識別できないからはぐれた説にこだわってるところ申し訳ないけど、
実は味方とばらけたのはこのベテランに編隊長機が急襲受けたからなんだよねｗ

"The leader of the Zeros was good and he hit our division leader
in the engine, putting him in the water (he was later picked up).
As I had pulled up so hard and steep, I lost my wingman,
but avoided the Zeros as they dove by."