PWCG P-38 Lightning Strikes Co-op Campaign

[DD_Fenrir]

Debrief for the 11th November 1944:

 

370th FG:

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:

 

[DD_Fenrir]

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:

 

[DD_Fenrir]

410th BG

Awards and Promotions:

None.

 

Personnel:

No changes. 

 

Roster:

[DD_Fenrir]

370th FG Scoreboard, as of the morning of 14th November 1944:

 

410th BG Scoreboard as of the morning of 14th November 1944:

[Pooka]

Major Fen, could you assign 2Lt. Denis Richard to the 410th BG tomorrow if possible.  Merci

[Painless]

Reporting for duty skipper 👍🏻
 

[Reggie]

Guys I apologise for missing 2 in a row, but I have come down pretty ill this weekend and will be missing tonight 😞. Symptoms don't suggest Covid, but we are watching them closely. Best of luck and I hope I can get flying with you all again soon, I miss the banter 😉

[Pooka]

Full recovery Reggie, thats whats called for, rest up.

[Crash]

I will be there tonight.

[Painless]

Get well bloody quick Reggie !

[rox]

Just rigged my flight gear back up after almost five months and will be there tonight.

[FoolTrottel]

1 hour ago, rox said:

Just rigged my flight gear back up after almost five months and will be there tonight.

Good show!

Make sure you try it all out on our DF server ... all missions running in there will have the P38 available. 

[Jabo]

7 hours ago, Reggie said:

Guys I apologise for missing 2 in a row, but I have come down pretty ill this weekend and will be missing tonight 😞. Symptoms don't suggest Covid, but we are watching them closely. Best of luck and I hope I can get flying with you all again soon, I miss the banter 😉

We'll be here Reggie, get well soon mate.

[Funflak]

A full recovery mate!

 

[BluBear]

Reporting for duty, will be on just before 9

[FoolTrottel]

402nd: I am truly impressed with what we did this mission, and how we did it.

We hit our main target hard, and dealt with targets of opportunity as well.

And all of that in a coordinated and efficient manner.  Great teamwork ...

And all of us landed back at home base.

Y'all made this Capt. rather proud! Thanks Guys!!

[Friar]

485th: Saw nothing. Got nailed by AAAA no hot water for shower. gin supplies running very low.

Sorry for the edit Col, see below....😉

[BluBear]

Nailed by quadruple A? That must have been awful, triple A is bad enough. 🙈

 

[Painless]

Yes there was indeed AAAA, “Ample Anti Aircraft Artillery “.

Bad luck this time 485th, absolutely no sign of enemy aircraft from beginning to end.
Even though we were supposed to be selective when it came to ground attack, ie not attacking massed AAA for the sake of it or alone, we still sustained damaged and lost airframes either through direct AAA hits or aggressive scenery.

2nd Lt John Mayer was injured and now has the full attention of several nursing personnel which I’m told he insists is “no more than a necessary evil”

2nd Lt Funflaque was also injured but we expect him back on Sqn as soon as stocks of formadehyde are replenished.

Unfortunately I believe we lost 2nd Lt Dave Scott, waiting for absolute conformation from HQ.....

Good job 2nd Lt Kieth Mow who nursed his damaged and leaking airframe back to home base without incident !

Capt Frank Priory also deserves a mention for  not only surviving such an “eventful” mission, but for contributing to a number of artillery ground kills for 485th.

 

 

 

[delta7]

485th seem to be in a loop either fly around and see no air combat or get bored and attack ground targets and get plastered by flak. I understand that lack of air is a game device due to our success and probably realistic but a tad frustrating

[Crash]

As John Mayer is a bit poorly, David Crosby would like to do A20 stuff while John gets better

[delta7]

I'd like transfer to a-20 as well please new pilot name Dave haggis

[DD_Fenrir]

Debrief for the 14th November 1944:

 

370th FG:

402nd - Bombing of rail targets, Bonn.

485th - Patrol for Air Targets over Front Lines, Gerolstein-Nettersheim sector

410th BG - Bombing of infantry positions near Nettersheim.

The 402nd under the charge of Capt. Efftee led a highly successful mission; excellent bombing results in Bonn wiped out the briefed rail targets plus a smattering of peripheral trucks and AAA. As the squadron circled the city trying to pick out any other targets Red 4 2nd Lt. Bowen spotted bogeys to the Southeast; picked up by White Lead, he managed to keep the contacts in sight (just!) and tracked the aircraft to the vicinity of Asbach. Closing to visual range the bogeys were ID'd as five Ju 52s and leading his element up sun Lt. Rea then set them up for a classic bounce. Rea and his White 2 2nd Lt. Baker shot down one apiece in quick order, with the 2nd element arriving soon after to get in on the action, 2nd Lts. Hinkley and Rox also claiming one each in the ensuing massacre, Rea mopping up the final e/a.  In the interim Red flight had remained high to cover, and Capt. Efftee called a regroup and the squadron reformed and headed for home. All 8 aircraft recovered safely at Florennes with 5 air and 14 ground kills to their credit.

402nd also an now boast the first double ace of the squadron and of the Group - congratulations to Lt. Rea for being the first to reach this milestone! 

The 485th ran their air patrol but were unfortunate to yet again miss the action despite the increased Luftwaffe activity. After a fruitless period of hunting around at Angels 18-19 they instead descended to see what punishment could be metered out to the Hun on the ground; yet again however the Flak gunners had other ideas. 2nd Lt. Dave Scott was sadly hit by AAA and killed. 2nd Lt. Mayer struck a tree and crash landed heavily - fortunately he was close to the front lines and friendly troops managed to get to him first, however he is reported as seriously injured and could be out of commission for some time. 2nd Lt. Funflaque also clipped a tree and he too was obliged to crash land in friendly territory, also nursing injuries that will keep him out of the cockpit for a few days. 2nd Lt. Mow was a focus for the Kraut AAA gunners but despite taking damage was able to recover safely to Florennes. With such heavy losses and the ferocious flak opposition, unsurprisingly the 485th's score was somewhat below their usual haul - a total of 8 ground targets were claimed.

The good weather is expected to continue on for tomorrow, the 15th November. [Event to be held Tuesday 8th December 2020]

[DD_Fenrir]

370th FG

Awards and Promotions:

2nd Lieutenant Casey Baker has been promoted to 1st Lieutenant.

2nd Lt. Luke Rox has been awarded the Purple Heart.

Congratulations gentlemen!

 

Personnel:

2nd Lt. Luke Rox has been transferred from the 402nd to the 485th.

2nd Lt. Denis Richard rejoins the 485th FS.

 

Rosters:

 

[DD_Fenrir]

410th BG

Awards and Promotions:

Maj. Sid Viscous has been awarded the Bronze Star.

 

Congratulations sir!

 

Personnel:

2nd Lt. Dave Haggis joins the squadron.

2nd Lt. David Crosby joins the squadron.

 

Rosters: