PWCG P-38 Lightning Strikes Co-op Campaign

[DD_Fenrir]

Mission Date 27/12/44

402nd FS - Fighter Sweep, Zwolle sector

485th FS - Escort P-47 Fighter Bombers, target Duisberg

193 Squadron - Attack bridge, Raalte

 

Debrief:

USAAF 9th Tactical Air Force

370th FG

402nd FS:

http://dangerdogz.com/forums/topic/13668-pwcg-p-38-lightning-strikes-co-op-campaign/?do=findComment&comment=145829

 

485th FS:

A meagre showing from the 485th this morning, the CO on a 48 hour pass, some tech issues and a large number succumbing to "illness" (chief suspect being the discovery of a new and very friendly "hostelry" in Genk, attended by some most accommodating females... ) meant the 485th could only put 2 airframes up to cover a group of Jugs "attacking" Duisberg.

Being woken at dark o'clock for the brief was bad enough. To find only two fit planes/pilots available was frustrating. To then see the waypoint selection of the mission planner thereafter was to define incredulity. Our RV was all of 35 miles from base but some genius had routed us on an additional 60 miles on a scenic tour of Holland prior to reaching the RV. 

Red 2 (2nd Lt Ian Bayles) and I in a disposition as sunny as the morning (it wasn't) took off and made our thoroughly cheesed off Grand Tour of the low countries, only to be given an extra dose of good cheer (sarcasm) to hear Leakage squadron calling out gleefully that half the damn Jagdwaffe had appeared in their sector and were flying like deaf-mute bunnies with impaired vision. I mean, credit where it's due they did a fine job of taking down Jerry, but each joyful refrain of "he's on fire!" or "roger, he's gone in, I'll confirm that for you" did not exactly provide much tonic for Zenith squadron's mood at that time.

We duly met the T-bolts and faithfully weaved over their flight as they proceeded to Duisberg. We faithfully, if slightly expectantly, weaved over their flight as they proceeded to make a couple of orbits of Duisberg at 12,000ft. We then faithfully, if incredulously, weaved over their flight as they proceeded to head back to the frontlines without so much as make a rude gesture to Jerry, let alone release any ordnance or fire a single bullet. We then faithfully, if thoroughly embittered, weaved over their flight till we reached the front, at which point I made a very rude gesture at the Jugs and proceeded North looking for something, anything to vent my frustration upon.

80 miles later and now cursing the name of every poor bastard born because of the lack of anything of interest to be seen anywhere, to the North-east of Arnhem Red 2 and I happened upon various clusters of light and heavy AAA that seemed to be protecting bridges in the area. Utilising the murk of the morning twilight we accounted for 12 guns between us, then pissed off home having partially assuaged our ire.

 

RAF 2nd Tactical Air Force

No. 146 Wing

193 Squadron:

http://dangerdogz.com/forums/topic/13668-pwcg-p-38-lightning-strikes-co-op-campaign/?do=findComment&comment=145830

 

370th FG

Awards and Promotions:

402nd FS:

2nd Lieutenant Mitchell Martin is awarded the Bronze Star.

 

Personnel:

No changes.

 

 

 

No. 146 Wing

Awards and Promotions:

193 Squadron:

None.

 

Personnel:

No changes.

[Jabo]

Pity PWCG has not seen fit to award me with the other AAA gun the stats screen showed but 'fog of war' I guess. I believe the aircraft that I was dogfighting with (FW190D9) was the same aircraft that Crash attacked and that was subsequently knocked out after force landing by Reds 3 & 4 with Dennis delivering the coup de grace.

Fun mission that - not without incident but everyone got home safely (Lt Over arrived back at base in a 'borrowed' jeep earlier and a repair crew has been dispatched to Volkel to fix his P-38 ready for Sunday).

[DD_Fenrir]

18 minutes ago, Jabo said:

Pity PWCG has not seen fit to award me with the other AAA gun the stats screen showed but 'fog of war' I guess.

