As a member of the JU-88's attacking the task group, and actually the person who dropped the CV. <Yay me! ... Ooops
> Here was our perspective.
We only expected to see the Destroyers. We noticed that the CV group we were supposed to destroy, the one in the containment sector, was actually ours, until T+5 when it "mysteriously vanished" (LOL
). When we got over target and saw a carrier, our MA reflexes took over and the call was made to drop the CV. We had split our bomber force into two groups - single JU-88's as Dive bombers, and Box-JU-88's as level bombers. We re-tasked our Dive bombers for the Carrier, and Box-Bombers to take out the cans. Tickle69 dropped on the CV first, softening it up, then I followed and got the kill. 420's "Bb's" were quite effective on me down there on the deck
From the tower, I followed the progress of our remaining force - which was methodically, and ruthlessly, being cut to pieces. They made their drop, but manual calibration over water, while being viciously harassed by damdable P40's and LA's <Salute guys
>, made a good drop nigh but impossible. After clearing the target area, our bombers vectored to 62, as 60 - our home base - was under attack at that very moment. (Who ever attacked 60 in those B26's at low altatude, a Mighty <<S>> to you! That was one wicked raid, and watching it from the tower was terrifying!)
We never made a second attack because, though we could rearm at 62, we had to tower out at 60 (This was confirmed multiple times by our CIC). The math indicated, and yes I was forced to do math in public despite all the training and advice that Rodent had given to the contrary
, it indicated that we didn't have the time to get to target, then back to 60 before the end-of-frame. As the point penalty was too high to be caught in flight at EOF, the call was made to scrub the second strike (Much to Tickle69's consternation, as he was already en-route back to target. But even he agreed - after also being caught doing math in public
- that he didn't have the time.)
G3-MF, You guys did a awesome job defending. If the CV was not a target, and CIC makes the ruling that it was out of bounds, then we shouldn't get the points (Our bad for not sticking to the letter of the orders even in the fog of war!) And I'm ok with that - as long as my name gets to stay in lights! LOL
Hope this after-action report helps CIC make the call on the scoring question.
Hope I gave enough Salutes to all those in this action who deserve it!
See 'ya-all next Frame
InCrypt - Lend-Lease liaison officer to {The Gun Fighters}
