In desperation, Danta forced his squadron back to the base so they could reload but they were falling apart. Spooked by the noise of the battle, the goff birds had drifted from the attack formation and there was no hard and fast way to call them back. Suddenly there was a sharp scream accompanied by the smell of burning. With a sickening feeling, Danta noticed the bird on his left wing falling to the ground, a smouldering carcass. Yet there was no time for that now, with another cry he closed the formation but before they were back to the base two more birds were lost.