I/JG53 getting ready to roll in our Bf 109K-4's. From left to right: Hummel, Nemesis, AAJagerX, AWmeat, Voudou, me (Brooke), ROC, BrknArow, Vent, and madda. t=0:00
After-Action Report
4/10/2010
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, AAJagerX, AWmeat, and Vent. Nemesis's group joined up with us today, as they were short handed. They consisted of Nemesis, Hummel, and BrknArow, also in Bf 109K-4's.
I/JG53 getting ready to roll in our Bf 109K-4's. From left to right: Hummel, Nemesis, AAJagerX, AWmeat, Voudou, me (Brooke), ROC, BrknArow, Vent, and madda. t=0:00
Our mission today was to take off from a81, join up with other fighter groups in 13.10, then go south to engage the enemy. While we were flying north to 13.10, a couple of enemy squadrons flew north and attacked a81. By the time we joined up and headed back south, they were on their way back south, too. We continued south until we were nearing a94 in Denmark.
We come across Spitfire XIV's over a94 and engage them at 30-33k altitude. t=0:33
I evade one of the Spit 14's. Here, I'm turning back into the mass of I/JG53. t=0:34
I come in to help clear Voudou, who is being chased by the Spitfire XIV. The Spitfire breaks off. t=0:40
We chased the Spit 14's around a lot. They were outrunning us up at 30k by enough to make it hard for us to get shots. One in particular just flew big circles around a94 with most of I/JG53 following.
I finally got on one of the Spitfires, which starts jinking, twisting, pushing negative g's, etc. I don't even use my cannon -- very little chance to get hits in those circumstances. I fire my MG's several times and miss. He is picking up a lot of speed and diving, so I break off, not wanting to blow all of my altitude and potentially get dragged under some incoming swarm of enemy fighters. t=0:51
Shortly after this, calls came in that there was a horde of enemy fighters in 16.5/16.6. I called for I/JG53 to form up and head that way. In the area, we came across a lot of enemy fighters, seemingly to me a lot more than our LW fighters. There were a couple dozen P-51's, a dozen Tempests, Spitfires, even a few Corsairs. The sky was full of bogies from 30k to the deck. We flew around up high, trying to get on the higher of the enemy fighters, but it was hard to follow them if they evaded by diving into the large collection of other enemy fighters.
I make a pass through a bunch of them down lower, not getting any hits. t=1:08
After some passes and some turns to try to stay on an enemy here and there, I used up some altitude and energy. It was enough that, on one pass, some of the enemies who were fresher into the fight had enough energy to stay with me. Looking back, there was a bunch chasing me and not falling back much. One of them was a Tempest that was closing. I decided I'd have to try to bug out rather than to turn and get swarmed. I ran for it north, calling for any help I could get, hoping for someone to be close enough to clear me. I flew for over a sector with the Tempest slowly but surely closing. Unfortunately, there were no LW fighters that could help, and eventually I had to turn and fight.
And this is how it turned out. The Tempest shoots my tail off as I'm turning as hard as I can, with one notch of flaps deployed. t=1:11
I came back up from home base, along with a few other pilots. I flew south and worked to join up with whatever group was nearest. We ran across some P-51's and engaged.
How can I miss this !$@# shot? I still don't know how I managed to be so damned inept. t=1:32
I missed a perfect setup on that P-51 and passed him, about 30 feet to the side. He then went much more evasive. There were a couple other LW fighters that got on him then, and I broke off, feeling disgusted and that they deserved it much more than I did.
Soon, once again, the LW fighters were dissipated, and I was looking around for more fighters to join up with.
I find a squadron of Tempests over p91 and make a pass. Two of them turn hard to evade, and I'm not willing to get into a low-speed turning fight 10 on 1. I leave the area to find a group of LW fighters to join up with. t=1:59
I flew back north, trying to help get groups of LW fighters joined together before we flew back south. Getting folks together was difficult, though. Only a couple of groups joined up. I joined up with some Ta 152's.
I come across a flight of Spitfire XIV's up at 35k. I move off a bit, get some altitude, and come back in. t=2:15
I get on one of the Spitfires and put some machinegun rounds into him. He then split-S'es into a high-speed dive, fast enough that my controls are very sluggish, and within a little bit, fast enough that I hit compressibility. By the time I'm back under control, I'm no longer in a position to chase him. t=2:23
I flew around a bit, looking for more action, but my fuel was so low that, even though we were nearing the end of the day, I had to head back. a124 was closest, and I headed to that to refuel. I was nervous about picking a124, as sector counters showed an enemy raid coming north. I got my gear and flaps down, and was about to land when radio reports came in of a big Tempest raid headed to a124. I gave it full power, raised flaps and gear, went to the deck, and headed north just as the field started to flash. I could see the bogies as they came in, but I don't think they saw me. I ran best speed away from there and then started to ponder where I had the fuel to go.
I went for the closest field, a83 -- still inconveniently far. I set my RPM all the way back and throttled back to conserve fuel. Also, more enemies were showing up, attacking the coastal airfields. I hoped they'd be gone by the time I got there. I was sweating it, as even under these power settings, I wasn't sure if I'd have enough fuel to make it.
Gliding in to a83, once I had less than 1 minute of fuel left (at maximum economy power, too -- not full power). I needed some to make it to the refueling pad. t=2:47
A P-51 comes to vulch me as I'm on the refuel pad. The frame is almost over, and I just exit. t=2:50
No kills, one assist (a Spitfire XIV), died once, landed once (but not at home base). Ug.
-- Brooke, GL, I/JG 53