by denishc » Wed Aug 18, 2004 9:14 pm
And now for something completely different........
B-17 Flying Fortress vs. H6K "Mavis" flying boat: What can only be described as the most unusual dogfight of World War 2 occured in the skies over the South Pacific. On October 23, 1942 an Army Air Corps B-17, on patrol from Espirito Santo, "came to the aid of a PBY that was being attacked by a H6K 'Mavis' flying boat of the Imperial Japanese Navy." The B-17 dove on the H6K, but soon both aircraft entered a rain squall. Emerging from the squall at low altitude the two aircraft found themselves flying a beam of each other only fifty feet apart. "Immediately every gun on both aircraft began firing in a broadside exchange reminiscent of the age old sailing ship battles. Thousands of bullets criss-crossed the narrow spread of air" between the two large aircraft. Twisting and turning, in and out of rain squalls, the two aircraft flailed away at each other for 45 minutes. The "Mavis" kept very close to the wave tops to protect its vulnerable under belly while the B-17 made tight turns to stay inside the H6K and avoid being hit by the tail gun of the Japanese flying boat. "Finally, the 'Mavis' began smoking, and dropped into the sea, exploding in a large ball of flame." The B-17 came away from the battle with holes in its fuselage and wings, a damaged engine and two injured crew members.