We had 5 pilots:
Abunabi
BD5Pilot <-Flight Leader
Buzzbe
Hening
Holder
We were tasked the Ar-234 and were given 2 targets.. radar factories just SE of A7 and fuel depot at 7.5.1 (roughly 50 miles east of A7). We took off from A22 (check map, that's a LONG ways away), tried to form up the best we could as some of our guys do not have a lot of air time in the 234.
Proceeded to form up and climb to 20k, had a good cloud deck to duck into most of the way. 50 miles North of the refineries, BD5Pilot and Abunabi were to hit refineries. Rest were to proceed to radar factort targets then rendezvous at pre-arranged coordinates.
Abunabi and BD5's target was cloud covered and they had to descend to 10k to line up targets. Both pilots were too hot but anded direct hits on their second pass. All bombs (3 each) scored hits on tank clusters and buildings.
Things got crazy at this point.
BD5, trying to link up with Abunabi, noted tracers flashing past him and it turned out he had a P-47 at d500 on his six. BD5 managed to eggress and outspeed the aggressor while Abunabi's aircraft lost both engines in one hit. He is unsure if it was a P-47 or acks since all he heard were hits, then was in tower.
Meanwhile, the others attempted to penetrate A7 but found that enemy fighters were orbiting overhead, as if awaiting them (this is the 3rd TOD we've been in where this has happened...coincidence or have we got spies?) Buzzbe, Hening and Holder opted to hit remaining refinery targets while trying to stay ahead of P-47s they encountered. Buzzbe didnt drop on fuels, but on a base at 9.8.5, mostly just to shed the ordinance and gain speed. He reports hitting a BH and Ammo Bunker.
At this point, we're all looking to get back to base. 22 is a long long flight and fuel is good, but its quiet on the buffer as to where more cons are. 12 is the closest, furtherest inland base and our thought is to land there. BD5 was about 20 miles ahead of the rest of the guys and approached 12. Just as he slowed to gear-extend speed, he saw 5 to 6 Tempests dive down on him. He managed to get gear up, power to full and out turn a diving Tempest and escape the area. The Tempests stayed at 12 and were not a factor anymore. Everyone stayed clear of 12, heading back to 22
Without incident, BD5 and Hening landed at 22. Holder crashed on landing and Buzzbe had a weird issue on his end where he was locked in clouds all they way back to 22, when it was clear skies. Since he was lost in fog on his flight model, he wound up crashing.
Recap: Fuel Refineries pummeled.
1 lost to AA (or P47?)
2 lost to crash
2 made it back alive
