Apologies for the delay in posting this WEP/IWSG June Challenge, and not editing either. The death of my beloved Quetzal last Saturday was a blow I’m still dealing with.

For those new to this ongoing creation, please note, this present day tale began with my World War II story Feathered Fire, which introduced the Chayka family from Ukraine and appeared in the 2020 IWSG Anthology (No. 5), Voyagers: The Third Ghost.

The current stories open with Part 1, Rainbow Firebreak, for the WEP/IWSG April: Challenge: https://rolandclarke.com/2022/04/20/wep-iwsg-april-challenge-a-hard-rains-a-gonna-fall/.

Part 2, Winged Woes, for the WEP/IWSG June Challenge:     https://rolandclarke.com/2022/06/15/wep-iwsg-june-challenge-please-read-the-letter/

Part 3, Moonbeam Magic, for the WEP/IWSG August Challenge: https://rolandclarke.com/2022/08/17/wep-iwsg-august-challenge-moonlight-sonata/

Part 4, Winged Death, for the WEP/IWSG October Challenge: https://rolandclarke.com/2022/10/19/wep-iwsg-october-challenge-thriller/

Part 5, Soul Seeds, for the WEP/IWSG December Challenge: https://rolandclarke.com/2022/12/01/wep-iwsg-december-challenge-first-time-ever/ 

Part 6, Swords to Ploughshares, to conclude the WEP/IWSG December Challenge and close 2022: https://rolandclarke.com/2022/12/10/swords-to-ploughshares/

Part 7, Winter Resolution https://rolandclarke.com/2023/01/31/wep-iwsg-challenge-resolve/  This extra post leads into this month’s Challenge entry and included a plot event I foreshadowed in Part 6.

Part 8, Winds of Change https://rolandclarke.com/2023/02/15/wep-iwsg-february-challenge-gone-with-the-wind/

Part 9, Precious Relations, https://rolandclarke.com/2023/04/20/wep-iwsg-april-challenge-life-is-beautiful/  

Part 10, Inception, https://rolandclarke.com/2023/06/12/freedom-flights-part-10-inception/ .

Blurb: The Night Witches struggle with three contrasting tactics

Part 11

Shaped Encounters

Sunday, April 23^rd –  Zvenigora Restaurant, Dęblin, Lublin Voivodeship, Poland

Mariyka Shevchuk slipped out of the family restaurant into the busy dawn of birdsong pierced by a returning night exercise.

A dewy kiss brushed her cheek. Just the familiar greeting of the oak guarding her new home.

Why couldn’t it be Sergei? There had to be a way to get a harmless Russian POW into Poland. Another prayer when she thanked the Lord for the lives he has spared.

As she jogged to the hanger, she saw her chief mechanic Dariya and knew the next step.

“Dariya, heard from your pet prison guard Odarka?”

“I’m expecting to see Odarka on Wednesday evening, so we’ll have to let MiG-29 repairs distract us until then.”

“Yet another military solution,” said Mariyka, saluting the sunrise.

**

Monday, April 24^th – Control Tower, Dęblin Military Air Base, Lublin Voivodeiship, Poland

Kalyna and Vasy stood behind the air traffic controllers monitoring the incoming flight from Chayka Air. Yet the single two-seater F-16 had grown into a flight of four jets en route from Sweden.

“All the call signs indicate an impressive mix of nationalities,” said the lead controller. “Fortunately, this University base receives numerous foreign visitors.”

“Let’s count them down,” said Vasy. “So, we know what favors Kalyna’ daughter, Aliona called in for this training operation. I’m guessing four, plus the surprise.”

Their Chayka Air F-16 was first to land, followed by a US National Guard trainer, then a retired Royal Norwegian Air Force F-16.

“Your fourth plane is circling,” said the controller. “But it’s smaller than an F-16.”

He instructed the ground crews to move the three F-16 trainers into vacant revetments, then signaled the circling plane to land.

As the jet landed, Kalyna cheered the gift from their Swedish friends – a Saab JAS 39D Gripen two-seater advanced trainer.

“Your daughter Aliona’s excelled herself again. Three F-16 trainers will boost our training schedule, and that Gripen will open up the option we wanted for the Gripen flights.”

“There’s a lone F-16 on our radar, sending a Polish call sign, but claiming she’s with your Chayka training flight,” said the lead controller. “Authorize her landing?”

“Yes, definitely. Sounds just what the flight needs,”

**

When all five planes were safely in their designated bays, their air crews assembled for inspection and debriefing.

As the cousins approached the Chayka Air pilots, Vasy froze at sight of her oldest daughter in uniform. But the CA officer saluted and spoke.

