AFTER ACTION REPORTMission No. 5
Tuesday, 21 SEP 2010
OPERATION HARD RAINThanks for attending guys. I'm very glad that everyone
seems to have had a good time. Sure, it's fun for me to participate
but my main objective is to make sure everyone has fun on both sides
of the battle so we can continue to build interest and increase
involvement in future [MoMs]. The bigger the better!
Last night was quite a clash. We launched the bombers in three
waves to form three bomber groups, the 91st, 381st and 398th,
corresponding to high-mid-low group positions respectively.
I was in the last group to launch, the low bomber group.
The fighter group consisted of the 383rd Fighter Squadron in P-8L's,
the 487th Fighter Squadron in P-47M's and the 352nd Fighter
Squadron in P-51D Mustangs.
While we were taking off I looked skyward and saw a swarm of
black dots above us; our P-51 escorts overhead providing cover
for us as we lumbered to our target altitude of 23,000 feet.
It was a comforting site to see our "little friends" shepherding
us while we were so low and vulnerable.
As I looked at the map I could clearly see the three
groups as tight masses of green dots clawing themselves
upward, still climbing in ther bombers towards the rally
point; still not at a defensible altitude and not yet grouped
together. Fragmented, low, vulnerable.
Then the red dots began to appear.
At first we were met by 4 P-51D mustangs that I presume
were captured aircraft employed by KG.200 as a ploy to
get into the bomber formations and cause some mischief.
These were quickly followed by reports of 262's, Fw190's and
Me109's. Before long the lead group was under attack
while they were still climbing to their assigned altitude
of 25 thousand feet. Being in the last group to take off,
we saw very little enemy contact but the guys up front
were already getting hit!
The radio soon began to crackle with excited calls of "262,
two 262's closing in fast!" Then "swarms of 190's above us!"
I saw bombers falling from the sky without a wing and
enemy fighters coming apart as they dared attack a B-17
from the six o'clock position. Fighter escorts were
claiming victories and did an excellent job of defending
the bombers. Most stayed with the bombers but some
of our escorts were seduced low in pursuit if enemy
fighters. Despite these few who couldn't detach themselves
from their prey, I couldn't ask for more from our brave
little friends who had to fight the enemy
AND manage their
scarce fuel and ammunition supply! Well done!
Judging from the reports that I was getting back from
group and squadron commanders, the defense was well
organized and was attacking in waves. To hear the
descriptions of some of these attacks, they seemed
coordinated and highly determined, reminding me of the
eyewitness accounts offered by 8th USAAF bomber pilots
and crew.
And we were still only half way to the target.
Looking at the map, it seemed that the progression of the
lead bomber group had been halted, as if they had
bumped up against an invisible wall of resistance.
It was wierd. It appeared to my bloodshot eyes
as though the lead bomber group had actually turned around!
I was beginning to fear the worst; that we wouldn't even make it
to the target without being decimated by enemy fighters.
"Maybe we should have gone higher", I thought.
Eventually though, the 381st and 398th reached the 91st BG
and we were finally able to establish our vertical box
formation at our designated altitudes. Finally, mercifully,
we could make our turn towards the target, fully formed into
a three thousand foot high wall of steel bristling with
50-caliber widow makers, surrounded by ravenous eagles.
Thankfully too, my fears of utter annihilation turned out
to be exaggerated.
When I queried the group and squadron commanders for a
SitRep and strength report I was informed that relatively
few bombers had been lost. Judging from the VOX traffic
and the map it seemed otherwise. I let out a great
sigh of relief as I realized that the bulk of our force
was intact and loaded for bear.
We still had a chance.
Traveling west towards the Knight industrial center,
we were being met by what seemed to be a steady stream
of enemy combatants, some of them from KG.200 again in
P-51s, P-47's and a lone report of an LA-7! (sigh)
Still, the clear majority of opposition were in 190's,
109's, 110's and 262's and a couple of Italian C.202's.
To those brave Knight pilots I offer a hearty salute
and my deepest respects for keeping the theme of the
night intact so everyone involved could get the smallest
sense of the experience confronted by our grandfathers
in that grueling conflict.
As we continued on our westerly course, the strength
of enemy fighter opposition suddenly dropped off
compelling one bomber pilot to quip, "that was their last
wave". Indeed, it felt like we had braved the brunt of a
massive storm and had finally emerged out of the darkness
into clearing skies. It was still raining though, but the
downpour of enemy hail had somewhat abated. Whew.
Just in time.
The target was now fast approaching and we had to open our bomb
bay doors and get into our Norden bomb sites. By this time many of
us had acquired a dedicated gunner from among our casualties
and they couldn't have been more welcome as enemy fighters
were circling, waiting for us to begin the bomb run and
become most vulnerable.
I didn't see any flak over the target which was very
surprising as I had received intel that the flak would be
dense over such a vital strategic asset. It might have
be present and perhaps I was so focused I didn't see any.
Who knows, perhaps we were experiencing some much-needed
luck or maybe the 16-year-old flak gunners had fled to the
shelters. Whatever the reason, it was a welcome development.
3-2-1, "bombs away" reports punctuated VOX, "what direction
do we turn after bomb drop?" "Turn Right", came the replies,
"and head to A25". Now fragmented, the bomber group struggled
to resume a close defensive formation. Our fighter escorts
had been fragmented too, whittled down by enemy fighters,
low ammunition and fuel shortages.
We began to egress but the enemy would not let us escape without
a protracted fight. Again, Fw190's, 262's and other German plans
pursued us and snipped at the stragglers. We began to descend
to a lower altitude to assist returning fighter escorts
in getting to us so they could repel the heel biting
Knights.
Returning to base, we were lining up on the tarmac for a
group photo when some tenacious, suicidal Knight
pilots decided they couldn't resist strafing the field.
They traded perkies for scorn as they swooped down in
262's bent on revenge. I have their names but cannot
reveal them as we have sent an assassination team to Knightland
to hunt these vermin down and dispatch them to the final
adjudication location. You know who you are.
Reviewing the battle, approximately 60% of our bomber force
returned to base. I don't have any debriefs from the fighter
groups so no data on their disposition is available.
STEALTH of the 777th Heaven's Demons compiled the following
data for us after most of us had landed (or been vulched).
Bomb Damage Assessment:
City - 11%
Refinery - 75%
Radar Factory - 58%
Troop Training - 72%
Bomb Damage Points Landed: 31,238
Enemy Fighters Destroyed (landed): 24
Total Mission Duration: 97 minutes
=======================================================
For this [MoM] I flew mostly with icons off as this helped
immerse me in the World War II experience a bit deeper.
This approach isn't for everyone. It makes the challenge of
defending yourself much harder but it's much more realistic
in my opinion. And, since I recorded over 4 DVDs worth of FRAPS
last night, no icons will make for a much more interesting
movie that I'm planning to produce to promote greater
[MoM] participation.
Next MissionThe next [MoM] will be the toughest mission yet and will
test the mettle of even the bravest bomber and fighter pilots
as never before. We expect the mission to be exceptionally
dangerous and the loss of life high. The feint of heart need
not apply. Mission success and your survival will require the
highest order of discipline, teamwork and piloting skill.
Error will result in death.
This [MoM] is based on a historical event.
Details to be posted sometime next month.
To receive an alert with mission particulars before the
[MoM], please register on our [MoM] Alert List at
the following link. By subscribing, you'll make
certain that you never miss your MoM.
<S>
http://david.tenifer.com/aceshigh/LCA.MoM.php
