It is January, 1942, and the forces of Imperial Japan have been unstoppable. They have stormed out of their home islands and have swept all opposition before them. In just the past single month alone, they have advanced in China, annihilated the US Pacific Fleet at Pearl Harbor, invaded Thailand and Malaya, captured Guam and the Gilbert Islands, sunk the capital ships HMS Repulse and HMS Prince of Wales, invaded Burma, the Phillipines, and the Dutch East Indies, and captured Wake Island and Hong Kong.
China, already invaded, may hang in the balance. Allied forces -- American, British and British Commonwealth, Dutch, and Australian forces -- are doing what they can, but there aren't many of them left in the area. One critical task for the allies is to keep materiel flowing to China, in an effort to keep it equipped enough to fight back. With Southeast Asia cut off by Japanese expansion and dominance, the best route left is the renowned Burma Road. The allies can land materiel at Rangoon and use convoys to move it into China.
The Japanese know this and are working not just to conquer China from within but to strangle it from without by cutting supply lines. They have already established themselves in Thailand and are now entering Burma. The goal: take Rangoon -- cut the Burma Road. They are pushing forward, and the Imperial Japanese Army Air Force is ranging ahead, preparing the way.
The allied air forces consist of an assortment of Royal Air Force aircraft, manned by British and Commonwealth pilots, and a group from the US that has arrived only shortly before -- the American Volunteer Group, known as "The Flying Tigers".
In this Aces High scenario, the RAF and AVG forces (flying Hurricane Mk I's, Spitfire Mk I's, P-40B's, P-40E's, F4F-3's (FM-2's), Beafighters (A-20G's), and Buffalos (SBD's)) defend Rangoon against the IJAAF (flying A6M2's, A6M5b's, Betties (Ju 88's), and Dinahs (Bf 110C's)). Pilots get one life in aircraft (except for a limited number of 2nd lives in Buffalos) and unlimited lives as gunners on Betties. There will be four frames (battles), each lasting several hours.
The IJAAF goal is to bomb Rangoon into submission. No force on earth has yet been able to stop them. Can a regrouped RAF and the AVG make a stand to preserve the last artery of supply into China?
