Ladies and Gents:
A quick snapshot of the April FSO setup to allow you an opportunity to begin updating squad registrations. Full write up will be posted on AH Events later this week. Notice the Milestone dates at the bottom.
The Doolittle Raid had been a huge morale boost for the United States, during an otherwise gloomy period in the war, following the attack on Pearl Harbor. The US Army Air Force attacked Tokyo again on November 24th, 1944, but no aircraft launched from a carrier had struck the city since Doolittle’s famous raid in 1942. In early 1945, Admiral Spruance planned a series of major attacks on airfields and industrial targets in and around Tokyo. Spruance chose Task Force 58 to conduct the raids, even though they were initially committed to support operations on Iwo Jima. The Marines of the Iwo landing force requested a full 10 days of aerial bombing and naval gunfire, but Spruance only committed TF 58 to three days. Despite the protests of USMC General “Howlin’ Mad” Smith, the fast carriers and the significant firepower of the 8 battleships of TF 58 left the support force of the Iwo Jima landings, and arrived off the coast of Tokyo a few days later, during the second week of February, 1945. Three major attacks were conducted, two on February 16 and one on February 17. More attacks were planned, but worsening weather convinced Spruance to cancel operations, and send Task Force 58 back to Iwo Jima. Overall, the damage inflicted to the airfields and factories was small compared to the destruction of an estimated 400 Japanese aircraft, in the air and on the ground. This FSO will attempt to recreate those three attacks of 16-17 February.
Frame 1: 0600 16 February 1945
Frame 2: 1000 16 February 1945
Frame 3: 0800 17 February 1945
Planeset:
USN
F6F-5 (No restrictions)
F4U-1D (64 maximum)
TBM (32 minimum)
*USN Ordnance limited to 500lb bombs and rockets only
IJA/IJN
Ki-84 (64 maximum)
Ki-61 (32 minimum)
N1K2 (64 maximum)
A6M5 (32 minimum)
MILESTONES
New Squad Registration Closes, 4 April
Side Assignments/Frame 1 Objectives Issued, 5 April
Frame 1, 11 April
