DD_Fenrir

That, Christoph, was bloody marvellous! Great work chum!

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!

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.

Scoreboard as of 05/11/44: Rosters to follow.

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].

Yes, I'd already noted it and also Chris' missing GK also. Looks like I was awarded one more than I actually got, presumably one of either of yours and that PWCG missed one entirely, so in actuality we scored 16 GKs total. Just working on a report to submit to Pat.

How did you find it Tbone? Hope you enjoyed it.

Rosters and scoreboard as of the morning of November 3rd 1944:

Welcome back gents, With a focus on air-to-air operations today, the 402nd were sweeping the front-lines in the vicinity of Snow-Eifel ahead of the 485th, who were to escort a squadron of RAF B-25s bombing an enemy strongpoint. The Jagdwaffe seemed shy again today with no sign of enemy fighters for either squadron to engage, however elements of the 485th spotted some juicy transports attempting a supply drop and engaged with alacrity; Lt. Artiesbi claimed two, with 2nd Lts. Scott and Reginald getting one apiece. After their air-focused operations were complete both squadrons dropped to the deck and engaged enemy ground units around the front, with the 402nd claiming a total of 15 AAA and artillery pieces and the 485th 10 of the same - good to see you fellows managing to give the Wehrmacht hell even on an ostensibly air-to-air mission! Some congratulations are in order; Lt. Arjen Efftee of the 402nd was awarded the Purple Heart for bringing back his badly damaged aircraft whilst wounded on the 30th November mission, and Lt. John Artiesbi has received the Bronze Star! Drinks on Artie this evening! Well done gents. Met say the good weather continues tomorrow for the 3rd November, so keep your heads clear boys. [Mission to be flown Sunday 1st November 2020]

Naturally old bean.

Cool. See you at 8pm!

Might be an idea to get some taxi practice in Tbone - we actually do more taxying in the campaign then any other of our events! It's a cold start at dispersal spawn (so you'll need to know how to start your engines if you have not already done so) and then we taxy from our dispersal to the into wind runway. P-38's a pussycat in that regards, but know that the rudder pedals do not steer the nose wheel; you'll need to have your left and right wheel brakes mapped to be able to make turns as that's the only way to steer! Are you available around 2000 tonight? If so I can help you through a few starts and taxying practise if you'd like?

Hey Tony, please see here: http://dangerdogz.com/forums/topic/13668-pwcg-p-38-lightning-strikes-co-op-campaign/page/19/?tab=comments#comment-140966

Two notices gents: 1. Changes to UK timezones are in effect. UK are now in Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) which is the same as UTC. This will affect those joining the campaign from timezones further East and West, so make note and adjust accordingly. Cutoff for joining will be 2100 GMT. 2. 2nd Lt. Tony Bowen (Tbone) has joined the 402nd Fighter Squadron; welcome pilot, make sure you have the requisite skins downloaded and installed so that you are able to enjoy spectacle of the 370th Fighter Group pageantry in it's finest regalia: http://dangerdogz.com/forums/files/file/841-p-38-campaign-skins/ https://forum.il2sturmovik.com/topic/61698-scripted-campaign-lightning-strikes-discussion/ http://dangerdogz.com/forums/files/file/853-bb_p38j25_402ndzip/ http://dangerdogz.com/forums/files/file/852-bb-p38j25_401stzip/ http://dangerdogz.com/forums/files/file/864-485-painlessdds/ http://dangerdogz.com/forums/files/file/880-485-pooka-green/ http://dangerdogz.com/forums/files/file/879-485-kimo/ http://dangerdogz.com/forums/files/file/866-485-reggiedds/ http://dangerdogz.com/forums/files/file/867-485-siddds/ http://dangerdogz.com/forums/files/file/868-485-aphilldds/ http://dangerdogz.com/forums/files/file/869-485-artiedds/ http://dangerdogz.com/forums/files/file/870-485-crashdds/ http://dangerdogz.com/forums/files/file/871-485-deltadds/ http://dangerdogz.com/forums/files/file/872-485-friardds/ http://dangerdogz.com/forums/topic/13668-pwcg-p-38-lightning-strikes-co-op-campaign/page/15/?tab=comments#comment-140599 http://dangerdogz.com/forums/topic/13668-pwcg-p-38-lightning-strikes-co-op-campaign/page/15/?tab=comments#comment-140656

Tbone, got any time free tomorrow eve for a P-38 session? I have a free evening and would happily chunter about in a Lightning with you for some familiarisation flying.

As a case in point as to what can be accomplished in a P-38: While Scharfi, bless her, is certainly no average pilot, it does show that the P-38 is more than capable of holding it's own dogfighting against the late war Jagdwaffe types. If you know what you're doing. And yes, all the opponents were breathers.

You and I are going to get on well. Minor edit required but I continue to like the cut of your jib. Oh dear. This was going so well. I had hope for you.... Vague recovery but...