The Double D's

[Lt. James Cater 62]

Things thve been so hectic that it is only now that i can write things up.

 

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The losses were due to stupidity of the most basic kind. 2LT Stephen Richter was shot down egressing from the Plauen mission. We made multiple passes after missing the primary and stayed just a bit to long. A big fight was going on in the area and instead of heading out at low level, we climbed out and that was all she wrote after a MIG17 got in behind him.

 

2LT Norman Sterling Was killed after i made a grave error. Once again we stayed a bit too long and had MIG right on our tails all the way back across the river. He was down low while i took the a stubborn Mig17 up high and down a few times. Getting low on fuel i made a very costly mistake. Heading back down, i actually took the MIG (Which had little chance of getting me) behind Sterling and so the foe promptly disregarded me and shot down Norman, who was in the pattern at the time.

 

The Stendal mission was a doozy.

 

Went up with CAPT Curtis Buttell armed with a pair of MK24s each. The run in and attack was textbook. The action was on the outbound leg. I had decided to carry a pair of AIM9s to see if by chance anything could be attacked on the way home. About halfway back we had our chance. I had been monitoring the radio and keeping a close wach on the radar so i knew that there was activity ahead. Mainly friendlies heading southwest with Migs in pursuit. Once i had some about 20 miles ahead i checked fuel, sent Curtis home, and turned to chase them down. It took about 25 miles but i got a good lock on something (having boresited the radar) Since i came down from 20,000 in burner i had a good head of steam and soon detected a pair of MIG17s in trail after a Hun. By that time i was lower than i wanted but was closing to quick to get fancy. Getting a tone with a sidewinder, i let fly even though i knew it wasn't the best setup. So in that instant i set up for guns as i was closing in fast. The Mig broke left then started back right as came in and let loose from his 5 low at about 400 meters at 9500ft

 

His tail came off and scratch one MIG!

 

By then fuel was becoming an issue so it was back up to altitude and home. That was where the next happening occured.

 

A few minutes later something that i was following on radar turned into the worst possible nightmare. A pair of MIG 19s coming from 10 high!

 

I did what i could but they were on to me and would not give up no matter how many times i took the from the treetops to 25,000ft. Knowing my fuel state i knew i would have to bail out and was just looking for the right spot to get out when they turned away back towards the river. I slammed the throttles forward, pointed the nose up and in the direction of the nearest strip and jettisoned anything external. Maybe 10 seconds later i was out of fuel but all was in control (i prayed).

 

It's something you think about but never expect to have to do, a dead stick landing away from home. Well, i got the centerline and rode it on down considering the Thud is not much of a glider. Even then, i made sure not to overshoot and so used up most of the runway just to make sure the speed was sufficient for the task.

 

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What a hell of a war!

Edited June 5, 2012 by Lt. James Cater

[Lt. James Cater 62]

Lost not one, but TWO pilots lost to mid air collisions. Mears was lost along with his wingman at the IP on a mission to the Berlin area and Joseph Peterson-444 Squadron RCAF was lost when the MIG17 he had just blown the wing off of, rolled and hit his plane as it was passing.

 

Better luck next time i guess.

[Lt. James Cater 62]

Ok, i'm at it again

 

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[Lt. James Cater 62]

Ok that didn't go so well. Accidently ejected on the way home at high speed so that's it. got so ticked i went back to the 444 RCAF and got it going on!

 

Will write it up in a few hours!

[Lt. James Cater 62]

Damnit, lets get someone who has the balls and ablitiles to do this. DiD is the way to go! If i had he chance. i,d be doing and reporting on at least two missions a day 

[usafphantom2 19]

Yeah,You know the only thing that really pisses me off is when they Kamakazie right into you at last minute.

[Lt. James Cater 62]

Am back with WOV Gold and WOE NF4. Will be back doing DiD very soon!

[Lt. James Cater 62]

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Sept79

Against regulations i've been told but for the sake of history i've decided to keep a small diary. 

 

Everyone was hoping it wasn't going to happen but it's on. Ivan is on the offensive and it's now war. Only thing to do now is get set and do my duty for God, Queen and Country.

[Lt. James Cater 62]

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18sept79

 

Amazing how a fiasco can turn out all right.

