After-Action Report
4/3/2010
by Brooke, GL, I/JG53
This was a scenario that ran in the multiplayer on-line air-combat simulation Aces High.
I was the Group Leader (GL) of I/JG 53, a fighter squadron for the Luftwaffe. We were flying Bf 109K-4's. Today, I/JG53 consisted of me (Brooke), ROC, Voudou, madda, and quietman. Stab301 joined up with us today. They consisted of VonMesa (the GL), A8Moray, Babalon, morfiend, and cactus in Ta 152's.
4440 (our CO) and Spinnich take off on their mission as we wish them luck on the radio. On the ground, getting ready for takeoff are I/JG 53 (in our beautifly Bf 109K-4's) and Stab301 (in their beautiful Ta 152's, with their elegant long wings). From left to right in foreground: cactus, VonMessa, Babalon, morfiend, ROC, me (Brooke), A8Moray, quietman, madda, and Voudou. t=0:00
Our mission was to protect near v74 and to move to any of the three nearby strategic targets that the British Lancasters were moving to attack, flying with Stab301 and calling in I/JG 2 (in FW 190D-9's) upon seeing what the enemy was after.
We are up, patrolling, waiting for the enemy to attack. From left to right: Voudou, A8Moray, Babalon, madda, ROC, cactus, me, quietman, morfiend, and VonMessa. t=0:22
We flew racetrack patterns waiting for the British to attack. The British attacked over our ships in the south and tangled with our fighters that went south toward Denmark, but nothing came after the strategic targets on the western coast or central Norway (which were 3 of the 4 strategic targets). At one point, a few Lancaster formations were found down low somewhere and dispatched. At one point, something (Lancs, Mossies, Tempests? -- I forget) attacked p86, which was a strategic target in the farthest southeast of Norway -- far from the strat targets we were near. We placed people over each strat, some low in case of NOE raids. We doubted the whole Lancaster force and all of the P-51's would be coming in NOE, but we had nothing else to do.
Taking off from a71 after a refueling stop. Mist coming off of the water is pretty. I'm at the T+2 hour mark here.
At about the T+2.5 hour mark, the Lancasters and P-51's made their appearance. They appeared in 6.11. By this time, a lot of fighter pilots had landed and left for the day. I worked to rally the remainder at a73 first (as some of us were closer to that) then at a77 once it was clear they were headed east to the city near a77. I got things rounded up the best I could, and then we headed west from a77 to find the bombers. Scouts did an excellent job of keeping us appraised of the bombers' location.
We picked up Kirin and his three guys in FW 190A-8's trailing us. Excellent -- A8's are the best bomber interceptors by far, with their huge firepower and excellent handling at high speed. I asked I/JG 53 to get to the bombers then drive down any high P-51's, to give the A8's the room to move in and make a run.
Looking out the right of my cockpit as we overfly some P-51 escorts/screens. t=2:32
Like before, as soon as we spotted bogies, I had us turn on WEP, climb hard to about 32-33k, then level off and blow through. I took a gamble here not to engage these, hoping that they'd follow us (and thus be in front of Kirin's group) or that Kirin's group could blow through. We still were a ways from the bombers, and I didn't want us to get tangled here and not be able to clear out what I figured would be more P-51's over the bombers. Also, we ourselves then would not be able to get on the bombers if we tangled here with 2-4 P-51's. So, I risked blowing through.
A look forward left out of my cockpit as we come upon the Lancs. I'm working to set up passes on high P-51's, to stir them up and strip them away. The P-51's are not as concentrated today. They are spread out and not as high, and there aren't as many high ones. There has been a lot of damage to the Lancs already, as I see partial Lanc formations, and many P-51's down at the level of the Lancs, which means they've been chasing some attackers. I get out several radio reports of the situation. t=2:33
Kirin goes in on his run. Go, Kirin! I roll right to check if it's clear. madda is over there, too. The air over the Lancs is clear of P-51's. t=2:36
I go in following ROC, who is trailing smoke. The air over the Lancs is relatively clear, but closer in to the Lancs, there are still a lot of P-51's. I'm trying to run through the swarm of P-51's to get them turning and to help clear ROC's tail. I'm going really fast (500 mph or more), though, and my handling is sluggish. I'm not able to get on any particular P-51, but several see me closing and do break turns. I pull up after I pass through to bleed off speed and get some handling back. t=2:36
I do another pass through the P-51's at a more modest speed where I can maneuver (and kill a P-51 if it doesn't pull hard to get out of my way). This one pulls hard to get out of the way. I continue on to the P-51's ahead. t=2:37
I fire my cannon at this one, pulling lots of deflection. I miss as he pulls lots of g's and drops flaps to turn harder. The one of the left is breaking to the left as I come in, too. Airfield A77 is visible below left in the picture.
I make another pass and chase this P-51 (below center of picture) into a split s. I don't follow him much -- just enough to make sure he's motivated (along with some MG firing on my part), then I re-orient for my run on the Lancasters ahead. Some other LW fighters are in there, working on the Lancasters. From left to right: Gunslngr, Stride, me, and Twizzty. t=2:38
I pick out a Lancaster and go in, cannon blazing. Pieces come off as my 30 mm shells explode on the Lancaster's wing. t=2:38
The wing comes off of the Lancaster, and I zoom past toward the next formation of Lancasters. I didn't collide this time! Behind me, Stride, Sant, and Gunslngr are working to come back through. A few P-51's are working to chase us.
I blow up a next Lancaster (in the leading formation), but his gunners put rounds through my radiator. t=2:38
I try to re-orient, to get out of the area and back toward my home base. As I get headed in the direction I want, I come across a P-51 and take some shots at him. He is maneuvering too hard, though, and I miss. That's an Ar 234 jet bomber he seems to be intent on now. t=2:39
At this point, I got my bearings and found that I was too far from my home base to get back, even by gliding for a while, turning on my engine for a brief time, then gliding again, etc. Also, my engine quit at that moment, and I turned toward A77 to see if I could deadstick it there. I didn't like my odds, as P-51's were strafing a77.
I take a headon shot at a P-51 that is among several at a77. I miss, but I have only my two MG's at this point anyway. t=2:42
That P-51 turns back onto me as I pass. I try to evade him in my glider, but he puts shots into my right wing and blows it off. I hit the silk. t=2:42
I took off again from a70, raced as fast as I could toward a77, but time was almost out. Some folks called on the radio about one of the a77 vulchers running WNW from a77. I vectored to the position.
My one pass on the fleeing P-51 is a forward-quarter shot as he maneuvers hard. I take a large-deflection shot (well under the nose of my 109) and miss. Time is up a few seconds after this picture. t=2:59
Landing back at a70.
I got two kills (two Lancasters), bailed once, and landed once.
-- Brooke, GL, I/JG 53