Enemy Coast Ahead, Practice Frame

After-Action Report
11/12/2011
by Brooke, II/JG26

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

I was in II/JG26 "Schlageter".

Map


A map of the battle area for us. Our home base was a71in sector 16.9.

Mission 1


II/JG26 just before takeoff in our beautiful FW 190A-5's. Our first mission is to take off with 500 kg bombs and go hit the RAF airfield a14. From left to right: Wedge, wil3ur, cactus, me (Brooke), Ditto, Heater, DrBone, and IrishOne (our GL).


About half way across the Channel, an enemy scout Typhoon finds us. I turn into him, but he isn't turning hard to get on us, so we keep our bombs and continue on toward target.


I'm dropping my bomb, aiming for the fuel tank on the right side of the picture. I'm off my target by a little and don't end up destroying it. Boo. I need to practice my divebombing!

After bombing, we climbed south from a14, then back north to reports of enemies, found more friendlies, headed S, and ran into a group of six Spitfire V's, which we engaged. We were at about 20k, and they were at about 15k, so we had both a numbers and alt advantage.


After a swirling fight starting higher, I shoot down one of the Spit V's down near the deck, near the city and port p106. cactus, Ditto, and wil3ur are over near the port taking out other Spit V's.

We shot down all of the Spit V's without any losses on our side. Low on fuel, we headed back to France to refuel and rearm. At the coast, we ran into a few more Spit V's, which folks shot down. We then refueled in stages and because of enemies coming in from the Channel, some of us refueled at a48 while other covered, then once the 1st group was back up, the cover group went to a49 to refuel.

Mission 2


Climbing toward the coast, a Spitfire IX dives in and engages me, Heater, and Ditto. I end up taking his wing off with a burst of cannon fire.

During our fight with the one Spit, the other guys were engaged by other Spitfires north of us at about 15-20k. Since Heater, Ditto, and I were on the deck after our fight, we climbed east, then reversed back west to go help.


Ditto and I get on one of the remaining Spitfire 9's. Ditto kills him with a well aimed burst shortly after this picture.

In the fight, our group did well. We lost one aircraft, joined up, and went for the enemy coast, where we spotted and engaged a group of Typhoons and a Spitfire or two. Again, we had altitude on our opponents. The Typhoons were hard to pin down, as they were faster than we were.


I blow the vertical stabilizer off one of the Typhoons after putting some rounds into his engine. Down he goes.

We killed a few of the Typhoons and a few outran us to get away. At this point, we were low on fuel and had to head back.

Mission 3

This time, we took bombs again, and headed to bomb the port p106.


My bomb hit this time is close enough to take out a barracks.

After bombing, the call came to climb NW. I had started climbing out back over the Channel, as radar was showing a bunch of enemies coming into the area, but reversed back west upon the call. A bit west of p106, we ran into a lot of high Typhoons and Spitfires, which attacked our group. As I had initially climbed in the opposite direction of the rest, I was the last one into the fight and was able to climb at the perphery of the fight to get to the altitude of the enemy fighters that were perching over the top of the fight. Once I did, I went in to stir things up.


Going in on the melee. From left to right: DrBone, me, Heater, wil3ur, IrishOne, Ditto, and Wedge.

Quickly, though, our group was getting overwhelmed. I saw cactus working to exit the fight and was thinking of diving after him to clear his six, but at the same time DrBone called that three Typhoons were on him, and I could see him as well, so I dove into that fight.


I flame one of the Typhoons that was tangling with DrBone.

DrBone took out another, leaving only one Typhoon in close, but others were starting to appear in the distance. We started heading toward the Channel, but the Typhoons with altitude were chasing us down. One of them got DrBone turning. Also, directly ahead of us, in from the Channel, appeared a group of Spitfire IX's. There was a Typhoon 1000 yards off my tail and closing, with several other RAF fighters behind him and a group of Spitfires in front of me. Not good. I reversed and tried to get back close to DrBone so that we could at least fight two on many.


I get down under treetop level, jinking a bit, trying to stay fast and heading toward DrBone. I'm hoping to get pursuers to crash before they put rounds into me or to buy enough time to get to DrBone. The Typhoon's cannon shells are kicking up dirt off to my left as I jink. Unfortunately, shortly after this, the Typhoon puts several rounds into my tail, breaking it off. Drat. Not a good enough job jinking.

Mission 4

Without much time left, we go up to see if we can find a fight prior to end of frame. I keep a bomb, as I think I can make it to p106 prior to the end of the day.


My last bomb run at p106. I take out two barracks.

Conclusion

I shot two Typhoons and one Spitifire V, got an assist on one Spitfire IX, and destroyed three buildings. Overall, our II/JG26 did wonderfully, with DrBone getting an amazing 12 kills. It was great to fly with you guys! <S>

-- Brooke, II/JG26