Authors notes: That's right people another daring thrilling and exciting story of Axis soldiers. This is the story of German fighter pilots in the battle of the bulge, based on the mission in the game Spearhead. To the one who suggested this (Jagdflieger1940) sorry it took me so long, I have been busy with things like school and football. This may or may not be the final chapter, but I think I can think of a few more things. Any way enjoy and please review.

LATE DISCLAIMER: I don't own Medal of Honor, or any characters like Jimmy Patterson or Jack Barns (who might show up in this story). But I do own the original German and Japanese characters.

Christmas day, 1944.

Fritz awoke in the barracks to the sound of the squadron Commander Capt. Von Hensil screaming. Him and his fellow pilots leapt from bed and stood at attention. "The weather has cleared and the Americans are launching a massive air-attack on our troops to free their men trapped in Bastonge," began Von Hensil, "We have been called upon to intercept these bombers and down them before they can do significant damage to our forces, and it is believed that they will first be bombarding the roads leading to the front in attempt to slow down reinforcements. We shall first disable the bombers attacking the roads and then we shall proceed to the town outside Bastonge and provide cover for our men there in case the American Airborne takes advantage of this change of events." The room was silent. "We lift off in twenty minutes, your planes are being prepared now, be in the briefing room in ten minutes, quickly," he finished and left the room. Fritz and the eleven other pilots sprang to life and dressed as quickly as they could.

"It's eight in the morning," complained Heinz, Fritzes best friend as he pulled on his flight suite. He had made friends with all of the men but got along best with Heinz. Heinz's joking attitude made everyone like him. "Don't those Americans know how to sleep?" he gripped to his friend.

"Not when they are losing a battle," replied Fritz, "But then who dose when they are losing a battle?" asked Fritz knowing the answer well. He could well remember when the allies invaded Normandy only six months ago. The Luftwaffer (air force) threw everything back at them accept the kitchen sink. Which wasn't that much with out the sink. That was when Fritz decided to lie about his age and join the Luftwaffer, against the advice of his parents who tried to keep their family out of the war at all cost. They knew what was happening; they knew that all their neighbors who were taken away by the SS were being taken to a death camp where they would meet their tragic fate. They knew it was wrong. And yet Fritz still joined. Even he wasn't sure why, but the thought of his home in Berlin becoming a battleground struck terror into his heart. I was the one thing he was willing to give up everything to keep from happening. After the squadron dressed they all ran to the briefing room where they were shown an outline of their route and were reminded of their objectives. Von Hensil always told his men their objectives before the briefing; it was to help them prepare themselves for the trial to come. He always did his best to understand his men and thus gained their respect and love.

"That is all," said Von Hensil when he had finished. "Are there any questions?" he asked. There was no answer. "Very well then, lets give them hell boys!" he said in a cheerful manner. The men all shouted with vigor and saluted their commander. They all ran out to the hanger and climbed into their planes. They had all been thought to fly the new F-190 fighters, they were a little bit faster than the F-109s, much more maneuverable and had far more room in the cockpit which made Fritz especially happy. This was to be his first combat mission. In fact it was the first combat mission for most of the squadron. Accept for Von Hensil who was a battle hardened veteran. He had fought the English at the battle of Britain, shot down twenty-five fighters and saved an entire bomber squadron. For this he was awarded the iron cross medal, the equivalent of an American Medal of Honor, the highest award a German soldier could achieve. Ten minutes latter they were all in the air and were well on their way to the roads they were ordered to guard.

"Hey Fritz," said Heinz over the radio. "You ready in there?" he asked.

"As ready as you've made me," said a nervous Fritz back to his battle-experienced friend. Heinz was one of the few in the squadron with battle experience.

"I know how you feel Fritzy, I've been there before. Just keep you're cool and shoot at who ever is shooting at you," Heinz said. "I've got your back so don't worry about loosing your precious tail feathers," He joked.

"Well look out for yourself too," reminded Fritz. "If I loose you it's just me and the other damn rookies."

"Oh quit your fussing you'll still have the Captain to change your diaper," laughed Heinz.

"Ha ha very funny Mama, I love you too," returned Fritz.

"Wow, great come-back little Fritzy, I'm shaking in my boots," replied an unimpressed Heinz.

"Silence children," said Von Hensil over the radio, who had been listening for some time now. "We are coming up on our road," said the squadron commander as they flew over the road frequently used by German convoys.

"I don't see anything-wait, there they are at twelve o'clock," shouted one of the other pilots over the radio. Soon they could all see them. At least twenty American B-17s were flying strait at them. Although they had no fighter escort they were heavily armed and could take down several fighters easily. A B-17 was the worst nightmare of all Luftwaffer squadrons. They had multiple guns mounted on their topsides tail even below the belly they had a round gun turret. These bombers had been known to take down entire fighter squadrons without an escort.

