拯救飞行员--布干维尔岛战役之插曲4

胸口碎大石

The noise of the gunfire was deafening. To the front, Gunny Bronson saw the brush turn to shreds and saw a Type 96 LMG being hurriedly brought into action. An NCO was waving his sword and screaming.

“AAAGH!” screamed Vincette as a 6.5mm bullet tore through him, knocking him off his feet.

“CA-BLAM!” He continued to fire the trench gun at the attackers as he fell.

The Gunny new that he had to take out the LMG before it killed them all. He grabbed a grenade from his belt and removed the pin.

Switching the grenade to his right hand, he reached back…

Judged the distance to his target…

And hurled his arm forward…

The Gunny could feel the spoon fly away as the grenade left his hand.

The grenade landed with a thud behind the Japanese gun team.

The gun team stared at the pineapple shaped grenade for only an instant.

“KAWAAAM!” With a blinding flash, the Japanese LMG was silenced.

Styles was in amongst the Japanese using his bayonet as a short sword. His quick jabs kept the attackers from his Leftenant. Next to him, Thomas quickly reloaded and continued to fire.

The Japanese soldier in front of Thomas reeled from the impact of the .45. Blood pouring from his wounds he swayed listlessly. As the Jap fell, the jungle grew silent once more. The ambush had been broken.

Duke returned to his handler’s side. “Duke, go home – get help!” commanded Vincette.

Duke leapt off through the brush, heading south. Like all of the dogs in the War Dog program, he was trained to carry messages, run telephone wire, and perform other combat tasks besides merely being a guard dog.

Gunny Bronson, Lt. Thomas and Styles quickly saw to their wounded comrades, applying what first aid they could. “C’mon, quick.” commanded the Gunny. “We need to get these men out of here if they are going to live.”

胸口碎大石

Return to Friendly Lines, Chapter 8 - Contact!


Bougainville, 0810 6 November 1943, The Piva Trail.

Sgt. Uchida halted and took a knee. He knew that they were outpacing his fellow soldiers moving in a skirmish line through the jungle to the east and west on either side of the trail, and outpacing the gun crew that was manhandling the 37mm AT guns down the trail behind him.

Uchida lead the spearhead of a probing attack on the Gaijin line. His detachment had been assigned the task of moving the AT guns down the trail to deal with any Gaijin tanks that might come up the trail and break the attack, while the skirmish lines attacked from the jungle on either side of the trail. They were almost in position.

The guns could be manhandled through jungle, but it was difficult to do quietly. He feared that the noise the crew was making would give them away.

Sgt Frazetti and his Marines, Pfc’s Romano and Castle, watched silently from their LP as the cause of the commotion became clear: An anti-tank gun came into view, being man handled down the trail. A Japanese officer was waving a sword, and giving sharp commands to his men.

“Should I fire?” whispered from Castle behind the massive .55 Boys rifle.

“Wait a sec – let them get into full view.”, replied Frazetti.

Just as Frazetti finished his command, the Marines were startled by a sharp “CRACK!” as Frazetti’s handy-talkie flew from his grasp.

Bullets began ripping through the foliage around the Marines. The Japanese infantry were working their bolt action Arisakas as fast as they could.

“ Return fire!”, yelled Frazetti, as he struggled to get back into position. The smoking handy-talkie lying on the ground smoking beside him.

“CRACK-THWP”, Romano let loose a rifle grenade, and immediately reached for another.

“KABOOM!” The grenade exploded with a flash just short of the Japs, as Castle fired his Boys rifle. The noise was deafening.

“BRAA-AAT-AAT-AAT”! Sgt Frazetti brought his Thompson into action, sending the .45 rounds spraying into the Japanese. The Thompson was not noted for it’s accuracy, but in the close quarters of the Solomon island jungles, nothing matched it’s ability to lay down suppressing fire.

As Frazetti and Romano continued to suppress the Japanese, Castle fired at the AT –gun with the Boys rifle, easily punching holes in the gun’s shield. “Need a shot that will take it out.”, thought Castle. He searched rapidly for a target.

“Get this gun into action - Haiako!” screamed Lieutenant Tomuro, angry that their surprise had been spoiled.

The crew scurried to spread the lead gun’s trails as the ammo carriers rushed up the trail with ammunition.

Through smoke, Castle could see a soldier carrying a large green can on his shoulder running toward the gun.

“Aha! The ammo-man.” Pfc Castle had found his target.

The .55 round spun through the heavy jungle air heading straight for the green 37mm ammunition can.

“KABOOM-BOOM-BOOM-BOOM-BOOM” - The Japanese manning the gun were engulfed in a ball of fire and shrapnel.

The smoke cleared, revealing flaming pieces of debris and the dead bodies of the crew.

Cape Torokina, Bougainville, 3rd Raider Bn CP, 6 November 1943, 0820…

Duke burst into the 3rd Raider Battalion’s Operations tent and barked rapidly, startling the Marines within.

