AARs.

[ghostdancer]

Here was the plan for the USN second hop or strike. Basically this was followed without many hitches. Well except down south .. the second strike from TF39 never happened since the Nightmares VMF-101 lost 15 out 16 planes do to various reasons (JV44 killed many of our planes) and 332nd had fuel problems.

Basically 1 F6F made it back and 2 TBMs but one TBM suffered a prop strike. So we decided it would be pointless to attack that enemy TF with just one F6F and one TBM.

All other strikes basically followed the below plan.

 

[daddog]

Great AAR's!

The Mongrels launched 9 AC from the CV that was a about 125 miles West of A2. We were in search of a group of ships that was trying to resupply the islands. We waited about 5 to 10 min to launch after everyone else and then took off. We lost one pilot who splashed on take off.

Turning East toward A2 we leveled at 2000 feet. After passing Palawan island we went down to 100'. The Nightmares spotted a task group in the 6,9,6 area and we headed that way. On the way they engaged a flight of N1K2's and had a lot of trouble clearing the sky. As we neared the target we broke 180 degrees and flew south because of the enemy fighters near. After 5 minutes we were given the OK to make our run. Turning north we began to search for the ships again. Ghosth and teerex spotted them and we went to 35 MAN and two notches of flaps, and doors open. As the ships grew in size the ack began to fire. Pressing closer plums of water were seen all around my AC. I droppped my torp and broke. We lost 2 AC in our run, but thanks to drill we sunk one ship, confirmed. Reports of multiple "near misses" were seen.  

Nifty took charge of the flight and they returned to the CV. The flight ran out of fuel only a few miles short, two pilots did make it back. Thankfully the fleet was heading East and with only a slight change in course by a just a few degrees we were able to pick up 4 of our downed pilots.

Mongrels lost

7 - aircraft
2 - pilots
Destroyed 1 - ship

<S> To all!

[~Pyroman~]

Great Job to All!

Allies outstanding job following the plan and executing them nearly flawlessly.  I sure wish I could have been there to see the plan I came up with take shape.  I'm seriously bummed I missed out.

<S> to GA on his NIKI's he put against the Nightmares.  GhostDancer told me they were awesome pilots and did a great job.  It was a great challenge GA sorry I wasn't there last night to salute you then.

I'm praying I'll have my pc set up by next Friday so I can take part in the next TOD.
I should have my computer by then just don't know if I'll have time to configure the keyboard the way I like it or have my new CH HOTAS set up in time.  I've never used it before so I"m not sure what to expect.

GREAT JOB CM's.  Keep up the good work <S>.

I know you intentionally broke the map trying to make it so I could take part in it  

 

[-ammo-]

It was a great TOD. The 56th FG is enjoying flying in an AXIS role this time. Credit is due to both sides of the campaign, especially the alies for an outstanding job! Given that, I would have loved to see the numbers more equal. I know that the outcome would have been MUCH different   See ya next week!

<S>

[ 12-01-2001: Message edited by: -ammo- ]

[Fatty]

Frenchy, fyi the ubb counts each of those little faces as an image (when it says too many images).

FDBs upped 5 ki61s from A7(Fatty, Exile, Mason, Sally, Myelo).  Split up with Mason and Exile covering the 11th longitude, and the rest of us on the 12th, heading north to scout the suspected CV deployment areas.

After an unenventful 100 miles or so, we finally spotted the ships at 12.14.9.  We regrouped around them, and called in the betties.

2 planes were lost to fleet flak, and 1 was damaged.  Once the jus had sight we took off escort duty and went to die in battle.  Wasn't that far west we ran into some F4s and were able to do just that.

[ 12-01-2001: Message edited by: Fatty ]

[Raubvogel]

When the smoke finally cleared and I looked around and saw we had lost only 4 to 14 enemy lost, I was amazed. It was a blast guys! <S>

[SFRT - Frenchy]

Ty Fatty.... so who's the Rattlesnake pilot I colided with? Did u made it home on 1 wing?  

[Swager]

JG2 AAR

Sour and I protected P24 and was doing a damn good job of it until we had to split to refuel.  I stuck around to do a visual turnover to Toad, waggled my wings and went off to refuel.  About halfway there Toad called multiple bogies.  I immediately turned to go back to P24.  Sour was on landing finals for re-fuel.

I needed to get back to help Toad.  Plus I knew Sax and Beemer would be onn their way also.  I could see P24 was in trouble as Toad reported his demise.  I figured I would do some high speed passes to at least distract the American dogs.

On my third pass a F6f tucked under me to avoid the HO.  I kicked left rudder and got some hits on the port wing as we passed. I was holding my own but then additional F6Fs came down from above and I was boxed in.

All this time Sour is on RW yelling, "Hold On, B&Z, B&Z,  Hold On!!!!"

