Mission #12

Date: 28 August 1941
Time: 815
Weather: Good, Clouds at 500 meters

Tallin has fallen! Estonia is now under Heer control. Slowly but surely the ring about Leningrad's throat grows tight.

Historical Note: Tallin did indeed fall on this date. The Soviets launched a large naval fleet to evacuate the garrison. This fleet was targeted by the Luftwaffe and attacked by the He 111 bombers of I./KG 4 on August 28 and August 29. Eighteen vessels were sunk. [Source: Black Cross Red Star Vol 1, Chapter 17, Bergstrom and Mikhailov].

In other news, I've been promoted to Unteroffizier! Mother and Father are going to be proud. What makes me even happier than my parent's pride in their son, is the envy my brother, Max, will feel upon hearing of the news. It is one of the pleasures an older brother like myself an lord over a younger sibling. Actually, Max will be joining the Luftwaffe soon and undergoing flight training. I look forward to the day when the Volitization Brothers can prowl the skies together.

Russian forces have been spotted retreating out of Estonia to Glinki. An all out effort is being put forth today to stop them and inflict as much damage as possible before the Russians can reach their own lines. The bombers are ordered to destroy the ammunition depots in the city.

The Staffel is sending two schwarms to provide escort for the Heinkels. Staffelkapitan Seiler, his wingman Gerfreiter Jensen, The Hund and I form the first schwarm. Leutnant Ahlers will lead the second schwarm. The Professor, Feldwebel Hadamer is a rottenfuhrer with Unteroffizier Brucker as a wingman.

White 14 leaps into the air. Prop pitch and trim is adjusted and soon I am weaving with the first schwarm above the bombers. They lumber along at 1,000 meters, while we are another thousand meters higher. The entire formation takes a north-easterly course that will skirt the coast. I'm thankful that land will always be in sight.

The bomber commander calls out 10 minutes to target. Almost as soon as his finger leaves the transmit button, there's a shrill cry from another kampfflieger. "Indianers!"

The Ivans have found a gap in the escort screen! Leutnant Ahlers has led his schwarm too wide of the bomber formation and their front quarter is now exposed. Three Ivans attack the bombers head-on. They slice right through the gaggle, but don't appear to do any damage.

Seiler leads us into the attack. He waits for the Ivans to emerge from the bombers and then we pounce! Very quickly, the Staffelkapitan selects a victim. Although the Russian dives for the sea, Seiler doesn't let him go. A burst from his guns strikes the right wing and engine, causing what is now identified as a MiG-3 to trail a stream of vapor. The Russian continues his dive until he smacks into the sea.

"Horrido!", cries Jensen, Seiler's wingman.

I stick closely to The Hund. He too has selected an Ivan. Instead of diving, this MiG-3 starts climbing. The Hund is on the hunt and remains glued to the MiG's tail. I watch as he waits until he is within 20 meters and then opens fire.

The Ivan rears up, trailing vapor and smoke. A portion of its rear stabilizer is missing. The Hund and I zoom underneath the stricken MiG. I glance over my shoulder. Four dark specks start to loom large. My thumb hovers over the transmit button to warn The Hund. I then realize it's Ahler and his schwarm. They chase after the damaged Ivan.

"Los!" The battle rages over Glinki. Sticks of destruction rain down upon the retreating Russian forces who thought they had found safety in the town.

"Hase, stay with the bombers, I smell Ivans."

"Viktor, viktor, " I reply. The Hund rolls onto his back and chases after his quarry again. I hear a quiet snarl over the radio - The Hund is not happy. Ahler and his wingman are in a merry-go-round with the damaged MiG-3.

I start circling the bombers once they complete the bomb run. I rock my Me's wings left and right, searching the skies for any sign of Russians. When The Hund smells something, I am extra diligent.

In the distance, I spy three dots in the direction of Glinki. The Heinkels are behind me and the dogfight is raging out towards the sea. I can't be friendlies.

"Achtung! Indianers behind the bombers!" I kick right rudder and dive towards the oncoming Russians.

I'm soon behind them. The Professor must have recognized the danger. Suddenly I thought I was about to attack the Russians by myself and there is Hadamer sitting behind a Rata. His aim is deadly and it bursts into flame.

I spot an I-16 trying to sneak into the formation. I'm well over 500 meters behind him. The bomber pilots are screaming that the Ivan is shooting. I fire the machine guns, hoping to distract the Russian. It works! He rolls inverted and dives away. I do not follow. I keep a watchful eye on my charges. In a few minutes, all the Ivans are shot down into the sea.

Seiler reforms everyone. We begin the journey home.

Our spirits are high. No bombers were lost when the Russians attacked. Although Ahler's lapse will no doubt be reported to the Kommodore, it didn't lead to any misfortune. And once again, the Staffel is victorious and has many victories to claim.

Before the last bomber can cross the coast and begin entering its landing circuit, the alarm is raised! Columns of smoke stains the horizon. The picnic garden, our base, has been attacked! I worry about my friends, those brave men in black, on the ground and pray that they escaped any harm.

The cry of "Indianers" is heard again! Enemy aircraft spotted. The bomber pilots scream for help. Russian aircraft are slicing through their formation. They are even more vulnerable than usual because most are at reduced speed in preparation of landing.

"Caution, everyone. Ivan has a stinger in his tail!" reports Seiler.

What sort of Russian fighter has a tail gun? It is a question that will be answered soon enough. I select an Ivan that has cut across the bomber's flight path. The speck is soon filling my Revi gunsight. He's not going particularly fast, I think to myself.

I open fire and score a few hits.

The Ivan's engine emits a wisp of smoke. Now his stinger is angry. Tracers zips well over my canopy. I get closer and unleash cannon and machine guns.

"Four two, behind you! Break!" screams Jensen. I'm boxed in between tracer fire from an unnoticed Ivan and the Ivan I am pursuing! I glance over my shoulder. He's not close enough to bother me - yet.

My Ivan dives for the ground. I refuse to let him go. There is just something in me that will not let this Russian plane escape. I'm almost upon him. I don't dare open the radiator or lower the flaps to stay behind him. I cannot slow down with the Ivan on my tail.

There is only time for a one second burst before I'm forced to zoom away. For a brief instant, the Russian and I look at each other. I see now that his stinger is a turret. This Ivan must be some sort of attack aircraft. But I've hit him hard. Most of the rudder is shot away. The fuselage and engine cowling is scarred with bullet holes.

I glance over the left shoulder, searching for my pursuer. White puffs of flak surround the Rata. I see it shudder. The Ivan banks, diving towards the ground, trying to get away. It is to no avail, the flak bursts follow the Russian pilot. Our gunner crews are superb! There's a flash of orange and yellow and the I-16 spins into the ground and explodes.

I circle back to find the Russian attack plane. There it is! He's still trailing smoke and very low to the ground. The pilot is heading for a clearing. The plane is struggling for speed and close to stalling. Without a rudder, the Russian is doing the best he can to keep his machine in the air. I watch as the belly skims the ground and then the plane bounces back into the air. The plane seems to hover for a second, then it goes nose heavy, crashes and explodes, sending debris to cartwheel across the ground.

I bank right to join the landing circuit. Upon landing I file a claim for one Russian attack plane.