As the convoy fought its way to the harbor, the way became clearer, as the Soviets hadn't fought their way to this location yet, but Soviet aircraft flying out of Denmark, most notably the Ilyushin Il-2 “Sturmovik” kept strafing, raking each and every wharf, while every ship that was still in harbor and still capable, raked the Soviet attack formations with withering ack-ack and machine gun fire, keeping the Soviets at bay long enough for both Royal families to board the submarine, from which the combined American and Norwegian crew members kept firing their Bofors guns and machine guns, until all were safely aboard. Then, the submarine slid out of the harbor, rapidly diving deep to avoid the Soviet aerial onslaught, taking the Royal families of Norway and Denmark into further exile in Great Britain.
The End of the Beginning
Scandinavia in WWIII, 1946
In a bold and completely unexpected airborne attack, the Soviet Union knocked the nations of the Scandinavian Alliance momentarily out of the fight. In cities large and small all across Finland, Sweden and Norway, special Soviet NKVD and GRU airborne troops search for civilian and military leaders, to either capture and send back east, or to “liquidate” on the spot, as an example of what happens to those who defy the will of the Soviet “people”, meaning Iosef Stalin.
What the Soviets had not counted on was the lessons of earlier in the decade having not been lost on the people still left behind in occupied territory, and armed resistance springing up anew. The skill and fortitude of the Scandinavian peoples to resist and incapacitate their Soviet enemy wherever they were encountered was not lost on their occupiers' psyche either, where lone or small groups of Soviet soldiers were murdered, scalped or mutilated in some other unimaginable way, and hung up for display, where they would be visible to the Soviets in control of those areas. The reprisals were terrible and finally a stalemate was achieved. And during this stalemate, both sides made their plans and sought ways to gain the upper hand over the other. There is a cold hard winter coming ahead, but the warmth and light of spring is never far behind the coldest darkest night of winter...
The Pope by RangerElite
Mediterranean Theater in WWIII 1946
0745
Private Apartments of Pope Pius XII
The Papal Residence
Vatican City, inside Rome, Social Republic of Italy
“This is simply an outrage! How could this have happened?” asked The Pope. He was just handed a message from the speaker of the Italian Parliament demanding the return of the Vatican to its rightful owners, the Italian people, and the renunciation of the Vatican's claim of independence from the Italian state, by midnight. He had read the reports over the past few days of Italian troops massing at the demarcation line, according to his intelligence officers of the Swiss Guard, these were troops that were deemed “politically reliable” by their Soviet puppet masters. Pope Pius XII calls into his office the commander of his Swiss Guard.
A few moments later, the commander of the Swiss Guard enters the room, kneels and kisses the Pope's Sigil ring, and arises to give his report. As he concludes his report, he adds a personal note, “Your Excellency, I will stand and fight for you, and our faith, to the very last. It will be my honor to serve you to the very end. I have polled every last man under my command and informed them that there is no shame in them leaving to tend their families back in Switzerland. They have all decided to stay and fight, to the last man, to the last bullet, to the last pike, if need be.
We are at your disposal.” The leader of God's church on earth was left momentarily speechless, but quickly regained his composure “Comandante, I will not allow it to come to that. We are going to utilize the “Odessa” network that the German Nazi SS put together to escape Europe. No, comandante, we are headed for Jerusalem, the true seat of the Roman Church. We have been in secret talks with our Greek Orthodox brethren for quite some time now and are close to merging our sects again, for the first time in nearly a thousand years, and we will have unfettered access to all of the Katolikos of Jerusalem's facilities. That, I believe, comandante, is worth the loss of our seat in Rome” the leader of the Pope's personal body guard looks stunned, appalled at the naked lust for power as depicted by a man he thought he knew, then composed himself and excused himself from the Pope.
