Frame #4:
24. Oct. 98: We flew CAP east of
"Enterprise" again, when we encountered F4U after app. 1 hour.
A single F4U tried to BnZ KUER
and me. As i said, never again a E-Fighter will get me that easy.
We evased several attacks of this
damned "Hog", when the Hog-Driver lost his patience (and E!) and tried
to outturn us. After getting hits from KUER he tried to escape to the deck.
He didnt realize i was waiting for this opportunity, because i was below
him and quite fast. In a kind of Immelmann i got right behind him and a
stream of 20mm Shells from short distance ended his flight.
We rejoined the remaining squad
over the "Enterprise". F4U and F6F were still flying above our heads
waiting for their chance. During a turn towards to an incoming TBF, KUER
lost his position behind me and didnt see the F4U diving for him, i turned
towards him again... but too late. A piece of scrap plummeted down, which
was a Zero with my brother in. The F4U escaped unharmed.
All efforts of the US-Fighters
were invain, the only hits the US-Bombers could achieve were on a undefended
Decoy-Carrier in the north.
"Hog" high, his final dive
F4U begins to turn,bleeding E KUER shoots from the left, F4U
loosing parts of fuselage
Close enough to finish him
Frame #5
31.Oct. 98: Again the "Junyo".
From here we started our CAP over the "Enterprise". Almost there, TBF´s
were reported coming in from the north. Flight A found some single flying
TBF without Escort or Gunner. Fast the formation fell apart, when everyone
picked his own target. KUER engaged the single TBF of RJ30 (ungunned) and
in the 1st approach i scored several direct hits on this tough bird.
One after another KUER and i flew
our attacks, pumping no less than 50% of our ammo into the TBF.
Eventually KUER did the final shot
on this brave buff-pilot.
Leyte ended with a contentious
victory for the IJN. The US loose all their Carriers except one, which
left
Leyte Gulf undamaged. The IJN lost
one Carrier and 3 Carriers had been damaged.
The goal for this scenario was
achieved by the IJN (preventing the Invasion of the Philippines), but finished
the scenario with 3 heavily damaged carriers.
The turnfight begins
TBF evasive maneuvers
Close to the end, KUER´s coup de grace
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