[bw_wolverine]

Had a great flight last night in a Hurricane (I'm usually a Spitfire pilot but I'm getting some pit time in it in advance of the campaign starting on Sunday).

First, got the lads to set up my aircraft with shorter convergence at 250 yards. "You'll nae get that close!" one said, but I just pointed at him and said "Do it, Mac, or I'll show YOU how close I can get."

I bring the engine to life and keep the canopy open, finishing my tea before tossing the tin cup back to one of the ground crew. A quick salute and I tug the canopy closed before jamming the throttle and roaring off down the runway at Lympne.

I climb and circle, climb and circle, climb and circle up to angels 7 before starting out towards the channel. I'm at angels 12.5 and almost to the first line of german ships when I catch sight of two blenheim bombers returning home after a raid. Two. They've been hit and hard. One of them is smoking and leaking coolant or fuel. I can't tell. Wheeling my groaning Hurricane around I rise to escort them, passing close to get an idea of how badly they've been damaged. It's not looking good for them.

As I make to circle back to them after my first pass, two spots appear several hundred yards behind the bombers. Hand on the rotol prop control, I spur my aircraft forward until the shape of the foe reveals itself. Two 109s looking to finish what they started! Hungry to claim the last of the bomber group, they seem oblivious to my little fighter as I prowl closer, gaining some height for a dive.

And then as sudden as a burst dam the duel begins! A light roll onto his tail and a three second burst lights up his port wing and elevators. A fire on his wing tip! A rolling dive! The german fighters break and evade, the bombers forgotten. Now we're curling towards the sea in a high G turn. He's pulling away! The dive puts out the flames on his wing and I've lost track of the second fighter. Hopefully the bombers now have the height they need to make it back to England. Good luck, boys!

As he claws more distance from me, I level out, keeping some energy in the form of altitude and start hunting for him with my eyes. Where is he!? I'm flying straight for too long and I know it. Sure enough, a spec behind me. I know I've got an advantage in my Hurricane and I mean to use it. Rolling over I invert and dive, pulling up hard. Close to blacking...out.... Breathe....

We wrap around each other like crocodiles twisting in a death roll, but my Hurricane pulls through better than his wounded 109 and he knows it. He levels out and throws his craft down at the deck, pointing for France. I've still got some height so I set for coarse pitch and give chase. We're close to the coast when everything changes.

To be continued....