 

Was off with P/O Mike Johnson, Flt Lt George Duncan, and F/O Ralph Field on a CAP mission over the front but never even got either halfway there or up to our assigned altitude before we were under attack. Thankfully we were able to evade the opening barrage of missiles until i got sight of of the enemy at 10 O'Clock low and it was on. The new Yank Sidewinders worked as advertised as i promptly broke down and into the foe and fired away at about 5 miles. Then it got rather messy.

 

Johnson was lost straight away. He crashed soon after the fight began. The rest of us were in deep as some Mig-21s joined the brawl out of nowhere but thankfully the Mig-23s of the initial moments didn't last long. Got a second Mig-23 with the remaining Sidewinder from his 6 at about 1.5 miles, then switched to guns. The third 23 was dispatched rather easily as he slowed to try to get Duncan at low level and then it was on to the Mig 21s. By now it was chaos and it was hazardous to be on a constant course for more than a few seconds. We were also rather scattered and mainly on our own. George got shot down at this time by a MIG 23 that came out of nowhere but about two flights of F-15s that were to the SW were attracted to the fight and began firing a seemingly endless number of AIM7s. Field was in a bit of a mess and as i closed in on the MIG at his six a lousy feeling grew inside until i yanked at the stick and broke hard left. Sure enough another 21 was right behind me probably just a second or two from gunning me down. We proceeded to go round a few times but i got him in the right wing with a lucky burst and down he went.  

 

Going to Field's assistance once again, he turned towards me and i made a mock head on pass at the MIG engaging him and called for a break down below and home. As i expected, the remaining two Migs turned away and we were out of there. 

 

Had one last bit of business just after we made our getaway. 

 

As it turned out some of those F-15s fought the enemy clear past our fight and were now on their way home. One trailer had a Mig tracking him so i turned NE and found them crossing my path a few seconds later. The MIG pilot was probably so intent on his kill that he never saw me pulling onto his tail until the last moment. He began to break left but didn't stand a chance.  

 

Total score on my part was three Mig 23s and two Mig 21s. Feels rather strange becoming an ace on one's very first combat mission!

Edited August 10, 2015 by Lt. James Cater

[Lt. James Cater 62]

19Sept79

 

Did a recce flight today.

 

Spent virtually whole time at treetop level and thankfully only drew minor ground fire at the objective. Went to altitude once back over the front but no joy on leg home. Nice milk run.

 

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[Lt. James Cater 62]

SEPT79

 

Things have been going steadily worse. We are suffering casualties reminiscent of May 1940.

 

Air support at Hof cost us when Field and FLT/LT Downing both crashed evading a MiG bounce and P/O Eric Connors was shot down by a SAM near Erfurt when he tried for a direct route home instead of staying to the south over the hills. Things didn't get any better on an armed recce with SQN LDR Ken Marshall to Magdeburg. I thought it was a perfectly pointless mission and would run into enemy fighters in strength but at least we lucked out in a way. We flew circles over the city as we didn't have the fuel to venture very far in case of trouble. didn't find anything of note but the enemy was vectoring aircraft over the area. 

 

Bagged two SU15s with sidewinders and turned for home. Marshall flew over a AA gun and got his plane stictched but we made it home. Not that it any good as we didn't find a thing and there were grumblings concerning the enemy aircraft. Apparently some are in the opinion that i'm a glory seeker concerned with the scoreboard and not our mission.

 

Which leads to the bloody shambles over the Fulda gap.

 

Two flights went up on a CAP. Two of us came back.

 

It was a right fiasco with the enemy doing the usual with the unexpected.

 

We came into the area from the NE at 5,000 ft and turned south to engage the foe over Fulda. The main enemy force however, came from the north and did very well for openers. Duncan and F/O Donald Lock went down instantly. It turned out to be SU-17s escorted by MIG-25s. A fight was on and i quickly got a Mig-25 with a missile from 12 low as they closed. Then the scramble began.

 

When all was said and done only P/O Sammy Hallowes joined up on the way home. F/O Dennis Allen, P/O Phillip Dalton, P/O Sammy Read, and P/O Alfred Tuck were shot down in the melee as well, only Tuck surviving as well as downing a Mig-25.

