June 2014 - Snapshot

[Mystic2]

June Snapshot Schedule

All Events begin at 9:30pm Eastern time in SEA II every Wednesday night.
All are welcome to attend. No registration, sign up or squad affiliation needed. Simply show up, read the Arena Message, choose a side and plane then get ready to fight!

Jun 04 14   68Raptor   Gestapo Raid
The RAF continued their war against the German Gestapo during the winter of '44. Using the Mosquito VI on intruder missions, Bomber Command's Pathfinder Force 2 Group launched a number of raids on Gestapo targets including record depositories, barracks, headquarters and prisons in order to free resistance fighters before they were executed.

This Snapshot represents a typical raid by 613 Squadron, City of Manchester on two coastal targets. The intruders use the Mossie both with rockets to destroy the buildings and light to deal with ack positions and intercepting enemy aircraft. The speed of the Mossie and ease of handling at low altitudes made this the perfect aircraft to hit and run with pinpoint accuracy. A key mission factor was to destroy the intended targets without causing civilian casualties or hitting nearby homes, schools or hospitals.


Jun 11 14   Mojo   Yamamotos Revenge
On April 18, 1943 Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto, Commander in Chief of the Japanese Fleet lost his life in a daring engagement of the 339th and 12 Fighter Squadrons flying P-38's.In a fictional attempt we will reverse the roles of the Americans and Japanese forces. Two B-26's (no formations) with General MacArthur on board will fly between two fields. Their path will be straight and known to the Japanese forces who will attempt to avenge the death of their beloved Admiral.


Jun 18 14   68Raptor   Most Memorable Day
June 26, 1941 saw RAF 'Circus' attacks on Luftwaffe Airfields at St. Omer-Wizernes and Boulogne. The morning attack was conducted by 50 Blenheim bombers escorted by Spitfire Vs of RAF 303 Squadron and others, opposed primarily by Adolph Galland's JG26.

Galland recorded this as his 'Most Memorable Day'. He was credited with 2 Blenheims and a Spitfire, and was himself shot down twice. Recuperating that evening in the Officer's Mess at Audembert, Galland learned that he had been awarded the Swords to the Knight's Cross... and forbidden to fly further combat missions by Hitler's personal order.

The RAF Circus missions were a part of Lord Trenchard's policy of having the RAF 'Lean Forward' into France. The objective was not so much to inflict strategic damage as to harass the Luftwaffe and provide combat training for the massive influx of new RAF pilots. The Luftwaffe, who could afford to be fairly circumspect about engaging these raids, sought to inflict casualties on Bomber Command and avoid excessive losses themselves. There would be no replacements transferred from Russia...


Jun 25 14   68Jr   Picchiatelli over Malta
December, 1941 Malta. Continuing efforts by the Regia Aeronautica to interrupt RAF operations on Malta brought their supply of Picchiatelli (Stukas) to Sicily as well as their new fighter, the Macchi 202. The tiny island was a major thorn in the side of the Germans and Italians as it lay astride the re-supply routes from Italy and Sicily to North Africa. Malta was the perfect location to stage interception raids on Axis ships trying to reinforce troops in Cyrenaica. The Italians kept up the pressure on Malta by attacking both the port and shipping at Grand Harbor