Finland frame 3 AAR

[daddog]

332nd Flying Mongrels were slotted to fly 190F8’s out of A52. WE flew South west then
South east toward our target A7. JG44 was also hitting the same target. We arrived about 3 minutes ahead of them and pounded A7. No enemy CAP to my surprise. JG44 did a great job of mopping up. We then flew north toward sweeping for enemy and found one Yak that was dispatched by one of our pilots. Sarge I think. We then landed and rearmed at a friendly base about 50 miles north of Leningrad. Orders were to attack Leningrad. We took off again and approached Leningrad from the east and dove on the target. Again no enemy in site.  Several of us straffed down buildings and were just heading out when we were attacked by a few LA5’s. There numbers steadily increased till we were overwhelmed. I should have exited Leningrad as soon as we spent our bombs. Had I done that most of our squad would have survived. As it was, almost all of us were shot down.

Having the targets worth about a 1/3 of normal really places the emphasis on survival for each pilot. I am not sure what I think of that yet, but it does create a different mind set for C.O.’s and hopefully some pilots. With Squad Ops already a single life event the immersion factor is increased, but with targets being worth less than a few aircraft, you move even more in the direction that surviving is paramount. Just can’t decide if that is a good thing for the enjoyment factor, or if it detracts from it.

[FDutchmn]

The Nightmares VMF-101 was tasked to fly La5FNs with the primary objective to fly CAP over Helsinki, and secondary objective to egg the city if situation allows.  The directive ordered us to engage and kill any enemy flying objects in the area.  It strictly emphasized offensive capabilities.

We were to up from A4 and head over to Helsinki.  Upon woken up by the ground operations officer, I headed to the briefing room, only to find that our CO was not there yet.  Moments passed before all of us were wondering what to do.  MGD was running the Squad Ops as CM and so he was not available either.  So, I stepped up to the plate and uploaded a mission for the frame.  That action ended up as me leading a bunch of 20 trigger happy individuals.

Initial difficulties included taking off from A4, where there reportedly was a bug to the runway.  50 to a 100 pilots took off from the hanger there.  Frame rate was down to nothing at some points...

Flight to Helsinki was more or less without incident.  We went in at 15k as ordered, and found no CAP there.  We dropped out eggs and seeing that our horde was coming in un-opposed, we pulled out.  

Contacts were reported at a nearby base of A62, which included bombers and escorts.  I directed my squad there.   We divided ourselves looking for the contacts and no sooner than later, we located several Ju88s over A62.  We proceeded to attack and destroy all of the Ju88s.  While I took no hits, we lost two or three comrades to enemy fire.  Some had to bail, some were able to nurse their plane back to the nearest friendly base.

I directed ourselves to re-arm at A63.  Contacts were reported over Leningrad and the city was taking a heavy beating.  We took turns capping and refueling.  As soon as we were refueled, I directed my guys to A40 in hopes of catching them on the egress.  However, we found nothing at A40 and I re-directed my squad to A2.  There we found several Ju88s on the egress.  I proceeded to give the order to engage on sight.  Again we lost several to enemy fire while inflicting the most damage that we can possibly give.  We wiped them out.

While trying to re-arm at A2, we found several 109s low.  Together with several other squads, we engaged and destroyed the Nazi thugs.  Then we proceeded to re-arm at A2.  By this time we were down to about 7 pilots left.

We were up in no time.  We soon heard of reports of 109s at A42 and proceeded to rally at A1.  We were joined by the GIAP squadron.  And we attacked the enemy in mass.  Over Leningrad, over Lake Ladoga.  We surprised the enemy in numbers.  We watched the numbers go low in the country status until it reached 0.

We headed back to a nearby base and patted ourselves on the back for a job well done.

Well... so much for a frame with me leading the squad!

As for the emphasis on ground objects being lower than the planes, it gives me the thrill of trying to survive.  While at it, I am giving my opponent the joy of chasing me around  Ditching a plane should give more than dying trying to taking a shot to the last breath, in my opinion... In certain ways, we are trying to simulate actual combat... if you are on fire, wouldn't you want to ditch your plane?

Just another thought...

[ghostdancer]

I had a crisis that came up at the last minute that prevented me from flying.

[FDutchmn]

Originally posted by ghostdancer
I had a crisis that came up at the last minute that prevented me from flying.

I hope ya took care of that one OK and things are fine with ya.  

[doobs]

Well like the mongrels we had similair routes and objectives. We upped out of A55 followed pre directed course and flattened what was left at A7.

We then headed out before the allies came over to defend.  Most of our squad made it out of A7 and headed to rearm. Us and the mongrels rearmed same time different fields. As we rearmed the order came in from Berlin,,,,, airmarshall  JB42 has ordered us to smack leningrad and defend helsinki.  So we had most of the squad left(lost some on rearm due to excesive strain on the prop, when used as a brake on the runway.)
we grabbed our passports and cocktails and heded for leningrad.

Alas we get to leningrad(finally it only took 3 frames to get there)
no enemy contacts, suprised I call the squad in to hit leningrad.
We bomb it then straffe it, instructing the squad to use half there ammo.
Saving half for helsinki, as I call for us to depart leningrad and form up for helsiniki. Just then five la's come in, they on some squaddies so I instruct to take them down as there were only five and we had alot of us there.

Then it happened again........the five became ten and then ten became twenty and so on.........La city they were everywhere, if I see an La5 again it will be too soon.  Jumped by 40 la5's in frame one and another horde in frame three.

My therapist tells me that with a few dozen more sessions, the la5 nightmares should stop.

But I think I speak for all in my squad when I say that this event was not much fun for us.  The theme was fine but the #'s and the type of plane utilized by the allies took the fun out of it, as the score of all three frames blatantly indicates.

to all........live and learn.

[daddog]

In certain ways, we are trying to simulate actual combat... if you are on fire, wouldn't you want to ditch your plane?

I would scream like a girl and jump out.

My therapist tells me that with a few dozen more sessions, the la5 nightmares should stop.

But I think I speak for all in my squad when I say that this event was not much fun for us. The theme was fine but the #'s and the type of plane utilized by the allies took the fun out of it, as the score of all three frames blatantly indicates.

to all........live and learn.

LOL You’re a good sport doobs.

Someone in my squad said to me “Daddog when it comes time to picks sides, this time pick the winning one”. The last couple months have not been good ones for my squad. I can relate. Sigh.

[ramzey]

Originally posted by doobs




My therapist tells me that with a few dozen more sessions, the la5 nightmares should stop.


 

wow, im impress, you have therapist on call during weekends

[doobs]

only since frame 1

[ghostdancer]

Originally posted by doobs

My therapist tells me that with a few dozen more sessions, the la5 nightmares should stop.

You don't need more therapy sessions. No more La5 Nightmares, Okinawa is next so it will be Ki-84 Nightmares well unless we are in Ki67s, or Ki61s.....