Episode 33 of Freedom Flights continues the Mirage chapter for the Night Witches and develops the MIA story in Kursk, which must conclude dramatically in Episode 34.
Until a just peace for Ukraine is reached, I will continue to write more episodes, never forgetting the brave people fighting for freedom. Let’s pray Western aid and weapons continue to reach the country and in time to change their fortunes in preparing for the just peace that must come soon.
Links to the previous episodes can be found on my Freedom Flights page via the left-hand sidebar.
Episode 33 – Timed Intervention
2024
Friday, September 6th – Dęblin Military Air Base, Lublin Voivodeship, Poland
Kapitan Aleks Górski stared at the image on the screen, trying hard to dismiss the first thoughts that had invaded her shocked mind.
“Nadia would never have chosen a tattoo like that,” said Lieutenant Aline Bonheur. “The three-pronged trident surrounded by wheat stalks and sunflowers is patriotic but too risky for an undercover agent.”
“I’d have noticed it on her upper right arm,” said Aleks. “But it was disturbing, as was the report about these bodies at a farm near Sudzha.”
Lieutenant Cecilija Lusk put her arm around Aleks’s shoulder.
“I’m relieved but sorry you had to see that whilst alone. Let’s hope Dasha finds her soon.”
Aline looked up at the office clock.
“Time to go out to the DACT training and discover whether Ruby Flight has to face the French Mirages or the Canadian Hornets.”
**
Environs of Dęblin Military Air Base, Lublin, Poland
Aline landed the NH90 Caïman beside the PZL SW-4 Puszczyk with the DACT referees from the Academy. Brajan Rudawski had been the initial choice as the Night Witches had worked with him, but he also recommended the Academy’s senior Fast Jet trainer, Illya Borysov.
When Aline and her crew joined the referees, Illya welcomed them.
“I’m grateful for this chance to judge your latest recruits, and I presume you have studied the Rules of Engagement that Brajan and I agreed on with the flight leaders. They suggested one of you three as a third referee. I believe Kapitan Aleks Górski, you flew an F-16 in these sorts of exercises.”
“Correct, sir,” replied Aleks. “I experienced a few exercises in the Polish Air Force… and when I was one of your students here at the School of Eagles.”
Illya smiled and then saluted her.
“I called Aleks ‘Orlę’ in Polish… Eaglet. She was the smartest pilot of her year, so who better to watch these recruits?” He paused and then continued. “In this exercise, the Mirages are in the Red Air aggressor-training role, simulating a Russian threat, against the Hornets, defending as Blue Air. However, Blue Air is flying with normal weapons loadout for training purposes in peacetime mode.”
“How do we assess them if they’re not using a similar weapons loadout?” asked Aleks. “Unless we run a second exercise with roles reversed. So, Hornets are the threat aircraft in fighter combat mode, and the Mirages are in peacetime training loadout.”
“Exactly,” said Illya, directing everyone into the NH90 Caïman and asking Aline for access to the radio and radar.
“Blue Air take up a defensive position. Red Air, prepare to attack in 30 seconds.”
All ten aircraft had ACMI pods and instruments for Air Combat Maneuvering Instrumentation monitoring, which tracks, records, and analyses aircraft data during air combat training. Additional instruments were installed on Sierra to assist the referees.
Capitaine Éliane Nowicki gave her five Red Air Mirage 2000-5Fs their first firing order.
“Each launch three MBDA MICA missiles then split away.”
ACMI showed fifteen missiles streaking towards Blue Air, causing the Hornet flight leader, Captain Lyana Rudenko, to order a response.
“Evasive manoeuvre low over wrecks. Release SUU-42A/A Infrared decoys. Launch two AIM-132 ASRAAM missiles, then cloud.”
The fifteen MICA missiles impacted the decoys or the wrecked tanks, but fifteen more MICAS followed the Hornets as Éliane ordered her response.
“Deploy countermeasures and use Delta G ploy. Wait for ROE threat change.”
Aleks looked at her fellow referees as Blue Air evaded the second MICA salvo. Ten more ASRAAM missiles streaked towards the Mirages as the Hornets disappeared into the clouds.
“Blue Air is handling the medium-range attacks,” said Illya. “Time to raise the threat level, please, Aleks.”
“Threat raised. Close engagement and radar jamming permitted,” she told the flights. “Please ensure ACMI remains active, or you will be penalised individually.”
Within a minute, the Mirages had climbed above the clouds close to their maximum ceiling of 17,060 metres or 55,970 feet, slightly above the Hornet’s ceiling. Again, the Mirages used their countermeasures against the ASRAAM missiles.
“Radar jammed. Does anyone see or detect Blue Air? Soleil over.”
There was silence for a minute as Red Air flew as slowly as they dared, searching for the Hornets, which had to be below somewhere. Then Lieutenant Noémi Tamm radioed back.
“Chêne to Soleil. Tail of one Blue below where I’m now flying. Do we dive down using Delta G attack or launch our Matra 68 mm unguided rockets? Chêne over.”
