Kanalkampf. Mission 18: 8th August 1940

[Pitti]

Flight Reports: Mission 18: 8th August 1940

Template:

Mission Date: 8th August 1940

Name:
Rank:
Unit:
Aircraft:
Markings:
Aerodrome: Theville
Pilot Status: KIA / OK
Aircraft Status: Lost / Damaged

Victory Claims:

Time	Place	Aircraft	Opponent	Confirmed
-	-	-	-	-

(code here)
http://www.aircombatgroup.co.uk/forum/v ... =66&t=1169

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Mission Date: 8th August 1940

Name: Pitti
Rank: Major
Unit: Stab II./JG26
Aircraft: Bf 109 E-1
Markings: << + -
Aerodrome: Theville
Pilot Status: OK
Aircraft Status: OK, RTB

Victory Claims:

Time	Place	Aircraft	Opponent	Confirmed
1645	Channel near Isle of Wight	Hurricane	-	yes (Oho + Neun)

This morning we had to transfer West to the airfield of Theville to support our bombers on their attacks in the area of the Isle of Wight during the day.
I led my Gruppe into the air at 1613. Our task was to escort Stukas from Cherbourg to a convoy of ships east of the Isle Of Wight. Obergefreiter Oho was my wingman today.

We met the Stukas over Cherbourg at 1624 at an altitude of 3000m. The escort was flown in high altitude in loose formation. At 1642 we spotted the enemy in front of us, near the convoy.
A wide spread out dogfight resulted.

A Hurricane past directly in front of my at a distance of about 150m. The Hurricane was in a left turn, showing me its belly. I gave it a full burst from all my weapons and spotted hits directly on the cockpit floor. When passing I looked back and saw the Hurricane climbing up steeply for a short moment and then dropping down like a stone towards the sea. I assume that the pilot was dead since he didn't bail out. This happened at 1645, eye witnesses were Neun and Oho.

I gave orders to everyone to stay above the ships to gain air superiority since more waves of Stukas were on the way.
Suddenly I spotted a Spitfire turning in on my wingman's six o'clock. I wasn't able to help him since he turned away from me in a left hand climb while we were actually in a right hand turn. The Spitifre damaged his radiator and let him go. But he had to ditch in the channel since the resulting engine failure.

I damaged another Hurricane and a Spitfire while holding position over the ships. After the last wave of Stukas had finished their attack, I left the target area and escorted them back towards France. Some lone Hurricanes were still following them but Hauptgefreiter MarLeo and me where able to draw them away.

At 1719 I landed back at Theville, undamaged.

[DaHeld]

Mission Date: 8th August 1940

Name: DaHeld
Rank: Uffz.
Unit: 6./JG 26
Aircraft: Bf 109E-1
Markings: brown 12 + -
Aerodrome: Theville
Pilot Status: KIA
Aircraft Status: Lost

Victory Claims: none

I crashed into the channel south-east of the Isle of Whight while turn-fighting a Hurricane at sea level.

[Grey]

Mission Date: 8th August 1940

Name: Grey
Rank:Uffw
Unit: 5th
Aircraft: Bf109 E4
Markings: Black 1/ Ace of Spades
Aerodrome: Theville
Pilot Status: OK
Aircraft Status: Lost

Time	Place	Aircraft	Opponent	Confirmed
16:42	Channel, Isle of Wight	Hurricane	Tommy	No

THURSDAY AUGUST 8th 1940

"For some reason, all of us had a gut feeling that something was now about to break. During the previous month we had all been engaged in heavy combat, but by the end of the month all operational missions became few and far between, many squadrons were only going out on spasmodic attacks. We enjoyed the comfort and relaxation of that first week of August, we almost behaved as if there was no war on, although many were asking the question....why.
Word had got around that the Fuhrer had endorsed a plan of invasion of England and we all believed that this to be somewhere on or about the 10th or 12th of August and I think that this period of quiet that we were experiencing was to get all our aircraft in 100% operational condition. Many trucks were seen arriving at the base and we could only assume that they were bringing in fresh supplies of fuel and ammunition, everyone seemed to know that the planned invasion of England was near. When we were given orders to stand down for 24 hours, we then knew that it must be the next day that the invasion was to start"
-Hans Joachim Jabs-

