My wingmen finish their bombing run, and shortly report their status over the radio. One had an engine disabled, and another had his starboard wingtip shot off and lost control of his right rudder. The last wingman had his aircraft peppered with holes and sustained a bullet to the hip. One pilot in the escort group had his BVR radar assembly shot through. All-in-all, everyone makes it through without losing aircraft or dying.
"This is Uzi 1-1, all flight elements regroup and return to base. Good shooting everyone. Let's call it a day."
I switch to the AWACS channel.
"This is Uzi 1-1, requesting vector to home plate."
The once-Invincible Fleet is now reduced to a smoldering wreckage, bleeding out oil at the bottom of a bay. After the work we did, I think a warm meal and a long nap are well in order.
Out of the 8 aircraft originally brought out to fight, I'm the last one in line to land. And not a moment too soon, either. Just 3% left on the fuel gauge. I follow the ILS glideslope indicator and align myself with the runway for a landing. Pop the spoilers and reduce speed to 200kts. Lower the flaps, extend the gear ... the landing gear lights are still yellow ... The gear is stuck halfway out refuses to budge any further. The flaps don't extend fully, and the control surfaces on my A-10 stop working.
"stuff! I'm losing hydraulic pressure!"
I suddenly panic as I begin to lose control of the A-10. My port aileron droops down and causes the aircraft to slowly roll left. Right around 300 feet, I eject from the roosterpit. I feel my stomach sink down into my intestines as I'm shot skyward. Down below, the A-10 spins out of control and crashes into the grass on the right of runway 09.
"forget!"
Poll