Had an interesting mission last night. This was a fighter sweep, so I elected to go back to my trust F-100D since it can carry four AIM-9 missiles (although I have yet to actually hit a single target with them!). Even though the brief lists the A-4E and 3x F-100s, you can change that when you get to the arming and pilot roster screens.
I hit up my tried and true air-to-air guru for this mission 1Lt. “Mike” Lin…
Now we have external tanks available in the inventory, which allows us a bit more time in burner for these missions…
Approaching the sweep area, I put Lt. Lin into high cover…
Within minutes, it is a true furball with about two dozen planes of various types and nationalities mixing it up over the area. Our sweep was in support of a strike flight, which has managed to pound the enemy airfield as evidenced by the rising smoke columns…
I roll in on a bogey, and my AIM-9s are useless once again…
Guns work though!
Having spent a bit of time in burner (the F-100D is a real sled in case I hadn’t mentioned it a dozen times already) it is time to drop the external tanks…
Three more Sidewinders shots result in three more misses…
Having been driven down low…now every enemy gunner opens up on us…
There’s one on my six…!
I run through my gun rounds too quickly and eventually when I do center up someone I’m dry…boo-hoo. I have to bug out on the deck, putting the flaming airfield behind me…
I start calling for my wingman, but Lt. Lin doesn’t answer! Oh no! In the chaos, I’ve managed to lose him. I’m actually sad for that and this was our first mission with a loss…
