Story 11

I flew a strike mission in the Kiowa last night, just to see what would happen. . .

First of all, I loaded up a gun pod on the port side and rockets starboard. A helo without a gun is like a day without sunshine.

We take off from FARP 1 after dark in search of an arty unit, my winger trailing me in an NR Longbow. And trailing is right, because this sucker really moves! 130 kts, averaging about 50 ft, skimming the crests of hills but not worrying too much about bottoming out in the valleys. Sure would be nice to have an altimeter on the PDU. We run into a couple tanks and a ZSU; the Longbow takes them out before they know we're there. I save myself for more important matters.

Just across the lines now, and the radio comes to life. "Juliet 31, we have enemy helicopters in your area." Sure enough, I crest a ridge and there he is, a Havoc just entering the valley from the other side. I hammer down the hillside, about 110 kts now, skimming the ground as much as I dare. Missile launch! I jink left, go even lower, and it hits the ground in front of me. Whew!

Something flashes past the cockpit. Another Havoc! I quickly target him and send the Longbow after him; meanwhile, the first Havoc is almost upon me. He breaks left suddenly, going after the Longbow who threatens his wingman, presenting his right side to me. I open up with the Browning and get a few hits, then break hard left to pass just behind him. Haul the nose up, bottom the collective, and stomp right pedal! There he is, ust below me! Nose down, apply some collective, and ease in high on his six for a textbook kill, the Browning pumping lead down through the rotors. Take that, tough guy! Maybe a Hokum could outrun this baby, but _nothing_ is gonna outmaneuver it. If you survive the merge, there's no escape.

Another flash, and the other Havoc joins his buddy in hell. I continue through the valley, low and slow now. My targets should be nearby. Sure enough, I round a bend and there's an Iranian soldier, standing alone on the hillside, just begging to be perforated. I give him ten rounds and send him back to Allah.

Too bad he wasn't alone after all. I pass a little rise and there's a ZSU, less than 200 meters away. I bottom the collective and drop like a rock as hot green death passes over me. I spray .50 cal all over the hillside, to no effect, let go with a rocket, which hits the ground in front of him. Another rocket does the trick. I've taken a few hits, but no serious damage.

Heh heh heh. These guys aren't so tough . . .

"Juliet 31, be advised we have enemy fast movers in your area, over." Simultaneously my wingman disappears in a retina-searing flash as a Fulcrum shrieks overhead. Crap! I do the only honorable thing: turn around and run like hell. It's 7 or 8 k back to friendly territory. I call for air support, but no luck; assets are unavailable. Double crap. I'm running at full speed now, trying to shield myself with the terrain. Incoming missile! I crest a mountain and dive over the other side just in time. Boom! The cockpit lights up from the explosion just behind me. This is a big hill; as I power dive down the slope I see over 180 kts . . .still less than a third of what the MiG's doing. He comes around again as I'm climbing the far side of the valley, but this time my luck runs out. "Evasive action! NOW!" My CP pops some chaff but the radar-guided missile nails us just as we reach the top. It's like swatting a fly with a sledgehammer. I soar over the top of the hill, spinning out of control, tail rotor gone, hydraulics gone, PNVS gone. "Oh shit we're hit!" In a display of gratuitous evil, the MiG rakes us with cannon fire as we spiral in. Doh!

This mission was definitely the most fun I've ever had playing a computer game, and definitely more challenging than taking the BFG (Big Flyin Gun) Longbow.

Randy