Diary of Burt Post Sept. 14th, 1946
Not much going on today. Rumors of a major battle over the skies of Britain. Wish them well. Apparently we can't be of much help for some reason. Production problems, political ministrations by those Southern Senators, who knows. Imagine purposefully not helping an old friend and ally just so a sitting president won't get reelected. Just to make him look bad. It's nothing but treasonous in time of war if you ask me.
Maxine is becoming a wife again. Before she was just a mother but now she is cooking and cleaning again. We made love for the first time after the birth of Ede. Very nice to hold the women you love in your arms once again. She seems to enjoy herself. I know I do.
Read an article in the NY Times about a tiger in India. Killed 17 villagers before someone shot it. As if they don't have enough trouble there with the rebellion or quest to be free depending on who you talk to. I'm glad the US never really had any empire outside of Philippines and Cuba anyway.
What a mess the Philippines was. That Smedly Butler[xlvii] made a great case in the 30s that while he was a Marine he was nothing but an enforcer for American business concerns who acted like gangsters, businesses like the American Fruit Company and Standard Oil. When every time something didn't go their way they called in the Marines just like they were their own special police force or gang enforcers. We've made a lot of enemies all over the world including many countries in Central and South America. I know the leaders are on our side but what about the people. Communism might seem mighty tempting to a peasant working 16 hour days in some rich guys silver mine while his family starves thanks to the company store. Come to think of it that is mighty close to our own coal mines.
There were a large number of strikes before this war. It could happen again if we don't win it soon. I don't think the American public is going to stand for another long drawn out war like the last one. I guess we have to use the atomic bomb on them. I wonder why we haven't done so already. Well I guess they have their reasons.
I got a letter from Fred Schneider's wife. He died last week. He was involved with the atomic program I believe. She didn't say but from the tone of the letter it sounded like Fred got a dose of something real bad. Just like those awful pictures from Japan before they started to censor things. I got the feeling from her hand writing that she was sick too as was little Fred Jr. Such a shame Fred was way too young to die. Glad I stuck with paper. Can't die too easily from a paper cut.
Smedley Darlington Butler America’s most decorated hero
Chapter Seven:
Bone Yards
RAF Maintenance and Aircraft Recovery unit 14 stationed in Carlisle
***
It is the rule in war, if ten times the enemy's strength, surround them; if five times, attack them; if double, be able to divide them; if equal, engage them; if fewer, be able to evade them; if weaker, be able to avoid them.
Sun Tzu
***
Expect the Unexpected
September 15th, 1946
The RAF raid was not a disaster. It went pretty much as planned. The VVS rose to the occasion and gave as good as they got. It was noted that the vast majority of Soviet fighters were of the Yak 3 and La 7 variety. Short range fighters for the most part which made sense since they were on the defensive. Losses on both sides were acceptable unless you were the wife, mother, father, child or sweet heart of the fallen. Then it was devastating.
Each side lost 50 or so aircraft from all sources. The majority of the Soviet pilots that survived lived to fight again and the majority of the 53 British pilots were killed or captured as they bailed out or crashed into the Belgian country side. It was a fact as the Germans learned in the First Battle of Britain that the s
ide that was on the offensive lost the majority of their crews shot down over enemy territory.
What happened next was startling to the RAF radar operators, and then Fighter Command. Just as the majority of the RAF fighters and bombers returning from the raid crossed into British territory, two Soviet 1000 plane raids were detected forming over Brest and Ringkobing in Denmark. By the time the RAF fighters had all landed these massive raids had started to cross the Channel. One seemed headed towards Wales and the other Scotland.
Fighter Command started to look at their charts and maps with increasing urgency to try and figure out where these swarms of planes where headed. They had no idea which of the possible targets were destined for destruction, until minutes before the bombs fell. Then they were dumbstruck and enraged at themselves for not predicting where the raids were going and what was to befall the virtually unguarded machines and workers targeted.
The route taken by each separate 1000 plane raid circumvented the largest concentrations of radar guided AA guns and few kills were made. At a pre-assigned spot on the map the huge raids split into smaller groupings and headed towards different targets yet stayed within support of each other.
