Battle of Britain 2008, Frame 4

After-Action Report
11/22/2008
by Brooke, GL, I/JG3

This was a scenario that ran in the multiplayer on-line air-combat simulation Aces High.

I was the Group Leader (GL) of I/JG3. I/JG3 consisted of me (Brooke), KKEN, Rapier, Gazoom1, and Babalon. We were short-handed this frame. We were in Bf 109F-4's, loaded with 100% fuel and drop tanks. Our takeoff field was A45 (Boulogne-Audembert).

KKEN (left) and me (Brooke, right) on our takeoff roll behind the Ju 87 Stukas of I/ZG26. The rest of I/JG3 is rolling behind me and KKEN. We are taking off from Boulogne-Audembert (A45) today, close to the coast of France. I/JG3's mission is to escort the Stukas as they attack the coastal radar of the RAF. In the picture from top to bottom are: (unknown at top), EdFd11, (unknown), WWhiskey, Delirium, Trax1, bigK, Spartin2, Rodent57, and CRAZYiVN; then KKEN on the left and me on the right in our snappy, new Bf 109F-4's. The Bf 109E-4 "Emil" is a nice plane. The Bf 109F-4 "Franz" is an awesome improvement over the Bf 109E-4, with much greater speed, better roll, the ability to carry a drop tank, and longer firing time from its cannon. However, we didn't take a drop tank on this mission as we expect only a short trip to the coast of England and back. t=0:00

Out over the channel, we stay low under the RAF radar. From left to right: Alpha81, Betty, me, Sethbag, and Trax1.

At about the middle of the channel, we begin a climb so that the Stukas can have some altitude coming into the ack from the radar fields and so that the Bf 109 escort can have some altitude to protect from enemy scouts and attacks. However, I am worried that, now that we are on RAF radar, we will attract a squadron of Spitfires with altitude on us.

We end up attracting one Spitfire Mk V scout, which KKEN and I spot as a bogie, investigate, and then attack.

My diving frontal attack on the Spitfire Mk V scout. I put a round just to the right of his cockpit, but don't observe any critical damage. I tangle with him briefly, keeping my speed up, as does KKEN. Once he is lower and maneuvering hard still out of ID range of the Stukas, I exit the fight, heading back to the Stukas. I tell KKEN (who has been doing likewise and has much more altitude and energy at this point than the Spitfire) to press the attack or head back to the Stukas as he sees fit. t=0:16

Once we get closer to the coast of England, the Stuka formation splits up into elements that go for different sets of radar. I go with the group that is tasked with going down the coast from Pevensy (v116) south. Each of the other members of I/JG3 escorts one of the other groups as they split up.

A picture from above me as I escort Sethbag, Spartin2, and Trax1 down the English coast to Pevensy. They are at about 7k or so, and I'm at about 15-20k. t=0:22

I bank left to take a look as Sethbag blows up the radar tower at Pevensy (v116). Sethbag's Stuka is just visible to the right of the picture. I'm staying near the Stukas, and there is another Bf 109F squadron providing a patrol at high altitude as we go down the coast. t=0:23

A picture as WWhiskey and Rodent57 take out the radar at v115 (Beachy Head). Rodent57's Stuka is in the upper middle of the picture just above the building up from the exploding radar. (He's very hard to see, though.) t=0:26

I bank right to get a view as the bombs from Spartin2 detonate near the radar town at v83 (Truleigh), giving off pretty condensation rings from the blast. Spartin2 is visible to the upper right of the picture. t=0:29

A view down through a cloud from my 109 as the tower at v114 (Poling) explodes. Trax1 is visible to the lower right of the picture with ack shooting in his direction. t=0:34

At this point, the group I was with has destroyed all four of its radar targets. We haven't seen any enemy fighters so far, which is lucky for us. The other Stukas were likewise successful, and now the RAF is blind in the middle, through which our Ju 88's will fly. I now stay over the top of Trax1 as his painfully slow Stuka turns toward home. I'm a little concerned as we are now a ways from my home base, and I didn't take a drop tank. Also, it is getting past the time when I am supposed to be back for escort duty of the Ju 88's, I'm 75 miles from home, and Stukas are very slow. I start to coordinate on the radio that the rest of I/JG3 should get back home and start escort duty without me -- that I'll join up as soon as I can thereafter.

