Flight Journal – September 2019

12 FlightJournal.com

DEATH AT DAYBREAK

Hyphencalledhissquadronintoformation

aroundhimashegotusintosomesortof

order.

“Spreadoutandwatchthesky,”heordered.

“Thereisprobablyasquadronoffighters

guardingtheseGermana/c.Keepyourfingers

out.”

    Istaredabovemeatthenowradiantskybut

sawnothing.Downinthegloomydark-tinged

countrysideButch,theintrepid,hadcarried

outhisloneattackonthesecondJu88.The

Germanwasgoingintolandashegotwithin

range.Theflakgunnershadwokenupand

putupamassivebarrage,buthepersistently

continuedtofire,obtainingstrikesallover

theJuuntilitcrashed.Determinedtohave

revenge,everygunonthatGermanairfield

concentratedonthatoneTempest,butfrom

theinfernounscathedemergedButchwith

ana/ctohiscredit.Howhemanagedtolive

throughallthatflakwasamiracle.Airfields

werenotoriousdeathtrapsforattacking

pilots,andthisonewouldhavebeenheavily

guarded—possiblyahundredormore20mm

flakgunstrainedonButchasheroaredacross

therunway.Hetoldmethatasheclimbed

awayfromtheGermanairfieldwiththelight

flakhosingathim,hehadseenaparachute

comingdownfromthestricken 88 above,the

aircraftdestroyedbyHyphenandBill.One

memberofthe 88 crewhadescapedwithhis

life.How,Idon’tknow.

Hyphen,asleader,wasstillgatheringhis

broodaroundhim,chivvyingusintoposition,

determinedtoestablishsomesortoforder.He

continuedaconstantconversationwithButch

andattemptedtointercepthiscoursesoasto

givehimmaximumsupport.Asweleftthe

area,Iconstantlyturnedmyhead,watching

forthesquadronsof109sorFw190sIfelt

mustbearoundreadytointerceptus,butthe

clearskyremainedemptyofsuchathreat.A

LIKE FALCONS ONTO A CRIPPLED DUCK, OUR

TEMPESTS SWUNG ONTO THE UNFORTUNATE

ENEMY. WITH MOTORS SCREAMING AND BLACK

STREAKS OF EXHAUST SMOKE MARKING THE

SKY, WE CLOSED IN.

F.5 NV768 with annular

radiator with standard

EJ823. (Photo courtesy of

Joe Gertler)