This mission although not strictly World War 2 has to be seen to be believed ... It's a first for the skies of WGS. With a Power Howl like no other attached to it a Wings of Glory WW2 / WGS compatible Avro Vulcan B.2 from 27 Squadron RAF (XH560) was deployed on a conventional bombing mission on August 30th 2015. Although this AAR focuses on the Vulcan to prove that the concept works for WGS there was another aircraft in the air at the same time just in case the Vulcan for some reason was unable to complete the mission. On this occasion the Vulcan is being flown by Aerodrome Member Mazzle (the Wife) as Aussietonka lurks around in the background flying Avro Lancaster B Mk III LM739 HW-Z(2) from 100 Squadron RAF ...
DATE CLASSIFIED: Operation GRIMSBY. Factory production at O'NEILLS has resumed after recent bombing activity temporarily knocked target out. Factory now operational as O'NEILLS II and an immediate stop must be put to this. Target is to be obliterated at whatever cost. Suggest deployment of brand new aircraft type now available with 27 Squadron at Boddington. Factory still believed to be manufacturing secret MELISSA weapon components :MESSAGE ENDS:
Avro Vulcan B.2 XH560 of 27 Squadron RAF
Intelligence Photo of O'Neills II with O'Reillys (see later) in foreground
TWO DAYS LATER: Avro Vulcan B.2 XH560 from 27 Squadron has just recently completed trials following it's conversion to WGS Standard. It is now assigned to a single-aircraft mission entitled Operation Grimsby which is to feature the conventional bombing of a primary target which has supposedly been causing headaches for the Allies over recent weeks. Five days ago O'Neills was dive bombed and damaged extensively only to have resumed production again as O'Neills II: It is believed to be manufacturing components of a brand new weapon codenamed Melissa by Allied Intelligence. Avro Vulcan B.2 XH560 is now operational and airborne from it's base at RAF Boddington as a few miles away the reserve aircraft in the shape of Avro Lancaster B Mk III LM739 from 100 Squadron is also lumbering into the air ex-RAF Goodall Spa.
Crew of XH560: Cockpit - Wg Cdr Coldwore and Flt Lt Victor-Valiante. Rear Three - Flt Sgts Hunter and Swift with Flt Sgt Wapiti and Lysander (Sgt) as Bomb Aimer / Observer.
Tabletop with Avro Vulcan B.2 XH560
Approaching primary target at height and at speed
The flight to the target was uneventful with no changes in altitude as planned. Although it is able to carry twelve bombs only six will be dropped on the target: Enough in this instance to obliterate the target at minimal cost including collateral damage. The target is to also be bombed conventionally at height and at speed: The Avro Vulcan only ever bombed one target and this was carried out conventionally in April 1982. Should the Vulcan be unable to either carry out or complete this mission then the reserve aircraft will be required to bomb the assigned target conventionally. NOTE: More technologically advanced bombing methods including thermonuclear warfare are not in the rules for WGS whereas conventional bombing is ... This is what happened.
Laser Pointer and D20 equipment
XH560 overhead primary target
In preparation for the bomb run which for the Avro Vulcan B.2 began in Turn 3 a laser pointer was required for pinpoint accuracy (supplied) along with a D20. The Avro Vulcan B.2 was manoeuvered successfully at height an at speed directly overhead of the target. O'Neills II looked as if production of something was in full swing according to Sgt Lysander who was in the process of aligning the bomb sight with the target. Upon successfully releasing all six bombs simultaneously upon the target Sgt Lysander achieved a direct hit to the relief of the crew of XH560. O'Neills II vanished in a huge explosion although being a public holiday it was believed that there was little to no loss of life: However this also meant nobody was around to try and contain the damage - the chances of the entire factory being lost were maximised. As the Avro Vulcan turned for home the Power Howl noise which has made this aircraft an air show favourite was emitted because of increased air flow through the engine intakes as engine power was increased.
Conventional bombing of primary target by XH560
O'Neills II put out of action with a direct hit
Avro Vulcan B.2 XH560 turning for home: Power Howl noise emitted as engine power increased!
Avro Vulcan B.2 XH560 in the vicinity of O'Reillys (see below)
However a spot of bother awaited XH560 as the aircraft made it's way home overflying a sister factory to O'Neills / O'Neills II called O'Reillys. This site had just been kitted out with FLAK guns which were on 24 hour alert in case of air attack following the activity of five days ago. The only problem with the Avro Vulcan was the noise it makes operationally along with being a single airborne target alone. As the Vulcan overflew O'Reillys the FLAK guns opened fire scoring A Damage Tokens of 4 to the annoyance of Wg Cdr Coldwore and Flt Lt Victor-Valiante up front! However a message was sent using Morse Code from XH560 by Flt Sgt Swift to reserve aircraft LM739 which informed Flt Lt Dunkin of this adverse activity ... Would he clean up after them? To which Dunkin replied that he would: Ultimately O'Reillys suffered the same fate as O'Neills II after the reserve aircraft dropped it's bombload on this target of opportunity ...
XH560 encounters FLAK overhead O'Reillys
Shaken but not stirred: Message sent to reserve aircraft regarding target of opportunity
XH560 continues back to base
Avro Vulcan B.2 XH560 recovered to base at RAF Boddington safely and with nothing further to report. Meanwhile back at RAF Goodall Spa reserve aircraft Avro Lancaster B Mk III LM739 was also soon recovering to base successfully. According to Allied Intelligence O'Neills II was put completely out of action as was O'Reillys: The secret Melissa weapon although confirmed as under development was never completed and to date has never appeared on the scene. A rumour that this secret weapon was supposedly a method of talking people to death was never substantiated. Also after his return to base Flt Lt Dunkin did have to explain why he was no longer in possession of his aircraft's payload but on hearing of the FLAK damage incurred by XH560 it was rapidly agreed that Dunkin had indeed taken action against a target of opportunity. Now a freshly repaired Avro Vulcan B.2 XH560 awaits it's next deployment ...
XH560 continues towards base
XH560 Recovers to Base
Avro Vulcan B.2 XH560 final damage statistics
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