After-Action Report
9/21/2013
by Brooke, GL, KG 53
This was a scenario that ran in the multiplayer on-line air-combat simulation Aces High.
A map
of our target areas. Mission 1 was for the fighter hangars at Lympne
(a72), Hawkinge (a73), and Manston (a46) -- all in sector 12.11. I decided
that we'll also go for radar at Rye (v70), Dover (v75), and Foreland (v47) if it
was up as well, since we could head to v70 then head NE up the coast for all of
it. Mission 2 was for the fighter hangars at Kenley (a40) and Croydon
(a35) in sector 10.11.
KG 53, in our stylish He 111H's, nearing the coast of France. From left to
right: Beefcake, APDrone, Wildcat1, tudza, Fatback, asterix, Soulyss, me
(Brooke), Sg, Volron, and Popsman. t=0:29
A look from under KG 53 as first enemies show up 12 o'clock high. A flight
of Spitfires and a flight of Hurricanes find us well into the Channel.
Lots of Luftwaffe escorts are up there, so it must be very nerve wracking for
the RAF pilots. Above us are pilots from several groups, including the CO
of the Luftwaffe, Redtail7. t=0:33
A view at my and APDrone's bombers, looking toward KG 54. Some RAF
fighters are making runs through us (hence the tracers from our defensive fire),
but more enemies initially attacked KG 54. t=0:33
I fire back at an attacking Hurricane, getting hits. Lots of escort is up
there helping to keep us safe. They are wisely not all jumping on one or
two enemies racing through but instead are dispatching a fighter or two on each
attacker -- which is perfect. t=0:34
A view back through my bottom, rear gunnery position. The enemy is making
runs through our formation a few at a time. With all of the bomber
defensive fire and all of the escorts, they usually get one pass at most.
Here, one Hurricane is going down, one is trailing smoke, a couple of Spitfires
were driven low, and one Spitfire 5000 yards back is trying to get to us.
t=0:36
A view forward from my cockpit toward KG 54. Escorts are driving the RAF
fighters below the level of the bombers. t=0:38
A view of our formation as we approach the coast of England.
KG 53 crossing onto English soil. v70 is visible ahead. By this
time, escorts have cleared off all RAF attackers. Beefcake is assigned to
take out the radar there, which he does. Then we do a right turn to head
up the coast. t=0:39
Bombs away on Lympne (a72). I clobber my assigned fighter hangar.
Visible ahead is Hawkinge (a73). t=0:44
Bombs away on Hawkinge (a73). I destroy my assigned FH. Behind me,
Lympne is visible with all three FH's down. t=0:45
I'm shooting at enemies that are closing from 6 o'clock. Escorts warned us
well in advance. Looks like a flight of Hurricanes, and a flight of
Spitfires coming in from very high 6. t=0:46
We and our escorts fight our way to Manston (a46). Sg and Popsman about
the time of drop. In the meantime, Soulyss has destroyed the radar at v75.
t=0:49
A
view back from my bombers toward Manston. One FH still up. Radar at
v47 is already down before we got there, and folks still with bombs are Tudza,
Sg, and Asterix. I ask Tudza to go back to hit it, and here he is veering
off to go back. t=0:51
I blow the wing off a Spitfire that is attacking Volron, who is also raking it
with gunfire. Unfortunately, one of Volron's bombers goes down, too.
Spitfires have already shot down two of Tudza's bombers, and one is in hot
pursuit of his remaining bomber here. Tudza is shot down shortly after
this. t=0:52
I turn us as a group back toward Manston. Sg goes for a bomb drop, but a
system problem causes him not to be able to release his bombs.
Fortunately, asterix still has bombs and puts them on the last FH, destroying
it. Way to go, asterix. We and escorts clean up or drive off the
reamaining attacking RAF fighters and head back out to the Channel and back to
base. t=0:56
KG 53 formed up and joined with escort, on the way back to England. JG 26
is up there -- hello, Ditto and Vilkas! <S> t=2:00
Lots more escort is up there, too. <S>, little friends!
At the English coast, attackers show up several at a time. I get hits on
an attacking Hurricane. Like in mission 1, RAF fighters are getting attack
runs on bombers here and there (which is expected and unavoidable), and the
escort is flying smartly, sending only 1 or 2 fighters on each attacker.
t=2:08
Firing at a Hurricane that loses a wing and goes down. t=2:09
One of Sg's bombers going down. The attackers are not getting multiple
passes, but they make the best of what limited chances they get and do shoot
down several of our bombers. Soon, though, defensive fire and escorts
clear out the attackers. t=2:09
Bombs away on Kenley (a40). A burning Biggin Hill is visible in the
background (hit by KG 54 -- way to go!). I destroy my assigned FH.
t=2:21
A view back of my bombers at Kenley for a bomb-damage assessment, as we continue
on toward Croydon. Only two fighter hangars down. That is not a very
productive run. t=2:22
A view behind my bombers of Croydon (a35). All three FH's are down.
Lots of us still have bombs left, so I call for a right turn back toward a40 for
another run. t=2:24
As we are heading back to hit a40 again, we are attacked occasionally by enemy
fighters. Here, we fire at a pink Spitfire that is attacking Soulyss.
Sg in the picture is down to one bomber. t=2:28
The Spitfire's wings are blown off, but then it tumbles out of control, up and
back . . . and slams into Sg's left wing! Sg loses half his left wing, but
is able to bring is plane back under control enough to stay with us.
t=2:28
Bombs away again on a40. t=2:29
My assigned FH exploding with bomb hits around it. After this run, KG 53
is out of bombs and heads toward the coast. Alas, three FH's still up at
Kenley.
I put hits into an attacking Hurricane. This one is piloted by a leading
RAF ace: Thrila. t=2:31
I put some more hits into him as he zooms past and loops around for another run.
Some more hits into him, but he gets one of my bombers before diving out.
<S>, Thrila -- nice flying!
I put hits into another attacking Hurricane. t=2:34
I blow the wing off the Hurricane. Out of control, it nearly slams into
one of my bombers.
Another attacking Hurricane. At this point, I'm out of ammo in many of my
guns, or my gunners are dead. So, I evade as he comes in, hoping that he
won't go for me or will miss. t=2:37
The escorts drive off the last of the RAF attacks on us (a big relief for me, as
my surviving bombers are quite shot up) and we head back out over the English
coast, out to the Channel, then back home. t=2:41
I destroyed four fighter hangars (a72, a73, and two at a40), shot down one Spitfire, and two assists.
Overall, KG 53 shut down a72, a73, a46, a35; killed radar at v70 and v75; got five FH's at a40; and got 13 kills and 41 assists. Well done, guys! <S>
Special thanks to the many fighter pilots who escorted us. Without you guys, we would have been in big trouble, and a large measure of our success is thanks to you. <S>
-- Brooke, GL, KG 53