TOD Mission 8: Let's try it again

[Rojo]

TOD pilots, living and dead.  Check your e-mail ASAP.  There will be a mission today, and one next Thursday.  Hopefully, the one on Thurday will be something really special.  Assuming HiTech Creations grants my request for use of the Spec. Events Arena, we'll be able to run Thursday's in a controlled environment. As for today's, it will be a "Circus" mission, flying from Bishopland.  Be there or be square .

Sabre

[Duckwing6]

If i can make a li'll Debrief:

The TOD mission consisted of a wing of 3 B26:

Lead: Bhudman
1st Wing: Camel
2nd Wing: ?? missed the name...

1 Wing of 4 Spitfires MkIX

Lead: Sabre
1st Wing: BD
2nd Wing: DW6
3rd Wing: Tink

We Departed F10 in good order and set off for the randevouce point near F20.
     
Sabre had to turn back because of technical Problems early after the departure and BD took over the lead.
     
On the Run in the target field was taken by our own Troops and we diverted to the secondary Target F24. The bad news was that the airspace around these fields was heavily defended.
And so we were intwercepted by an F4U diving into the Buff wing .. while the escorts where decoyed away by an enemy Bomber.
The F4U closed onto our Buffs before we were able to intercept it. Bhoudman and the #3 B26 went down but they where able to dwon the F4U too.
At this stage Sabre was able to catch up with the spare aircraft of the squadron and called for an Abort. The remaining A/C turned back and we closed on Camel to escort him back to friendly territory. We were intercepted by 2 Spitfires. BD was able to down 1 and the other one was downed by Camel's gunners.
He received some pings and i closed for an examanation of his aircraft.
     
I saw his left elevator blown off...
     
But camel said the controllability was fine and so we grouped up for the approach.
     
     
Due to the damaged stab Camels landing was a bit rough...
     

But at least we made it back to base!

THANKS Sabre and Rojo for this VERY Immersive Series!! (Trying to be there more often !)

   

[This message has been edited by Duckwing6 (edited 02-20-2000).]

[juzz]

Small point: Wasn't a Circus operation like 6 bombers, and 24 squadrons of fighters? So a 3:4 ratio is just a wee bit off.  

[BD]

Great Screenshots duck!  Here is an edited version of the after action report I filed with Sabre:

FROM:    BD

RE:            After Action Report, TOD 2/19/00

<snip>

Alpha flight departed from F10.  While climbing out, Sabre suffered a turbocharger failure and was forced to abort.  The remaining three fighters then rendezvoused with Buhd flight east of  F13.  Buhd flight was at 15,000 feet, Alpha flight was at 21,000 feet.  As the flights crossed out of the foothills south of F24, several contacts were observed on radar.  Alpha flight vectored ahead and slightly south of Buhd flight to intercept the southerly contact, which turned out to be a B-17 at over 25,000 feet.  Just as ID was made on the B-17, an enemy contact appeared from the NE, at a higher altitude than Alpha flight, headed at a high rate of speed towards Buhd flight.  Alpha flight was unable to intercept the enemy before it reached Buhd flight.

The enemy contact turned out to be an F4U-1C, the cannon armed variant, and it successfully penetrated to Buhd flight.  The enemy shot down two of Buhd flight in a single pass before being destroyed by defensive bomber fire.

With one bomber remaining, the mission was recalled to base.  After turning west, two additional enemies were sighted east of Alpha Flight.  As the enemies (spitfires) were closing, I called for Alpha to engage.  One of the enemies attacked my plane, which I shot down.  The second enemy continued through Alpha flight to pursue the lone bomber (Camel) from Buhd flight.
<snip>
I regret to report that although none of the escorting fighters was lost, we failed to protect two of the bombers and the attack was called off.

I take personal responsibility for the loss of the two bombers.  In hindsight, it may have been more prudent to split Alpha flight, sending one element to intercept each of the two enemy contacts.  The loss of Sabre early in the mission due to mechanical problems contributed to the failure of the mission.  

In addition, I would recommend an altitude substantially higher than 21,000 feet for escorting elements in the future.

BD

[Camel]

Great pics Duck, (once they finally loaded)  
 
I had a blast! I cant believe I let that Hawg get that close.

[Rojo]

Nice picture sequence, Duckwing.  Actually, the circus's started out as a half-dozen bombers and a couple squadrons of spits. JG2 and JG26, the two Luftwaffe fighter wings on the Channel front, kept chewing the bombers apart, so the RAF kept raising the number of fighter squadrons flying "escort" until the number reached rediculous magnitudes. So yes, the proportions were a bit off, to be sure.

Nice AAR, BD.  Saves me the trouble of posting one here myself  . Final mission is this Thursday.  Hope to see you there.  Mission orders will be e-mailed the night before, so don't forget to check. This will be held in the special events arena, and will have to balanced sides to make things interesting.

Sabre (a.k.a. Rojo)