people at ICI for this opportunity.

Raxx (the 5k sniper)
Bomber Group
RNZAF SkyRats
Purple Country

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