Okinawa Challange ... Help Wanted

[Chilli]

I want to announce a challenge date and time to run a mission in AvA and invite all interested parties to respectfully participate.  No parades, awards or ribbons (oh well maybe one lil small parade  ).

I am in the planning stage and wish to quickly move forward to give adequate advance notice on time and date.  This is my first endeavor as such, so I am hoping for some assistance in planning. 



This is where I would like to start, having found a small bio on a WW2 pilot below.  Use this as a framework to replicate a similar type of mission or objectives, adding to or taking away where needed to maximize the events appeal.

HENRY CHICK, born January 31, 1923 in Kansas City, Missouri. A graduate of Central High School in June of 1940. Attended Kansas City Junior College and enlisted in the Signal Corps September 7, 1942. Transferred to Aviation Cadet training, arriving for Pre-flight training at Santa Ana, California, Christmas Eve of 1942.

Completed Primary at Santa Maria, California, Basic at Chico, California and Advanced at Stockton, California. Class 43-J, receiving wings Nov. 3rd, 1943. Instructed twin-engine Basic at Lemoore, California until April,1944. Re-assigned for B-17 transition and sent to Lincoln, Nebraska.

Applied for fighters, under the weight waiver, and was assigned to P-47 transition and RTU, Harding Field, Baton Rouge, Louisiana in June of 1944. Following Harding Field training, was assigned to 5th Air Force and left December of 1944 from Camp Stoneman, Pittsburgh, California enroute to SWPA.

Arrived Nadzab, New Guinea for additional RTU In January 1945. Assign - 35th Fighter Group, 39th Fighter Squadron as replacement pilot flying razorbacks and bubbles. All combat missions in P-47's were flown from forward airstrips in the Philippines. These consisted of patrols, ground-support missions and five long-range missions to Formosa, one of which was 8 hours.

The 39th was assigned P-51D's in April, 1945 and Chick's last mission in a P-47 was April 2nd, covering a B-25 strike on Takao, Formosa, from Mangalden, Luzon. The move to P-51 's was not without mixed feelings. The time spent in the Jug resulted in a great confidence in the airplane, and a loyalty not easy to transfer to the "tin-whistle."

The P-51 has its good points, and many of them, so it was.

The 39th moved to Linguayen Gulf, Luzon, Clark Field and Okinawa in July. During a fighter sweep to Kyushu, Japan, Chick was hit by ground fire and made a forced landing on Tokuna Island in the Ryukyu chain, while returning to base in Okinawa. Destroying the radios and IFF Chick made it safely to the reef and was picked up by a shore party from a Navy destroyer and taken to a PBY (OA-10) and returned to Machinata airstrip, his home base, on Okinawa.

Following official surrender the 39th was assigned to Irrumagawa Air Field (later Johnson Field) Japan and arrived there October 13, 1945 having been delayed by the infamous typhoon of October 8th.

Returning to the States in November, 1945, Chick was released from active duty in January, 1946.

He enrolled in Louisiana State University at Baton Rouge in June of 1947 and graduated with a Forestry degree in June of 1951. He maintained an active participation in the Reserves until 1958.

From September of 1951 until March of 1958 Chick was a flight instructor for Graham Aviation, a civilian primary flight training contractor for the Air Force.

Moving to Arizona in 1958, Chick has been in the field of public education since 1960, and is presently teaching in the Paradise Valley School District in Phoenix.

Chick married Aimee Arbios, whom he met at Stockton, California while in advanced flight training. They celebrated their 36th anniversary in May 1980. They have children, Russell, Bill and Jim. As of 1980 there are three grandchildren, Shelby Ann, Christopher and Donald Eric.

Post here or PM me with your ideas or if you would be available, the next couple of days to help.

[lutrel]

I won't be much help for mission planning due to work, but us Avengers will be on in force this Thursday Evening for one of our squad nights.  Just let us know where you need us and in what hardware.  <S>

[bc21]

Ok im in!!!

