North of Constanta, Romania August 16, 1944
The quartet of Lightnings accelerated through the dive. The lead pilot was looking to make ace in the next few seconds as there were a dozen single engine aircraft flying low and slow to the north of the port city. This was one of the larger formations of enemy aircraft he, and all of the other pilots in the squadron, had seen in the past few weeks. The other quartet led by his buddy were still orbiting high looking for trouble even as the B-25s bombed the Romanian docks . The dive flaps dumped some kinetic energy into the air and kept the pilot and his following wingmen safe as he edged the rudder slightly to the right and lined up a shot.
He squinted just before he pressed down on the trigger. The aircraft had looked funny since the dive started. Now he saw red stars on the target.
"BREAK LEFT BREAK LEFT BREAK LEFT" He yelled into his radio even as he jerked the big heavy fighter to the left.