Aces High Bulletin Board
Special Events Forums => Friday Squad Operations => Topic started by: skernsk on May 27, 2002, 06:52:28 AM
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There will be some Buff flying in the next one......
From 1942 to 1945 the sky over the continent of Europe witnessed the greatest air battle ever fought, between the American 8th Air Force and the German Luftwaffe. This battle, conducted in the numbing cold 5 miles over Germany, resulted in the destruction of the German Air Force, and the devastation of its cities and industries.
During the 1920s it was thought that aerial bombardment would be a decisive tactic in future wars. It was thought that bombers could fly over the battlefield deep into enemy territory and bomb vital strategic targets into oblivion. The Italian Gen. Giulio Douhet, along with Lord Trenchard in Britain and General William Mitchell in America, pushed for the construction of strategic bombers. This theory was very controversial and only the strategic bomber programs of the United States and Great Britain had survived the inter-service rivalries and budget cuts.
British Bomber Command was given the first opportunity to demonstrate its prowess when Germany declared war on Poland in September 1939. On 18 December 1939, 22 Wellington Bombers from No. 9, 37, and 149 Squadrons set out to find and destroy German ships operating in the Heligoland Bight. The British bombers were detected on German radar and intercepted by 32 Messerschmitt Me-109s and 16 Me-110s. In a matter of minutes 12 bombers were destroyed with no loss to the interceptors. Unprepared to accept the staggering losses of daylight bombing Bomber Command converted to night bombing.
General Henry H. Arnold, the Commander of the Army Air Corps, and his staff evaluated the British experience. They found that bombing by night was safer, but the accuracy of night bombing was atrocious. In some cases they found that the early night bombing missions did not get a bomb within five miles of the intended target. It was decided that in order to use the heavy bomber effectively it would need to perform its attacks by day.
General Arnold appointed Major General Carl Spaatz to command the Army Air Forces in Europe. He was given the 8th Air Force, which was established on January 28th 1942. Their mission – to carry out a strategic bombing campaign against Germany. Arriving in England in April 1942 the 8th Air Force flew its first mission in August that same year when a group of 12 B17’s heavily escorted by RAF fighter bombed the railway yards in Rouen, France. The missions flown between November 1942 and May 1943 were close to the coast or within range of heavy RAF fighter protection. This gave the crews invaluable experience and minimized losses.
Luftwaffe fighter squadrons Jagdgeschwader (JG) 2 and 24, which defended the area frequented by the American bombers on these early raids, also tested a variety of different tactics to find the weak spots in the new bomber. They found a head-on attack was the best method due to the weak armament up front. The Luftwaffe continued to refine their tactics and fighter planes to counter the threat of strategic daylight bombing.
In April 1943 the 8th Air Force was ready to conduct daylight precision raids against strategic targets in the Reich. The targets included ball bearing plants, fuel refineries and airplane manufacturing facilities. After suffering heavy losses the 8th Air Force returned to attacking targets closer to home and added close escort fighters to its bombing strategy. The heavily armed Republic P47 Thunderbolt and the Lockheed P38 Lightning were in short supply and the P47 was not able to escort the bombers deep into Germany. Without long-range protection, the Luftwaffe would defeat the bomber offensive.
The new North American P-51 Mustang fighter was just arriving. Equipped with drop tanks, the new fighter had a 2,300-mile range allowing it to escort the bombers deep into Germany. With the arrival of the Mustangs, the loss rate of the bombers fell from 9% to just over 3% per mission in a matter of weeks. Throughout 1944 and into 1945, the strategic bombing offensive pummeled the Reich. The industrial cities of the Ruhr were systematically devastated, synthetic fuel production facilities were leveled, and transportation nets were obliterated by the armada of allied bombers that roamed the day and night sky over the Reich
The bombing campaign did not win the war as many experts had predicted, but the offensive contributed substantially to victory. It robbed the Germans of the initiative in the air, crushed many of their vital industries, and demoralized the German people.
The price for this three-year campaign over Europe was substantial. Approximately 30,000 bomber crew lost their lives fighting the Luftwaffe. Seventeen Medals of Honor went to men of the 8th in WWII. By war’s end they awarded a number of other medals: 220 Distinguished Service Crosses, 852 Silver Stars, 7,000 Purple Hearts, 46,000 Distinguished Flying Crosses and 442,000 Air Medals. Many more awards were made after the war. They remain uncounted. There were 261 fighter aces in the 8th Air Force in WWII, 31 of them had 15 or more aircraft kills.
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axis of course
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it's friday TOD right?
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Skernsk, could you break that down into a shopping list of what each side has available, the targets, etc.? I can't get a really clear picture of what you intend to set up. Thanks.
