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)