He finally realises it and evades sharply to disengage! Where the hell did he go? I only checked my temps and slipball for less than a second, I swear!
Lesson 3: There he is! Do
not lose sight of the bugger! Planes are difficult to spot. If you lose sight of him, especially when he is at a lower altitude, you may not pick him up again. Or worse, he may pick you up. As it turns out the 109 was actually shot down by a spit who sped through and swept him up – happened so fast.
I’d better get out of here but I sure as hell don’t want to be a silhouette target for that 109 cannon. Diving and extending, weaving and check six constantly. It’s been a few miles, let’s start to climb again loop back around to Lymne in a long circle. Yes! Position recovered above Lymne, 13k feet. And instantly rewarded with high a contact and flak!
Bearing 100, heading back to France. I hope he isn’t in a rush or I probably won’t catch him. Stay in his six, stay low. Wow, there already? And we are now at 16k and almost close enough to pull the trigger. He’s turning – has he spotted me? No, a slow turn. . . But now I see the distinctive spit profile! And now he spots me, turning hard, poor guy probably crapped himself. Well, that’ll teach him not to check six properly! Let him go and hope like hell he has better aircraft recognition than me.
Lesson 4: Work on aircraft recognition, especially from their six and low six. Most aircraft have distinctive profile from six but you lose some of the cross section when you are at low six which can make it more difficult.