The targets in the cross hairs of the Soviet bombers and fighter bombers were not defended well. No one had thought of them as primary or even secondary targets worthy of a major Soviet attack. The victims on the ground of these massive attacks could only look around themselves in horror as the bombs started to scream down upon their heads. Each one seemed to be aimed directly at them, but of course they weren’t. The strafing Yak 9DD fighter bombers were indeed aiming at them however. They seemed to be purposefully targeting personnel and places where valuable mechanics, engineers, armorers and grounds crewmen would be trying to hide from the cluster bombs and Soviet version of napalm bombs that were raining down. The Yak 9s with the 37mm cannons punched holes in whatever material got in their way including skin and bone.
The parachute slowed cluster bombs and napalm started terrible fires and chewed through their intended targets like a whip saw through butter. Huge swaths of destruction followed in each of the Tu2S medium bomber’s wake. Traveling at over 500 km an hour, these proven workhorses of the VVS left devastation behind them. Massacring the few AA crews who valiantly tried to defend the un-defensible. Too few for so many targets. Too few for so many flammable concentrations of fuel. Too few for so many piles of ammunition, oil soaked rags and tires. Too few to even defend themselves.
After the bombs fell the various mini raids once again gathered together into two flying armadas and continued on their way. Fighter Command did an admirable job of rearming and forming Big Wings to pursue. The vast majority of the landing fighters from the previous British raid landed in 12 Group while a smaller number of squadrons were kept behind stationed in 11 Group for defense. 13 Group was filled with older planes and newer pilots. They were held back for training purposes, and they were now about to be thrown into the fire. The turnaround time for the fighters in 12 Group was admirable, but the Big Wings from 13 Group were able to reach the enemy first.
To the displeasure of the Spitfires of 13 Group, they discovered that the Tu2S, sans, its bomb load made a formidable heavy fighter. Tough, agile and with massive fire power, they flew with wingmen and covered each other like wingmen should. If you got on the leader’s tail, the wingman slew around and either scared you off or shot you down. Now add into the mix the fact that there were hoards of Yak 9s which made the odds a good 8 to one. You had a real challenge on your hands. The Tu2S did not drone on in formation but actually turned to dogfight.
Now normally this would have been a reasonably one sided affair, but when you add into the mix the Yak 9s, and you had a real tiger by the tail. A target rich environment to be sure… yet a targeted rich environment, as well. Needless to say, not many attacks were pressed home by either side. Losses were few as a Spitfire would maneuver onto the tail of the slower less nimble yet jinking and turning Tu2S Bat only to have his wingman expertly get on the leading Spitfire’s tail only to have the Tu2 wingman have his tail placed in danger by the wingman of the lead Spitfire only to have that Spitfire threatened by up to four Yak 9s. The Tu2S also had the distinct advantage of two rear firing gunners and substantial front facing firepower as well. The Spitfire who took on a Tu2s from head on or even front at an angle found himself facing a lot of lead.
Because of the utter surprise, the Yak 9DDs had made full use of their wing tanks and had plenty of fuel to carry the dogfight on for as long as they needed. There was no running home because of lack of fuel. No having only 10 minutes of combat time over the target like the Germans in 1940. The Yak 9DDs code named Long Franks were in this for the long term and were not running. The Tu2S Bats had a range of over 2000 km. By the time many of the Group 12 Big Wings were able to catch up to the fast bombers the two 1000 plane raids had joined up into one massive 2000 plane swarm. One raid started a circular route from the South near Brest, France and other from the East in Denmark. The squadrons of 12 Group had to make the choice to attack head on or to waste time maneuvering for a better attack position. A number of frustrated Squadron commanders from 12 Group made the choice to bore right in and received a warm welcome from the two forward firing Barezin B-20 cannons of the Tu2S. It is an unwelcome match for the two 20mm cannons of your own machine. No, the Tu2S Bat did not die easily and could take quite a bit of punishment.
