AAR 18/04/10 - Back in the Hunt

With his He-Man alarm crying out ‘By the powers of Grayskull!’. Speedy77 lept out of his bunk, it was squad night and he was back on the roster. Grounded for much of the last campaign; not by the CO but by his mum for re-enacting his exploits with an airfix 1:72 109E-1, cotton wool, catapult and a box of matches.

Inserting a cut up yoghurt pot into his spokes (makes it sounds like a motorbike), and a quick check of the stabilizers and helmet, he set off to Mont’ airfield. After parking his ‘motorbike’ he headed to the 19 Squadron dispersal hut.

On Entering he was greeted by the usual empty seats, not so strange as he was normally first to show up, but what was strange was the unusual tidiness and organized look to the place. A typewriter and a neatly stacked pile of official looking AAR forms sat on a table, and a video projector labeled ‘Gun Camera’ now took pride of place in the centre of the room. “Ah Dezey has finally brought in his ‘special’ collection of films” , Speedy said out loud…he still hadn’t mastered keeping thoughts to himself which often got him in trouble, especially in the gents.

As Speedy put on his Mae West he bumped the typewriter table and scattered the forms on to the floor, unknowing he went to find his trusty spit. Opening Hanger No.4, he heard a kerfuffle and the back door slammed shut, then a sheepish looking Britney appeared from her store, followed by Bader the squadron three-legged cat. “Ah! there you are Britney, fire her up there’s a good chap.…what’s that cat doing in here? I’ve told you not to let it sleep in my cockpit, it still smells after the last time”

Acknowledging Bitney’s now familiar salute, he lifted and headed for Stenay where the radar indicated heavy enemy air presence. Approaching the target area at 12K he spotted a 109 at 2’oclock at 10K. Diving down he scored hits on his first pass, climbing back up he noticed the 109 now smoking and trying to climb back up. Rolling through 90 degrees, Speedy pulled the spits nose back down towards the 109, only then did he see the two more cons co alt and heading his way. With no friendlies around speedy continued his dive at the 109. The 109 evaded, and Speedy stayed in the dive and headed back south. However, Fritz’s mates had followed him and were gaining. Taking it to treetop height, Speedy dragged them as low as he could, but they were now in guns range and with things looking bad, speedy turned to face his pursuers. A 3vs1 low turning fight ensued with speedy scoring and taking hits, but alas no kill shot, then while flying inverted speedy clipped a tree and went in.

Fortunately, Britney had a spare Spit ready and Speedy headed out again this time accompanied by Sq/Ldr MJ Dixon1. The pair headed out at 14K to an area N of Stenay to BARCAP the route in from Bertix. Encountering various lower 109s, they proceeded to perform double attacks careful to maintain their alt advantage. However, with no clear kill shot, the pair were slowly dragged lower until more 109s arrived now co-alt. Speedy called “time to go MJ” and the pair hastily headed back south. At this point Speedy suffered a technical issue (CTHL) and was forced to bail. Sq/Ldr MJ Dixon1 skillfully extracted himself from 4-5 109s and managed to RTB. MJ then got the call that the typewriter table was in a mess and announced that he would be back in an hour after he’d found the ***hole that messed his system up. Speedy wished him luck, and asked that he kick the culprit in the family jewels for him.

Squadron activities then moved to Maubeuge for operations over the Dinant area. Now joined by CO Dojo, and F/O Dezey. The trio headed out toward Dinant. An allied bomber formation had called for fighter escort, and the CO turned 19 squadron the catch up the bombers. However, the COs plane had a issue and was forced to turn back (CTHL). Dezey and Speedy pressed on. Enroute a 109 bounced Speedy, able to evade Speedy turned to rejoin Dezey who was trailing in a hurri1, the pair then searched unsuccessfully for the cowardly 109 who had vanished and quickly as he arrived. The plucky pair then pressed on over Dinant and found a pair of 109s, one of whom dived out, and the other turned his unwelcome attentions to Dezey’s hurri. Speedy rushed to clear Dezey’s 6, which he did by hitting the 109 tail, unfortunately the 109 pulled up and left straight into Speedy’s path, turning both planes into a fiery mess reminiscent of a burning airfix kit stuck in a Masters of the Universe duvet.

Mulling over the days events in the mess, though not successful Speedy was glad to be back in the hunt. Finishing his AAR Speedy signed it with his favorite crayon, the nice fat yellow one, folded it into a paper plane and threw it into the COs office for filing. Downing his ale, he slid his glass cowboy style across the bar and turned his back to leave as the glass slid right of the bar into MJs now tidy typewriter table. Oblivious to the carnage, Speedy put on his helmet and cycle clips removed the sticks from his wheels and headed home.

Ba y good show O d Chap, g ad to have you back f ying with us, sorry about having to jet off ike that, but someone's been messing with my stuff - knocked my typewriter a over the p ace, sti can't find the key, damn - the etter before M but after K!