“Soleil to flight. Presume visible Blue leads formation. Leave space to attack behind them. Use Delta G. Over and out.”
Within seconds, the Mirages had dived into the clouds led by Soleil, Capitaine Éliane Nowicki.
The Hornets were waiting below the clouds but not in a tight formation. The Mirages had dived into a circle of opponents who targeted them individually with Zuni practice rockets.
Each Mirage dispensed flares as they executed a tight 9G turn aided by the jet’s delta-wing to bring the Mirage behind an opposing Hornet… in theory.
However, Captain Lyana Rudenko had prepared her flight beforehand.
“Cardinal to flight. When Red Air drops through the clouds behind Osprey’s decoy tail, engage with Zunis, but prepare for their eye-watering turns with your own to tail them. Cardinal over and out.”
So, some Mirages met mirror turns and were riddled with notional cannon fire while others claimed their Hornet targets.
“Excellent exercise, Blue and Red pilots, thank you,” said Illya. “Refuel and rearm for reverse exercise.”
*
Dęblin Military Air Base, Lublin Voivodeship, Poland
Once Kapitan Adriana Pavlenko and Ruby Flight had been directed into the bays for refuelling and rearmament, their ground crew told them the other pilots were being debriefed.
“Time to discover who we’ll be up against for the honour of the squadron.”
Adriana led the other Gripen pilots into the room where the French and Quebecois pilots were being debriefed.
“Just in time to learn who you’re facing,” said Illya. “But too late to learn their strategies.”
“Except they don’t know ours,” said Adriana. “Unless someone has seen videos of our Gripens shooting down Russian Sukhoi Su-30SMs in Kursk.”
The rival pilots laughed nervously.
“This should be interesting,” said Aleks. “As well as instructive. The ACMI monitoring from the earlier exercises has provided beneficial real-time training.”
“Observations made in combat at Mach 1 to 2 can never be accurate,” said Brajan. “that’s why debriefings using all the available monitoring are invaluable.”
“These exercises make you all better prepared for real air combat when mistakes can cost your life or a wing sister’s,” added Illya. “Now the team to attack the Saab JAS 39 Gripen C Flight… is neither the CF-18 Hornets nor the Mirage 2000-5Fs.”
The pilots looked confused, but Illya grinned. After a pause, he explained.
“When we reversed Blue and Red Air, you again employed some intriguing tactics making it hard to name a winning team across the two exercises. Therefore, we decided to form a mixed team composed of two Mirages and two Hornets.”
“Capitaine Éliane Nowicki and Captain Lyana Rudenko, as you were ultimately responsible for your flight’s tactics, we’ve decided to let you choose two other pilots to fly with you,” said Aleks. “They don’t have to be one from each team, just the two best pilots.”
*
Ten minutes later, Éliane and Lyana had made their choice.
“Initially, two pairs of similar jets made the most workable sense,” said Lyana.
“Until three Mirages and one Hornet presented the more interesting challenge,” continued Éliane. “But we have a question: ‘Are we expected to fly our original jets?’ Apologies for testing the ROC.”
The referees hastily discussed this.
“We didn’t specify that, “said Illya. “What are you planning?”
“Four Mirages as the ultimate goal is integrating them into the squadron,” said Lyana. “Both Lieutenant Tatiana Ojala and I were flying Mirages before we left Chayka Air and are keen to fly them again.”
“Lieutenant Anaëlle Michel will be our fourth flight sister,” added Éliane.
The referees and the Gripen pilots all smiled.
“I suggest Red Air gets to know each other and prepare tactics,” said Illya. “The final exercise starts in ninety minutes at 1400.”
*
Adriana gave Ruby Flight one last order before the Mirages of Red Air attacked.
“Rain to Flight. Remember, the Mirages are faster than us and have a higher maximum ceiling, but our Gripens are more manoeuvrable even against the Mirage’s notorious delta-wing turns. Tight one or two circles can win again. But first, remember to use those tank wrecks. Rain out.”
The Mirages opened their attack with their MBDA MICA missiles, two against each Gripen. As the missiles closed, the Gripens flew low over the wrecked tanks, activating their electronic countermeasures and launching their four radar-guided MBDA Meteor missiles at the four Mirages.
“Release countermeasures and launch two more MICAs. Soleil out.”
Éliane knew the Gripens must have more missiles, so she forestalled them.
“Soleil to Cardinal prepare to split flight for Dual Delta manoeuvre when threat level raised. Soleil out.’
As Blue Air released twelve IRIS-T infrared homing missiles, the referees raised the level, and two pairs of Mirages flew towards the flanks of the Gripen formation. Éliane responded.
“Target incoming missiles with remaining MICAS and Blue Air with two Matra Super 530s. Use cannon when closing. Soleil out.”
Lyana knew Tatiana might be confused, so she added clarification.
“Cardinal to Osprey. Think of the CRV7 salvo from Hornets. Cardinal out.”