“Sir, this is Cpl. Vincette’s dog, Duke.”, exclaimed the Navajo code talker, Pfc. Raincloud.

“How did he get back through the lines?” said Raincloud, as Maj. Lafferty rushed over.

“That’s not important right now – there must be trouble at the LP.” The Major replied.

Turning to Lt. Powers, the major gave his orders rapidly: “Dan, take Raincloud and your reaction force and get up to the LP as quickly as you can. If the Japs are advancing, I want them stopped on the narrow front of the trail before they get to the perimeter. I’ll notify the CO and put the perimeter on alert.”

“Aye, aye, Sir!” responded the Lieutenant. “Raincloud, grab your radio and let’s go!”

胸口碎大石

Return to Friendly Lines, Chapter 9 – They’re Flanking!


Bougainville, 0820 6 November 1943, The Piva Trail.

“BANZAI!”…Just as Pfc Castle fired his Boys rifle at the 37mm ammunition can, Japanese infantry burst from the jungle to the north of the trail, firing wildly at the Marine’s left flank. Bullets ripped into the dirt beside Castle and Frazetti.

Pfc Romano turned to see a Jap bayonet coming straight for his head. He naroowly managed to parry the thrust with his M-1.

“BRAA-AAT-AAT-AAT”! Sgt Frazetti fired a long burst from his Thompson into the oncoming Japs.

Behind his attacker, Romano could see more Japs screaming as they broke from the underbrush and charged. “Sh@t! The b@#$%rds are everywhere!” he yelled, as he struggled to keep the Jap from stabbing him.

Turning to face the new threat, Castle threw aside the Boys rifle and reached for his Raider stiletto.

In one smooth motion Castle drew the thin blade and cocked his arm back…

Castle had been carrying the Boys rifle since being assigned to the 3rd Raiders on Samoa in September of 1942. Humping the big rifle had made his arms very strong. He let the stiletto fly with amazing force.

The Type 96 gunner dropped to the ground instantly, Castle’s stiletto embedded in his neck.

Nearby, Pfc Romano had also put his stiletto to work. Stabbing his attacker in the chest and side, he finished his would be slayer.

“BRAA-AAT-AAT-AAT!”, Sgt Frazetti continued to pour .45 rounds into the jungle to the north of the trail.

Castle wasted no time moving to the offensive. He sprang at a pistol waving NCO, grabbing him by his wrist.

Forcing the Jap to fire wildly into the air, Castle reached down and grabbed the hilt of the Jap’s sword.

The giant Marine drew the sword with his right hand as he began to twist the arm the helpless Jap with his left hand.

“SSSHHH!”, the sword sang from its scabbard as Castle spun the Jap to face Frazetti.

“BRAA-AAT-AAT-AAT!”, Frazetti tore into the Jap with another burst of .45 rounds.

As Frazetti let loose, Castle continued to spin around, swinging the dying Jap’s sword.

Castle let loose of the NCO as he brought the sword around to meet the Japanese officer running up behind.

The Jap tried to parry, but Castle was too quick. The Marine had brought sword inside his reach. Parrying the blow was now impossible.

“BANZ…”. The young officer’s war cry died in his throat as he realized that he had met his karma.

Castle finished him in one swift stroke.

As the Jap fell more screams of “BANZAI!!!” could be heard from the jungle and the trail ahead.

胸口碎大石

FINAL EPISODE

Return to Friendly Lines, Chapter 10 – The Counter Attack


Bougainville, 0830 6 November 1943, The Piva Trail.

As Sgt Frazetti and the Marines at the LP readied themselves for the next wave, they heard hum coming up the trail from Torokina, accompanied by the cracking of branches.

“Woohoo, Tanks – get off da’ trail!” yelled Frazetti. Friendly tanks would sure be welcome, but they could still crush you.

Moments later, one of 3rd Defense Bn’s tanks lumbered into view and began firing it’s two .30-06 machineguns and the main gun into the jungle farther up the trail.

“KABOOM, KABOOM!” The explosions of the 37mm shells rocked the jungle, keeping the next Japanese wave at bay, as Lt Powers brought his reaction force up to reinforce the line.

“Keep the fire up! Hold ‘em back!” Powers yelled to his Marines as they fell into the line across the trail. The noise around them was deafening, and he struggled to make himself heard.

The thickness of the Bougainville jungle kept the Marines from seeing the enemy, but the constant whiz of bullets told them that they were there.

As Pfc Castle readied himself for the next banzai charge, the tank turned to the north, firing past Castle at the screams of “BANZAI” coming form the jungle.

Cpl Crowe and Pfc Jones fell into the line across the Piva trail, frantically pouring suppressive fire down the trail. Crowe pulling the trigger “from the hip” before he can even get his rifle to his shoulder.

