AAR WGS MAAS01 - Attack on the Maastricht Bridges
The following AAR relates to one of my historical WGS scenarios here - http://www.wingsofwar.org/forums/dow...o=file&id=2294
On 10 May 1940 the German Army launched Fall Gelb, the invasion of France and the Low Countries. On the first day of the offensive Luftwaffe Fallschirmjäger captured the bridges of Veldwezelt and Vroenhoven spanning the Albert Canal at Maastricht. With German forces threatening to break through in Belgium the Allied High Command ordered the destruction of the Maastricht bridges. 12 Squadron RAF of the Advanced Air Striking Force (AASF) equipped with Fairey Battle bombers was assigned the task, with every man in the squadron volunteering for the mission. Six crews took off from the grass strip at Amifontaine at 0818hrs 12 May 1940, with one aircraft turning back suffering engine trouble. Escorted by Hurricanes from 1 Sqn RAF and two BEF Air Element squadrons the remaining five Battles approached their targets, three attacking the Veldwezelt Bridge and the other two the Vroenhoven Bridge.
3 Battles of 12 Squadron RAF (altitude 4) escorted by two Hurricanes of 1 Sqn RAF approached Maastricht from the west.
A Schwarm of 4 Messerschmitt Bf-109E-3s of JG27 form the first line of defence for the crossings over the Maas.
20mm Flak 38 battery of Flak Regiment 23 deployed around the Veldwezelt Bridge.
The RAF scores first blood with a Hurricane putting a long range burst into the lead 109.
The Luftwaffe strikes back with the Schwarmführers Rottenkamerad raking a Hurricane with cannon fire.
20mm shells shred the RAF fighter which falls in pieces over the Belgian countryside.
The second Rotte attacks the Fairey Battle formation, cannon shells lighting up the British bomber's unsealed fuel tanks.
Despite the flames the Battle's gunner puts a burst into the 109 as it streaks past at almost 600kph.
The Messerschmitt reverses course and fires another burst into the stricken Battle.
The Fairey Battle pilot puts his aircraft into an overdive, trying to extinguish the flames (ending altitude 2).
The Messerschmitt Schwarm engages the flight of Battles with barely a result. Two Battle gunners both score hits on the German fighters as the flames are finally extinguished on the third RAF bomber.
As the Battles fight their way through the Schwarm of 109s the Luftwaffe Flak battery prepares to engage the enemy.
A wall of Flak greets the Battle formation. Although low flying 'O for Orange' emerges unscathed despite the hail of cannon fire 'F for Freddie' takes a hit to its Merlin engine.
As the Battles make their final approach to the target the last RAF Hurricane continues to engage the Luftwaffe Schwarmführer.
Both aircraft are hit hard during a head on pass, but the Hurricane also takes critical engine damage.
The rest of the Messerschmitts make a last attack on the Battles from astern before breaking off - Luftwaffe Flak gunners are notoriously trigger happy and just as likely to shoot at a 109 as an enemy machine!
With his bombardier preparing to drop their payload on the bridge the pilot of 'O for Orange' flying at low level strafes one of the Flak batteries, the machine gun fire inflicting casualties and sending the gunners scrambling.
Time runs out for the crew of 'O for Orange' as a barrage of 20mm cannon shells smash into the RAF Battle. Their bombs however score direct hits on the Veldwezelt Bridge (8 points of damage, half of the 16 point total).
Unable to keep his aircraft flying the crew of 'O for Orange' make the supreme sacrifice as the Battle crashes into the western end of the bridge (causing 4 points of damage, only 4 left).
'O for Orange' took a lot of hits during the engagement but still managed to get to the bridge.
Continuing to dodge flak 'F for Freddie' and 'G for George' drop their bombs.
Both bombloads fall long, missing the bridge but destroying one Luftwaffe Flak emplacement. 'F for Freddie' is hit hard by return fire.
The Luftwaffe gunners continue to engage the RAF bombers as they turn for home. Already crippled with engine damage 'F for Freddie' takes another hit completely destroying the Battle's Merlin. 'G for George' is also hit, the rear gunner wounded by 20mm fragments.
It's engine knocked out 'F for Freddie' comes down in a field east of the Maas. The crew are quickly taken prisoner by German troops.
The JG27 Schwarmführer catches up with the Hurricane scoring more hits on the RAF fighter.
Hindered by engine damage the Hurricane is unable to turn the tables on his attacker. The 109 puts a final deflection burst into his opponent, shredding the RAF fighter.
The RAF pilot manages to bail out as his Hurricane crashes to earth. At least he comes down west of the Maas, with a chance of evading capture.
'G for George' heads for home - only 4 Messerschmitts in the way.
The 109s manoeuver to intercept the last RAF bomber.
One of the 109s strays to close to the Flak defence zone....
and pays the price as 'friendly' fire scores an engine hit.
A 109 makes a head on pass on 'G for George', causing further damage.
The Battle pilot dives under the 109, his life and the lives of his navigator/bombardier and wounded gunner depending on his skill.
One last attack fails to score - against the odds 'G for George' manages to avoid the 109s and escapes back to Allied lines.
'G for George' gets home with 6 damage points left and a wounded gunner.
Each Luftwaffe fighter took damage, the Schwarmführer having only 2 points left. One Flak gun was destroyed and one damaged. The Veldwezelt Bridge was badly damaged taking 12 points but was not destroyed.
The results of this raid were remarkably similar to the actual event (see below). The force sent to destroy this bridge was not sufficient for the task - that even one managed to get home was an achievement.
"As the RAF formation approached Maastricht they were attacked by a large formation of Messerschmitt Bf-109s of Jagdgeschwader 27. With their vastly outnumbered escorting Hurricanes taking on the German fighters the Battles pressed home their attack through a hail anti-aircraft fire. Flying Officer Thomas led Pilot Officer Davy in the attack on the Vroenhaven bridge, damaging but not destroying it. Thomas and Davy were both shot down by fighters and flak. Flying Officer Garland led Pilot Officer McIntosh and Sergeant Morland against the Veldwezelt bridge, which was destroyed. McIntosh's aircraft was shot down and he and his crew were taken prisoner. Flying Officer Garland and Sergeant Morland were shot down near the target with both crews killed in action. Flying Officer Garland and his observer Sergeant Gray were posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross, the first Royal Air Force personnel in the Second World War to receive such an honour."
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Originally Posted by gully_raker
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