“Majors, I’m your latest Polish-Ukrainian recruit Kapitan Adriana Pavlenko, and I’ve already spent over four months training on F-16s. Aliona Sokol hopes these other trainers will prepare the 2022 Night Witches for the next offensive.”

Before Vasy could question her daughter, Klara Holub saluted. “I’ve enrolled in the Faculty of Aviation here at Dęblin to train as a jet fighter pilot like you. Maybe I can aspire to be a Night Witch.”

“It’s in your blood. Make us proud.”

The two US National Guards saluted and the Major explained they were Major Lidka Andrysiak & Captain Natalie Kuzmenko from the 162nd Wing, a unit of the Arizona Air National Guard.

“We’re from mixed Ukrainian-Polish stock and have been determined to help Ukraine since last February. As the primary mission of the 162nd Wing is education and flight training of international F-16 aircrews, we instantly volunteered our services.”

In contrast, Major Signe Berntsen & Kaptein Amalie Falk had just retired from the Royal Norwegian Air Force as had the F-16 two-seater acquired by Chayka Air. Both were keen to aid the Ukrainian struggle against the Russians,

The Polish F-16 was one of Mariyka’s contacts, and already regular trainers at the University. However, over a meal at the Zvenigora, Marijka had persuaded Major Klaudia Smolak and Kapitan Zuzia Czajka to help train Witches.

Kalyna ensured all the F-16 crews had their kitbags, then showed them to their accommodation, leaving Vasy with their Swedish guests.                             

“I’m Major Ottillia Elmersson and my co-trainer here is Kapten Pernilla Eklund. Your friends at Saab are sending some support equipment so you can establish a dispersed strategy.”

“That will be invaluable as some of us believe the Night Witches’ eight Gripens give us a unique role in Ukraine’s fight. The freedom to swiftly change locations makes us special. Let’s introduce you to our Gripen flights.”

Thursday, May 25^th – Dęblin Military Air Base, Lublin Voivodeiship, Poland

The Flight of four F-16 trainers made a low-level pass over the airfield, then in turn pulled up into steep climbs, before reforming, heading south.

“Chrome leader, proceed to bombing range. Switch to Chayka channel 2.”

“Understood. Over and out.”

In the Control Tower, Kalyna smiled, pleased Anzhela Havrylyuk was proving so adept, even if Major Lidka Andrysiak was her trainer/co-pilot. Lidka had already expressed her amazement at the speed Anzhela had adapted. The other trainers were almost as impressed with their students.  

“Chayka 2 to 1. Chrome Flight arriving over range. Will report on my return. Out.”

**

After the exercise, Vasy and the trainers gathered in the Witches’ office.

“Of all your pilots who have flown this exercise,” said Lidka, “These four are the most promising-“

“-so far,” added Vasy. “None of the eight pilots flying Gripens have even flown an F-16 simulation.”

“We need to see how the Swedish trainers assess them on dispersal exercises,” said Kalyna. “We mustn’t forget Ukraine might be better suited to a jet able to use shorter runways, even dispersed sites alongside highways.”

The Polish trainer, Major Klaudia Smolak, added, “I sense you Witches are a squadron with multiple tactics.”

Friday, May 26^th – Gripen Revetments, Dęblin Military Air Base, Lublin Voivodeiship, Poland

Ottillia and Pernilla watched the last of their two Gripen flights land after the dispersal exercise. They compared their digital stopwatches and nodded.

“The fastest turnaround yet,” said Pernilla. “If we had more support vehicles, we’d be faster and more flexible.”

“Agreed. Now the Swedish Defense Minister wants Ukrainian pilots to practice on JAS 39 Gripen fighters, we should be allowed to build more support vehicles. We just need approval from Saab to replicate their design.”

Monday, June 7^th – Zvenigora Restaurant, Dęblin, Lublin Voivodeship, Poland

Mariyka Shevchuk welcomed Maksym Bondarenko to the family restaurant. “After we left Ukraine, the Witches have adopted three tactics, represented at this table by my friends.”

They joined a table under a ‘Close Encounters of the Third Kind’ movie poster.

“First, you know Anzhela Havrylyuk, and this is Major Lidka Andrysiak.”

”I’m one of their F16 trainers, and Anzhela is my star pupil. But already the squadron has two flights capable of being effective solo.”

“With the help of our Swedish friends at Saab, we’ve started a dispersal strategy.”

“I’m Major Pernilla Eklund  and this is Sergeant Zlata Kovalchuk who has proved along with her colleagues that Ukrainians can adopt a dispersed strategy with Gripens”

“Finally, this is my friend Cadet Daria Jankowski, with whom we are rebuilding crashed MiG 29s for NATO tactics.” She waved over Sergei. “And this my reformed Russian.”

FCA 1183 words

Slava Ukrayini

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