I would also suggest you actually fly Stukas in close formation and see what happens when you get jumped on the deck by P38s and other allied fighters. It doesn't take very long at all to get slaughtered.
You will also note that of all the JU87 attacks only P109 could be deemed successful (20 JU87s in three groups heading in across a 25 mile front), the other attacks were not successful.
The Axis CiC sent in 3 squads to hit the allied targets in JU87s NOE .. Nightmares, Uknighted JG26, and Shillelagh. There whole purpose was the following, quoted from the actual orders:
The idea here is to send a low wave of slow bombers to draw down the high cap usually associated with the patrol. This will ensure that our higher alt bombers get past and get us the victory. Nighmares and Uknighted will have plenty of time to become lamb chops and up at A44 to defend what should be a large bomber force going to destroy a major portion of the intended targets. (Yellow on the Map).[/list]
Basically the Axis CiC gambled on that you guys would send in the slower B24Js to hit Sardinia. So he was hoping that the JU87s would die hitting their targets and then have the time to up at the Sardinia bases and get to alt to intercept the incoming B24s. The Axis CiC left the Sardinia bases completely open.
I know the B24Js carry a heavier bomb load but the B26Bs carry 4000 lbs so 12,000 lbs total for a formation. If the Allied CiC had used those instead of the B24s it is possible that you guys could have hit Sardinia before the JU87s could have respawned in fighters and taken off and gotten to alt to intercept.
Nightmares took off at 23:38 in 109G2s. The initial B24s bombed A3 at 23:54; 16 minute window for the 109G2s (Fields opened around 23:12 and first B24 took off at 23:13)
So basically the Axis CiC guess correctly that B24s would be used
and that the JU87s would die before the allieds got to Sardinia.
The allied commander put your squad, the Fate, and the C-Hawks in B24s which was 40 pilots or 120 B24s. I know the JG44 and Chawks hit Sardinia (not sure what Fate targetted) so that is 32 Pilots or 96 B24s hitting the island.
If 8 less B24s had been shot down the frame would have been a tie. If more escorts had been assigned (only 15 from the 327th) .. quite proably more B24Js would have survived.
Overall the allied strike on Sardinia used 47 pilots (out of 95 flying) and fielded 111 planes. Sardinia was defended only by Nightmares and Uknighted .. 28 planes .. using their second lives to up there. So 96 B24s and 15 P38s versus 28 (21 109G2s and I think UKnighted were in 109G6s).
Meanwhile only 16 Spits and 4 Mossies upped over at Malta. Only A4 was attacked and one gun destroyed. Nothing was destroyed at V5.
Each CiC chose there battle plans. The Allies threw close to 49.5% of their pilots at Sardinia (pilots not planes .. so not counting the extra B24s in formation). Meanwhile they threw just 4 Mossies at A4 and V5 (no idea of escort strength but 4 Mossies can not take out a Vehicle or an airbase).
Each side decided on their priorities and took gambles. The allies gambled that taking out Sardinia targets and western sicilian would make up for a very, very weak attack on the eastern sicilian.
The Axis gambled by leaving Sardinia undefended and hoped that the second lifers would be killed in time to up and defend the island .. knowing that JU87s are basically dead if intercepted.
The net result was that both gambles paid off and the battle was fought to basically a tie. In hindsight if the Allied CiC had taken say 10 of your pilots and put them into escorts that would have given 25 escorts and still would have had 22 B24 pilots or 66 B24s. A3 was destroyed by the CHawks who also did around 30-40% damage to the city. The city was creamed by you guys and A44 was destroyed but by your lead elements and possibly mid elements. I know there was still B24s coming and dropping after most things were dead.
So hindsight suggests that too many B24s were tasked to hit the targets and that more escorts could have prevented the LW fighters from bagging 48.
