I come from the sea. Vasily, from the mountains.
The “Straight Flush” is looking away from me; Vasily is calling defensive again, meaning the SAM is locking him for another shot.
I line up my B-8 rockets and trigger two long salvoes, using the flaming wreck of two 3M9M launcher vehicles from my last pass as the aim-off point. As I do, my SPO-15 locks and gives a steady tone. I glance down, and see it’s a short-range lock-on — it’s the Shilka! He’s tracking me across the airfield! Ohmigod! I punch in afterburner, not waiting to see what the rockets do.
“One, defensive triple-A! Vasily, watch the…”
The B-8 rockets were in the air as the 23mm rounds burned neat lines through the speeding MiG over Sukhumi airfield. Intent on their prey below, they took no notice as the fiery pile of duralumin, unfired munitions, and JP-5 fell from the sky it had just commanded, blasting a crater across the end of the base’s only runway.
“Sacha! No! No!”
They flew, as Vasily Sandakchiev watched Sacha’s jet fall, impacting all around the beleaugered mobile radar.
 |
The IRLF crew manning the radar system displayed great courage that day, tracking Vasily in and firing a last shot at him, a final exclamation of defiance even as Sacha’s rockets began to impact, enveloping them in flying earth, fire, and smoke, their funeral pyre. |
 |
Enraged, Vasily lined up and cruelly barraged the remaining launchers with rockets, expending his last……and all his 30mm cannon ammunition, in a futile attempt to damage the AAA gun that had brought her down. |
 |
He circled high above Sukhumi, out of the Shilka’s range, anxiously scanning the base below with his binoculars as the angry, impotent radar gun shook its electronic fist at him from below. |
Related Posts:
Related posts:
A LOMAC Mission Report: On Wings of Eagles Page 5
A LOMAC Mission Report: Red Lady Down
A LOMAC Mission Report: Red Lady Down Page 2
A LOMAC Mission Report: Red Lady Down Page 3
A LOMAC Mission Report: Red Lady Down Page 4
A LOMAC Mission Report: Red Lady Down Page 5
A LOMAC Mission Report: Red Lady Down Page 7
A LOMAC Mission Report: The Nuclear Option Page 5
