Salute to Amsterdam attackers

[Bino]

A big salute to the Allies who attacked the Amsterdam strats between A79 and A80.    As JG11 rolled in for the initial head-on pass, nearly every one of the B-17 gunners opened up on us. At that moment I knew it would be a hard-fought match. As far as I can tell from the logs there were at least two squads attacking, 162nd FG "Purple Hearts" in P-38s and VF-17 "Jolly Rogers" in B-17s. Sorry if I'm missing anyone else.

That was some intense combat, echoing all the accounts I've read of the real deal: one minute the sky is a swirling mass of planes, and in the next minute the sky is utterly clear.

FSO so totally rocks. 

[Frodo]

The 38s did a good job of breaking us up and some good fights after. 

[Bino]

...and Allies, Amsterdam was defended by three Axis squads: 412th FNVG (local defense lead) and 111 Squadron "Black Arrows" and JG11.

[SlipKnt]

G3-MF was the initial Squad of 38s that came in.  We were to detonate early then Purple Hearts were going to spring ahead and hit in the middle of the fight, then the B17 get in drop and get out.

Looked good on paper.

G3-MF came in and identified at least 2 squads patrolling.  We shadowed one trying to provoke a fight but were getting dragged away.  We turned back to target to see another squad patrolling.  Tried to drag them.  Nobody would play. 

Well disciplined patrols.

We turned back toward the B17s and the fun began.

I believe that every pilot in VF-17 was able to land at least 1 plane.  To us, that was success.

Great fights.  One of the better ones I will remember.

 
SlipKnoT

[KCDitto]

 

Nice formation 



Hard to pick just one



very intense



Made it through   



 

To the P-38s Gremlin and Bgoldy. A very intense fight all the way to the trees.

[nooby52]

Nice screen shots.

[Big Rat]

The initial head on pass with the 190's was great!  Looked like something out of star wars with the amount of gunfire meeting each other.  I think 10thMD and my center B-17 completely locked horns head on, with his 190 exploding and my B17 catching fire, that's intense stuff since it almost went to point blank.  I think that's my burning 17 in the pics.  It was a short but very intense engagement for the 17's.  Was a fun bomber frame for us in VF-17, we're not knowing for our bombing prowess, usually quite the contrary, but this was a fun one. And thanks to our escorts most of us made it out of there.

 
BigRat 

[Wiley]

10th was in first, I was in second.  I saw 10th blow up and you catch fire and ALLLLLL the tracers everywhere.  Was really happy with the attack line i'd taken when i saw the one buff catch fire...  Then I clipped the inboard wing of tail end charlie and my airframe deteriorated from there.

Still it was an awesome sight.  I rarely get to be one of the first couple of guys in on a formation like that.

Wiley.

[Nefarious]

Once more unto the breach!



Although I was unable to shoot down any bombers, in Frame 3 I was able to make several passes on the bombers.

[Bino]

G3-MF was the initial Squad of 38s that came in.  We were to detonate early then Purple Hearts were going to spring ahead and hit in the middle of the fight, then the B17 get in drop and get out...

SlipKnot, your squad passed by us at about 5.0K yards, well outside the FSO short icon range of 3.0K. I missed you at the time, and only first saw you folks when I reviewed my film! 

JG11 was on course 180, you were on 360. We were west of you, so passing from your low 11 o'clock to low 7 o'clock. This was at a point a bit east and north of your bombers. About thirty seconds later, Canukk called for our final right turn to 270, and put us right on the nose of the incoming bombers.

What a great night for fights! 

[branch37]

The only one of my bombers that made it home.  A nice view of the right wing.  I wish I had a shot of the head on pass from those 190s.  I couldn't get  a shot off because I couldn't pick a dang target fast enough.   

[Nefarious]

Drano finds the Mosquito Recon flight!







She's burnin' and goin' down!

[Squire]

More great pics thanks. 

[Bino]

I was a bit off to the south of the B-17 formation, and ended up lining up on a set in the rear of the bomber stream...





...coming around to pursue the bombers, El Diablo and I double-team the B-17 of DropTine...



...while I was circling around to the front for another attack, the high sweep P-38's arrived (see silver specks high to the right in this shot)...



...my last passes through the bombers end with two passes on Viper's wounded birds...





The whole time (ten minutes from first shots on the bombers to diving away), I was balancing the need to stay nose-down for speed against the desire to remain high enough for more tries at the bombers. The P-38s certainly made every effort to keep us busy!

Quite a Frame!