A map of the battle area. In frame 2, our home base was a33, in sector 8.11. Our objectives were to attack enemy shipping in Ormoc Bay area (11.12 and 12.12).
After-Action Report
8/14/2010
by Brooke, GL, 762 Kokutai
This was a scenario that ran in the multiplayer on-line air-combat simulation Aces High.
I was the Group Leader (GL) of 762 Kokutai, a Japanese bomber squadron. We were flying Ki-67's. Today, 762 Kokutai consisted of me (Brooke), JVnotch, APDrone, Popsman, and 49Drunk.
A map of the battle area. In frame 2, our home base was a33, in sector 8.11. Our objectives were to attack enemy shipping in Ormoc Bay area (11.12 and 12.12).
762 Kokutai taking off in our mighty Ki-67 Hiryus (Flying Dragons). From left to right: me (Brooke), Popsman, 49Drunk, APDrone, and JVnotch. t=0:04
A picture of the fighter squadrons taking off before us. These fighters are to sweep out the Ormoc Bay area, spot shipping, and call us in. From left to right: John577, KKEN (the Emperor himself!), t57, saltee, Chump, me, APDrone, 0ldgit, mike51, CRAZYiVN, zack1234, DrBone, Sonicblu, and Klingan. t=0:05
A picture of us near a32. We are keeping station there, waiting for the discovery of the location of enemy task groups. From left to right: APDrone, me, and JVnotch. t=0:25
The fighters scouted around in the Ormoc Bay area and encountered enemy fighters there, but no enemy ships. The enemy task groups were after a bit discovered heading north from Ormoc Bay, near a25. Once two task groups were discovered up there, I asked if we were to head north to go attack them, and KKEN gave us the permission to go.
In the Ormoc Bay area, we picked up one scout Corsair over us. He called in a few more Corsairs. This made me nervous, as we were still a ways from the enemy ships.
A picture of the first attack run on us by one of the Corsairs. I'm calling out on the radio for assistance, but folks in their gun positions are putting up a good defense. From left to right: JVnotch, me, 49Drunk, Popsman, and APDrone. APDrone had a problem earlier in the flight that caused the loss of both his drones, so he has only one bomber. t=0:47
The first attacker gets his wing blown off by the concentrated fire from several bombers. The out-of-control Corsair narrowly misses crashing into 49Drunk. From left to right: me, 49Drunk, and JVnotch.
The other Corsairs are more cautious, not attacking from 6 o'clock but use high-speed side passes. Here is a view from my tail-gun position as one of them comes in from our 8 o'clock. Folks are firing away at him still -- the Ki-67 has good ability still to fire at those angles. From left to right: JVnotch, Popsman, APDrone, and 49Drunk. t=0:49
airbull and Sonicblu come racing in and go after the Corsairs that were attacking us. Go get 'em, guys -- and many thanks! <S> t=0:50
Spotting an enemy task group ahead in the distance. It looks like the cruiser is already down. We prepare to attack the destroyers. t=0:50
As we head in toward the enemy task group, more enemy fighters show up and attack us.
An F4U-1D blows up one of 49Drunk's drones as we press in toward the enemy ships. From left to right: Popsman, me, and 49Drunk. t=0:50
Popsman and I are moving in on our attack runs, pressing through enemy fighters and a hail of flak. One of Popsman's drones is on fire. t=0:53
I drop my torpedo. Popsman is maneuvering to line up. t=0:53
A picture shortly after my drop from another angle. JVnotch's lead bomber is on fire. t=0:53
My torpedo hits and sinks the destroyer (the explosion in the background). Farther back, APDrone's bomber is on fire. t=0:53
JVnotch blows up a Corsair that was doing a firing run on him. Go, Notch! I am turning to head back south, to get out of the area. My lead bomber is missing its right aileron, flap, and the right engine is leaking oil. One of my drones is missing its right aileron. I think ship guns have worked me over in addition to the Corsairs.
One of the Corsairs takes out one of my bombers, setting it on fire and shooting its left wing off. I'm trying to run south. t=0:53
Another Corsair attacks me. I put some rounds into him and knock pieces off his plane. t=0:54
Another Corsair attacks and shoots down one of my bombers. t=0:54
A picture of my last bomber going down in flames -- and that is the end of my first mission. t=0:54
We waited for the start of phase 2 of our plan. I spent some time in a 20 mm gun on a carrier, but it was not attacked prior to phase 2 starting, so I was off to fly again in our beloved Ki-67's.