16:20 taxi, take off
16:30 RV Stukas
16:42 Engagement with Hurricane, got his ailerons, parts of his engine, and fuel tank, no way he could make it back to the British isles, He was in a bad condition. His wingman prevented me from finishing him off, I wasn’t in tip top shape today so I’ve let him sneak up on me, same pilot as last time (SD-M), his first few bursts took care of the instrument panel and the engine, thick white steam and plumes of black oil rushed past the canopy of my aircraft and much of it managed to enter the cockpit, my controls had been shattered also as I had no control over the now fast descending aircraft. The waters of the Channel were fast coming towards me, I knew that the situation was hopeless. I managed to throw back the cockpit hood and took all the necessary precautions for a parachute landing in the water. It was my good fortune that I was approaching the water at an angle so I could jump, had I been diving straight down, it would have not been possible to survive. So I prepared myself for the exit, jumped out and the parachute opened in time.
By the time I had to bail out, I estimated my position at about thirty miles to the north west of Cherbourg, so I fumbled for the fluorescine marker dye that would disperse a yellow green dye around me making it easy to see for our rescue craft. They found me in no time.

[Lee]

Mission Date: 8th August 1940
Name: Lee
Rank: Hauptgefreiter
Unit: 5./JG26
Aircraft: bf-109 E4
Markings: Black -+4
Aerodrome: Theville
Status: Plane and pilot OK
Victory Claims:

Time	Place	Aircraft	Opponent	Confirmed
-	-	-	-	-

It was my first time in Theville , another first in a long line of firsts .
Atradis was in Berlin doing some serious R&R , and our organic Schwarm was modified , with Gray as Schwarmfurer we were back in full Schwarm . (2 rotters) .
It was a surprise to hear Her Gruppencommander inform that the wind would be light southerly since as I have started my takeoff run my bird danced sharply on the runway .
I attempted to control it , but during a violent pirouette on the runway I popped a tier and had to take a new bird .
I followed Madigan as Gray and Krauss made their way towards the isle of white.
I took a while but I was finally made it back into formation .
It wasn't easy zigzagging over the formation of slow Stukka's , and I have lost eyes on our Schwarm once or twice during a steep turn .
Arriving over the enemy ships next to the target , I have watched the bombers as they started their attack when suddenly I observed a large furball .
Gray ordered me and Krauss to keep high cover over the bombers as he and Madigan dove down to engage the indianners .
As he turned I have noticed one of them on Krauss's 6 and warned him .
He broke off and I turned to make sure he was clear .
I was about to engage as the indianer turned away and in to the bombers .
When I have turned back to Krauss he was no longer there , I have heard him over the wireless and attempted to re form .
Unsuccessful to locate him I have heard Her Gruppencommander order us to R2B .
As I have pointed my nose 221 I have heard Krauss identifying my butt .
We formed up and headed back to base .
Krauss made his final , and I was soon to follow .
Up[on clearing the runway I have informed acting Schtafflekapitan Esri that what was left of Schwarm to is back .
It was a strange mission in unknown territory , and I have not fired a single round .
Still , It was a good one .
Hope Flyby had more luck .

[Flyby]

Mission Date: 8th August 1940

Name: Flyby
Rank:OBRGfr
Unit: 5./jg26
Aircraft: 109 E4
Markings:Black 8
Aerodrome: Theville
Pilot Status: OK
Aircraft Status: Damaged

Victory Claims: shared a Hurricane will with MarLeo (not confirmed)
Time Place Aircraft Opponent Confirmed
- - - - -
A wicked beginning when, after conferring with Grey, I took over as staffel leader, and he took 2nd schwarm. There were only two 5./ schwarms today, as several pilots were still being treated for a persistent strain of the Free-French CLAP, and pissing razors in their grief. It's good that Esri popped in n the briefing Grey and I were having. In fact it turned out to be fortuitous that he did. I began having a terrible time on comms, and lost contact with everyone, though I could hear the staffel asking what happened to me on comms. I was proud to hear them sort it all out and begin the mission with everything sorted out (except for my comms! whisper buttons got screwed up by pilot error, and I caught Hell trying to get comms back just to communicate the 1st schwarm.

