ODYSSEY DAWN
AN :
Hello there,
I'm back with the new story promised. This one is also inspired by the events that occured and are still occuring in Libya at the moment, but this time it's from the POV of a british Tornado GR4 pilot from Squadron 617 "Dambusters" in Lossiemouth.
And for those who read in my profile about my other project, Wings of Glory, Squadron Leader Alexander is indeed related to this book as he's Peter Alexander's grandson (Peter Alexander being WoG main character).
Again, I'll ask you not to be too hard on me if a little spelling or grammar error was left after I checked my text with an online corrector... English is not my first language...
Well then, that's enouch chit-chat, here we go with...
Chapter 1 : My first war mission…
Lossiemouth RAF Station, early morning, March 21, 2011…
I was just back from a training flight, filling my mission report in my office, when I saw Wing Commander Stephenson coming to me…
- "Hey, Alexander, glad to see you back. There's a briefing for all 617th squadron pilots at eighteen hundred tonight, and you're scheduled to conduct it with me as we're going to strike Gadaffi's positions and the Good Ol' Dambusters will lead the strike as it should be…"
- "I'll be there at seventeen hundred at your office to prepare the briefing then, Sir. Are the other guys advised of the briefing ?"
- "Of course. They're already taking a long nap in the restroom"
- "All right then, I'll do the same as soon as I'm done with this report as it seems this will be a long flight…"
- "It will be indeed. See you then."
A few minutes later, my report finished and sent, I dropped down on the couch and, not long after, I was sleeping soundly, getting as much rest as I could before heading for the first time to real combat.
Briefing Room, Eighteen hundred hours.
All my pilots had arrived and as I was standing near the mural map our chief, Wing Co Stephenson, introduced us to the mission.
- "Well, Gentlemen… Today in the early afternoon, the French Air Force has launched the first strikes against Gadaffi's troops near Benghazi. As we now have the green light from the US Security Council, our French friends are sending the Charles de Gaulle aircraft carrier tomorrow and, as our USAF friends are a bit slow to deploy, we'll have the honor to be the first to pull the trigger on Muammar's airfields.
Our target for tonight will be Tripoli's military air bases and anti-aircraft defenses. Our colleagues from Squadron 31 from Marham will suppress the AA sites with their ALARM anti-radar Missiles and bombs, opening us a corridor to strike the airfield's runways with our JP233 Low Altitude Airfield Attack System, each aircraft carrying two of those weapons. The CAP will be conducted by our French friends, flying the new Rafale jet fighter from Istres airbase.
Our flight plan is very simple : first we will head east-south-east to the Dover Straits where we'll rendez-vous with Squadron 31 from Marham, then we will continue across France to Istres where we'll head south-east to Tripoli across the Mediterranean sea. The available emergency landing points will be Dijon and Istres in France, Solenzara in Corsica, Decimomannu in Sardenia and Trapani in Sicilly.
On this mission, we'll have to refuel mid-air, two Victor tankers will be part of our flight from the Dover Straits to this point south of Decimomannu. We'll first refuel near Istres, then on the return leg we'll refuel again before we'll cross the French coast line, as the last part of our flight will have to be done at low level and high subsonic speed to avoid detection.
Take-Off at 22:00. Squadron Leader Alexander will lead the squadron. No further questions ?"
- "Will Squadron 31 only target the AA sites or will they also strike the airfields ?", asked Flight Lieutenant Wilkes
- "They will only strike the AA Sites. They will go first, and we will follow about 120 second behind them. Also, take good note of all our refueling points. We will go for a long journey, so no use to stray from our "pack", right ?"
A chorus of "Yessir" and "Aye, Sir" boomed in the small room. As soon as WingCo Stephenson left us, I went to the readiness table and called the eight crews for the mission…
- "Okay, Boys ! For today's mission, we will fly in two 4-elements flights. Our Callsign will be "Tallboy" Red flight will be led by me, with Harris as number two, McGayley as number three and Corbin as number four. Wilkins, you will lead Blue Flight, with Jackson as number two, Jarvis as number three and Martin as number four. The others are dismissed, but will have to remain on the station in 30-minutes readiness, just in case another raid would be necessary."
And, as soon as the other pilots were gone, I left the briefing room for the locker's room, followed by my crews, and twenty minutes later I was climbing in my Tornado, my WSO already seated on the rear seat and entering the flight data in the navigation system. As I was ready to put on my helmet, the Spy climbed the ladder, holding me a document.
- "Sir, we've got new intelligence about the target. There's a lot of AA batteries being moved to Tripoli from the inland, so be ready for some fierce opposition. Also, it seems they have moved a squadron of MiG 23 Flogger to Tripoli, but from what we gathered they're not able to fly at night…"
- "Thanks, Spy, but I'll work nevertheless on the assumption they're able to fly at night, just in case. Never bad to take extra precautions, isn't it ?"
- "Indeed, Sir."
- "Well, thanks, Spy. Now, if you'd please get out of this ladder, I'd be able to start my engines you know…"
- "Oh… Of course… Good hunting, then… And Godspeed !"
He then got down and as soon as my ground crew removed the ladder I started my two jet engines, closing the canopy. As soon as the RPM were in the "green", I eased the throttle forward and my aircraft started to roll out of the shelter and taxi to runway 22, followed by the other seven aircrafts of my squadron. As soon as I got to the runway, I called the tower.
- "Control, this is Tallboy Leader, ready to take-off from runway 22."
- "Copy, Tallboy. You're clear to take-off and proceed on heading one eight zero at angels twenty. Airspace clear on the range. Call Linton as soon as you're airborne."
- "Wilco, Control. OK, let's go boys, taking-off !"
And in the roar of the jet engines pushed to maximum thrust, my Tornado raced on to the end of the runway… Soon we were airborne, climbing fast to the south-east and our first real combat.
AN : Well, there it is, the end of Chapter 1. Next to come is Chapter 2 : A long flight...
