“'Full power all engines, turning and burning”
That gave Texan Lady a speed of 425 miles per hour, 7 miles per minute. So, if he swung away and forced the 263s into a tail chase, he'd be 21 miles away by the time they reached his altitude. Added to the six miles they were already behind him made a range of 27 miles. Since they had a two miles per minute speed superiority, it would take them 13 minutes plus to catch up - 84 miles. So they couldn't make the intercept. And that was how piston-engined bombers could outrun rocket-engined fighters.
The three B-36s swung onto their new course and continued serenely on their way. Behind them, the APG-41 tail gun-laying radar tracked the fighters then gave up as they began their long glide down to their base. Texan Lady and her consorts turned back on their original course as soon as the threat was over. The German pilots learned fast though. The next group of 263s coining up had dispersed so their intercept patterns covered a much wider area. One of them was going to be within rocket range. Not much within range it was true, over a thousand yards away, but in range.
“Tail Heavy” Dedmon ordered and watched Barbie Doll and Sixth Crew Member shift formation slightly. Now, the three aircraft were arranged to clear the fields of fire form their tail guns but, more importantly, could turn without risk of collision. The pair of 263s were closing aft now and their wings suddenly erupted into black smoke as they fired their R4M rockets. 12 rockets per aircraft, 24 in all, each with the hitting power of a 75 millimeter tank gun. Dedmon racked Texan Lady around in a tight turn. So far she'd taught the Germans that she could fly higher than they could and, once up here, could outrun them. Now she taught the German pilots a stunning lesson. With her huge wings and excess engine power, she could both out-turn them and their rockets. All three bombers deftly side-stepped the rockets and resumed their course with serene contempt for the impertinence. Dedmon knew Texan Lady would be tracking the fighters with her APG-41, whether there was a good enough shot was a decision John Paul Martin, their tail gunner, would have to make. Out of the corner of his eye he saw Sixth Crew Member firing and saw a ball of smoke behind them. One of the 263s had come that little bit too close.
“Loser” the female Texan voice was larded with contempt. Was Martin their mysterious impersonator?
“Major Case, Sixth Crew Member here. Tail gunner claims one enemy fighter shot down.”
“Major Lennox, Barbie Doll here. Tail gunner claims one enemy fighter shot down.”
Dedmon sighed gently and looked at the single ball of smoke receding behind them. Thus would it ever be. “Major, log we have exchanged fire with enemy rocket fighters. Three enemy fighters claimed shot down. No damage. Proceeding to primary target on full power.”
Sitting behind Dedmon, Connorman picked up a transmission from another Hometown. His voice on the intercom was shocked. “Sir, Angel Eyes is going in. The Germans managed to surround her group and a 263 got her with rockets. I'm picking up transmissions from her sir, the rockets took out all five engines on the port side. She can't be flown that way. The aft pressurized compartment was blown open, the crew in there didn't have a chance. The rest of the crew are riding her in. Pilot says to go head to head with the 263 closing speed is too high for the rocket salvoes. Don't do what they .... Transmission ceased sir.”
“She a bomber? What was their target?” There was pain in Major Pico's voice, Angel Eyes was the first B-36 to be lost in action. Many had been lost in accidents, especially in the early days when the engines had a notorious habit of dropping off. But never shot down before.
Dedmon shook his head, “The bomber in that Hometown is Colonel Arnie Cunningham's Christine. Angel Eyes was one escort, the other is Eskimo Nell. They're on their way to Duren, up near Aachen. They must be locking in for their final run by now. With a little luck, the rest of us are through.” If the intelligence people were right, the German defenses were concentrated along the borders. The Russians had told them that the original plans had been cut back and the original intent to cover the whole country with defenses had been ditched. The Russians had good intelligence. If it was right, they were on their final run now and Colonel Dedmon had a little announcement of his own.
“OK boys, we're on our way in. Five years ago the Royal Navy broke out of its harbors and escaped across the Atlantic. A lot of them didn't make it but the ones that did found refuge with us. The Germans demanded that we return the ships and their crews. When we refused, a brutal and sustained assault by their U-boats covered our East Coast with the wreckage of sunken ships and the bodies of drowned sailors. Then, they demanded that we lay down our arms. Well, today we're on our way to do just that. We're going to lay down our arms all right, straight across the center of their capital. All over Germany our bombers are lining up on their targets to do the same. Germany is going to burn.”
Official Reception for Australian Prime Minister Locock, Viceregal Palace, New Delhi, India.
“The Right Honorable Prime Minister of Australia Sir Gregory Locock and Lady Locock.”
The booming voice bounced off the ceiling and reverberated around the room. The Prime Minister made his way down the obligatory receiving line and entered the reception. By the time he had complied with the formalities, the official line had dissolved and the serious politicking had started. Sir Gregory Locock saw Sir Martyn a few feet away, speaking to a small, stocky woman with short black hair.
“And I think they must be the most beautiful things I have ever seen. It was a wonderful thought of Sir Eric's. Such magnificent workmanship , it’s a pleasure just to hold them. Since they are an official gift, I must cable my government asking if I may keep them but permission for that is never with-held.” Locock was confused, the woman had her back to him and he couldn't identify her or follow the conversation. Sir Martyn was speaking now.
“'We were lucky Ma'am, it is hard to get Purdy's now but a pair were in the country already. Once your government has approved, Ma'am, please bring them to us and one of our experts will fit the stock and trigger pulls to suite you.” Ah, shotguns thought Sir Gregory, this must be the Thai Ambassador. The two people he most needed to see were together.
“Madam Ambassador, May I introduce the Prime Minister of Australia, Sir Gregory Locock. Sir Gregory, Her Excellency, the Ambassador from the Kingdom of Thailand.”
“Madam Ambassador, it is a great honor to meet you at last. Your fame has spread before you.” That was true enough, his Chief of Staff, General Bennett, had described her as the bad thing that happens to bad people. “I have long admired your part in the campaign against Vichy Indochina.. Your destruction of the Fifth Regiment Etranger de Infanterie was a masterpiece of tactical planning.” He saw her flush a little with pride and give him a friendly smile. That was good, a little professional admiration might make up the ground lost by the shotguns.
“Thank you. Sir Gregory. But, if I may say so, your actions now on behalf of your country are far more difficult and arduous than anything a simple soldier can be expected to achieve. To build a country from nothing is a hard and dangerous task and you have, I fear, but little time to do so. My people regard Australians with much affection and we would be proud to assist you in such an endeavor. We have just entered into an agreement with India, we are trading our rice and other foodstuffs for Indian manufactured goods. A trade agreement that will benefit both our countries. Perhaps our two nations can find ground for a similar agreement.”