While doing this, I don't notice these two squadrons of Spitfires show up. I am too busy periodially banking and looking down, making sure I can see Trax1 through the clouds, and talking on the radio. The Spitfires show up from my rear quarter, where I don't have the best visibility, and higher than I am. I am throttled and RPM'ed back, chugging along at low speed so as not to outpace Trax1's Stuka. t=0.37

Two of the Spitfire Mk V's attack me. One of them hits me with machinegun fire (a couple of hits visible as flashes here on my left fuselage and left wing). I didn't even know enemies where there until I heard the bullets hitting my plane. I happened to be doing a right turn at low speed (looking down at Trax1) just by luck turning into the Spits. As they are in at high speed, they can't hold the fire on me and are in the process of overshooting. t=0:39

I immediately pull hard right then roll level, shove my stick full forward, and go to full power and WEP. I snap my view back and see the two Spitfires. Very lucky for me (again), they did overshoot and pulled up after their pass, creating a lot of separation for me. I pick a direction out into the channel. I radio to Trax1 that two Spits found me and that I'm trying to drag them out into the channel away from him. I recommend that he get down on the deck.

I dive and jink as one of the Spitfires tries a long-range shot at my fleeing backside. I'm picking up speed quickly in a screaming dive and am amazed to pick up enough speed to stay 1000 yards ahead of the closest Spitfire. I love this new 109F! t=0:40

After another minute of chasing, they give up and break off. I turn for a heading directly back to home base, feeling cowardly for not turning back to engage these two Spitfires that might now go back to find Trax1. I rationalize that I'm already getting low on fuel, far past my time to get on my next mission, with still 75 miles to get back to base. I found out later that Trax1 was shot down -- sorry, Trax! :(

I turn onto final at a45. Members of I/ZG26, who got back earlier, take off in Bf 109F-4's on the mission to escort Ju 88's to London. From left to right: bigK, CRAZYiVN, me, EbFd11, and Delirium. t=0:53

I cut the corner, go to a spot where the bombers are headed, point in the direction they are going, and climb hard. The bombers are just visible in the distance (upper middle of picture) as they come up on me. t=1:01

I take up a position with the rest of I/JG3 above and in front of the bombers (the darker dots, lower right). There are other fighter squadrons escorting as well. The bombers are both I/KG1 and I/KG53 squadrons. Today, the bombers are up high -- 20,000 ft. I/JG3 is up at 28,000 or 30,000 ft. We have crossed over onto English soil near Beachy Head (v115), and haven't seen the RAF yet. My guess is that that they are massed east of London, waiting for us. On this mission, I do have a drop tank. From left to right: MGD, Los, wikipiki, Voudou, Sethbag, bigK, Eagle, betty, Vasco, me, gas50, Nutzoid, Beefcake, SKTurt, Theoris, Twizzty, Serenity, whiskers, Vlad, TwinTail, SunsFan, miglord, and Faris.

At one point, as we press northwest toward London, Fencer's squadron up ahead announces enemy fighters up at 29-30k near A23 (Croydon). The bombers turn to a heading of north to sidestep it, planning to fly north a bit, then west to London.

From a position to the bombers' 1 o'clock, about 6000 yards out, I spot three bogies. I go in to identify them. I call out "Achtung! Spitfires! 1 o'clock to bombers!" on the range mic and roll in to attack. This is near the Thames, about 25 miles east of London. t=1:28

I make a couple of passes to get them turning instead of going in on the bombers, and keep my speed and altitude. More LW fighters come in and attack, and I spot high bogies starting to come in from 2 o'clock of the bombers. They are called out as Hurricanes.

I drop my tank and climb back to a position forward right of the bombers, calling out for I/JG3 to drop tanks and make sure to switch back to cannon. The bomber stream is visible forward of the nose of my plane in the picture. In the picture from left to right: WWhisky, me, Faris, Trax1, Delirium, CRAZYiVN, and betty. t=1:29

I go for the middle of the Hurricanes as they come in, calling out "Hurricanes, 2 o'clock bombers! 29k!" Also starting to mix it up are Alpha81 and SIM. t=1:31

I pick one Hurricane Mk IIC and put some rounds into him. A swirling dogfight rapidly develops. From left to right: SIM, Alpha81, and me. t=1:32

After several of my cannon rounds burst on the Hurricane (he sheds some parts), he pulls back hard on his stick, back and up -- which very nearly takes him right into me. A view forward from my cockpit as I flash by, missing him by feet. In the picture from top to bottom: Trax1, wikipiki, SIM, and Alpha81. t=1:33

I don't follow the Hurricane as he does his break turn, as he is maneuvering hard, not making headway to the bombers. Other fighters finish him off, but it gives me the kill.

