Seconds prior to the events http://www.furaffinity.net/view/5139136 .

Shaghali 'Aj-3-II's, as seen in the distance near the more-dead balloon in the image linked above.

These pilots are members of a standard frontline scout/harassment squadron, designated to swoop in faster aircraft lightly armed and fueled, harry the fronts at the time of an advance, and bullet back out as quickly as able before an opposing flight (seen in the distance, 5 strong) show up to intervene. The two planes carry roundel-and-line identification patterns, with a tick-numeral anterior to the side roundel to denote position in squadron. Anterior to that is the squadron marking, here seen as a square.

These two here (with a third in pattern to their rear-and-right) are engaging an artillery-spotting balloon, while their second-lead (also out of the shot, though seen in the above link) pours what ammunition he carries into the trenches below (seen lightly here below); the whole squadron would be light-loaded with incendiary rounds for these two purposes, not ideal for dog-fighting. Around them bursts Erenmorian time-release flak, the enemy of any Shaghali aviator.

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P.C.P.Shaghal is copyright  VoenkomVolk

Erenmor is copyright  XanderMorhaime

Endeavor Sea is copyright  Chilovek and  SavageLycan, with contributor countries/materials to those responsible.