[flatiron1]

me too

[Chilli]

Cool, Thanks guys.  Does this sound interesting?  I am open to suggestion.

P51 pilot, Chick, takes off from Machinato with the 39th FG.  He is part of a 4 man formation that will head to sea and then North to Tokuno island on a Fighter Sweep mission.   On the way, along with numerous other 4 man formations, the group will attack Radar buildings on Tukono and surrounding Islands.  Fuel load will be critical for such a long flight.  Drop tanks will be available but cumbersome if ( when) engaged by Japanese fighter squadrons from their Carrier groups or many land bases.

Chick's mission will be a success if certain radar  are destroyed and certain percentage of original mission reaches area within radar range of Allied fleet.  Landing is preferred but a screen shot of ditched plane within the radar circle of allied fleet will do (this will ferry Chick back to a hero's welcome at Machinato airfield).

[captain1ma]

too bad you're all gonna die when we find you!! 

[Shifty]

Let me know when you have the time and date, we can give you 3 pilots Allied

[daddog]

Cool! Let me run this by my squad and see who has that time to participate.

[Eldorado74]

Darn wish i could, only night of the week I gotta work!

[68falcon]

I will send this to the 68th Fighting Freebirds and see who wants to participate.

[Trukk]

Is there a time/date?

[TheBug]

Pending time and date of the event I am surely interested.  If I can't personally make it I am sure a good contingent of the 353rd shall be there.  Looks great Chilli! <S>

[lutrel]

The Avengers will fly Allied for the next few months; here is our flight roster for the Okinawa Challange;

Bkwolf               
Bukrub
Chemdawg   
fireguy1
Frankc1       
hrdhrd
jarman               
justyy
lutrel               
MEANDOG   
Spiritwind
OldBull         
Raptor33
tjwily
warmongo
Oceans11

[Jester]

Will the Allies be flying strictly P-51's for Fighters or are there room for a few P-38's?

Thursday is our squad night so should be no problem in us being there.

Good set up Chilli,     brings back my old CT Staff Days.

<S>!

[Chilli]

As it is I am going to post the mission for a dry run today sometime, and then hope to post official challenge mission on Thursday 20:15 to 21:45 EST. I am going the mission planner route in the likelyhood that I may also be unable to attend.

I hope this will answer some questions.  8:15 pm (20:15) EST allies should report to A12 Tower.  There should be numerous flights of 4 P51Bs in the mission planner.  Select your 3 wingmen and join ( I suggest picking a flight not near the top to avoid wingmen getting bumped).  Squadrons do as you see fit.

I recommend that we stay with the ponies at least for the first 45 minutes of the Challange.  Since, I don't expect every player to be in on the mission or playing by any rules, it is better that we are uniform (ponies only, but some could jabo, recon, etc.)  Less likely to blamed for rogue play by other arena attendees.

Cool, Thanks guys.  Does this sound interesting?  I am open to suggestion.

P51 pilot, Chick, takes off from Machinato with the 39th FG.  He is part of a 4 man formation that will head to sea and then North to Tokuno island on a Fighter Sweep mission.   On the way, along with numerous other 4 man formations, the group will attack Radar buildings on Tukono and surrounding Islands.  Fuel load will be critical for such a long flight.  Drop tanks will be available but cumbersome if ( when) engaged by Japanese fighter squadrons from their Carrier groups or many land bases.

Chick's mission will be a success if certain radar  are destroyed and certain percentage of original mission reaches area within radar range of Allied fleet.  Landing is preferred but a screen shot of ditched plane within the radar circle of allied fleet will do (this will ferry Chick back to a hero's welcome at Machinato airfield).

Heads up Allies

The Imperial Forces protecting Okinawa have intercepted communications of an allied planned Fighter Sweep of the Ryunkyu Islands.  Fearing their valuable communication links might be vulnerable, every effort is being made to be on the look out for enemy activity East North East of the allies' Machinato airfield.