 

 

The squadron is now in rather dire straits. 

 

Note- in the brawl i also accounted for three SU-17s with cannon fire.

 

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[Lt. James Cater 62]

I just noticed that the settings on the campaign is normal and weapons unlimited. I always went hard/limited in the past and always will. i don't know how these slipped past me. As it is, there isn't much in the way of weapons variety for the GR3 nor is it a walk in the park flying normal difficulty. 

[Lt. James Cater 62]

Sept/79

 

A fine mission that went bad. 

 

P/O Sammy Hallowes and i took off and went straight to the target area with only minor course corrections. Closing in, a SAM site took a shot at us but only attracted our attention as we made multiple rocket runs and wiped it out. Knowing MIGs were coming, i called for a regroup and set off for home. Hallowes made a slow sweeping turn to the north and was hit and shot down by a SAM fired from another site to the NE

 

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[Lt. James Cater 62]

SEP/79

 

We are still at it despite the losses.

 

The Fulda mission with Marshall was a really nice job. Take off, 5000ft, and to the target. Some rather fierce action was going on further to the SW and we were hoping some cover would head our way as surely the enemy were going to be up in force. Fortunately, we only briefly were tracked by someone's radar but some Yank F-15s cut in and took care of them. I hit the fuel tanks nice and fine with a pair of CBUs while Ken dropped on a nearby group of T72s. Then it was a smooth trip home. 

 

Braunschwieg was another bad story. Went with P/O Alfred Tuck, F/O Leonard Hillwood, and P/O Colin Gardner to do some ground support for the Germans holding the area and it didn't turn out well at all. Just as we got into the area we came under attack from the foe from 10 O'clock high and so turned into them and engaged. I promptly shot down a MIG 23 and soon after Gardner scored also. Lucky for us the was all for enemy fighters as the rest were a flight of MIG-27s doing the same as us, ground support. Well we quickly dropped our rockeyes on the enemy tanks and went after the MIGs. I got one with the remainding sidewinder from a 12 O'clock shot as he was making a rocket run over the Braunschwieg city AA defenses and then it was a matter of chasing the rest around. We didn't get any of them but we forced them to drop their ordnance and be defensive against us rather than shooting up the Germans below. 

 

So now it's time to go home as more enemy AC are coming into the area. I turn onto the course back to base, call everyone together, and then the usual chaos ensues. Everyone takes their sweet time about it and MIGs take advantage. Tuck and Gardner get shot down in quick fashion by a pair of MIG 21s. I quickly reversed course and attacked the MIGs head on to distract them and it works, much to my regret. Spent the next few minutes dodging madly about at low level doing my best to avoid two Russian nutters who are doing their best to kill me. Well here i still am. One apparently crashed and the second was so determined i had to lead him over to a nearby airfield and dodge in circles at low speed, low level over the AAA until they happily shot him down. 

 

Good news is that Tuck and Gardner were safe after bailing out. Bad news is that we lost two more birds. 

 

Just to note...About 50 miles to the south some Yank F-15s were absolutely butchering the Russians in a big fight. They must have shot down at least 15 of the enemy while only losing two, according to what we heard over the radio. When are we going to get any kind of support of like that? 

 

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Edited August 14, 2015 by Lt. James Cater

[Lt. James Cater 62]

27-28SEPT79

 

Have had a rather active time. 

 

Over Bad Hersfeld it was a madhouse of a brawl at low level with MIG23s,27s,Yank A-10s and the same bunch of us with the exception of Hughie Tuck. There were a lot of missiles zipping about and one had to be very careful about one's tail. Twice i launched at 23s only to have another's sidewinder beat mine to the kill. Harassed and damaged a 27 with the Adens but just as i had him dead to rights, i was out of ammo! Also at that moment some more 23s and two flights of MIG21s came into the are so it was home Jeremy and don't spare the horses.  

 

As (bad) luck would have it, Tuck lagged behind and after dodging numerous heat seekers, finally caught one from a 21. Thankfully he bailed out and made it back fine. In the meantime our base was under attack but it was broken up by F-15s and not a bomb fell anywhere near. We have replacement pilots and they could see the closest MIG go down in flames about 8 miles off. Rumour has it that it was a MIG23 flown by a top Russian ace who was downed by a Yank pilot of the 21st TFS who made ace himself!