The mission proceeded pretty much according to plan and we began S-turning from our position above the Stukas. I took 70% fuel and after a long flight made it back to Theville with 45 liters of fuel remaining. No little red light! Phew!! In between takeoff and landing I lost track of the flight as combats began erupting around us. One minute a furball, then next all alone. I did try to latch on to a couple of loan 109s, following each for a while.Just after the command to rtb a Hurricane flashed in front of me, and I gave a short chase, scoring a few hits. The plane rolled inverted and began it's final dive. I got credit for 0.11% of a kill. I believe it was Marleo who took the lion's share of that one. The pilot baled out. Now I was alone and relatively low in a contested air space after the recall to base, so I bugged out, all the while doing slight turns and kicking the rudder to clear my tail. A little paranoia is a healthy thing! I met up with Boysee just short of Theville, and as he was low on fuel (he also took 70%) we decided he would land before me. I landed OK, but apparently toasted the brakes, resulting in a forward flip. I had to be pulled free of the inverted Emil, but I was unhurt, luckily, and a bit embarrassed at my poor ground-handling. Ah well, any landing you can walk away from. Eh?
Flyby out

[Bear]

Mission Date: 8th August 1940

Name: Bear
Rank: Gefreiter
Unit: 4./JG26
Aircraft: Bf 109 E-4
Markings: White 2
Aerodrome: Theville
Pilot Status: Still enjoying Champagne and local filles - OK
Aircraft Status: Never better - RTB

I missed the briefing this morning and barely showed up in time to take part in the mission. I got caught up in some early morning festivities with two gorgeous French girls who I believe to be twins but no confirmation yet. Further inspection will be necessary. I'll be sure to update.

Anyway, I scrambled to catch up with my schwarm. I climbed to 5000m and took up a course of 030 towards the general vicinity of the enemy convoy. It wasn't long before I ran into a flight of bombers. It turns out I had stumbled upon the 2nd wave. I noticed the 3rd wave behind me and swung back to confirm they were friendly Stukas. Soon I could hear my schwarm over the radio engaging enemy fighters. I frantically checked both Stuka flights and soon realized I was farther behind than I thought and there was at least one wave farther ahead of me. I slammed the throttle forward and flew as fast as I could for the enemy convoy. Soon I arrived over the target and got stuck in. The early engagements are somewhat fuzzy now but I fired on a Hurricane chasing a flight of Stukas and landed machine gun hits. He spiraled away and I maintained my altitude. I had a similar engagement with a Spitfire a few minutes later.

By this time all hope of winging up with my schwarm was gone. I continued to cover the incoming waves of dive bombers. In a left hand bank about 4000m above the ships I noticed a Spitfire to my 9 and slightly higher. My heart froze. If he was looking at me and coming my way, I knew I wouldn't have a chance. As luck would have it, he was headed away from me. I went full throttle and closed the distance between us. He was in a slight left bank when I opened up on him. He saw me at the last second and pulled hard but I saw cannon shells land on his right wing. From there I made a number of slashing attacks scoring a couple more cannon hits. He dove for the deck and I gave chase. My heart was pounding, surely he was leading me into a trap?!? He was low and slow, just trying to get me to miss. He did so rather successfully, only landing a few more hits. As I lined up for what I knew would be my last burst of cannon, I suddenly froze with excitement (computer stutter) and my last 12 rounds all missed high.

The Spitfire obviously was struggling to stay in the air but from what I could tell he would make it home as he was. His engine hadn't taken any critical hits from what I could tell and he wasn't leaking anything. Just then Gruppenkommandeur Pitti came over the radio and ordered all Jaegers still over target to get home. Glad to have someone else make the decision for me, I turned for France, leaving the crippled Spitfire to limp home. I did make one more pass at another Spitfire on it's way home from the enemy convoy and I believe I landed hits but can't be sure.

I came across 2 109's that I believe was the Gruppenkommandeur coming in on final with his wingman. I put on a little airshow and then made a good landing at Theville and hit the bar. We lost several kameraden today. War is Hell. I'm getting closer to my first victory over Britain. It won't be long now Tommy.