All in all, a very frustrating day for both groups of fighters who could not stay on each other’s tails long enough to get a good burst in. There was a lot of deflection shooting with remarkably few hits. Fighter Command blinked first, as the British radar on the coast caught the first ghostly echoes of another massive Soviet raid coming into range over France. They appeared to be headed towards London. Group 13 then Group 12 were recalled before the makeup of the newest massive group was discovered. They were the short range fighters escorting Pe 2s code named Bucks who turned around before land fall. A feint that had worked.
Losses were relatively low on both sides. 21 Tu2s, 24 Yaks, 29 Spitfires. The British jets did not have the range to participate in the fight. Hardly the decisive battle each would have wanted to win. As the fast bombers with their trusty escorts flew back unmolested towards the Channel heads were spinning in Fighter Command. Some were sure to roll as well. The Soviets had utterly destroyed their intended targets without losing more than a handful of planes. The loss of the targets attacked could prove utterly devastating to the RAF in a short term battle with the VVS.
No More Bones to Pick
Billy picked himself up. He still couldn’t hear anything but the explosions has stopped, and the heat had died down. He could feel that at least. As he looked around he could not comprehend what he saw. What had been hectors of stored aircraft and repair facilities were now smoking, burning rubble with flames reaching for the sky and smoke blotting out the sun. Incredible carnage as far as his eye could see. He only had one eye now as a result of the second explosion that had knocked him down as he tried to man his dual 40 mm antiaircraft gun. He may have nicked the plane that took his eye, but he couldn't be sure. He couldn't even walk straight, probably something to do with his ears.
One eyed and deaf he wandered around trying to avoid the biggest fires and to search for anyone else. He found a wounded woman and tried to help her, but she screamed and curled up into a ball when she looked at him. At least it looked like she was screaming. Mouth open and that look of shock and fear. Yes she was screaming, only he couldn't hear her. He then felt the something kind of bouncing on his cheek and realized it was his left eye. No wonder she screamed. What the hell do you do with an eye that’s hanging out of its socket? Do you try and put it back? He felt tired and collapsed near the curled up woman.
The piece of charred acreage that Tom was dying on was the home of the former RAF Maintenance and Aircraft Recovery unit 14 stationed in Carlisle. Hundreds of old Spitfires had been transported here for repair and refurbishing. Parts were cann
ibalized and swapped by the thousands. Hundreds of Spits had been rebuilt almost as good as new by the hundreds of skilled craftsman who used to live and work here. Now the Spitfires where pieces of burning junk and many of the skilled artisans were dead or dying. Tom was one of them. He could make a Merlin hum. Now he couldn't even hear one even if he hadn't passed out.
No one had thought to harden or even defend in detail this bone yard of World War Two surplus Spitfires that were about to be refurbished. Parked in neat rows ready for this or that part, they had been easy to destroy. All lined up ready for the cluster bombs and napalm of the Soviet bombers and fighters. Who had thought that the VVS could reach Carlisle in force? Who thought the Soviets knew about Carlisle and its gold mine of spare parts and mothballed Spits? Who thought that the Soviets knew where the most talented scroungers and scavengers in the United Kingdom were concentrated on this day?
Nineteen other bone yards had been attacked and all but two destroyed. Thirteen of the largest RAF Maintenance Units[xlviii] had ceased to exist as a unit today. 982 surplus Spitfires were destroyed along with hundreds of other aircraft. The greatest loss was to the highly trained mechanics and ground crews. The end result of the first 1000 plane raids by the VVS was that there were not more than a hundred surplus Spitfires available for the next three months and barely enough personnel to put them back together again. The attacks devastated the moral of the RAF in the short term. Shocked the British people and government into an almost catatonic state and brought home the fact that there was nowhere to hide from the Soviet Voyenno-Vozdushnye Sily.
World War Three 1946 Series Boxed Set: Stalin Strikes First Page 57