 

Almost forgot to mention...Gardner, Hillwood, and Tuck all scored. Mig27, MIG23, and MIG23 respectively. All with sidewinders.

 

On the 28th i did a solo recce run over Fulda. Comfy enough ingress, over Fulda i was being tracked by something and shortly on the homeward route i found out by what. A pair of MIG23s. I thought it was going to be easy peasy with the missiles but both failed to guide! That led to a low level 2v1 that was not very fun. However, staying constantly turning and changing headings and height, i got one fixed right during a hard starboard turn and gunned him down. The other then buggered off so back home it was. There was some more attention from other enemy AC radar but i managed to get right down to grass level and lost them. 

 

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[Lt. James Cater 62]

30SETPT79

1OCT79

We are, for all intents and purposes, finished as a squadron. We have replacements but everyone but myself is gone.

 

Marshall was downed by heavy groundfire on the airstrike and the rest as well as one of the new men on the CAP. Doesn't seem to matter downing two more of the enemy, we are done.

 

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[Lt. James Cater 62]

Things seem to be looking up a bit.

 

It's a stalemate at the front. The enemy hasn't made a push anywhere for the last few days and neither have there been any heavy air attacks either. Lots of recce and fighter activity on their part though. Mainly on the defensive as our side has been rather aggressive. 

 

Went out solo on the 2nd for an armed recce that i was sure would be another waste of time and fuel. Lo and behold there were some trucks and i dropped a cluster bomb on them and strafed a bit. Easy does it, then up to altitude for a look east as all kinds of activity is going on that way. It was too far out and everything seemed to have died down so back west i turned. After a few minutes, luck was with me. Basically put, had a pair of MIG23s on a northward course ahead and just below and they didn't have a clue i was there. Dove down, turned in from about 4 O'clock and let fy with the sidewinders. Missed with the first, hit with the second but only seemed to damage him a bit. Still had great position and speed so switched to guns and around we went. They didn't seem very experienced at all and so i got them both rather quickly then turned for home.

 

The Fulda mission was just perfect. Hughie Tuck and i carried a single 1000 GP bomb each and everything went according to plan. Lots of MIG activity on our route to the target area but a combination of USAF, RAF, and Luftwaffe fighters to the east and south were seemingly shooting down every Russian in sight. Down onto the target, flak was suppressed, bombs away, target destroyed, then back to altitude and home we go. 

 

By this time our fighters were mainly getting set to leave but more MIGs were coming into the area. Not that it was doing them any good but still. We got reports of an F-15 going down 20 miles east so we turned and went to take a look. Fortune then smiled. A flight of Luftwaffe F-4s were being chased by MIGs as they were withdrawing and crossed ahead of us at high speed from 1 O'clock about 8 miles off and seconds later some MIG 23s came into sight. They were onto those Phantoms so much they didn't even move to engage us as we manoeuvred onto their six. Two sidewinders, two MIG23s. 

 

As we reversed to clear our tails, more action was going on at 12 low. An F-15 going west at speed was being tracked by a MIG21 so it was a matter of split essing down and going to guns. This MIG pilot was smarter though and hit full burner and turned away from the Eagle to try to outrun us. We had every advantage though, position, fuel, teamwork and weapons. Hughie was cleared to engage as there was no way to close to gun range anytime soon and as he was in a perfect spot just above and to the left of me it was a foregone conclusion. One sidewinder later and one burning MIG down on the outskirts of Fulda.  

 

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Edited August 22, 2015 by Lt. James Cater

[Lt. James Cater 62]

5OCT79

 

Beautiful mission! 

 

Went out with one of the new boys this time, It was another sizable raid with lots of bomb carriers and plenty of fighters to keep the enemy away. We kept as low as possible heading to the IP NW of the target and had a great view of a big brawl going on to the north of our track. Every few seconds it seemed, another fireball was earthbound trailing dark smoke amidst the flash of large explosions as other planes blew up. 

