Final Throw AAR

[GunnerCAF]

For your viewing pleasure, I copied this from our squad message boards.
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The cold morning air stung my face as we crossed the frozen airfield to the hangers.  Our hearts were as heavy as the low grey overcast skies.  All our remaining operational Doras were warmed up and ready.  I hope they hold up for another day fending off the enemy attacks.

We taxied out of the hanger to the runway.




We followed four of our remaining TA 152s down the runway, and re-grouped over the field before heading west to the front lines.




We climbed to 18K and still didn't break out of the clouds.  Visibility was so low, that we were easily separated if someone did not stay near.  We lost a few of our squad including HAWKeye to mechanical problems on our climb out.

Radio reports were coming in of enemy contacts.  We turned to intercept a large group of enemy inbound.  We saw many dots and turned to investigate.  As we turned to follow them, I could see more unidentified dots behind us.  The dots we were following turned out to be P51s.  As we got in visual range, the dove to our lower fighters, and we remained high looking for the bombers.

We were low on fuel, so we dove low near a vehicle field reporting enemy before we returned to base for fuel.  As we got low, we found several mossies and engaged.



We downed two, and the others scattered.  We lost Ski in this attack.  Low on fuel, we headed east to our field.

Shortly after takeoff Crash had mechanical problems and this just left GIshill and me.  We climbed back into the haze to 18K.  There were reports of another large number of enemy at 20K, so we climbed to 22K.  

Finding a large group of P51s a bit lower at 20K, we engaged trying to keep our slight energy advantage.  GI took one to the motor and had to exit the fight.  A few of the P51s worked there way above me and I found a fast enemy on my six and tracers whizzing over my windscreen.  I dove for speed, but two followed.

There I was, I had them surrounded and about to kill them all Scotch decides to call it off .  The odds were around 5 to 70, and we were the 5.  I did land, but our losses were heavy.  But, hey, I got a kill, an assist, landed and I got a good story... ODM!!!

Gunner

[daddog]

Those are nice pictures Gunner!  The smoke looks purple in the one, that is kinda odd.

Lost power last night for several hours. Did not come back on till about 9:45 my time (15 min before Squad Ops ends). I did not bother to log on. Mongrels did good from what I hear. Down about a dozen aircraft and only two losses and at least one truck convoy destroyed.

[GunnerCAF]

Thanks,

The smoke looks purple in the one, that is kinda odd.

Yeah, I had to doctor them up a bit to get the look we had in the arena last night.  On the films and screen shots, the sky is blue and visibility is unlimited.  I guess I got a bit of red in that smoke, or the pilot was smoking something

Gunner

[skernsk]

332nd AAR

All made successful takeoffs in the 332nd skinned P-51's.  The Ground Crew did a good job and none had to turn back with mechanical troubles.

The weather was bad and as we made it to target we had a large group of 109's fly over us and continue on.  They eventually must have met up with the dmd boys in their Spits (the Dmd past us moments before the 109's).

As we approached V23 we could see large columns of thick black smoke and BBQBOB and his boys were pulling off the target having successfully flattened it.

Several 332nd went down and flew the road looking for targets of opportunity.  A large German convoy was spotted and maddog dropped 2000 lbs of Allied love on them.  The trucks .... and maddog .... dissapeared:cool:

After regrouping there was some action around A67 with a few Luftwaffe fighters.  They were destroyed.  Several landed and re-armed for a second sortie.  

In the end we landed many kills for the loss of only 2 of our own.  A rare event when the Dogs do something like that.  Was a fun frame!