Posted before but worth repeating, at least in my warped mind
2nd Tactical Airforce Spring/Summer '44
Situation:The 2nd Tactical Air Force (2nd TAF) was formed to support the Allied invasion of, and subsequent ground operations in, Western Europe. The campaign in North Africa had proved the value of highly mobile and responsive air forces acting in direct support of the ground troops. Prior to the operations in Sicily and Italy, the air elements supporting the 1st and 8th Armies were combined to form the 1st Tactical Air Force, popularly known as the Desert Air Force. In preparation for the invasion of Western Europe, the formation of a second tactical air force began in Britain in June 1943 drawing in existing squadrons from Fighter, Bomber, and Army Co-Operation Commands.
Initially, 2nd TAF comprised three groups. There were two close support groups, consisting of fighters, fighter bombers and reconnaissance aircraft to provide intimate support to the two armies that comprised the 21st Army Group, the British Commonwealth contribution to the invasion of western Europe. 83 and 84 Groups would operate with, respectively, the 2nd British and 1st Canadian Armies. The third group was intended for more general support and to fulfil this role 2 Groups, consisting of light and medium bombers, was transferred from Bomber Command. In order to provide the flexibility required to support highly mobile ground operations the maintenance components of each squadron were separated to form independent airfield operating units, the role of which was to establish forward landing grounds from which any squadron could operate. In early 1944 85 group - a fourth - was added to 2nd TAF to provide protection for Allied base areas both in southern England, and in Europe once the invasion began.
2nd TAF, alongside its American equivalent the United States 9th Air Force, carried out its intended role throughout the operations in western Europe during 1944 and early 1945. The weight of aerial firepower that the Allied armies had at their disposal proved telling in their victory over the Germans.
Planeset:
2nd Tactical Airforce OOB
Spitfire Mk IX
Typhoon Ib
Mustang III
Boston III
Mosquito Mk VI
Lancaster III
Seafire IIc (perked 5 points)
Spitfire Mk XIV (perked 25 points)
Tempest V (perked 35 points)
Luftwaffe OOB
Bf 109G-6
Fw 190A-5
Fw 190A-8
Ju 88A-4
Ju 87D-3
Bf 110G-2(perked 15 points)
Standard vehicles for the time period will be available, with Tiger perked 25 points.
Setup:
ALL PERKS WILL BE RESET!
There will be NO Dot-DAR only Bar-DAR.
Field Capture will be OFF!!, yes I said OFF.
Fields will be captured but this will be achieved in non-convential ways, through CT administrated
"Operational" nights.
First night will be Friday at 9pm-12pm EST, it will cover the air ops leading up to the invasion. The Allies will
be given a set of objectives to complete within the three hours. All bases in England will be Allied all on the
Continent will be Luftwaffe. The Luftwaffe objectives for the second Operational night will hinge on the Allies
success or failure.
Second night will be Sunday night 8-11pm EDT, this will be invasion night! The Vehicle bases 100-103 will
become Allied, these are the invasion beaches. Allied vehicles only will become available here. It will be
up to the Luftwaffe/Wehrmacht to slow the landing of supplies as much as possible.(The invasion can not be stopped).
The base availabilty in the next Operational night for the Allies will hinge on the Luftwaffe's success or failure.
Third night will be Tuesday night 9pm-12pm EDT, it will cover the Breakout phases(Operation Cobra). The Allies will
recieve single-engine aircraft at "forward bases". If the Luftwaffe achieves no objectives on the second night, the
Allies will control V98 through V103 and A60 as FBs. One Objective V98-v103 will be Allied, two V99-V103 and finally if all four were achieved only v100-103 will be Allied FBs. For this frame the Allies will be charged with "capturing" Cherbourg(Also Caen if not taken with invasion). If they fail in capturing both the setup will remain as is for the rest of the week.
If the Allies succeed we move to the last night, Thursday night 9pm-12pm EDT. This will cover the Falaise gap. Allies will control all the bases they have captured so far. The German bases A41,42,76,77 and 78 will be considered the Falaise Gap and the Allies will be charged with closing all these bases, as they close them they capture them automatically. Only German vehicles will be allowed to spawn from these bases. Whatever the Allies capture by 11pm will stay Allied for the remainder of the week.
