BoB - “German advance halted” (Marechallannes - Axis)

**Marechallannes** · 04-12-2014 14:32

May 1940 Operation Dynamo - “German advance halted”

May 1940 - a pair of Stuka dive bombers, escorted by a Rotte Bf. 109 of JG27 is on the way back from the beaches of Dünkirchen.

A strong patrol of Allied fighters block their way back to the home airfields.

The enemy chain formation is lead by one of those brand new Spitfires.

Luftwaffe Oberkommando has no detailed informations of the perfomance of this fighter, yet.

The enemy fighter concentrate on the more vulnerable Stukas and the Messerschmitts try to intercept the before.

OLt. Konrad Bauer shoots at the Hawker Hurricane and avoid with a brilliant evasion the return fire.

The Spitfire scores a solid hit on OLT Lewens' leading Stuka.

The damaged Stuka makes a turn to the right and the aproaching Spitfire and Hurricane were not able to shoot at the dive bomber.

The out-dated Gloster Sea Gladiator catches a combined salvo of two Stukas and one Bf.109.

The unlucky Gloster Gladiator is knocked out with a lucky hit by Lt. Hans-Dieter Oehm's rear gunner.

The other Gladiator wants revenge, but the experienced Stuka leader avoids any serious hits and his reargunner shoots the already damaged attacker down.

The Sea Gladiator crashes into the ground below.

But know the Stukas are in a dangerous situation.

Their escort planes were able to damage and cripple the attackers but lost direct contact to the remaining Allied planes.

Olt. Konrad Bauer and his wingman Lt. Harald Keitel try to catch the Spitfire and the Hurricane before they reach the dive bombers.

The Supermarine Spitfire shortens the distance and sends a steady stream of bullets into the leading Stuka.

Leutnant Keitel finishes off the Hurricane with a precice hit and the Engländer goes down, but the fate of Lewens' Stuka is sealed, too.

The steady damages were to much for the German dive bomber's structure and it spins to the ground.

The Spitfire pilot has no interest to fight it to the end today.

With a last farewell from Keitel's cannons he dives and escape the Messerschmitts.

The Germans abstain from a chase and catch up with the remaining Stuka.

Vie radio the inform the nearby airfield about the shot down comrades.

**Marechallannes** · 04-12-2014 14:32

Mission succesful, but I lost my first plane in this sortie.

I'll check their fate as soon as possible.

Upgraded the mission with a pair of Gladiators to let them paticipate in the temporary last mission over France.

Drawed three explosion tokend during the mission. OLt Lewens was able to avoid one, but is wan't enough to prevent the Stuka from being shot down.

Maybe I used a wrong tactic, when I allow the Allied planes to catch up with the dive bombers, especially the Messerschmitts had problems to follow the Allied planes.

Next time I try to circle wit the Stukas to give their escort planes the chance to shot the hunters down.

Have to test it.

Unlyuck maneuver rolls for the Hurricane saved the rearside of Stuka No. 2

But the performed Immelman maneuver of the Spitfire prooved the effectivness of Richard Bradley's upgraded WW II Solo rules.

Allies:

Axis Stukas:

Axis Bf.109:

**gully_raker** · 04-12-2014 17:24

That was an exciting bit of action Sven!
Poor old Gladiators outclassed & out gunned again!.

**Marechallannes** · 04-13-2014 00:50

Thank you Barry.

I think the Gladiators get a last chance in my Malaysia mission. (PTO No. 3)

**Marechallannes** · 04-14-2014 00:03

Bad news are:

Oberleutnant Richard Lewens didn't survive and is KIA.

Good news:

Gunner Herbert Böwer bailed out of the Stuke and was not injured and is still active.

http://www.wingsofwar.org/forums/sho...8275-INFIRMARY

Another good news.

A Reservepilot (Hauptmann Jan Krekeler - Veteran + Evasion) is on his way, ready for action and will join IV./LG (Lehrgeschwader) Junkers Ju 87 - Saint-Omer / Pas de Calais immediately!