Author Topic: CAG-44/FAA 880 Escort and Bomber Mission on tap for tonight. (Read 1422 times)

Reschke · « **on:** March 18, 2004, 03:15:11 PM »

Tonight CAG-44 (consisting of VF-17 and VF-27) will be escorting FAA 880 on a bomber run tonight for the Allies.

As of now we have Stream's 325 VFG who will be coming up as OPFOR on the Japanese side. If you want to take part on either side please let the respective squadron CO's know about it so we can get the information to you on the mission. The start time is going to be 9:00 Central Time for the mission.

Jester · « **Reply #1 on:** March 18, 2004, 04:43:36 PM »

Reschke,

You can count 800 FAA in. Just tell us where you want us.

!

Viper61 · « **Reply #2 on:** March 18, 2004, 11:06:43 PM »

325th AAR 18 Mar 04
Mission: Fighter Cap A30

325th upped A18 2217 EST (12 personnel) on heaading 180 to 11 grid line. Course change to 090 to A30. Flight level at 22K. Missions of 317th and 319th to attack fighter escort. Engage in turn fight and bring fighter low away from bombers. Mission of 318th was to bypass fighter escort and engage bombers.

317th and 319th engaged enemy aircraft at 22K west of Kula Gulf. Most enemy aircraft in F6F's appromimately 10 with 2 to 4 F4U's. 317th and 319th in A6M5's.

Great fight that lasted 10 minutes. Enemy aircraft were drawn to lower altitudes very quickly and into turn fight as planned. Also fight was over a carrier battle group and AAA fire helped as well.

Outcome: 7 kills 1 lose. Many damaged aircraft that landed safely.

318th attack on enemy bomber formation attacked as planned. Enemy fighter escort drawn away by 317th and 319th. 318th used KI61's. Attempted slashing attacks. Bomber formation tight and coordinated.

Outcome: 0 kills 4 loses. 318th reported several damaged aircraft in attack.

Damage to A30 from bomber attack was fair. West side of base in flames, east side no damage. Many hits to runway south end, airfield remained useable with fighter hangers up and 75% fuel.

Good mission plan, 325th enjoyed the mission. It's always fun to take on other professional squads in the CT. Thank you for the invite to the mission.

Lt. Viper61
325th G-2

"Take your time, and never get into a hurry to die"

Soulyss · « **Reply #3 on:** March 18, 2004, 11:23:01 PM »

I got off the ground late and ran into the furball with the escorts about half way through was great fun. Knocked a couple down and found myself very alone and with like 12 bullets left in 1 MG and an angry Reschke chasing me all over the place till i called for help on country channel and managed to land it.

Thanks to everyone who put this together.

Oldman731 · « **Reply #4 on:** March 19, 2004, 07:02:03 AM »

Quote

Originally posted by Soulyss
Thanks to everyone who put this together.

I join in this. My participation was typically brief, but it was fun to see the thing unfolding. Missions like this, which are advertised in advance, aren't focused on landgrabbing tactics, and which result in good air-to-air battles, are a lot of fun.

- oldman

Reschke · « **Reply #5 on:** March 19, 2004, 07:51:24 AM »

Yep it was fun and a bit scary when I got jumped by two Zekes close on my tail. I pulled the old Corsair trick of rolling over and diving down. I was about 17k-19k and FINALLY recovered about 500 feet because I forgot to pull back after trying to get my guns on a bad guy chasing one of the three Corsairs we had up. Then I started pulling out north and got to around 4k over the north side of A30. I spotted a lone Tony just slowly climbing out and started working my way toward him. Right when I got inside of what looked like .9 or so he broke hard left and down and I got some twinkle of ineffective hits on him. Then Arlo came through and finished him off.

That is all I have for now till the AAR from VF-17 comes out later today.

o0Stream140o · « **Reply #6 on:** March 19, 2004, 11:19:06 AM »

Quote

Originally posted by Oldman731
Missions like this, which are advertised in advance, aren't focused on landgrabbing tactics, and which result in good air-to-air battles, are a lot of fun.

Oldman,
I would like to know your definition of a landgrab. Is just porking an airbase or just hitting anything on the ground a landgrab.

Okay how about this... if three seperate targets were broadcasted on the BBS that were going to be potenital targets, when in fact only one will be hit... I mean coming out and just saying what we are hitting is kind of boring... and something more than just bomber escort...

I am asking this not to be smart but to find something for the CT to do that will be enjoyed by everyone and not just a few. Everyone knows that the CT is stale right now... but instead of everyone whining and cutting up on everyone, why don't we collectively try to do something to make it better instead of getting in everyones face...