762 Kokutai getting ready to take off from a33 behind our fighter sweeps. From left to right in fighters: Bruv119, t57, BoneSaw, KKEN (our CO), Tripp, saltee, 0ldgit, Kotrenin, a bunch of names I can't make out, and airbull. From left to right in Ki-67's: me, Popsman, APDrone, and JVnotch. t=0:00 (in film 2).
Knowing now that the Ormoc Bay task groups are all north of a25 along the coast, we took a different route. We headed NE up to the a27 area. I was a bit nervous at one point, though, as there was a sizeable enemy presence (judging from radar) in sector 11.13, and I was afraid it was moving west from there, which would take it right into us.
A picture as we go to full throttle to race north from a27 (visible below us), to get out of the way of a possible sweep of enemy forces. Fortunately for us, they didn't end up pushing west. From left to right: Popsman, me, and APDrone. t=0:26
Once we were N of a27, we headed east to the reported position of enemy shipping, which was spotted in 11.14.1. It turned out to be right off the coast of the island in that sector. We got gunners on this run. My gunner was Kotrenin. Thank you, Kotrenin!
Going in on an attack run on shipping. Some of our fighter guys are mixing it up in the area, possibly divebombing the ships. As we go in, we see fighters diving toward the ships. It looks like the fighter guys cleared a good path for us, and perhaps the enemy didn't expect the bombers to be coming in from this direction (which is actually from the north of the task group). t=0:35
Torpedo away! t=0:36
It was a good line up, but the destroyer turned away from my torpedo after it was in the water, and I missed -- drat.
As I go through the area, I strafe the gun positions on the carrier (hits on forward portion of CV). They strafe me back, it seems, and set one of my bombers on fire. In the upper right of the picture, one of JVnotch's bombers has exploded, but there is a destroyer sinking nearby. Amazingly JVnotch gets two torpedo hits and two different ships, sinking both. Way to go, Notch!
A view back from my bomber as I exit the area to the southwest. APDrone is down to one bomber, and it is on fire -- but he has sunk either the destroyer or the CV -- way to go, APDrone! The other one is a casualty from JVnotch's torpedoes. t=0:37
As I raced SW out of the target area, I saw behind me JVnotch and Popsman get chased down and killed. Alas -- I was the only survivor to make it out.
A view out of my cockpit as I land back at a33 -- a very rare view for me. t=0:58
I was the only one left of 762 Kokutai with a life. I took off and headed up the coast to a27 again. Ships were still reported in 11.14.1 as well as 10.13.6. I decided to go to 11.14.1, as it seemed farther from enemy activity. I was hoping to sneak in, as we didn't have many pilots left at this stage, and the enemy fighters outnumbered our guys. I got to 11.14.1 without getting intercepted, but there were no enemy ships there anymore that I saw, so I turned around and headed toward 10.13.6. Indeed, there were ships there. I had Ace8 as my gunner on this mission -- thank you, Ace8.
I'm moving in on the enemy ships. There are enemy fighters protecting it, though, and they make head-on passes at me as I come in. I think I got lucky and happened to approach from a direction that was initially open. Still, this headon destroys one of my three bombers. t=0:27 (in film 3).
A view out of my (blood-stained) cockpit as I drop my torpedo. I'm aiming for the destroyer ahead and have to lead it a good bit because of my angle. t=0:28
External view of the drop. The tracers are from an enemy aircraft doing a head-on pass.
Boom! I hit it, and it goes down. My second bomber is already on fire, and the various enemy fighters are getting on me. t=0:28
One of the fighters quickly sets my final bomber on fire, and that's the end of me. But, I get a nice picture of the destroyer sinking bow first, at least. t=0:28
After my 2nd death, I looked around for somewhere to be useful. I saw an airfield flashing, so I got in a manned ack gun there and shot at P-38's, which where strafing it.
I land a cannon round on the wing of one of the P-38's.
He's too low to regain control before going into the ground.
I sank two destroyers, destroyed 10 objects, and shot down one P-38. I landed once and died twice.
Overall, 762 Kokutai sank 5 ships, destroyed 15 objects, and shot down 3 enemy fighters.
-- Brooke, GL, 762 Kokutai