 

Still, a few of the foe made it through and though they were concerned more on the strike coming in further south, a MIG23 was clearly seen coming in from 9 high moving to convert on our tails. Our counter was simple enough.  Since we were not too far from the IP, New Boy would break right for the target and i would break hard left and judge the MIG's reaction. It was easy peasy, all things considered. It most likely looked like i was breaking into the attack while New Boy was oblivious and looking to drop some bombs. In all reality, it was just a matter of swinging round behind the MIG as it went after New Boy and letting fly with a sidewinder.  Lots of light AAA at the target but it was hit. The flight home was really easy, There were so many aircraft shooting, bombing, and rocketing everything that moved below that we even went to altitude for the trip. 

 

A few more efforts like these and we'll break the back of the Red Air Force.

 

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[Do335 382]

Been lurk reading:) Seems it'd been tough especially with the complete loss of squadron starting roster, but hopefully things are looking better. Pretty nice progression there.

SF campaign can be quite engaging and I can read that from the concise but consecutive reports.

Edited August 22, 2015 by Do335

[Lt. James Cater 62]

Been lurk reading:) Seems it'd been tough especially with the complete loss of squadron starting roster, but hopefully things are looking better. Pretty nice progression there.

SF campaign can be quite engaging and I can read that from the concise but consecutive reports.

As it turns out i was wrong, there are two other pilots left as well. we received about 6 replacements but only one has any experience at all. Yes, campaigns can be quite tough and DiD really makes for a serious challenge. 

 

Everyone should give it a go sometime!

 

Will be back to posting tomorrow.

[Lt. James Cater 62]

OCT79

 

Milk run recce mission. Found out Hamburg area has zero AA defences.

 

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[Lt. James Cater 62]

OCT79

 

Lost Hughie Tuck on a bombing mission.

 

From what we've been able to figure out, as our F-15 escort engaged the foe to the NE of our track (we were heading due East) a pair of MIG23s made a high speed run from the North passing behind them and curving in to intercept us. We had split for the bomb run on the target about 10 miles ahead when the Hughie's AC exploded at 9 O'clock low. The RHAW was going on for a bit but we didn't know if it was MIGS, one of the three SAM sites within range or AA guns. I reacted quickly and dumped the 1000lb GP and tanks and broke hard left. Had some missles fired at me but as i was already going down fast i was able to evade them just over the treetops. 

 

Once down there i felt right and so engaged what turned out to be three MIG23s. Two of them were dispatched with sidewinders and the third buggered off after a few turns as more Yank F-15s came in from the north.

 

Couldn't do anything else but to go home.

 

Next mission was how it should be done.

 

Had both RAF and USAF fighters providing a shield that shot down anything even remotely near the target area. For once we were able to do our job properly and so bombed and strafed without a care in the world. 

 

It was only on the way out when things happened. A pair of MIG27s were in the area though we ignored them as as we figured they would be shot down soon and anyways, we had work to do. As we set to leave the area to the NW the MIGs were a few miles ahead and so i decided to engage them. Well, i missed one and hit the other but he didn't seem too bad off and so just made a run for it to the east. The remaining MIG was a surprise as he slipped in behind P/O Micheal Gilroy a minute or so later (One of the New Boys) and shot him down! He then chose me as his next victim but i had an eye on him all the way. As he swung in behind he i waited a moment or two then rolled hard into a turn then reverse. 

 

It didn't take much. These MIG23/27s aren't built for low level/ low speed flying and this one was rather quickly gunned down with a single burst of 30mm.

 

SAR couldn't get to Gilroy so he was taken prisoner.

 

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[Lt. James Cater 62]

Just an update. Lost all internet access a few months ago. Am now relocating and will fill in info on the campaign by the end of next week. Peterson is having quite an adventure!

[Lt. James Cater 62]

I've been away for a bit but i haven't forgotten this place. I relocated three times and am picking up a new stick this weekend. Finished the campaign with Petersen. All went well and 24 kills were scored. Nice shooting in a Harrier! He began flying a further campaign in a Tornado and was off to a great start. When i get everything set up just right i'll most likely continue his adventures.

[Lt. James Cater 62]

Yes i know it's been a while but i'm a few weeks from getting back in the air. I'm going to get everything fresh and will start right back at the beginning in 62.