A Japanese fighter pilot in the Second World War

Started by Toonces, September 11, 2013, 01:37:29 AM

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Toonces

I joined the 1st Fleet as Sho-sa, Commanding Officer of the Akagi Fighter Group, in the A6M-21 Zero.

Although Akagi has been fighting since the attack on Pearl Harbor on 7 December 1941, I join her to replace her former Commanding Officer, killed on a patrol flight when he had a catastrophic engine failure at low altitude.  Hence, I join Akagi as we proceed on operation MO, the mission to seize Port Moresby in the Coral Sea.

Mission 1.  Morning 6 May 1942.

My first mission with the squadron is to lead a combat air patrol around the Kido Butai. Intelligence has indicated that US carriers might be in the area.  Certainly there is an electricity in the air, an anticipation of action soon.

We depart at 1100 and head northwest, climbing to a good scouting altitude of 3500 meters or so.  My wingmen slide into their respective left and right positions and we proceed outbound about 100 miles.  Suddenly I spot an aircraft in the distance.  We accelerate and within moments the aircraft is identified as an enemy PBY Catalina patrol plane.



I rapidly slide into a low six approach.  A short burst with my cannons removes most of his tail and he slowly begins his decent to the ocean.  I have achieved my first kill already!



We climb back to altitude and reform, and continue on our patrol.  Twenty minutes later we spot another PBY.  This time I decide to allow my dash-2 the honors, but after two passes without a kill I move in and deliver the killing blow.



The remainder of the patrol is uneventful and we RTB Akagi, with two kills, one for my wingman and one for myself


"If you had a chance, right now, to go back in time and stop Hitler, wouldn't you do it?  I mean, I personally wouldn't stop him because I think he's awesome." - Eric Cartman

"Does a watch list mean you are being watched or is it a come on to Toonces?" - Biggs

Toonces

Mission 2:  7 May 1942.  Morning.

Our patrols have located an enemy carrier group.  My mission is to take 6 Zeroes and escort a flight of 8 Vals on an attack.

We rapidly form up for our transit.





After a little less than an hour the enemy carrier group comes into sight...two carriers!



The enemy CAP appears light, but I allow my wingmen to engage those Wildcats that are seen.  Meanwhile the dive bombers make their attacks, but appear to score no hits.



After the attack the bombers begin to reform but are somewhat separated from the attack.  Additional CAP joins the fray and I engage a Wildcat that is menacing the rear VAL group.



I score what appears to be a killing blow with my 20mm cannons on the first Wildcat, but he fails to go down.  He is shortly joined by two other Wildcats...time to egress.



I dive away and easily outdistance the Wildcats.  The remainder of the RTB is uneventful.



Result:  3 Zeroes lost, 2 VALs.  No kills scored.  No apparent hits on American carriers.


"If you had a chance, right now, to go back in time and stop Hitler, wouldn't you do it?  I mean, I personally wouldn't stop him because I think he's awesome." - Eric Cartman

"Does a watch list mean you are being watched or is it a come on to Toonces?" - Biggs

Toonces

Mission 3:  7 May 1942, late afternoon.

Incoming raid detected!  Akagi scrambles 6 Zeroes, including me.

We take off and perform a maximum performance climb to the east, away from the incoming raiders.  I get the flight up to 3,000 meters and swing over Akagi when the first group of Wildcats and SBDs are identified.  The Wildcats come in co-altitude, while the SBDs are higher, perhaps 4,000 meters.  We drive by the Wildcats and I pull into a climbing turn to hit the rear grouping of SBDs.  My first pass is wildly successful, blasting one SBD in half with 20mm.

I pass him as he goes down and rapidly find myself in a swirling mess of SBDs and Zeroes.  No Wildcats in sight!  I pull onto a second SBD and after two passes manage to critically wound the SBD by shooting off an elevator. 

As fast as the attack takes place it is gone.  A lone SBD remains.  With no other aircraft around I head for him.  I have no remaining 20mm and instead shoot an entire load of 7.62 into his tail.  Both airmen bail out and the SBD goes down.

I return to base and in debrief learn that my camera was no loaded with film!  Still, I am credited with 3 kills.

Result:  3 kills, no apparent hits on Japanese carriers.  3 additional kills by wingmen.
"If you had a chance, right now, to go back in time and stop Hitler, wouldn't you do it?  I mean, I personally wouldn't stop him because I think he's awesome." - Eric Cartman

"Does a watch list mean you are being watched or is it a come on to Toonces?" - Biggs

Toonces

Mission 4: 8 May 1942, late morning.

The enemy carriers are still lurking in the vicinity.  We are launching a strike of 9 VALs, escorted by 9 Zeroes.



On the transit we come across a Wildcat scouting for our carriers.  I allow my second Chutai to take care of the interloper.  Shortly thereafter the enemy carriers are once again spotted.



Again it appears the VALs fail to score a hit!  Meantime, the American CAP is again caught low.  I allow second Chutai to engage them while first Chutai remains with the attackers.  This decision is rewarded quickly when a section of Wildcats jumps the returning VALs.



They rapidly pass by my side and as I bring the Chutai around the first Wildcat scores against a VAL.  In a rage I rapidly close upon him and blast him and half, but not before my unfortunate comrade goes down.  It is a bittersweet victory.



The second Wildcat continues to pursue the VALs, unaware of his wingman's fate.  A quick climb from below makes short work of him as well.





Result:  2 kills, wingman 1 kill, second Chutai 3 kills, 3 VALs lost, no hits on enemy CVs.

"If you had a chance, right now, to go back in time and stop Hitler, wouldn't you do it?  I mean, I personally wouldn't stop him because I think he's awesome." - Eric Cartman

"Does a watch list mean you are being watched or is it a come on to Toonces?" - Biggs

Keunert

Consistency is the last refuge of the unimaginative.
Oscar Wilde

Special K has too much class.
Windigo


mirth

"45 minutes of pooping Tribbles being juggled by a drunken Horta would be better than Season 1 of TNG." - SirAndrewD

"you don't look at the mantelpiece when you're poking the fire" - Bawb

"Can't 'un' until you 'pre', son." - Gus

Toonces

Sorry, I meant to put that in there.

It's IL-2 patched to 4.09 with the HSFX mod, with some zero skin I downloaded from Mission4Today.
"If you had a chance, right now, to go back in time and stop Hitler, wouldn't you do it?  I mean, I personally wouldn't stop him because I think he's awesome." - Eric Cartman

"Does a watch list mean you are being watched or is it a come on to Toonces?" - Biggs

jomni

Nice one. The classic still lives. Sadly I wasn't able to get into that sim. It only held my interest for a short while.