AAR - Phoney War at Jersey Shore
I have not written an AAR yet but there is always a first time for everything: So here goes. This Solitaire game took place on August 24th ... 1940.
Set in Jersey and against the backdrop of Nuisance Raids in the Channel Islands. These began to occur around mid-1940 following the long period of very little activity which became known as the Phoney War. Initially these nuisance raids appeared to be aimed at shipping and then at the Channel Islands but very little damage was actually caused by them. This action features a Gloster Gladiator Mk I of the Royal Air Force as flown by Pilot Officer Prattle.
Royal Air Force Gloster Gladiator Mk I as detached to L'Ancresse airfield during early 1940. Pilot Officer Prattle flying this aircraft on August 24th 1940 over neighbouring Jersey in the Channel Islands.
Gloster Gladiator Mk Is were frequently assigned to protect the Jersey Shore industrialised area from enemy attack. The area at the time appeared to be the subject of several Nuisance Raids where no actual damage was caused.
An Axis Junkers Ju-87D2 Stuka dive bomber in flight. Nuisance Raids conducted by Stukas such as this one had been increasing in their intensity. Jersey Shore authorities by this time fearing an attack.
August 24th 1940: Pilot Officer Prattle sights a Junkers Ju-87D2 Stuka ... He recalls how it took some time to dawn on him that this aircraft was actually an Axis aircraft. In other words here comes the opposition!
Pilot Officer Prattle takes the Gloster Gladiator Mk I in for a closer look at his opposition. He remembers the rules of engagement: Do not fire until fired upon.
But after months of Phoney War have dragged by Pilot Officer Prattle quietly hopes that something very different will be 'chalked up' today. He was to later recall having an idea that would maybe pre-empt a reaction from the Stuka crew having caused them to panic. This he carries out and with effective results: As he performs this close pass it is too close for comfort for the Stuka's tail gunner who opens fire on Prattle.
An outstandingly good feature of Pilot Officer Prattle's aircraft is its manoeuverability: He is very quickly able to bring the nose of the Gloster Gladiator Mk I to bear upon the Stuka. Prattle opens fire at his first available opportunity.
With a river of bullets from the Stuka's tail gunner passing by Prattle returns fire. At this point the Junkers Ju-87D2 Stuka begins what appears to be an attack run on the Jersey Shore industrialised area. In the past Axis aircraft have been noted diving towards this area as if to attack but then causing no damage. However little does Prattle know that he has indeed stirred up a hornet's nest ...
With the Stuka's attack run appearing to have started Prattle decides to follow and guns the throttle in order not to be outrun as the Stuka lost height.
Both aircraft heading down straight towards the industrial complex below. Then as Prattle was later to recall something he was not expecting happened. Even though he could clearly see that the Stuka was loaded from the look of the aircraft's underside!
No ... No bombs released?! Pilot Officer Prattle recalls thinking how this was all a bit FUBAR before thinking that maybe he had misjudged the situation. Had this been a nuisance raid after all and now things were ten times worse than before: How does one turn a situation like this off?
The pursuit of the errant Junkers Ju-87D2 Stuka continues at low level. Having not released anything although it was seen by Prattle to be carrying ordinance the aim now becomes to prevent the Axis aircraft from coming around and attempting another attack on the industrial complex.
Pilot Officer Prattle would later recall how at this point in time his Gladiator was so full of holes that it whistled along like the Flying Scotsman. But nevertheless the robustness of his aircraft both held it together structurally as well as prevented Prattle from being injured himself. Suddenly the Stuka is seen to nose sharply upwards and over to the left at the same time: Has Prattle struck lucky?
However just before Prattle thinks that he has taken this lucky shot of his the Stuka's tail gunner reels one more round off at the Gladiator. With significantly adverse results: The encounter ends with both aircraft shot down at low level and crews struggling to bail out with just about enough height to do so!
The errant Junkers Ju-87D2 is both downed by Pilot Officer Prattle and prevented from causing any damage or harm to the Jersey Shore area. However the crew according to Guarde Civile records survived and were treated locally with broken limbs.
Pilot Officer Prattle's Gloster Gladiator Mk I falls to earth within sight of the Axis aircraft. Prattle survived this encounter having just about gained enough height to bail out but with a hard landing: He broke both ankles but was luckily discovered by the L'Armee du Peres later the same day in the field where he had landed.
All three aircraft crew members were lucky to survive this encounter. Later that same year the Channel Islands would be invaded at which point Pilot Officer Prattle was captured as he recovered from his injuries. However upon hearing of the Stuka crew's treatment Prattle was treated well in return by his opposition.
Reply With Quote
Originally Posted by flash
Bookmarks