Lily 22
Col's voice crackles over the radio, "yes everybody, we're still going in."
Various protests, someone else hit our target, we should take theirs.
Col cuts it off, "we're very low on fuel, no time to dodge around, guessing which of six refineries it might be. Half those buildings are still standing. If your specific target is down, pick something else. Plenty to go around."
Lt and I stare in absolute awe at the forest of smoke stacks, some over 100 feet high, we're gonna skim the tops of them. Immense columns of thick black smoke drift skywards, all that burning oil.
The heat is beyond belief, as we fly over patches of dancing flames. Noise, think boiler factory. Holes start appearing at an alarming pace, as flak chunks puncture the aircraft skin.
Turbulence, oy, with all that heat and wind; lotsa debris floating in the air.
We pass through column after column of smoke, headed for the B4 pumphouse.
Nosegunner is as good as his word and then some. Short economical bursts, hits lotta Krauts.
As we exit a mammoth smoke column, bombardier calls cheerfully, "there she is," I turn over control for the bomb run.
He delivers picture perfect, three second fuse delay. Plane shudders getting rid of that much weight.
Tone of reverence in the voice of the rear gunner, "totalled it, be-eautiful sight."
Lt gasps, "oh oh, ME-109's a-coming."
I put it right on the deck as we fly over an immense corn field. Ultra low, makes it impossible for them to swoop accurately.
Lt canvases the various turrets. Whoever can spare ammo, donate to the mid-upper and rear turrets, they'll be busiest.
But then, I find a dry river bed headed in the right direction. We're so low, we're below the river bank height.
And that proves to be our exit. Invisible to ME-109's, we fly safely back to North Africa.
I decline to land, let Lt do it.
After, we inspect.
Cheerful grin, nosegunner says, "Cap, you brought back cornstalks stuck on them bomb bay doors. Migod!"
Lt claps me on the back, roars with laughter, "he-ell, if boyo can bring us back from Regensburg, he can bring us back from anywhere, hell itself. Piece of cake, right Bobby?"
I laugh, "sure, still y'all owe me a beer."
Everyone laughs; I feel dizzy.
Various protests, someone else hit our target, we should take theirs.
Col cuts it off, "we're very low on fuel, no time to dodge around, guessing which of six refineries it might be. Half those buildings are still standing. If your specific target is down, pick something else. Plenty to go around."
Lt and I stare in absolute awe at the forest of smoke stacks, some over 100 feet high, we're gonna skim the tops of them. Immense columns of thick black smoke drift skywards, all that burning oil.
The heat is beyond belief, as we fly over patches of dancing flames. Noise, think boiler factory. Holes start appearing at an alarming pace, as flak chunks puncture the aircraft skin.
Turbulence, oy, with all that heat and wind; lotsa debris floating in the air.
We pass through column after column of smoke, headed for the B4 pumphouse.
Nosegunner is as good as his word and then some. Short economical bursts, hits lotta Krauts.
As we exit a mammoth smoke column, bombardier calls cheerfully, "there she is," I turn over control for the bomb run.
He delivers picture perfect, three second fuse delay. Plane shudders getting rid of that much weight.
Tone of reverence in the voice of the rear gunner, "totalled it, be-eautiful sight."
Lt gasps, "oh oh, ME-109's a-coming."
I put it right on the deck as we fly over an immense corn field. Ultra low, makes it impossible for them to swoop accurately.
Lt canvases the various turrets. Whoever can spare ammo, donate to the mid-upper and rear turrets, they'll be busiest.
But then, I find a dry river bed headed in the right direction. We're so low, we're below the river bank height.
And that proves to be our exit. Invisible to ME-109's, we fly safely back to North Africa.
I decline to land, let Lt do it.
After, we inspect.
Cheerful grin, nosegunner says, "Cap, you brought back cornstalks stuck on them bomb bay doors. Migod!"
Lt claps me on the back, roars with laughter, "he-ell, if boyo can bring us back from Regensburg, he can bring us back from anywhere, hell itself. Piece of cake, right Bobby?"
I laugh, "sure, still y'all owe me a beer."
Everyone laughs; I feel dizzy.
posted by afghangirlscifi @ 10:42 AM
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