Space 1969 - Part 4

Space 1969

Eagle Dropships

The first and only realistic dropship ever modeled.

Earth Date 15 September 1969

By September 1969 all was ready on Earth for the strike back at the Greenies.

Apollo 11 had given them all the reconnaissance they needed. Landing sites, testing of the computerised landing system on the lunar lander from the lunar descent phase, the landing and then the ascent phase to meet the command module.

In three secret locations, a fleet of Saturn V rockets went through their final countdowns to launch.

The President had given his approval to the Pentagon's plans. The strategic nuclear forces went to high alert in case there was any retaliation.

Nevada Area 51B

The countdown headed down to zero in three locations, California, Nevada and Arizona, each with 15 Saturn Vs pointed skywards, ready to be launched in waves of five. At zero the first rockets launched into the sky. 30 minutes later another wave of five launched again, and then again 60 minutes after.

Screens in the control centre showed the inspiring sight as the Colonel hummed Wagner's “Ride of the Valkyries” softly to himself. Something he had picked up in Nam.

“OK Colonel, give me a report” asked the General.

“3 aborts at California and 2 at Nevada. 1 failure to reach orbit from Nevada, the crew are being picked up in the Atlantic. 2 explosions at Arizona. 1 by fratricide, the first flight ignored an abort signal and tried to launch anyway. They exploded and took out one of the other Saturn's still on the launch pad. We have 30 slicks and 7 gunships.”

“Damn! Well, not as good as we hoped but the best we could expect. 37 ships in orbit with 60 troops on the ground. How long until Translunar injection.”

“All ships are coming up nominal so they should start the injection phase within 12 hours once the flights join up.”

“Great – I will go and report to the President.”

Moon Base 2FG5364-1

“Should I sound the alert?” asked a worried 024. “I am pretty sure you should” replied 009.

“Alert Alert Alert, multiple launches detected! Command to the control room”

“What is this now! Another Earthling spacecraft come to pester us? I told you only to use the alert for danger! You will be helping 004 if this is not important!”

“We detected 37 successful launches by the earthlings.” offered 024 politely.

“What – don't be stupid? 37! Where? Let me look. There must be something wrong with the equipment. Have you checked it?”

“Yes 001. All the equipment checks out fine. I have been checking it for the past 12 hours to make sure. We have also got confirmation from 005 at the asteroid base as well.”

“What do you mean 12 hours? Why didn't you call me immediately! Are you all idiots?” screamed 001. “Is there a conspiracy against me? Where is 004?”

“But 001, you said we had to be absolutely sure that the Earthlings had launched before bothering you with their 'meaningless antics'. Remember when you ordered that?” said 024

009 said “004 is in the warehouse stacking boxes. Do you want me to call him in to help?”

“No leave 004 there for the moment. We will use the same procedure as last time. 009 prepare the ships for an emergency exit if required.”

“002 get together a force to hold the base. When the Earthlings land I want to be ready. Anyone who is not a pilot or fixing a ship is a soldier. Do you understand?”

“009 give me status report on the missiles. Please tell me we have a least one!”

“001 we have 10 missiles ready for action!” If we had started building them when 004 suggested it we would have at least 100 thought 009.

“What only, 10 missiles! That is not enough! Well they better ALL hit or you will be facing them yourself. Hopefully when we destroy 10 ships the rest will leave. How soon until launch?”

“We can only fire when the Earthlings get to low moon orbit, when they are descending.”

Lunar Orbit & Nevada Area 51B

 The general call sign for the assault force was Eagles Force. Area 51 Space command had the call sign Red 51.

Captain of Eagle Force “Red 51 we are entering lunar orbit.

Space Command “Copy that Eagle 1. All telemetry shows nominal. We have you all in lunar orbit. Formation looks good Prepare for telemetry loss on far side orbit”

Captain “Copy that Red 51”

The General asked the Colonel. “Its 45 minutes for loss of signal on the far side of the moon, isn't it?” “Yes sir and then it is straight into separation and descent phase.”