The two sides closed on each other, and missiles and jets streaked into multiple collisions. Meteors evaded countermeasures as IRIS-T met MICAS. Cannon fire cleared surviving missiles as jets turned circles around each other. G-forces pressed on pilots, using every particle of their strength to keep their blood flowing and their minds alert.
Experience combating swarms of Russian projectiles had prepared the nimbler Gripens to fly tight circles around the faster Mirages.
“Bean, above you.”
“Coccinelle, on your tail.”
“Ant, turn right.”
“Gannet, deck-turn away.”
The referees were unsure of the intricate dogfight’s twists and turns, but Illya said he was convinced of one thing.
“The Night Witches will be the Russians’ worst nightmare.”
“If we’re entrusted with anything more than medevac,” said Aline.
**
Saturday, September 14th – Rylsk, Kursk Oblast, Russia
Lieutenant Dimitri Bogomolov shouted over his intercom at Dasha.
“Anzhelina Isakova, come to my office at once.”
Knowing Dimitri, after a week of incessant orders and demands, Dasha was prepared for anything if it helped her mission.
For once, Dimitri was smiling when she walked into his office and gave him and Putin’s portrait the required salutes.
“Anzhelina, I spoke to my friend Kapitan Gavriil Lagunov at Khalino Air Base, and there is a vacancy in his department if he agrees with my assessment of you. I’m not sure if I could dispense with your assistance, but I’ll manage somehow.” He paused to glance at a piece of paper before handing it to her. “This pass will get you onto the base to see Gavriil at 1300 on Monday. I emailed him your credentials, plus my assessment, and copied you in so everything is clear.”
“Many thanks, Lieutenant. I’ll report back on Tuesday. I’m sure there will be work here even if I get recruited.”
**
Monday, September 16th – Khalino Air Base, Kursk Oblast, Russia
Dasha observed the base from a safe distance, assessing the size of this contingent of the Russian Aerospace Forces. She wasn’t exactly infiltrating, but she needed to prepare for the task ahead. If Nadia was found where Dmitri had said women POWs were taken, then Khalino Air Base was central to Dasha’s plan to return them to Ukraine.
She drove her UAZ Patriot to the base’s entrance, where two armed guards demanded to know what a civilian was doing in a restricted military area.
She produced the pass and said, “Kapitan Gavriil Lagunov needs to interview me at 1300. My name is Anzhelina Isakova.”
One soldier went into their guard hut and checked if she was genuine. When he returned, he ordered her to park the UAZ and wait. Some minutes later, two more guards arrived in a military UAZ and told her they would take her to Kapitan Lagunov.
The Kapitan’s office was at the back of a hangar where mechanics were working on a Sukhoi Su-30SM fighter. Lagunov was a short man with receding dark hair and slightly grey at the temples. Dasha saluted him and Putin’s portrait as Dimitri had demanded.
“A civilian with respect, as the Lieutenant informed me,” stated Gavriil. “He sent me your credentials, which FSB had approved. Naturally, I ran my own security check as Dimitri was somewhat unreliable. Fortunately, his assessment of you, Isakova, seems to be borne out by FSB.”
He paused and studied a document before continuing. “I believe you studied with Elvira Volkova. A sad loss as she mastered my needs quickly. You studied together?”
“Information Systems and Technologies at Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University for three years,” replied Dasha. “I hope the degree course has value to you.”
“If you can handle all our spare parts orders as efficiently as Volkova. With the illegal sanctions imposed because of our special military operation, some parts must be obtained from the ARC Group in Kazakhstan. Of course, they understand our language.”
“I will be honoured to serve however I can, Kapitan Lagunov.”
*
Dasha was escorted back to her car and then directed off the base. She found a secure location to call Dimitri.
“Lieutenant, I’ve been offered the job by Kapitan Gavriil Lagunov. I start as soon as I’ve helped you sort your office needs.”
“Anzhelina, timely move. You don’t need to return. I’m moving to a secure location since my superiors have ordered the evacuation of settlements in the district within 15 kilometres of the Ukrainian border. The enemy is still advancing, so you will be safer in Kursk. Pray for me.”
“I will. Goodbye, and thanks for your help, Lieutenant.”
Dasha realised Dimitri was using the situation to escape facing his enemies and prayed justice would overtake him. She would return to Rylsk to say farewell to Elvira’s mother, but first, she must call her Kursk contact, who would advance her attack plan.
“Zharptitsa seeks sanctuary, having obtained the position at Khalino. Other news?”
“You’re welcome, Zharptitsa. Feniks is alive, and our comrades are bringing her here. As you discovered, she was taken to Malaya Loknya Women’s Prison and interrogated. But the guards fled with her and other prisoners before Ukrainian forces captured the prison. However, Feniks later escaped and messaged us.”
“I’m jubilant and will arrive later to learn more.”
MPA 2,446 words
Slava Ukraini
Heroiam slava!
Writing Wings 