I leave the previous Hurricane and turn to get back to the bombers. There are a Spitfire and Hurricane attacking them. The rest of the RAF fighters are dispersed and not in a position to attack, but unfortunately a lot of the escort is pulled away. Some LW fighters are close and racing to get back into position, though. The Spitfire goes down to bomber gunners, and I race for the attacking Hurricane. From left to right: ROC, KKEN, TwinTail, Gazoom1, gas50, MAG1C, me, Alpha81, whiskers, SKTurt, SunsFan, Twizzty, Nutzoid, Vlad, Theoris, Serenity, Beefcake, Fariz, Trax1, and Delirium. t=1:33

As I close on the attacking Hurricane, although still a ways out, the radio calls out that he has collided with a bomber, and I see him spiralling down, missing a wing and half a fuselage. The bombers have been damaged in this attack, but we haven't lost any yet. From left to right: whiskers, SKTurt, Vlad, Nutzoid, Serenity, Beefcake, and theoris. Not shown is gas50, who is trailing this group. t=1:34

I go after another Hurricane that comes in on the bombers, but others have blown his wing off before I get to guns range. From top to bottom: Beefcake, Serenity, Nutzoid, theoris, Twizzty, me, Delirium, Vlad, and SIM. t=1:34

I get over the bombers and climb, asking on radio for all fighters to race back to the bombers if they can.

I spot a squadron or two of Spitfires coming in from 2 o'clock high. I call it out and position myself to clear the bombers' tails as the enemies come in. From left to right: SKTurt, Beefcake, me, Serenity, Nutzoid, theoris, and MGD. t=1:35

A view past me after I finish chasing off a Spitfire Mk V. Three Spitfires are in on the bombers, and at least one bomber has been shot down (the black streak) -- one of Vlad's Ju 88's? -- and ominously I don't see gas50. From left to right: MAG1C, Gazoom1, Dantoo, 8313jbx, Snibbo, Vlad, Voudou, Vasco, WWhisky, Nutzoid, Serenity, theoris, SKTurt, Beefcake, and me. t=1:35

I chase a Spitfire back toward the bombers and put some hits into him from long range. The bomber gunners are firing at him, too. From left to right: SKTurt, Serenity, Nutzoid, Beefcake, theoris, whiskers, me and SirNuk3. t=1:36

We clear out the remaining Spitfires, but have lost some bombers this time.

A view from above me, surveying the damage. From left to right: SKTurt (one damaged bomber), theoris (one damaged bomber), Beefcake (he looks OK!), Vlad (lost one bomber and the remaining two are trailing fuel or coolant), Nutzoid (lost one bomber), Serenity (one damaged bomber, maybe two if his other is trailing white smoke), and whiskers (looks OK!). I think by this point, we have lost gas50. We are just about 10 miles east of London at this point. t=1:37

A view from above me as SKTurt drops his bombs for London. t=1:39

A view from above me showing bomb damage on London. There are three clusters of buildings destroyed and a lot of craters showing that several bombers went for the big HQ building (to the right of my plane's nose). Some probably hit, and some had bombs drop short or long. t=1:40

I get out of position to the bombers while I circle London once getting a view of the damage. I move to a position south of the bombers as they leave the area travelling southeast.

Fencer's guys call out three Hurricanes headed toward the bombers. I head toward the one nearest me and manage to chase him off. The bombers are crossing the Thames. From left to right: Dantoo, Serenity, WWhiskey, whiskers, SKTurt, Nutzoid, Beefcake, ROC, me, CANUKK, Turner, MAG1C, MGD, Fencer, and Baumer. t=1:42

Right on the heels of these Hurricanes, a Spitfire comes in. Turner and I get on him.

I'm shooting at the twisting, jinking Spitfire Mk V and hit Turner instead. It's with cannon rounds, too, not machineguns. t=1:44

Right after this, a bunch of my rounds do go into the Spitfire as well. The Spitfire doesn't go down (at least to me in this burst), but he isn't going after the bombers. t=1:44

A view from below me at Turner as he breaks off after I hit him. He is leaking coolant. Crap. He won't make it home with a coolant leak. I am very sorry, Turner! :( I set my course to race back to the bombers. t=1:44

As I near the bombers, another Spitfire and more Hurricanes show up 12 o'clock to the bombers. They make a headon pass and then loop around for more. Most of them go for whiskers. From left to right: Nutzoid, Serenity, SKTurt, Beefcake, me, and whiskers. t=1:44

I fire on one of the Hurricane Mk IIC's, driving him off. The other Hurricanes are tangled with escort behind the bombers. So this Hurricane wave is dispersed, but we have lost some bombers. From left to right: SirNuk3, Nutzoid, SKTurt, Beefcake, me, Serenity, Kermit (the LW CO is here!), Los, and whiskers (who has one bomber on fire). t=1:45

A view to my left and behind. With these frequent waves of attacks, it is very hard to keep up with the bombers, which are pulling ahead of us. I'm asking on the radio for any escorts who can to race forward to the bombers. From left to right: CANUKK, Gazoom1, Voudou, Sethbag, Twizzty, (unclear), TwinTail, MGD, Dantoo, and me. t=1:45

A view out of my cockpit as a wave of Spitfires (and one Hurricane to the side) show up at 12 o'clock high. t=1:46

I fire on a Spitfire as I chase him through the wreckage of whiskers' Ju 88 (which the Spitfire just shot down). From left to right: whiskers, Serenity, Beefcake, me, and Nutzoid. t=1:47

I chase this Spitfire out of the formation, then tangle with some other enemy fighters.

