DD_Fenrir
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410th BG
Awards and Promotions:
None.
Personnel:
No changes.
Roster:
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370th FG
Awards and Promotions:
None.
Personnel:
We welcome Captain Frank Priory to the 485th as a new Flight Commander; he's an experienced P-38 pilot, having flown a tour in the Aleutians and done a spell of instructing.
Rosters:
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402nd - Escort of RAF B-25s to Krefeld.
485th - Patrol for Air Targets over Front Lines, Gymnich-Düsseldorf sector
410th BG - Bombing of convoy near Düsseldorf
Another longer range mission mission today.
The 485th ran their air patrol but yet again the Luftwaffe refrained our advances and so they took to harassing the Krauts on the ground; however the Flak arm put up a great deal of resistance and for once inhibited the usually robust 485th efforts. 2nd Lt. Mayer took damage and had to abort early, Lt. Apeehill caught a packet and was obliged to force land wounded on a forward airfield, and yet others collected some holes for their efforts. Most dishearteningly the much-liked and newly promoted Lt. Fryer - who was leading the group after Maj. Payne-less was called to HQ - was killed by a suspected direct 88mm hit. A significantly heavy price to pay for 7 ground targets.
The 402nd too had a quiet escort mission, with no air opposition encountered. En route to the bomber departure waypoint the CO, Capt. Efftee ordered White Flight (Lt. Rea and 2nd Lt. Baker) to break formation and go hunting early whilst he and Red Flight stayed to ensure the bombers saftey. White flight dropped to the deck and scoured the front lines in an effort to cause the Wermacht further headaches. Finding a small concentration of flak guns and an artillery position North-east of Julich, they silenced all in short order. Tracking further south towards Düren, whilst calling in Red flight, only single further gun was found, which thanks to an excellent piece of bombing fell to 2nd Lt. Bowen. With fuel starting to become an issue, Capt. Efftee called RTB and the 402nd had an uneventful flight home and landed at Florennes accounting for 10 ground kills with no losses.
There's no doubt that Jerry is suffering for airplanes and ground units; the sheer paucity of both in recent missions may point to them trying to conserve forces for a counterattack. Equally though it's been a hard slog for our troops and we're struggling to exploit weakness in their front-line due to our own supply issues. However, intel does indicate we may see them attempt to bolster their forces before we can take advantage of their situation...
Another spell of grotty weather is inbound again gentlemen so looks like we'll have some time to lick our wounds. A break is expected for the 14th November. [Event to be held Sunday 29th November 2020]
410th BG:
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The thumbnail for EDs latest sale video surreptitiously included a preview of the new cloud tech. Me likey!
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The thumbnail for EDs latest sale video surreptitiously included a preview of the new cloud tech. Me likey!
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12 minutes ago, FoolTrottel said:
That FW 190 I claimed (I got it all fired up and shift) is not in the narrative ... Claim not granted by PWCG? Probably because there was nothing left of it ... all burnt up!
Or it was stolen? Who did that? Gimme back!
Merely a formatting error on my part FT... now corrected. Your place in the
analsannuls of history is now complete.... 😉-
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370th FG
Awards and Promotions
The following pilots have been decorated for their recent acts of valour:
2nd Lt. Casey Baker - Bronze Star
2nd Lt. Colin Fryer - Bronze Star
2nd Lt. Gary Funflaque- Bronze Star
2nd Lt. Dave Scott - Bronze Star
Heartiest congratulations to you gentlemen, and keep up the excellent work; you are indeed setting an example for your fellow pilots to emulate.
And with heavy heart we also announce that in his last action:
Lt. Per Fesser - Distinguished Flying Cross (posthumously)
Group have decided that the following pilots have earned Promotion in rank, effective immediately:
1st Lieutenant Arjen Efftee is promoted to Captain
2nd Lieutenant Colin Fryer is promoted to 1st Lieutenant
2nd Lieutenant Fenton Rea is promoted to 1st Lieutenant
Each of you has demonstrated not only individual prowess in the air but also excellent leadership and decision making.
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Debrief for the 8th November 1944:
402nd - Escort of RAF B-25s to Gorinchem.
485th - Patrol for Air Targets over Front Lines, Gorinchem sector
An unusual day on many counts, some good, some bad.
Away from our normal sector of operations the 370th FG were tasked with missions that were in direct support of a push by Commonwealth forces attempting to cross the Waal river; this involved a longer than usual cruise to target. Despite many missions of only paltry appearances by the Luftwaffe they certainly showed up today; a flight of 190s jumped the 485th, with a second group attacking the bombers that the 402nd were tasked to escort.