[MarLeo]

Mission Date: 8th August 1940

Name: MarLeo
Rank: Hauptgefreiter
Unit: 6./JG26
Aircraft: BF 109 E-1
Markings: Brown 1 + -
Aerodrome: Theville
Pilot Status: KIA thx to bug
Aircraft Status: burning pile of rubble on Theville

Mission went very good. Damaged one Hurri so much that it had to abort the fighting, later helped Osprey (Osprey: yes I noticed ) to keep in shape by forcing him to swim back to England and then made it back safely to Theville. Good mission went south when my plane uncontrollably jumped into the air, after touchdown and rolling on the runway, and crashed head first. This resulted in a little firework and a damn hot guy. First ever KIA in campaign and then due to bug. <--- Osprey: Don't count this KIA

At least my comrades who made it back had something to gather around and celebrate the successful mission.

[Oho]

Mission Date: 8th August 1940

Name: Oho
Rank: Obergefreiter
Unit: 6./JG26
Aircraft: BF 109 E-1
Markings: Brown 3
Aerodrome: Theville
Pilot Status: wounded
Aircraft Status: drowned north of Cherbourg

Flying Katschmarek für Herrn Gruppenkommandeur was a great honor.
After Contact I saw him hitting a hurricane, didn't see her go down, as he claimed it. After we turned right to dive again I was hit and left him as I turned left. Got a hit in the water cooling and light injury but decided to stay where the action was. When I pursued a Spitfire I was hit again and had a Spit on the tail. After endless minutes of scissoring I finally managed to shake her off.
After a steep dive on a Spitfire I may have overreved the engine so the motor made not very nice noises. I tried to head home on sea-level following the Stukas but finally a Hurricane which was there too, spotted me, hit me so I had to ditch into the water.
A Schnellboot picked me up.

[Hypoxia]

Mission Date: 6/15/2014
Unit: 4./JG26BF109-E3
Markings: White 12
Aerodrome: Theville
Status: Bailed out over the channel
Victory Claims: 0
Time Place Aircraft Opponent Confirmed
- - - - -


Took off with Casca and Vas in flight of 3. My takeoff sucked but I got up. Picked up bombers and escorted into channel. Saw some Hurricanes attacking bombers and followed Casca through several attack runs. Rolled in on a Hurricane attacking the bombers and got solid hits. Dove on a spit near the water. Fired and extended. Decided to regain E. Climbed away from Bombers. Ended up with a Spitfire behind me trying to climb with me. Kept climbing and turning until I could get a shot and then would roll over for a head on pass followed by a climb. Repeated this several times. Got radiator damage and dove away in a high speed dive towards France. Engine gave up so I took my E and zoomed to a safe bail out altitude and jumped. Chute opened.

[Boyezee]

Mission Date: 8th August 1940

Name: Boyezee
Rank: Obergefreiter
Unit: 5./JG26
Aircraft: Bf109 E4
Markings: Black 14
Aerodrome: Theville
Pilot Status: OK
Aircraft Status: OK

Flew as part of first Schwarm - our Leader Flyby had issues with his comms so Esri steped up to lead the 5th in fine fashion, we formed up and met with the stukas over Cherbourg before heading over the channel covering them from above.

As we approached the east side of the Isle of Wight we got the call that the RAF were attacking our bombers, as we dived to attack we got into a large furball with the enemy fighters, during this engagement I became seperated from my Schwarm whilst dueling with a Hurricance, for some mintues I parried with the Hurricane but neither of us could get a shot, with a salute I dis-engaged to re-form with my schwarm and to help our brave bomber boys out.

As I re-sighted the bombers I saw 2 Hurricanes 1000m beneath me, I dived and scored hits on the rear aircraft, cannon shells ripping into his left wing and fuselage, he fell towards the deck from a height of 4000m, I did not see him crash due to my height but I'm sure I gave him a good seeing to, I maintained height rather than follow my prey down.

After this I chased a number of enemy aircraft around the bombers but only took pot shots, as I climbed to regain E I found a number of enemy aircraft behind me so I dived for France as Pitti sounded the call to RTB.

On approcah to Theville I impressed the rest of my Staffel with my acrobatic skills by performing a victory roll over the airfield before forming up on flyby and landing safely at the airfield.

Victory Claims: 1 Hurricane, East of Isle of Wight at 4k over the bombers - unconfirmed