“Radar here, we are picking up some changes in the greenies' base. “There seems to be hatches opening”

“Well no surprise there. They must know we are coming.”

Space Command “5 minutes until telemetry reconnected”

Space Command “Eagle 6 do you read? Eagle 6 do you read?”

“Copy that Red 51. We read you.”

Space Command “Alert, Alert, we have missile firing from the greenies' base. One missile heading to orbit.”

“Copy that Red 51. Trying to get a visual”

Space Command “Eagle 6, we have a second missile firing. First missile has closed to 50 klicks.”

“Copy that Red 51. We are on target for separation and lunar descent. Separation in 11 seconds and counting. ……5 seconds, 2 seconds. We have separated. Initiating descent program.”

Space Command “Copy that Eagle 6. We have 37 separations with all telemetry nominal at this stage. Missile has closed to 20 klicks. Second missile at 50 clicks. Third and fourth missiles have been launched.”

“Copy that Red 51. I have visual sighting of the missile.”

Space Command “Eagle 6 missiles at close range, 5^th missile has launched.”

“Copy that Red 51. We have visual on missile one. Lieutenant be prepared to take over command. Missile is closing”

Space Command “All Eagles Telemetry lost on Eagle 6. Telemetry lost on Blackhawk 1, Missile3 closing on Blackhawk 3, missile closing on Cowboy 4, I have 8 missiles in flight or contacted.”

Lieutenant “Red 51 we copy three hits so far. We have missiles on visual”

Space Command “Copy that Eagle 2. Telemetry lost on Cowboy 4 and Minuteman 3. Maintain radio discipline. We have you on fast descent be prepared for immediate lander exit.”

Lieutenant “Copy that Red 51. Immediate shut down and exit. I have lost visual of the missile”

Space Command “Copy that Eagle Force. Saber 4 lost telemetry. Comanche 2 has lost telemetry. Command Module Blackhawk 3 telemetry indicates significant damage. I think that was missile 4.” “Rattler 4 telemetry lost.”

Space Command “Eagle Force. One missile in flight. 20 seconds out.

Lieutenant “Red 51 we are at 9,200 feet and descending at 129 feet per second.

Space Command “Copy that Eagle 2. Everything looks good from here. You are go for landing.”

Space Command “Eagle Force. 60 seconds to landing. Minuteman 1 telemetry lost. No missiles in flight”

Lieutenant “Copy that Red 51 – we are go for landing.”

Lieutenant “Red 51 we are at 200 feet, descending at 22 feet, forward at 10. 130 feet down at 16,  forward 6, 100 feet, 90 feet, down at 8, 3 forward, 40 feet, 30 feet, down at 4, 20 ,down 2, contact light, engines off. Red 51, the Screaming Eagles have landed!”

Tranquility Forward Operating Base

Space Command “Copy that Eagle 2. We have 24 landers down on target. Blackhawk 2 and Comanche 1 are attacking the target. The Apache 2 and 3 are on their way. Estimated time on target is 22 minutes.”

Space Command “Eagle Force we have you located. Enemy position is 300 meters 95 degrees from Eagle 2.”

Lieutenant “All Eagle Force, lock and load, deploy and take up firing position. Wait for the Gunships and follow them in.”

“General we have 48 men on the moon. Permission to start the assault?” said the Colonel.

“Colonel. You have my permission to begin the assault. Destroy the green menace!”

Space Command “Eagle 2 you are ordered to begin the assault. Please confirm!”

The 101st Space & Airborne Division dropped on the Moon at Tranquility Base in September 1969.

A force of 24 Eagle Dropships delivered a Screaming Eagles force of 48 men to the moon.

As Eagle force organised themselves and took up firing positions, Eagle gunships hovered above providing close fire support for the hot LZ.

A close up of the Eagle Gunship showing its air to air and air to ground missiles plus its two mini guns.

Models

Dropships from Revell 1/100 scale.
Gunship from Action Toys with added guns
Screaming Eagle Astronauts from Khurasan Miniatures - 15mm Federal Defence Force Exterminator Squad in Extreme Environment Suits.