Stampf JG11 and 9GAIP. It was one of best coordinated attacks I had a chance to witness. I was the first plane to get shot down by Mr. Jenks. Which was either good or bad considering what happened next
The AK's had control for the planning and coordination's on our side. Coordination emails went back and forth for at least 3 days on plans and options prior to Friday night. Once in the arena AKShrike planned on placing a scouting screen to the NW of the boats position and the general plan was to pick your inbound flight as quickly as possible while driving the boat as far away from your bases as fast as possible. Rationale being to deny or hamper any second strikes your side might make. And if we fuel hit your planes they would crash before they could get back.
The 325th in the Seafires put out 3 scouts in a diagonal zone screen staying about 25 miles out from the boat to its NW. Each pilot flew a single key pad diagonal at about 10K.
About H+35 Kuhn spotted your more southern bombers 5 groups which I now believe you were in being escorted by about 6 fighters. Just your luck on this one. You got spotted by the cartoon pilot with probably the best vision and cleanest computer screen. Kuhn almost always spots the bad guys before anyone else in the 325th. Since I saw them next I ensured that the SITREP got passed completely before we did anything else. Taking my time cost me my plane as Jenks blew me up. Had Jenks shot me down 30 seconds sooner the battle might have gone differently as Kuhn is horrible at reporting AC, direction and alt LOL. Your northern bombers got around the scout we had to the northern end.
I no more than got the SITREP called in when Jenks dove on me and shot me down in a single burst. That put me back to the boat first so I took charge as head boat driver.
I turned the boat away from your strike package hopefully making it harder to spot and to put distance between us. By that time a few AK's were now in the boat house and their SITREPS were now pointing towards a second strike package of bombers coming in from the north. Which I hadn't seen from the boat just yet. But I could clearly see your bombers coming in from the stern with ack pounding them and the fighters attacking you.
I kept the boat in small zig's and zag's trying to bring as much ack to bare as I could while driving away as I could.
I saw your last bomber (You in the picture) throw its bombs and heard them coming in and gave the boat one last zag. One of your bombs hit aft and took out 2 secondary auto ack positions.
Then I saw the northern group for the first time and they were close making their torpedo attack. I turned hard to starboard and the auto ack all turned to them and the fighters still up were on them.
The first bomber got its torpedo's off what looked like to close, they were dropped at point blank range and should of hit but nothing detonated and the boat house dead pilots were cheering. The second and third bomber sets dropped theirs as well but from further back, pulled up and over the deck and flew off. About 20 seconds later there was a single torpedo hit up forward on the CV. No other ships were hit.
At this point what was left of your Strike Package got away, the Seafires had to land as they were out of ammo. Several planes were lost due to landing. That left 2 F4U's and 2 Seafires left to guard the boat. We could see the high CAP back in the distance. We assumed that they didn't have ordnance or they would have come in already. Commands were given to not engage them or climb up even, stay low and hide in the ack was the method until they decided to leave.
Some of the NIKI's did come down finally 3 or 4 I think. The Seafires out turned them and stayed in the ack.
The NIKI's then pulled off and I turned the boat towards Seattle WA!!!!! And was hoping not to see any late frame strikers as the boat was soft and there were only 4 fighters left.
A Great TG attack to witness and watch the entire fight unfold from the boat house. Gives an interesting prospective and helpful position to assist others still in the fight. And if you look at your picture you posted below and zoom into the boat house you'll see me wildly spinning the ships wheel trying to avoid your bombs
Sometimes its the little things that count:
At the last minute the 325th volunteered for the scouting duty, comm's were better and we have a good method for scouting that you cant get through without us seeing you as long as you are within range. And our 3 planes were covering a line about 35 miles wide.
The SITREP was spot on and the remainder of the defenses all converged on your strike package
I got shot down first so I grabbed the boat and started the zigging and zagging quickly
Comm's between the defenders was as good as it gets once one guy from each squad was in the boathouse
One of the more fun scenario's I and the 3 other ALLIED squads defending TG14 had been in. There was a lot of back and forth in the boat house on it. The 327th and AK's flew the F4U's and the 325th had the Seafires. All of the squads in this engagement friend or foe did everything they could to win and it showed. In the end if just 1 more bomber had gotten through my boots would be wet!! It was a really close battle and you guys were very close to sinking the CV
