We are based at Popovicheskaya and assigned British Mk V Spitfires to
defend our Motherland from the facists. For the scheduled take-off time
at 0645 we had a detail of four pilots. However, it appears that one of
the pilots, Dutch, had not completed his familiarisation course with the
Spitfire, so was allocated a Yak7b. As one of the other pilots had flown
the 7b, Klem volunteered to pair with Dutch. I lead, partnered by Boot
in Spitfires.
We climbed out on 200 degrees to try to meet a formation of Pe-2s from
due to bomb Krymskaya. However, just short of their airfield of
Ivanovskaya, Dutch spotted at least three fascist aircraft diving out of
the sun. We broke and engaged, Dutch shot one down and Boot claimed a
manoeuvre kill. The other enemy aircraft was not seen again.
We failed to find the Pe-2s near their airfield, so headed to Krymskaya,
believing the Pe-2s to have gone to target while we engaged the fighters.
At Krymskaya, there were many bomb craters, a lot of flak, but no Pe-2s
to be seen. After searching for them, and hearing radio traffic about
them being attacked by a fighter, we headed NE for the home field. We
can only presume that the remaining fascist fighters found the Pe-2s.
On landing, we were informed of the mission success - that by downing
two aircraft we must have ensured the Pe-2s successfully bombed their
target.
56RAF_phoenix