Alas, we did not come off lightly. In the 485th, cruising just below cloud and not yet having even crossed the front line, Red Flight was targeted by the enemies initial pass, with 2nd Lt. Key Moe's Lightning paid particular focus and their aim was all too true. The unfortunate Lt Moe's P-38 was last seen diving out of control and no chute was observed. Further inquiries with our Allies have determined that the wreckage of his aircraft was discovered with his body still strapped in it.
Sufficed to say the 485th's vengeance was swift and merciless and they subsequently downed all of the marauding Focke-Wulfs for no further losses, 2nd Lt. Colin Fryer accounting for one & 2nd Lt. Dave Scott getting a further two. White flight then had the good fortune to happen upon a flight of Ju-52 transports and dispatched all 3 in short order, 2nd Lt. Tom Apeehill claiming one and 2nd Lt. Gary Funflaque claiming the other pair.
Lt. Funflaque's aircraft was damaged in the engagement, though whether from the rear gunner of a Ju-52 or a nearby AAA battery is currently unknown, as he force landed at Gilze-Rijen airfield, otherwise seemingly none the worse for his adventures.
Having opted for carrying a bomb load in the event that Jerry didn't make a showing in the air, Red flight of the 485th used these to good effect bombing and strafing enemy positions in and around the front line, garnering a respectable total of 13 ground targets destroyed, both Maj. Mick Payne-Less and newly arrived 2nd Lt. Artage commendably each gaining five apiece.
Nice work gents.
The 402nd had barely rendezvoused with their charges when three Fw 190s attacked from the bombers high 12. In the ensuing furball all were eventually smacked down, with one each credited to Lt Arjen Efftee, Lt. Per Fesser and 2nd Lt. Fenton Rea; however, this was not before one of their number had managed to mortally damage the lead B-25 which fell out of formation not long thereafter.
Despite the apparent danger having passed, in the effort to regroup the slightly scattered squadron after the dogfight the Squadron leader for this mission, Lt Per Fesser and his wingman 2nd Lt Louis Zook tragically collided; there were no survivors. The two veterans, nee stalwarts of the squadron, both much liked and highly valued by their CO will be sorely missed by all.
Taking over the lead of the squadron Lt. Efftee escorted the remaining bombers to their egress waypoint, then led the group back down to the target area to see what mischief could be made. AAA was heavy however, and only two guns were claimed, with 2nd Lt. Rea coming away with significant damage, though Lt Efftee quickly destroyed the offending position shortly thereafter. 2nd Lt. Rea managed to strafe another gun position on his egress, despite some "interesting" control issues and a fuel leak & limp back to Florennes.
We've had worse days, gents but we've also had better. Today's losses were entirely avoidable. Remember to keep a good lookout at ALL times, not just when you expect the enemy to show; it seems that the recent dearth of Luftwaffe activity may have lulled some of you in to a false sense of security. If Lt. Moe's unfortunate demise has taught you anything it is to keep your head on a swivel and that the Krauts will punish complacency in the severest terms. And whilst operating substantial numbers of aircraft in formation will always bring risks of collision, it is each pilots responsibility to ensure that the air where his plane is headed is clear and to take his own measures to avoid collisions and not expect other aircraft to get out of his way.
On that note gents, looks like the weather is clamping in again; next clear spell is expected for the 11th November. [Event to be held Tuesday 24th November 2020]
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You'll be missed Christoph but give my namesake our warmest birthday regards and wish him well from all of us at chez Fenrir.
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Hello chaps; updated some of the elevation diagrams as my figures for the altitudes covered by the scan zones were off by a factor of .5! Now corrected.
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Red Lion booked for 2 nights; Fenrir and Dadda-Fen in attendance!
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The scoreboard as of the morning of the 8th November 1944:
Rosters to follow....
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Debrief for the 5th November 1944:
402nd - Air Patrol of the front-lines between Gerolstein and Nettersheim.
485th - Attacking Rail Targets in Bonn
It would be difficult to have so productive a mission again today as we had on our previous outing, and so it bore out; that it is not to say that either squadron did not accomplish their missions, quite the opposite: both squadrons successfully completed their assigned tasks and then some, just that the level of over-achievement that has been in evidence with the groups activities of late was not quite so staggering today!
As is becoming common the 402nd took a brace of 1,000lbers each today in case the Luftwaffe refused to show, and for the patrol portion of their mission, our erstwhile foes were conspicuously absent in the air. As such Lt. Efftee led the formation down below cloud level to search out the Boche on the ground. However, the Lts. run of ill-luck seems to be continuing as he was struck by flak on his first pass and yet again he was forced to retire early taking his faithful wingman, 2nd Lt. Dennis Wingy with him. We are glad to report he made a safe landing at home base.
