Battle in the skies

While the battle for northern Italy raged, a fierce engagement between the Luftwaffe and the British Royal Air Force played out in the skies above. Notably, the Germans were now resorting to the use of their allies planes, the Japanese. An eye witness described what he saw.

“The vapour trails criss crossing the sky looked very dramatic as the air was filled with the graceful, sweeping arcs of those magnificent men in their flying machines. But the reality was a very gruelling, twisting battle for supremacy, which the Luftwaffe JUST managed to retain.

Outnumbered the gallant (some would say foolish) RAF pilots flew in against the odds trying to stem the tide and it started well for them. Two german pilots collided in mid air, but miraculously survived. Their Japanese ally chased one unfortunate Spitfire into their flightpath where he suffered a great deal of damage. This much was obvious by the way the aircraft behaved keeping his speed low and manoeuvres simple.

It wasn't long before the Japanese pilot finished him off. In his elation, however, he had forgotten about the enemy wingman who avenged his chum's death sending the Zero crashing down. While all this was going on the two German pilots, having kept in close formation (Too close actually, as they almost collided another two times), separated to try and trap their foe. One of those pilots, obviously a new recruit, lost his bearings and returned to base. The battle raged on.

To the onlookers below, it looked like a dance, but it soon changed to a fearsome display as fire and smoke filled the sky. Both aircraft burned fiercely and plummeted to the ground, the Spitfire disintegrated first, whilst the burning Messerschmitt streaked homeward, but would not make it back. The brave pilot had seen off his foe but it had cost him his life.”