Mighty 8th Frame 1 AAR

[FDutchmn]

Well... *mighty* 8th we might be... we got our butts kicked.  Nightmares upped B17s and P47s for escorts... We fought with all our might and braved the onslaught of the LW...  only one B17 out of 13 made it to target and none RTB'd alive.  Of the seven P47s for escorts, three made it back.

Here is the more memorable shots from my film.


1. Sawing off the tail of a 110.




2. Back home safe, breaking out the Jack and Cigars... sighing with relief

[daddog]

http://www.ropescourse.org/aar.htm

[SFRT - Frenchy]

Originally posted by daddog
http://www.ropescourse.org/aar.htm

I think that's the 190 flight we decimated  I'll post my video from the fight when I come back home DD. So you can see the 56thFG side. Any vid from ur side?

[Steven]

Frenchy, I have video but unfortunately the Mongrels were split into two groups and I wasn't involved with keeping the fighters busy but was tasked with going straight for the bombers.  I got two B-17s and that's what my video would show.  I do recall hearing the fight between you guys and the other Mongrels on the radio and it sounded like quite an exciting one.  In fact, and this is a compliment and shows our respect for your squadron, but those Mongrels who did tangle with you guys suspected it was your squadron due to your skill.

Those B-17s were quite nasty to attack, I have to say.  But I didn't have one single P47 pester me.

The radio comm's and visuals made this a great TOD and much like I'd expect of a "classic" WW2 mission.  TOD is the best thing about Aces High.

[SFRT - Frenchy]

Feelings shared with our pilots Puke. We separated in two squadron to better cover the B17s. One of the squadron went after the 110s, personally I never saw one, i was wondering what they were doing.

I did see 190s, (5 coming head on) but you guys were already on the buff before we could catch up with you. Our concern was the fuel, we had to fly very slow to be able to make it back. When u guys showed up, u just zoomed by:cool:
We were surprised that FW were engaging us and not the escort. The fight went down to the deck, to prove that it was a fierce one.

Total tally for us, if I'm not mistaken is 9 kills, for the loss of 2.
1 got separated from his wingman and got shot down; the other got hit and lost oil, he survived the fight but had to ditch on the way home and was captured.

[Sancho]

Here's a couple shots of one of our flights after the mission:

[Sancho]

 

[gofaster]

I was flying Axis with the rest of the Shillelagh Squadron.  I had been practicing in a 109-F4 and G2, but on TOD night I learned we were flying FW-190 A8s, a plane I've never flown before (nor since).  Needless to say, I didn't want to tangle with any enemy fighters, but I felt confident that I could saddle up a bomber so long as I could avoid the gunners.

We spotted bandits to the west and engaged.  B-17s were lined up in tail-astern formation with Thunderbolts roving around the middle of the line.  I engaged the 2nd B-17 in line, thinking I could get a quick shot at its midsection, then swing around and drill the leader on the way back up.  I missed my approach and got hung up low behind the target Fortress.  As I brought my guns to bear, the gunners lit me up like a Hitler-youth book burning session and I lost both wings.  

Well, at least I didn't face any enemy fighters!  

[SFRT - Frenchy]

My video from an allied fighter perspective. Bring on the axis ones!combat film, 3Mb

[SFRT - Frenchy]

One for Oblittoo, who was my wingman for the day. Taken after a high speed bounce on a low FW-A5, while recovering altitude.

[Ghosth]

Had 3 passes with you guys then was in my chute. Then voiced on the radio that the Mongrels had just run into the zemke's wolfpack and were getting decimated. I could just "Feel" that it was you guys.

Checked the logs, was killed by ammo himself.



And watch your 6, this isn't over yet.  

[-ammo-]

Ghosth!

That was a humdinger of a fight!

[Swager]

Ghosth,

If I would of not hit the ground,  I would have killed them all!!!

[-ammo-]

a few screenies..

[daddog]

I was pretty sure it was you guys! I picked 4 of the 12 or so that launched to go after the escorts. I had hoped they would be dragged low. That left the rest to go after the buffs. I think we shot down 3 or 4 buffs and 1 or 2 escorts.