With 2nd Lt. Casey Baker taking over the lead further attacks were made on a lone gun position South of Nettersheim but this gun too found his mark, managing to hit Baker's aircraft as he pulled up from his bomb run. Despite a fuel tank leak, he decided to press on and with ground targets appearing to be meagre in their patrol sector, the formation set off towards the airfields East of Euskirchen in the hopes to find bounties as fruitful as the last outing.
On Odendorf field there was a fairly brisk reception from the flak guns, but several well coordinated runs silenced these. Expecting to now have free reign to work over the aircraft on the field, the 402nd boys were somewhat bemused to find nothing but trucks and fuel bowsers dotted across the grass. Moving to the larger airfield of Strassfeld to the North to see if there were any more lucrative targets, they found the same, with further AAA to boot. A 485th aircaft was working over the field and the 402nd assisted in shutting down the remaining flak but with no valuable targets really in evidence, and with 2nd Lt. Baker's fuel situation suddenly becoming somewhat critical, the 402nd departed the area - though not before 2nd Lt. Finknottle set the entire fuel dump ablaze.
With the remainder of Red section headed direct back to Florennes, Baker and his wingman, 2nd Lt. Fenton Rea set course for Bierset - it was looking all too unlikely that Baker would be able to return to home base, such was the rate at which his fuel was disappearing. Spotting a flak gun on the front line Rea asked permission to break off and attack, which was granted. Having attacked and destroyed the gun, Rea then attempted to rejoin his leader who was now several miles ahead and a good few thousand feet above, aiming to get above cloud and if necessary glide to a friendly field. Struggling to gain on his lead Rea watched Baker disappear into the cloud layer and was blindly following suit when through a chance gap in the clouds spotted two bogeys high above, and duly warned his leader. Sure enough these resolved into 2 long nosed Fw 190s who were setting up to jump Baker, though thanks to Rea's warning, Baker was able to evade their attack. Despite a couple of close calls, Rea and Baker (even with the damage to his aircraft) managed to down one bandit apiece.
With the skies now apparently clear, Rea covered his leads forced landing at Bierset and then made his way home to Florennes.
Total 402nd ground claims this mission, a respectable 17, though the two Fw 190D's and getting everyone back safe was a sweetener.
The 485th did an exemplary job of wiping their assigned target from the map, with trains, wagons, trucks, AAA guns and half tracks in the target area being remorselessly annihilated. With no targets left, they pushed on to Bonn-Hangelar airfield to see if they too could repeat the outstanding levels of destruction they wrought last mission. However, as with the 402nd, they discovered only AAA and trucks, the AAA proving particularly effective and forcing the early withdrawal of two of their pilots and actually knocking down two more - it is with bitter-sweet tones that I have to inform you that both Lt. John Artiesbi and 2nd Lt. Sidney Gittins were the two unlucky pilots who went down; Artiesbi was made a PoW over the target and Gittins, despite a valiant effort to make the front lines, crash landed just a few hundred yards too short and practically on top of an enemy forward Observation Point. He too was captured. They are at least alive, for now, and god-willing may see the war out.
With this attack seemingly of limited profit, the remainder of the 485th pushed on to Euskirchen & Zulipich where some of the number were working over Strassfeld airfield and 2nd Lt. John Mayer discovered a target actually worth some ordnance; he managed to dispatch an entire train single handed - on his first mission!
Other performances of note include Maj. Mick Payne-Less, who alone accounted for nearly half of all the 485th total of ground targets destroyed, with 10 to his name, and 2nd Lt. Key Moe who solo dropped two of the bridges in Bonn city centre, thus hampering enemy troop and supply movements for weeks to come. Great work gents.
All in, the 485th claimed 24 ground targets destroyed - it's a shame about the cost, but well done nonetheless.
Regarding the cost...
It would seem that the enemy is attempting to lure our aircraft over airfields, knowing that they (and the airframes that should be on them) are a high priority target for us, using the trucks as bait, teasing pilots to believe there are aircraft on the field when viewed at from distance. They put well sited flak guns with well trained crews in prime positions and when we bite, punish us for it with a flak-trap.
Group HQ have reacted accordingly: you are now under strict orders that in the future, if there are no aircraft on an airfield that is being sized up for strafing then do not continue the attack. We cannot waste well trained pilots and valuable airplanes on a few - probably already immobilized or damaged - trucks. It's just not worth the cost.
Take note gents.
We await news of Lt Artiesbi and 2nd Lt. Gittins replacements. In the meantime looks like the weather will be clamping in again for a couple of days. Met seem to think the front might clear during the night of the 7th/8th thus leaving suitable weather for ops on the 8th November itself. [Event to be held Sunday 15th November]
So kick back for a bit gentlemen. Though some of you might wanna go out and grab a bottle of something nice to give to your Chiefy, given the amount of flak damaged Lightnings dotted around the dispersal pans....
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I can give you 10 min Tbone but that'll be a hard limit - one second after 21:09:59 and we're committed, with you or without.
