Urgent mission now, as always.
Looks like our guys got caught.
We are flying days and nights
At own peril and own risk.
Marking place in my map-holder
In that square like in a birdcage
Our recon gasps for air
Trapped in damned mountains

Got objectives on the briefing -
Need some luck to start completing
We’re pushed for time or else
Whole platoon is gonna die.
Engine start - no time for runup
The technician in old suit
Slaps my aircraft’s wing edge1
And two “rooks” are taking off!

We can not admire the landscape -
We should be on guard while flying
Making turns between the mountains
Come on, bro, don’t be so slow.
We're flying round the hill and
Taking look while in a pullup.
Whoa! What a gangbang’s there!
Care, wingman and stay tight!

Hey, down there, hold on dogfaces
Time for us to take an action!
- ”Gatlings, 30 to your left!” -
Shouts the “ground” in headphones
Making turn and laying HE-s
And while breaking over target
Craft is suffering heavy bumpings
Like I’m driving country road

Traces round me like the web strings
I’m maneuvering on toes
What a story do we have here -
Like the Rooks by Savrasov
We arrived for the rescue
Getting very warm reception
But the “ground” is keeping silence,
Come on, recon, speak to me!

Somersaulting and rolling
Upteenth time I'm telling:
I’ll retire after this one,
Don’t want coffin in my home2.
Why on hell to military?3?
When in civil - different story
I would have a car, a mansion
And be piloting a "bus"4.

My poor “rook” got heavy damage
I will bite them back for this one
And i see in my direction
Flying purple-colored balls
Though the miracles still happen -
I’m alive, but being hit hard
Smart in eyes from perspiration
And no refuge from the heat.

Getting hot - it’s not just warming
Sending “presents” to the ground
Very hard to fly the flag
Under such a hail of lead
Air gun is like a tank’s one -
Bark and bumpings from it firing
Like I'm mouse in a tin can
Being pummeled by rock drill!!!

Let’s not get into the reports
For them not to drink for our souls’
Squirming like snake on the panful
All my ammo have been used.
Simulating air attacks
Time to get out of this battle
Fuel tanks are close to empty
And plane’s cracked all it’s ribs.

Shivers ran down my spine:
"Rook" is nodding like he’s tired
So, my life is open question -
Craft is absolutely wrecked.
But it's still alive and breathing
Like there's someone up there helping
And i hear in the headphones:
“Hey, flyers… Thank you, guys!”

On back bearing, decrabbed
Left behind all shells and bullets
Law invented by Bernoulli
Keeps my “rook” in the air
Craft holds on on wing and prayer
And the blood from nose is running
Looks like i’ll get in med.unit
A good healing grue from doc.

Outer, inner5 and the landing
Drag chute smacked behind, deploying
After taxiing i’ll step backwards
And don’t touch me for some time.
Somewhere’s fight, but far from here
And around is such a summer…
Tech will give me cig and fire
Cheer up, guys, life's going on!