I put some shells into another Spitfire Mk V that is going for the bomber formation, causing him to break off. t=1:52

The Spitfires are dispersed, and I get over the top of the bombers.

I spot the next several Spitfires coming in from 9 o'clock high. "Achtung! Spitfires!" I call it out on the radio and climb hard so that I can roll over into a split S onto them. t=1:54

WWhisky and I chase one of the Spitfire Mk V's as he closes on the bombers. I land some cannon hits, and WWhiskey is firing away as well. I am so happy with my Bf 109F-4 -- I would be long out of cannon ammo in my Emil as well as having trouble keeping up with the bombers. From left to right: Nutzoid, Beefcake, SKTurt, Serenity, me, and WWhiskey. t=1:55

Gunfire from the bombers flashes past me, and I take some hits (flashes on my left wing) as I continue to chase the jinking Spitfire. t=1:55

As I continue to chase that jinking Spitfire closer to the bombers, firing at him the whole way, another of the Spitfires (left in picture) comes in and flames one of Beefcake's bombers. t=1:55

I put some more hits into the dodgy Spitfire as bomber gunners blow off its right wing, and it finally goes down, giving me another kill. t=1:55

WWhiskey and I chase the Spitfire Mk V (the one that just flamed one of Beefcake's bombers) out and down before it attacks another bomber. We go past the spiralling wreckage of the previous Spitfire. This is the last of the Spitfire attackers. t=1:55

A view of the survivors following the previous Spitfire attack. From top to bottom: WWhiskey, SKTurt (with 2 bombers), me, Nutzoid (with one), Beefcake (with two), and Serenity (with one). We are nearing the coast of England, and fortunately for us, there are no more attacks from here on out. We have lost gas50, Vlad, theoris, and whiskers. Salute, gentlemen. t=1:56

In the above picture, I see what looks like a cannon hit on my left wingroot. I don't even remember taking a cannon round. If it is a cannon hit, I'm very lucky it didn't take out anything vital.

I fly inverted over Serenity's Ju 88 as we cross into France. He makes it back with one Ju 88 and a fuel leak. See you, Serenity! I go back home to land. t=2:12

I/JG3 rolls in formation on takeoff at A45. We are ordered to go patrol sector 12,10 -- the Channel near Dover. From front to back: Rapier, KKEN, Babalon, Gazoom1, and me. t=2:18

Kermit (the LW CO) joins up with us, and we get up to 25k and go looking for enemy fighters. We find some Spitfire Mk V's fighting another LW squadron. I make some passes, but then the Spitfires are pretty heavily outnumbered so I break off. I come across our leader, Kermit, engaged in a low, slow fight with a Spitfire Mk V and dive in to help.

A very close pass under Kermit as I go for the Spitfire he is fighting. We are near an airbase on the coast of England. t=2:36

The Spitfire breaks off he starts getting outnumbered and heads for the airfield (which is exactly what I'd do in his situation).

I chase and put some hits on him. But he jinks well, and I don't do enough to put him down. t=2:37

I break off as soon as the field ack starts firing at me, but I take a hit that blows my right landing gear off. Rapier is coming in to attack, and the other cloud of ack visible in the picture is shooting at Kermit, who chased the Spitfire into it. t=2:37

I patrol around a bit, then come back to land (without my gear) at Boulogne-Audembert (A45). t=2:50

A group picture after landing back at Boulogne-Audembert. From left to right: Gazoom1, Kermit, KKEN, Rapier, Sethbag, me (in my poor gearless Franz), and Babalon. Man, what a rush this frame was! t=2:54

Conclusion

I got 2 (enemy) kills, two assists, and landed back at base after each mission. I did shoot down a fellow Bf 109 -- Turner, I'm sorry.

I/JG3 got 4 kills, 7 assists, and lost 3 Bf 109's. We did lose many bombers, but because there were so many waves of attacks and we didn't lose them all (which is what I'd expect from that many attacks), I think I/JG3 did a great job. Good work, guys! I definitely had a blast in this one, and I hope you all did, too.

-- Brooke, GL, I/JG3