Just my 2 cents....

Grits · « **Reply #7 on:** March 19, 2004, 11:34:17 AM »

I dont want to speak for Oldman, but I think he means MA style base capture when he says "landgrab".

I could not make the mission in time to go along but I got there when the stuff hit the fan. I was in the IJN CA fleet just SE of A30 and was looking up at a huge furball through the sight in my 5" gun. Got a couple of assists as the USN got lower.

These missions are great fun, from either side. From the opposition side, half the fun is the debate on what and where the target is. I would like to see, someday, one of these each night. If during the week 2-3 allied and 2-3 axis missions are run it would add a really fun dimension to the CT. They dont even have to be intricate plans, just have it announced that "something" will happen so that opposition can be set up, no other intel need be provided.

Grits · « **Reply #8 on:** March 19, 2004, 11:42:01 AM »

Oh yeah, I forgot to add that it would help a lot if EVERY Allied squad did not have squad nights on tuesday and thursday. I know its none of my business when they hold their squad nights, but 3-5 Allied squads having squadnight at the same time is...whats the word I'm looking for...overwhelming.

Soulyss · « **Reply #9 on:** March 19, 2004, 01:35:24 PM »

Quote

I was in the IJN CA fleet just SE of A30 and was looking up at a huge furball through the sight in my 5" gun. Got a couple of assists as the USN got lower.

We gotta have a little talk some over anxious gunners down there put a few holes in my Ki-61 too.

Grits · « **Reply #10 on:** March 19, 2004, 01:51:30 PM »

Yup, guilty as charged. I was shooting at anything that moved.

Reschke · « **Reply #11 on:** March 19, 2004, 02:12:14 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by Grits
Oh yeah, I forgot to add that it would help a lot if EVERY Allied squad did not have squad nights on tuesday and thursday. I know its none of my business when they hold their squad nights, but 3-5 Allied squads having squadnight at the same time is...whats the word I'm looking for...overwhelming.

I think you are on to something here Grits but at the same time if the majority of these guys are only available to fly on those nights then we can't just force them to fly other nights. I know its frustrating from the opposition side to look up and see things like that happening.

However last night was a blast to be flying along and suddenly you have 10+ "possible bandits" coming at you from "your 11 o clock high". Then in about 45 seconds it was furball city at ~18k with AAA puffs rocking the planes.

Oldman731 · « **Reply #12 on:** March 19, 2004, 02:32:24 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by Grits
I dont want to speak for Oldman, but I think he means MA style base capture when he says "landgrab".

Actually, Grits did a pretty thorough job of speaking for me. The type of landgrab I object to is just what he says: swarming the base with overwhelming numbers, vulching anyone who tries to take off, that sort of thing. For all I know, this may be the only way to actually take a base; if so, I object to base taking, not just landgrabbing.

What we saw last night, and a week ago with the big P-47 raid, and on other occasions, was an announced raid at an undisclosed target. This lets a cohesive opposition form, but keeps them guessing about the exact target. Probably it will not usually end in a base capture, but who cares? Bomb a GV base, or a factory, or something like that. There will be some sort of damage which can be assessed for the bomber folks, the fighter people will have real fights using more-or-less authentic escort and interception tactics, and the whole thing ends up being lots of fun for everyone. Seems to me that whenever this sort of mission takes place, the boards the next day are full of compliments to the assaulting force. It doesn't take forever, like the dedicated SEA events do; it can almost be done off the cuff, when the urge strikes any given group of people.

- oldman

Oldman731 · « **Reply #13 on:** March 19, 2004, 02:33:26 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by Reschke
spotted a lone Tony just slowly climbing out and started working my way toward him. Right when I got inside of what looked like .9 or so he broke hard left and down and I got some twinkle of ineffective hits on him. Then Arlo came through and finished him off.

LOL. But I think your target may have been a Zeke, IIRC.

- oldman

o0Stream140o · « **Reply #14 on:** March 19, 2004, 05:36:07 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by Oldman731
What we saw last night, and a week ago with the big P-47 raid, and on other occasions, was an announced raid at an undisclosed target.

Hummm, funny.... was that the one that was flown on thursday... because we did one then.... and I know none of my guys said anything... Just curious...

Oldman I agree with you on land grabbing then, when we set our targets it's something like an ammo fac, radar, fuel, and etc... or just something as simple as a bridge... We try to base our missions on historical basis from each map that is up... but like I said I will give a three target area then we can go from there...