For a moment the world turned red. He felt a little dizzy, but no more than usual during a negative G diving turn at high speed. 

While inverted he was able to regain focus long enough to pinpoint the small trail of light orange flame. 
Then it was time to pull up, just as the flame was streaking along below his present position. He kicked some more right rudder, pulled the stick over to the right and pulled back as hard as he could, he then  'locked' himself in this position for what he knew was about to come. 
And there it was, the world, which just 2 seconds ago had been a dull red colour, began to fade out into an ever increasing grey black with those little fairy lights spiralling before his eyes. His face tingled and his head seemed to want to bury itself deep between his shoulders, which was quite useful as he doubted he would have been able to keep it lifted above his collar even if he tried.
His knees were locked fast keeping the pressure on the rudder pedals and his hands were tingling with pins and needles, on the edge of pain, while he maintained his grip on the stick.
He fought to keep his eyes from rolling back into his head, just a moment more. And through the haze he saw the small tongue of flame climb into his line of sight. That was the sign he was waiting for, with a grunt, he let go his breath and in one swift motion recentred his rudder and brought the stick back to it's central position.
At the same time that the blood was starting to course through his brain again and his internal organs reseated themselves he was lining up on that small trail of flame, there it was, about 250 yards in front, slightly to port. He slammed the throttle forward trying to edge the last ounce of speed from the Napier Sabre engine.
Now it was just a matter of timing. 
He checked his speed and height. 1800 feet and 345 knots. He was able to see the outline against the night sky now, with some slight rudder adjustment he let rip with a volley of 20mm cannon fire, 170 rounds per minute about 180 yards from the tail of this V1 'Diver' as they were codenamed. 

He could clearly see the hits as they 'walked' the length of the fuselage. leaving a long streak of sparks and debris in it's wake. 
With a flash from the strut of the machine's forward engine mount, he saw the rocket motor begin to give way and as quickly as he was able, threw the Tempest violently over on it's side and pulled for all he was worth. 
He didn't get to see the result of his efforts as he swung away to starbord and began to grey out again, but his wingman, following about 300 yards astern, was treated to a display of pyrotechnics that would equal any Guy Fawkes night celebrations. 
After seeing his flight leader pull away he looked and saw the rocket flip onto it's side and begin to spiral through the air leaving a glowing shower of sparks and smoke that looked like a giant tracer trail. After another hundred yards it blew up with an almighty roar that he could hear over his own racing engine and he too pulled up and away to starbord, looking to rejoin his wingleader.

In the lead plane, Warrant officer John Harry Stafford checked his watch, 9:30pm on the 19th of August 1944 5 miles NW of Tonbridge. 
He clicked on his R/T and called "Kendall One, Kendall One, Orange one calling, Diver destroyed, repeat Diver destroyed." 
In his earphones he heard a reply, it was his wingman who was now 20 yards off his port wing, "Orange two calling Orange leader, Orange two calling Orange leader, Well done Jack, that's a hell of a way to celebrate your 22nd birthday mate! Let's get back to mother Kendall and I'll stand you a pint in the mess"
It was just another evening in the life of the pilots of no. 486 squadron, part of the Newchurch wing of the ADGB, and whom it was said were the most overworked squadron of the war.

**************************************************************

Hi Resolution TempestV Series 2   -   SA - A  (NV969)
486 Sqn RNZAF
Being flown by W/O James Harry 'Jack' Stafford during the Anti Diver campaign, August 1944 based at Newchurch, Kent.

Thanks to Mike1 for his efforts in making this great set of HiRez 3dz files. They are excellent to skin.
Thanks also to Moggy for his work helping to clear up some RS problems, and also to Col. Gibbon for all his help too. One of the most consistent HR model makers on the scene.

Also included in the zip is a 'bat' file to allow for those who want to access the pcx files, of course you'll need the tpc2pcx converter to use it.

This and all my other skins available at Sandbaggers great site.
http://www.sandbaggeruk.com/deanH.html

Enjoy.
Comments and praise always welcome at SimHQ 8?)