“Raincloud! Get some air support to hit the trail farther inland. We need to take out whatever Japs are coming down it.”, yelled the Lieutenant.

Raincloud immediately ran back down the trail to where he could hear, and held up his head set, “Bulldog, Bulldog, this Black Cat come in, over!”

Circling beneath the cloud covered sky of Empress Augusta Bay, the combat air patrol of VMF-216 gave a crackled reply: “Black Cat this is Bulldog, go ahead over.”

“Bulldog, this is Black Cat” said Raincloud, trying to keep the excitement from his voice. “We need immediate suppression: IP Buick, Heading 70°, target elevation 20 ft, Troops moving down the trail. Target is inland from exploding shells. Friendlies southwest of explosions on the trail. Egress 120°, over.”

“Roger that, Black Cat, we have your mark.”, came the flight leader’s crackled reply. “Keep your heads down, we’re comin’ in hot.”

The two corsairs reached their IP in mere seconds and peeled off to begin their run. The engines began to make their signature whistle as the pilots increased to full throttle.

As the pair reached their mark, the flight leader’s voice crackled over the radio once again, “Let ‘em have it.”

With a loud “WOOSH, WOOSH, WOOSH”, 3.5 inch rockets flew into the jungle.

The Marines breathed a sigh of relief as hell rained down upon their attackers. The jungle ahead of them was rocked by the explosion of rocket after rocket, lighting the jungle’s darkness with a series of bright flashes of orange light.

Lt Powers looked up to hear someone calling his name.

Powers was surprised to see Bronson leading a pilot who was helping Vincette along, followed by some others.

“Lieutenant - We gotta get these men to the Battalion Aid Station! Vincette’s not going to make it, and neither is the Coastwatcher.”

“Get ‘em on the tank! Who have you got with you?”

“I’ll explain later, Sir.”, replied the Gunny.

“C’mon Corporal, you’re gonna make it!” encouraged Lt Thomas, pulling him toward the tank. Styles pulled Van der Haanks along shortly behind.

“Hang on guys, guys! We’ll have you at the aid station in no time.”, the Cpl Walker told his new passengers. “Charlie, get us turned around and headed back to Torokina! Don’t stop until we’re at the 3rd Raider Bn aid station.)

“Aye, aye Corporal!” came a voice from inside the tank. The tank shuddered as the crew threw it into reverse.

Private First Class Castle stood amid the carnage, Jap sword still gripped in his large hand, and watched the tank head back down the trail to Torokina. The war was over for them, but Castle suspected that he had a long way to go yet…




/as always: like it, hate it, or otherwise, comments always welcome and appreciated.

Editorial note: I took some dramatic license with History in a few places throughout this story, most notably in this final chapter:

PAK 37’s: There is some evidence to suggest that the Japanese did use German made PAK 37’s in the Solomons in limited numbers, however I do not know for certain whether or not they were used on Bougainville. The Japanese did have several models of their own AT guns, which were based on German designs, so all-in-all I think it works.

The Marines did have M3 tanks on Bougainville. I used M5’s because that’s what I had.

Marine Close Air Support took a giant step forward during the battle of Bougainville when the 1st MAW G-3, LtCol William K. Pottinger, directed CAS missions from the front line at Hellzapoppin’ Ridge using a radio that had been removed from a disabled aircraft. This occurred several weeks after the timeframe of this story. I used Pfc Raincloud in a Korea to present day Forward Air Controller type role to pay homage to this event, mainly because it fit the story.

Rockets fired from Corsairs, as best as I can determine, did not occur until the battle for Okinawa, over a year later. I brought this forward one year because I had a 1/18th scale Corsair with rockets, and I wanted to showcase Marine use of CAS. Although Corsairs may have flown some CAS missions during the battle, it’s likely that most of the missions were flown by other aircraft, such as Dauntless or Avengers dropping bombs and napalm.





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I shot these pictures over the course of last summer, and am finally starting to write up the text to this photo story. This began with a “rough draft” little photo story about a downed pilot that I posted last June and has grown into quite a long project. The photoshopping of effects is not quite as good as in my contest entry or Halloween post. Many of the pics in this story were done earlier, and it’s a learning process. There are ten chapters to the story. I plan on writing up a chapter or two every week or so as time allows.

The story is loosely set against the battle for Bougainville, at the “top of the ladder” in the Solomon Islands. I readily admit, that I have used dramatic license here and there. The Battle began with the 3d Marine Division Landing on November 1st, 1943 and was ended several months later by Commonwealth forces. This story takes place during the first half of November, 1943.

穿短裤的暴徒

发完啦?  那啥可以找翻译了

不错 分开发贴 避免了帖子太大进去死机

吸取了我那个台湾兵人展的教训 我现在都进不去啊

dragon-hole

这个工程可不小啊~~~~~

US.GI

好牛的连环画，还把衣服用了红染料。