Author Topic: The worst mission ever  (Read 921 times)

Offline bounder

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The worst mission ever
« on: January 06, 2004, 05:29:38 AM »
It was all my fault.

A strategic bombing mission, planned to the last minute details. 7 of us in 21 Fully loaded Lancasters on a 400 mile round trip to the Bish strat targets located on the western side of the northern arm of land in trinity.

What a sight, 21 lancasters in "amorphous blob formation" formed up on my lead as we crept upwards.

For a hundred miles we flew, until we saw the mountains ahead - pootling along lvl at 19k and 13 boost.

Judging the height of the ridge to be above 19k we banked right and pushed into autclimb and full boost.

Seeing a gap in the peaks to port, I banked in and led all 21 bombers into a blind alley at 22,000 ft.

To my knowledge not one bomber crew survived, although I think DMDZanth managed to get his gear out and ditch.

If I had chosen to bank right, and maintain a spiral climb, it would have been a strategic strike worthy of 68Aces & 68 Doctor, but no, I was in a hurry ( ithought you were in a Lanc?), and made a rash, and ultimately fatal decision.

To my hapless mission collaborators - a thousand apologies, Today is the first time I have flown AH since the incident, I have been so shaken and demoralised.

Rest assured the next mission I put up, I will fly the route beforehand! (although it may be some time before I have the temerity to post any mission).


:)

Offline Grendel

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The worst mission ever
« Reply #1 on: January 06, 2004, 06:20:03 AM »
I've led my whole squadron into an alley between mountains as well. The escort fighters had quite a sight with the Ju-88s all crashing at the end of the alley... :)

Worse was in a historical scenario, when I decided to take off to one of the two possible directions with the whole Luftwaffe Ju88 force. Well, the hills were too close to turn and too steep to climb. After the CM recovered from his laughing he believed my expnalation about "sudden local storm wrecking all planes" and gave us new equipment :)

(both in WB)

Offline Hap

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The worst mission ever
« Reply #2 on: January 06, 2004, 06:27:06 AM »
ah heck.  do it again.

Offline Gloves

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The worst mission ever
« Reply #3 on: January 06, 2004, 11:10:39 AM »
:rofl

Offline Wanker

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The worst mission ever
« Reply #4 on: January 06, 2004, 11:22:08 AM »
LOL Bounder, join the club. One time in Warbirds, I led my entire squad into the side of a mountain. Boy, did I get razzed about that!

No worries, watermelon happens. :)

Offline Grits

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The worst mission ever
« Reply #5 on: January 06, 2004, 11:41:22 AM »
CFIT. Controlled Flight Into Terrain. Happens all the time in RL so dont feel too bad. :)

Offline Seeker

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The worst mission ever
« Reply #6 on: January 06, 2004, 11:46:52 AM »
Done it in anAW3 scenario: Ploesti!; I had my P133 on "minimum graphic settings" and led my whole flight of Jabo 38's in a mountain that materialised AT THE LAST SECOND!! out of nowhere.

No one crashed; but the flight split up to go around the peak; and spent the next two sectors making attack runs on each other until we all worked out we were friendly and reformed......(short icon settings....)

Offline palef

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The worst mission ever
« Reply #7 on: January 06, 2004, 01:20:03 PM »
This gave me a chuckle. Thanks for that :)

BTW "amorphous blob formation" is historically correct for Lancasters. Did you string them out over about 4000ft of alt as well?

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Offline icemaw

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The worst mission ever
« Reply #8 on: January 06, 2004, 03:49:31 PM »
I recall a mission ripsnort put up once. A tiffy raid we upped 20/25 tiffs flying NOE. We are off to kill a HQ fly noe all the way there we come up to the HQ area on the top of a large hill. We start climbing up the mountain at an angle using the side of the mountain to stay NOE. Well as we get to the top he says follow me and we turn up a steep canyon. He calls out wep on I can hear the doubt creaping into his voice. As I watch my speedometer drop 275 250 225 200 175 stall horn blaring. A large smile forming on my face. I look out the canopy I see some pilots putting gear down and touching down on the side of the hill others allready striking props and coming to a hault. Other still stalling and exploding. I myself get my gear down and manage to land with out any trouble. The lucky ones to have gotten gear down try to power up the slope but it aint happening. Finally we give up I look around and see 15/20 tiffs laying about on this hill some broken up some engine idleing. I was ROTFLMFAO. I have a screen and film of it somewhere. We didnt make it to target but it was a blast anyways.
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Offline lasersailor184

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The worst mission ever
« Reply #9 on: January 06, 2004, 04:26:21 PM »
That would be really funny to see.
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Offline bounder

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The worst mission ever
« Reply #10 on: January 06, 2004, 06:06:57 PM »
I feel much much better.

Now, about this mass NOE stuka raid I have in mind....

Offline Saintaw

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The worst mission ever
« Reply #11 on: January 07, 2004, 04:01:17 AM »
This happened to Abbeville kids only last week... the whole lot of us in Typhoons augering into the mountain near V34 on NB's map.
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Offline Saintaw

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The worst mission ever
« Reply #12 on: January 07, 2004, 04:01:18 AM »
This happened to Abbeville kids only last week... the whole lot of us in Typhoons augering into the mountain near V34 on NB's map.
Saw
Dirty, nasty furriner.

Offline Ack-Ack

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The worst mission ever
« Reply #13 on: January 07, 2004, 04:09:43 AM »
Don't feel bad.  I remember one squad night many years ago, my squad took off with me at the tail end charlie slot when I accidently pulled the trigger and it got stuck. I ended up shooting down all of my squad mates before some of them even had a chance to get their wheels off the ground.  I was delegated to Goon duty for a week until my PNG status cleared up.



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Offline DYGCaps

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The worst mission ever
« Reply #14 on: January 07, 2004, 04:10:07 AM »
:rofl