I've given others a little grace if they've been polite enough to forewarn us, so I don't see why you shouldn't get the same.
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And it's MONSTROUS...!!!
Wow! 3 variants of the -A model, a 10-mission campaign for the Caucasus that can be flown with a mate, either as RIO or wingman, external sound overhaul, plus AIM-54 improvements, and a host of other fixes.... wh00t!
EDIT: Need to clarify; we're initially only getting the first of 3 -A variants. The one that will arrive two weeks from now will in essence be chronologically & technically similar to the -B we currently own with the older engines; later we will get an early -A with an older RWR system (with other detail systems differences) more typical to the version used in the 70's/80's by the US Navy; and then finally a similar timescale variant but uniquely configured to Iranian Air Force Specs, with some key systems removed and more restricted weapon loadout.
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That, Christoph, was bloody marvellous! Great work chum!
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Not so Nick:
http://akvictoria.by/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/P-38-Lightning.pdf
Pages 92-97 cover emergency landings, single engine, forced landing and ditching.
Besides, you've done alright!
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16 minutes ago, Painless said:
Congratulations 402nd ! You guys fly much better than your looks would suggest ! 👍🏻😘
I know - you'd expect a bunch of individuals of such suave appearance to be somehow deficient in other areas, but our immaculateness is no mere veneer - it permeates to the core old boy.
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Scoreboard as of 05/11/44:
Rosters to follow.
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Welcome to debrief gentlemen, for this mission of the 3rd November 1944.
Even by initial accounts a most productive mission, very well done.
The 402nd were slated to strike transportation hubs and attack trains and MET in Cologne; despite some stiff AAA opposition and some targets being obscured by buildings this they did beautifully, with much chaos being wrought upon the enemies ability to move men and material through the centre of the city. Lt. Per Fesser managed to drop one of the primary road bridges and 2nd Lt. Fenton Rea destroyed the Köln-Deutz station - and a train with it - with their squadron-mates taking a heavy toll of AAA guns trucks and half tracks in the vicinity.
However, not finding themselves content with this haul and still possessed of much ammunition they moved to a lucrative target that they had spotted on their run-in to the city: that of Köln-Ostheim airfield, and they proceeded to wreak further terrible vengeance upon AAA guns, parked aircraft, fuel bowsers, trucks and the fuel storage depot.
All in the 402nd are claiming a phenomenal 42 ground targets destroyed in a single mission - a new record, and one which pushes the 402nd into the vanguard as premier Ground Attack Outfit within the 370th FG - and all for no loss. Lt. Arjen Efftee did catch some Flak during the attack on the airfield but sensibly chose to call it a day and head for home where he landed without undue difficulty. That is outstanding work gentlemen. Well done.
A tough act to follow, but the 485th did themselves proud nonetheless: despite the fact that their primarily air oriented mission to the area of Cologne-Bonn bore no fruit (the Luftwaffe frustratingly refusing - yet again - to come out and play), Maj. Payne-Less' decision to bring some more weighty hardware "just in case" certainly seems vindicated as the 485th went hunting for prey on their very airfields. At Köln-Wahn, Köln-Butzweilerhof and Bonn-Hangelar the 485th left a trail of blazing flak guns, parked aircraft, fuel bowsers & trucks in their wake and netted a grand total of 28 ground targets destroyed - their best ground target haul for a single mission yet! Special mention goes out to Maj. Payne-Less for his acumen in taking on - and out! - AAA guns (he claims 7 this sortie alone) and to 2nd Lts. Denis Richard and Sidney Gittins for their 3 e/a each destroyed. Shame they weren't airbourne boys, but strafing has hazards all it's own and if they're burning on their airfields then they ain't attacking our troops on the ground. Great work.
The days only vicissitude comes from the tragic loss of 2nd Lt. Tom Petty. Hit badly by flak attacking one of the airfield targets he struggled back across the front-line leaking fuel at a prodigious rate; with controls damaged he was attempting to test whether his flaps and gear would function normally at a reasonable altitude when both engines failed due to fuel starvation. It appears that he lost control whilst endeavoring to perform a out-of-field belly landing and was killed in the subsequent crash. Although only with the squadron a lamentably short time, this taciturn yet affable fellow will be missed.
We await news of his replacement.
As for tomorrow, Met reports indicate we're in for some high winds and just to make things even better, a healthy dose of Europes finest rain to boot. Weather does appear to be flyable for the following day, so get some rest in boys, we're flying on the 5th [event to be held Tuesday 10th November].
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PWCG P-38 Lightning Strikes Co-op Campaign
in IL-2 Sturmovik: Great Battles Series
Posted
370th FG Scoreboard, as of the morning of 14th November 1944:
410th BG Scoreboard as of the morning of 14th November 1944: