The Story of Charlie Dowzell (6B): Bomber Escort
Posted: Tue Jan 31, 2006 3:43 pmPart 6A here
The 109 was going headlong at him, and he was doing the same to the 109. I watched in amazement to see who would be the victor, but soon pulled away as I felt some rounds being fired at my tail. I kept my eyes glued on the battle between Rory and the 109. It opened fire, and Rory followed suit.
Rory pulled up slightly, as the moon shone on this fierce charge between the two aircraft.
Tracers spewed everywhere, illuminating the sky. I felt emotionless as I watched the battle, waiting for one to pull away. Then I realised that I was fearing for Rory's life, and beared down upon the 109 to intervene.
But what I saw was horrific. A trail of flames erupted from Rory's fuselage, and he rolled over. He was going to die, I thought, as my throat ran dry. Rory's going to die.
"Christ!" I heard over the radio. "What happened?"
"RORY! BAIL!" I shouted. "BAIL OUT!!"
"The...the cockpit hatch! It's stuck!!"
"Keep trying Rory, hurry before your wings catch fire!"
"I'm trying!!" He told me, as I watched the terror unfold.
He can't die, I thought, he's barely older than I am!
"Thank God!" I heard Rory cry in relief. His cockpit hatch was open, and I saw him fly out of his Spitfire. I breathed a sigh of relief for him, at least he was alive. but now, there were fewer Allied fighters escorting the Lancasters, and more and more Messerschmitt's were coming every minute.
I tracked one 109 as it headed towards the Lancaster formation. I felt my blood boil. I'm not risking ANY more men's lives! I thought aloud. I swung my Spit to his 5 o' clock, as he opened fire on the formation.
His rounds tore through the Lancasters airframe. "This is Two, taking heavy fire!" I heard over the radio.
"Roger that, Two, coming in now," I told Two, almost snarling as I said it. Remembering the short fire time of the Spitfire, I fired bursts at the 109.
Fortunately, he broke off of attacking the Lancaster, and this was my chance. following him, I readied myself to take revenge of the risk to Rory's life.
"It appeared that Fritz had done more damage than I thought," Two said over the radio as his Lanc dipped down low. #1 engine had ceased to work, and his wings were badly damaged. "Come on, old gal," I heard Two utter to himself as he tried to regain height.
"Damnit, come on!" Two cursed at the Lancaster.
I watched as it's port wing swung down low, caught the ground - and that was the end of that. A cataclysmic explosion ripped down the aircraft's fuselage, as the wings fuelled the explosion.
A living hell......A living hell... I thought to myself. A living hell, watching my friends fall so quickly alongside me......
The 109 was going headlong at him, and he was doing the same to the 109. I watched in amazement to see who would be the victor, but soon pulled away as I felt some rounds being fired at my tail. I kept my eyes glued on the battle between Rory and the 109. It opened fire, and Rory followed suit.
Rory pulled up slightly, as the moon shone on this fierce charge between the two aircraft.
Tracers spewed everywhere, illuminating the sky. I felt emotionless as I watched the battle, waiting for one to pull away. Then I realised that I was fearing for Rory's life, and beared down upon the 109 to intervene.
But what I saw was horrific. A trail of flames erupted from Rory's fuselage, and he rolled over. He was going to die, I thought, as my throat ran dry. Rory's going to die.
"Christ!" I heard over the radio. "What happened?"
"RORY! BAIL!" I shouted. "BAIL OUT!!"
"The...the cockpit hatch! It's stuck!!"
"Keep trying Rory, hurry before your wings catch fire!"
"I'm trying!!" He told me, as I watched the terror unfold.
He can't die, I thought, he's barely older than I am!
"Thank God!" I heard Rory cry in relief. His cockpit hatch was open, and I saw him fly out of his Spitfire. I breathed a sigh of relief for him, at least he was alive. but now, there were fewer Allied fighters escorting the Lancasters, and more and more Messerschmitt's were coming every minute.
I tracked one 109 as it headed towards the Lancaster formation. I felt my blood boil. I'm not risking ANY more men's lives! I thought aloud. I swung my Spit to his 5 o' clock, as he opened fire on the formation.
His rounds tore through the Lancasters airframe. "This is Two, taking heavy fire!" I heard over the radio.
"Roger that, Two, coming in now," I told Two, almost snarling as I said it. Remembering the short fire time of the Spitfire, I fired bursts at the 109.
Fortunately, he broke off of attacking the Lancaster, and this was my chance. following him, I readied myself to take revenge of the risk to Rory's life.
"It appeared that Fritz had done more damage than I thought," Two said over the radio as his Lanc dipped down low. #1 engine had ceased to work, and his wings were badly damaged. "Come on, old gal," I heard Two utter to himself as he tried to regain height.
"Damnit, come on!" Two cursed at the Lancaster.
I watched as it's port wing swung down low, caught the ground - and that was the end of that. A cataclysmic explosion ripped down the aircraft's fuselage, as the wings fuelled the explosion.
A living hell......A living hell... I thought to myself. A living hell, watching my friends fall so quickly alongside me......
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