"Assume attack formation," barked Von Hensil over the radio. They all followed the order immediately and lined up their planes just as they did in training. "Attack!" shouted Von Hensil. At that moment both opposing squadrons opened fire on each other. In the first pass, while dodging most to the bullets the squadron took down three bombers. Once they passed the bombers form underneath they all banked in different directions so as not to draw enemy fire into the whole squadron. They had lost two of their own, but there was no time to grieve, not if they wanted to live to tell the tale. Fritz banked over on top of the bomber squadron and fiercely pulled his trigger. Has he passed over on top his bullets shot off the wings of two more B-17s and set another one's engines on fire all of while dodging from side to side to avoid machinegun fire. When he had completed his pass he shouted over the radio to Heinz.

"I got them, did you see that I got them!" shouted Fritz.

"Great job, Fritzy! But don't get cocky now, wait till we get back to the barracks then you can get cocky," returned his cheerful friend. In the third pass Fritz, with Heinz on his right side took down five three more bombers but lost three of their own only the saw one parachute open. "That was Hans," said Heinz over the radio, referring to the parachute that opened below them. "Well it'll be a long hick home for him," joked Heinz. They banked again and dodged even more gunfire; so much they couldn't even fire off any shots. But they saw a few more bombers fall crashing down towards the ground with Von Hensil's plane flying passed them.

"Well looks like the Captain's having fun of his own," said Fritz in admiration.

"If he were an American we might actually be in trouble," joked Heinz. The two of them decided to go for a side attack. As they swooped by blazing their machine guns the saw as the front of the bomber exploded and at least three men fell out.

"My god, their not wearing parachutes," said Fritz in horror as he watched them plummeting to their deaths. "Those poor saps," he said forgetting his radio was still on.

"Poor nothing," said Heinz. "Get your head out of your ass, there's plenty more to fall." Three more of their fighters were destroyed on the next pass. Now there was only five left of each squadron. The Captain ordered that they line up again in attempt to take them down in one pass. They followed their orders and with one fail swoop and a wall of machinegun fire took down the last of the bombers losing only one more of their own. The four remaining pilots looked down in relief at their enemies falling to the ground below none of them ever had a chance to drop their bomb load.

"All right men," said Von Hensil. "We will now proceed to the town outside Bastonge to provide cover if needed. Then we will return to base."

"What good can we do sir, it's only the four of us?" asked the other pilot over the radio.

"Much more good than no planes, now shut up and follow me," returned an annoyed squadron commander. For a long time there was silence in the squadron.

"Great job Fritz," said Heinz finally breaking the dead silence.

"Thanks," responded Fritz grimly as they flew over the countryside. He was in no mood for festiveness with all the friends he had just lost.

"We all feel the same Fritz," said Heinz knowing how he felt. "But they need not die in vain, as long as we keep at those yanks," he finished. Fritz was silent.

"We are coming up on the town," said Von Hensil. They flew relatively low over the town seeing American troops swarming through. "It's to late for the Wermacht (Infantry) but it'll be like shooting fish in a barrel for us, give it to them!" he finished. With vengeance in their hearts they opened fire on the American infantry below. They quickly banked and went for another pass. Fritz was taking up the rear of the formation when suddenly all three planes in front of him burst into flame and exploded.

"Heinz no!" shouted Fritz but he knew it was too late. He was alone, with no ammo and no officer to instruct him. He soon noticed what had caused they're deaths. It was an anti-aircraft cannon the allies had commandeered. Dozens of soldiers were surrounding it to take refuge form his machine gun fire; all it did was give it away. He knew what he had to do. He set a collision course and maxed his engine out as he came closer and closer his parents, all his fellow pilots, the captain and Heinz flashed through his head. "This is for you," he said out loud just before his cockpit was splintered by anti-aircraft shells."

"That was some fine shooting Barnes!" said the Captain to Sgt. Jack Barnes as he climbed down from the AA gun.

"Thank you sir," replied Barnes.

"Well hear comes the cavalry," said the Captain pointing to the tanks driving up the road. "Son your gona need a stronger back to hold up the chest full of medals your going home with," joked the Captain as he walked up to the road. Barnes looked over to where the fragments of the last German plane had landed.

'I'll bet his CO would probably be saying the same right about now,' he thought to himself. He looked at the debris with a face of almost-admiration then walked back into formation with the rest of his men, all glad to still be alive after that close call.

"That was to close," said one of his men.

"If he were one of ours he'd be given a Medal of Honor," said another. Barnes was silent.