After Action Report
May’s Mega Mission is now in the history books, and looking back, it was a pretty fun mission for both the bombers and the fighter air support and the defenders.
At takeoff time we had 19 formations with full fuel and 1,000 pounders in the bomb bay, which is a pretty respectable number of bombers for a mission. After take-off we grabbed altitude heading in the direction of knight territory, always staying two sectors away, our fighter cover which were still on the ground advised us we had four bogies inbound to the bombers. The formation was at 10,000 feet and turned East and witht the separation we had on the enemy fighters they would have a hard time catching up with us. We were kind of surprised when the inbound bogies turned out to be 4 Knight ME-262, which we were not going to outrun. 15 minutes into the mission and we are already fighting for our lives. After the engagement with the ME262’s we lost five or six ships, we continue East without any further incidents.
At the appropriate time the formations of B17’s was turned north to pick up our fighter air cover, at that time we encountered one last Knight die hard, was quickly dispatched. After our fighter cover was posted around the formation the target was disclosed that as “Bishop City”, target altitude for the drop was going to be 25,000 feet. It was very apparent we picked the right people to do our fighter cover, headed up by Viper61, the the 325th Checkered Tails and G3MF provided most excellent air defense. The fighter cover was in constant communication pointing out bogies and bound enabling the formation to make a defensive corrections in course.
It was about three sectors out from Bishop City that 49sharks discovered the Bishop HQ was set at 37,500. The mission had now change from completely destroying Bishop City, to dropping half our ordnance on the city and saving the other half to drop on Bishop HQ. The push towards bishop city was meant was moderate enemy fighter planes of every description, the 325th Checkered Tails and G3MF did an excellent job of working with the bombers in calling out targets they were not able to cover and were an apparent threat to the formation while climbing to our target altitude.
When the formation turned west to Bishop City we had about two sectors to steady up and do calibrations for the drop. Assignments are given to the bomb group, half the bombs were to be released over the city. After the formation turned north leaving the city at 23%. Under heavy fighter attack the formation quickly formed up and preceded the Bishop HQ, which was two and a half sectors north.
When of formation reach the vicinity of bishop HQ, the conventional fighter planes that changed to mostly to ME163’s which were a little more affective at 25,000 feet then the conventional fighters. Orders were given to concentrate on getting bombs out on target and to ignore the incoming fighter planes. The formation successfully made it to bishop HQ where a successful drop was made and the HQ was destroyed for 134 min.
With the Bishop the nation blind and our fighter air cover diminished, the B17 formations scattered and headed for home
The 49th fighter group would like to thank everyone who participated in our Mega Mission, this was the first time we asked another country to participate in the mission and Viper61, the 325th Checkered Tails and G3MF were an important part to the success of this mission, our hats are off for these two squads, well done gentleman, well done.
49Dundee, 49th Fighter Group XO