Yeah, me too Nick; in game stats showed that I had knocked out 8 guns & Bob 4; in PWCG it registered instead as 7 and 5 respectively. 

But hey, what's one pyric flugabwehrkanone between friends?

[Crash]

It was smoking when he turned finals. I lined up on him but as i pulled the trigger he rolled right causing my shells to hit his wing and some bits flew off

[Painless]

Oh dear, so the 485th was reduced to the 4/85 😟

Bloody shame the Luftwaffle didn’t show but worse that the 402nd had a blast ! Buggery balls with a Jerry on top !

[BluBear]

@DD_Fenrir I know you're a busy mutt, but when you get a moment could we see the scoreboards please old bean?

[Painless]

Reporting for duty this evening sirs..

[Painless]

Thanks for all of your time and effort Tom in trying to sort this baby out mate.

[BluBear]

Seconded.

Last night was a bugger, but still enjoyable. 

Fingers crossed for a solution!

[Crash]

Was it another dream?

[Painless]

25 minutes ago, Crash said:

Was it another dream?

Yup !

[Reggie]

Whether it takes or not - I had a great time, always enjoyable hanging out with you guys - as the British say - flying with DD is "the dogs bollocks"

 

[Painless]

Dog’s bollocks…. Mutt’s nutz…… “Canine cojones” or in our house….

“Dexter’s danglies” 

[Crash]

We could always start a limited number of mission campaign say 12 or so and see if any problems arise

[delta7]

If it ran ok awith the limited number test but not with the additional pilots on Sunday night it be an issue with one of the pilots who flew on Sunday? Only way to find out would be to start with pilots who completed successfully and slowly add others to find problem

[Painless]

If there is duty to report for, I would like to do so now.

[DD_Fenrir]

P-38s (and Tiffies) will be flying tonight!

[Crash]

goody

 

[BluBear]

Yes!

[Reggie]

Apologies chaps, I am stuck working tonight so won't be able to join in tonight 😢

[BluBear]

Might be 5 mins late!

[DD_Fenrir]

Mission Date 28/12/44

402nd FS - Interdiction, Givet sector

485th FS - Bridge Strike, Houffalize

193 Squadron - Road & Rail Interdiction, Snow-Eifel

 

Debrief:

USAAF 9th Tactical Air Force

370th FG

402nd FS:

 

485th FS:

 

 

 

RAF 2nd Tactical Air Force

No. 146 Wing

193 Squadron:

 

 

 

370th FG

Awards and Promotions:

402nd FS:

2nd Lieutenant George Vanderweit is awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross.

 

Personnel:

No changes.

 

 

 

No. 146 Wing

Awards and Promotions:

193 Squadron:

None.

 

Personnel:

No changes.

 

NOTE: 146 Wing have moved airfields to B-84 Rips

[DD_Fenrir]

Scoreboards & Rosters (as of the morning of the 29th December 1944):

 

9th USAAF

370th FG:

402nd FS

 

485th FS:

 

 

 

2nd TAF

No.146 Wing

193 Sqn:

[Squawk]

Good show Gents!   Well done Fenrir getting the campaign up and running again.  

 

I'll be back after the snow flies..  so much work to be done still.

One small home repair has blossomed into a major fixit.   

Presently backfilling and grading  around our foundation on my free time to prevent more water getting under the foundation in spring, and causing more cracks and heaves.

Its alot of dirt...

[Reggie]

Lol - only 1 mission for me 🤣 - or actually that is more like 😭

And to top it all off, I wont be able to fly Sunday either - as I am on call for this whole week, hence missing Tuesday. I can get calls at any point from 8am to 11pm when on call, if one came in while I was flying I would have to leave and die - so no point really  This "on call" crap is a new thing only just started at work. They have always had support chaps on call and working OOH - but having a management escalation cover is new. 

Best of luck on Sunday, I wont be on call for another 4 or 5 weeks after this week, so should be able to get back in the saddle soon.