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Format doesnt matter.
MAG-33 would prefer allied if possible but will fly anything.....as usual.....in fact can I put in a standing order cos keeping this on cut n paste is a pain ;)
Swoop
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412th Really would like P-51's
TheFatz
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allied. P-47s. ;)
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Allied, with P-47s please.
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412th - Allied - P-51s
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What I want to do is run 3 different Frames with three different sets of A/C
Frame 1
B17 with Jugs(1943)
Frame 2
B17 with P38(1944)
Frame 4 B17 with P51(1945)
Axis planes will be 109's, 190's and perhaps a perkie bird here and there.
That way the Jug guys and the pony guys get to fly their plane for a frame.
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332nd Mongrels were Allies last time so it is our turn to be Axis. :)
If you are short on buffs we can fly B-17's. ;)
Bottom line is put us where you need us.
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Axis planes will be 109's, 190's and perhaps a perkie bird here and there.
Whats the allied perkie plane then?
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Groverats dont care, but since being Axis last time, wed like Allies
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Originally posted by TheFatz
Whats the allied perkie plane then?
I am not sure yet. I may throw in a few 262's or something but have not decided yet.
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Remember, CMs have no say in what planes you fly. We only put you into sides. It's completely up to the Frame CO as to what ride you get.
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The DAMNED TOD Squad has no preference - stick us on whatever side need us.
mike "DmdJordi" Bowman
DMANED TOD CO
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Since I also asked the same question (among others) in SETUP CM e-mail I sent out to the friday squads here (sorry for the duplication skernsk) here are the squad answers I have gathered along with the summing up the answers in this thread:
Axis = 3./JG2
Allied = 412th FS (really wants P51s)
Allied = 56th FG (really wants P47s)
Allied = GroveRats
Allied = MAW
Allied = MAG-33
Allied = Nightmares
Allied = Rogue Sqd (really wants P47s)
No preference = Arabian Knights
No preference = DAMNED
No preference = 322nd
Not answered yet = 457th BG
Not answered yet = FDBs
Not answered yet = NightHawks
Not answered yet = Shillelagh
Not answered yet = SBMs
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Originally posted by ghostdancer
Since I also asked the same question (among others) in SETUP CM e-mail I sent out to the friday squads here (sorry for the duplication skernsk) here are the squad answers I have gathered along with the summing up the answers in this thread:
Not answered yet = 457th BG
Not answered yet = FDBs
Not answered yet = NightHawks
Not answered yet = Shillelagh
Not answered yet = SBMs
[/B]
Can the CM's Send an EMAIL to the list above who have not responded ?
Mike "DmdJordi" Bowman
DAMNED TOD CO
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Sorry, Democracy in action, was waiting for the votes to come in.
Shillelagh would prefer Axis.
-Sikboy
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Sorry for delay, just got back from long Holiday weekend. We were axis last time and would prefer Allied this time if it can be done. :)
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methinks Mongrels are gonna get placed Axis this time around... ;)
I better break out the leather panties! :D
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Originally posted by TheFatz
Whats the allied perkie plane then?
P-47, of course
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Tempest would be neat...but thats raf.
Honestly I hope they dont put 262's into the mix.
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I'd rather be in a 190 than a b17 anyhow. :)
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Originally posted by TheFatz
Tempest would be neat...but thats raf.
Honestly I hope they dont put 262's into the mix.
There will be no Tempests in the TOD, but 262's were there in limited numbers and could be a possibility.
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as long as the Fighters are close by, the 262's will have thier hands fulll.:D plus with a close knit bunch of buffs with 50cals, watch out!!!!! :)
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The Marine Air Wing volunteers for B17 duty. We should have 15 to 20+ pilots
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Al lies
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Originally posted by Fatty
Al lies
all politicians lie. We know this! so what side do you want in the TOD? :D
edit: or are you talking about that damned mascot Eagler is so fond of??? ;) If so... he lies too! He's always walking around saying the Gators are #1 (well, pointing with his index finger) and that's just so rarely true! :eek:
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Where'd u go to skool skernsk?
Originally posted by skernsk
What I want to do is run 3 different Frames with three different sets of A/C
Frame 1
B17 with Jugs(1943)
Frame 2
B17 with P38(1944)
Frame 4 B17 with P51(1945)
Axis planes will be 109's, 190's and perhaps a perkie bird here and there.
That way the Jug guys and the pony guys get to fly their plane for a frame.
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We'll fly anything.
AKcurly
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Where'd u go to skool skernsk?
In an igloo up north with the elders. Heh...I had no idea wtf you were talking about Vulcan until you explained it in the MA last night.
1, 2, 4 is sort of like monty python and the holy hand grenade:)