shotbanner.jpeg

July 24, 2005

Battle of Britain - July 24

Sergeant Campbell talks about the Battle, whose second week is drawing to a close.

Another slow day today - at least, for us. The lads flew patrols over the Channel today, but it looks as if they're not running as many convoys through the Channel anymore - the pickings were too easy for the Huns.

Which isn't to say there wasn't action. For the first time, the Jerries bombed a couple of towns, including Walton-on-Thames. They also attacked a couple of convoys standing to in the Thames estuary. That cost 'em - they got jumped by a bunch of Spitfires. It was a nasty scrap, with a total of six German fighters buying it. We lost six planes, too - all of them Spitfires, naturally, a bunch of overpriced saloon cars - and one pilot, "Johnny" Allen, who'd become an "ace" with five kills over France.

No action for 85 Squadron, which was just as well. I had an erk, an Aircraftman Williams, who I had to post off the squadron; he kept answering orders in ancient Greek, and portraying all events in the form of satire. I had S/L Townsend give him to a Coastal Command supply depot in the Orkneys. They'll probably appreciate his antics there.

Since it's been a slow day, let's talk aircraft:

This is a Spitfire. It's what all you lot at home have been hearing about:

It's pretty, and it's fast, right, and it has the best climb rate in the sky today. It's got the same guns as a Hurricane - eight .303 Browning machine guns. But when you fire, it shakes about so much it's hard to keep your aim, and if it gets hit, there's always some bit or piece getting shot up or bursting into flames, which puts a bit of a blot on our friendly universiity posh pilot's day, right? So to sum up - the Spit is a good plane for a University Posh to caravan out in as he tries to impress the birds.

Much better to be in a Hurricane:

Eight guns, not as fast in a straight line or climb as a Spit, but it turns tighter, takes much more damage, and stays rock-steady when the eight machine guns open up; you can actually stay on target. A good plane for a working bloke who just wants to kill Jerries.

So to compare - Spitfire is a pretty saloon car for elegible bachelors to impress the birds. Hurricane is a working bloke's plane. The choice is clear to me.

By the way - that rectangle of red on the leading edge of the wing? It's a piece of fabric we paste into place over the gunports, to keep dirt out. When they come in for a landing and we can see the fabric is blown away, we know our lads have used their guns. Everyone came back with intact patches today.

Oh, well. Better luck tomorrow.

Posted by Mitch at July 24, 2005 09:21 AM | TrackBack
Comments

The Welsh always were a bit of a nuisance, as this "Aircraftsman Williams" suggests. Spot on!

Posted by: Doug at July 24, 2005 11:38 PM

Play Video Craps - Download and play realistic 3d video craps online - http://www.craps-players.com

Posted by: Play Video Craps at January 10, 2006 01:38 PM

It looks like you really had a nice time. tegretol slot bad credit mortgage fha loan business degree nasonex craps tegretol wager

Posted by: sam at May 5, 2006 04:21 AM
Post a comment









Remember personal info?
hi