I replied,  "I am Bein$Zeein!"   It was kinda funny, ya had to be there!!    

At that time I could sense the fear in the American dogs as they called in all their forces in the area to stop the threat I was posing.

They kilt me!!  

I told Sour not to bother as P24 was pretty messed up.  Just keep an eye on the American pigs and survive to fight another day.  Which he did!

I had alot of fun and I apoligize for the lack of pilots from JG2 for this event.  It was my fault for I did not get hard answers on who would be there.    

Swagger

<S> to everyone who flew!!

[Blue Mako]

The 412th were tasked to attack the HQ with F4u1D's.  Unfortunately, our cv was so far from the HQ that we ran didnt have enough fuel to get there and back...

Over the HQ we were engaged by 3 zeroes, Wail claiming a probable kill.  Due to our fuel state we did not turn for a second pass or to dogfight the zeroes, instead we bugged out as fast as possible for the cv, all of us with less than 1/2 fuel.

Of the 8 412th fighters that launched, 3 were damaged and 1 lost to ground fire.  The 3 damaged were all oil system hits, they all ditched within sight of the cv... send out the rescue boats.

The remaining 3 (theFatz, Midnight and myself) had to shut our engines down and glide to the cv...  saving the last fuel in our tanks for the landing.  We safely rtb'd and rearmed.

We then launched another strike on the HQ.  (However when we got there we saw the buildings previously destroyed were now rebuilt   ). This time we saw a zero over the target and engaged.  I scored hits on the zero (as did Midnight) puncturing his fuel tank.  The zero dove for the safety of the ack and we carried out our bombing runs and then headed back for the cv, fuel again alarmingly low.  I claimed a zero as damaged (later confirmed by intelligence as destroyed).

The 3 of us rtb'd successfully, rearmed once more and headed back to finish off the fighters still reported over the HQ.  We ditched our ordinance, electing to go into a fighter role.

Over the HQ we spotted a lone zero above us, as we attacked he saw that he was outnumbered and outclassed (   ) so elected to ram our CO.  Fortunately the hog is tough, Midnight only losing a wingtip.

Fatz and I covered Midnight as we rtb'd, the mission clock showing only minutes left.  Fortunately, Midnight was able to take a wire on the cv despite his damage.  Fatz and I then caught a wire each, bringing our total traps to 3 for the frame.  

[Wotan]

I saw dots over the fleet once we were done killing f6fs  

My original order was to head bac to the fleet. Some guys needed to rtb for ammo.

As I got closer to the fleet I saw a large number of dots.

After being bounced by f6fs, who had a 2 to 1 advantage, plus 3k alt on us and killing most, but losing 4 ourselves. I contradicted myself and ordered a fast rtb to a53.

I can only imagine what would have happened had we engaged those cons over the fleet.

Especially now that I know they were tbms.......

I still had 307 rounds left no damage. But the idiot I am I porked my landing, ripped my gear, and from the tower watched Urchin, who had lost his rudder, colide with the tower.

What might have been.............

[ghostdancer]

Hell Wotan don't feel bad on your call. You did great tackling 2 to 1 odds versus us Hellcats. We all make bad calls and wonder what might have been.

Personally I am still kicking myself in the bellybutton on splitting my 16 Hellcats up into three groups (4 scouting and 1 C in C, then one group to the N of IJN fleet of about 6 versus you guys and then a second group of 6 right over the IJN Fleet).

I am still wondering what would have happened if I did not split my forces and instead hit you guys head on with all 16 Hellcats at once.  

Live and learn.

[Ripsnort]

MAG-33 took off CV25, flew to A25, encountered high Zekes, shot down 3 or 4, RTB'd, re-armed, returned to A9, destroyed field, shot down 1 zeke, RTB'd.

[SFRT - Frenchy]

Ripsnort, read my report above     ... who is the pilot missing a wingtip after colision? Did he made it back?

Your stats say :
BigJim, Jimbear, Phantom4, Snafu, Sundog, Swoop, Weave killed by gunners.
Razor, Swat, Zippathu shot down.
Hizakite crash landed.
Raider ditched.
Acid, Pluto, Ranger, Vulcan and yourself only made it back.

That's like 5 out of 17 who did made it back from your squad, what is your real RTB count?

[ 12-04-2001: Message edited by: SFRT - Frenchy ]

[Ripsnort]

Not sure who it was Frenchy, but if I was the FL of a real squadron in that TOD frame, I'd be courtmartialed for the dismal return rate!
 

[Phantom121]

I know that my death was due to crash on take off (I had lost right flap and rudder). I guess I should have just sat out 2nd hop due to damage, I know several of the other "kill by unknown gunner" deaths were crashes on take off or landing.

Phantom4