PonchoLatour
10-09-2013, 09:08
Date: 10-08-13
Mission: WGS Campaign 3 Squadron RAAF Mission 1 by Carl Brisgamer
Allied forces: 1 x Gloster Gladiator (Flight Lieutenant Blake Pelly) - Alt. 3
Axis forces: 3 x Fiat CR.42 Falco (#1 Rinaldi, #2 Gorrini, #3 Gressler) - Alt. 2
Rules: Advanced Solo & Optional except FUEL and EXPLOSION damage.
As reported by F/L Pelly:
« The brass hats were outlining Operation Compass, and an unbearably hot afternoon at Garawlah didn't prevent Heath, Rawlinson, Boyd and myself from being sent out on a recon mission. This time as far as Rabia, southwest of Sidi Barrani - the enemy's closest stronghold.
1400 hrs and no sign of trouble, but as we decided to head back we spotted a flock of bandits south of our position and closing up. Heading north was not an option, since it would get us between the devil and the deep blue... sky. East was our only exit route, but suddenly there they were, too many to be engaged by the four of us, yet the situation was unavoidable.
I decided to try and get to the back of the enemy formation before shots were dealt, so I headed south and gained some altitude. Behind me, Peter and both Alans were getting entangled in a heavy dogfight with the frontline Falcos. I thought I was getting clear of enemy guns when three bandits appeared out of nowhere right between my Gladiator and the open desert sky.
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The enemy's long range shots couldn't do much damage for now, so my first reflex was to set some distance by turning northeast at full speed. The trio would have to chase me for a while! And as they were closing in, I was determined to take advantage of my higher altitude, since it provided me with an aiming bonus.
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So I went on to confront the pursuers by executing a half-loop. Then the shooting began. Number 1 and I were at close range and I managed to plant a few bullets in the fore fuselage of his Falco. As he was swerving to avoid my fire his gun went loose, but I was lucky and only got some scuffs on the starboard wingtip.
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Number 2 came right to me from the front and from below. I reacted quickly and fired, the Falco's top leading edge taking all the damage. Number 2 staggered and only spat once in return. My Gladiator wasn't gravely hit, but somehow the rudder had suffered from it and had jammed. I couldn't turn right but this didn't represent a serious issue, for the attackers were now at my three and I was onto flaking them out.
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But as I headed east, number 2, who had recovered from the previous exchange, started following me closely from below. We couldn't shoot at each other but it was going to be difficult shaking him off without getting exposed to his fire. In the meantime, number 1 had started climbing in order to gain a tailing advantage over me.
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Suddenly, I regained control over the rudder and went on flying straight at full speed, then performed a tight right turn so as to get rid of number 2 below. But number 1, who was now level with me, had finally caught up, managing to nail some slug into the Gladiator's tail in the process. I scarcely avoided extra damage as he missed with a second round of his guns.
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East was my only escape route so it was time for me to take a life-and-death decision. Number 2 and 3 were still flying low and they were more likely to miss when firing, and number 1 would sooner or later get me if I didn't plan a different path. So I decided to turn northeast to stay clear of number 1's firing range as I got closer to numbers 2 and 3. My maneuver caught number 2 by surprise: he couldn't change course on time and passed me by, and by some stroke of luck number 3 was still just too far to get a clear shot. Close call!
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At the end, and as I had barely eluded number 1's gun, I followed my plan and executed one last climb. In a matter of minutes I was too high for numbers 2 and 3 to shoot at me and for number 1 to succeed in taking me down. I pushed the throttle full forward and left it there until I was sure I had been left alone. »
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Thanks to Carl for his fantastic campaign design!
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Mission: WGS Campaign 3 Squadron RAAF Mission 1 by Carl Brisgamer
Allied forces: 1 x Gloster Gladiator (Flight Lieutenant Blake Pelly) - Alt. 3
Axis forces: 3 x Fiat CR.42 Falco (#1 Rinaldi, #2 Gorrini, #3 Gressler) - Alt. 2
Rules: Advanced Solo & Optional except FUEL and EXPLOSION damage.
As reported by F/L Pelly:
« The brass hats were outlining Operation Compass, and an unbearably hot afternoon at Garawlah didn't prevent Heath, Rawlinson, Boyd and myself from being sent out on a recon mission. This time as far as Rabia, southwest of Sidi Barrani - the enemy's closest stronghold.
1400 hrs and no sign of trouble, but as we decided to head back we spotted a flock of bandits south of our position and closing up. Heading north was not an option, since it would get us between the devil and the deep blue... sky. East was our only exit route, but suddenly there they were, too many to be engaged by the four of us, yet the situation was unavoidable.
I decided to try and get to the back of the enemy formation before shots were dealt, so I headed south and gained some altitude. Behind me, Peter and both Alans were getting entangled in a heavy dogfight with the frontline Falcos. I thought I was getting clear of enemy guns when three bandits appeared out of nowhere right between my Gladiator and the open desert sky.
112224
The enemy's long range shots couldn't do much damage for now, so my first reflex was to set some distance by turning northeast at full speed. The trio would have to chase me for a while! And as they were closing in, I was determined to take advantage of my higher altitude, since it provided me with an aiming bonus.
112225
112227
So I went on to confront the pursuers by executing a half-loop. Then the shooting began. Number 1 and I were at close range and I managed to plant a few bullets in the fore fuselage of his Falco. As he was swerving to avoid my fire his gun went loose, but I was lucky and only got some scuffs on the starboard wingtip.
112226
Number 2 came right to me from the front and from below. I reacted quickly and fired, the Falco's top leading edge taking all the damage. Number 2 staggered and only spat once in return. My Gladiator wasn't gravely hit, but somehow the rudder had suffered from it and had jammed. I couldn't turn right but this didn't represent a serious issue, for the attackers were now at my three and I was onto flaking them out.
112228
But as I headed east, number 2, who had recovered from the previous exchange, started following me closely from below. We couldn't shoot at each other but it was going to be difficult shaking him off without getting exposed to his fire. In the meantime, number 1 had started climbing in order to gain a tailing advantage over me.
112229
112230
112231
112232
Suddenly, I regained control over the rudder and went on flying straight at full speed, then performed a tight right turn so as to get rid of number 2 below. But number 1, who was now level with me, had finally caught up, managing to nail some slug into the Gladiator's tail in the process. I scarcely avoided extra damage as he missed with a second round of his guns.
112233
112234
East was my only escape route so it was time for me to take a life-and-death decision. Number 2 and 3 were still flying low and they were more likely to miss when firing, and number 1 would sooner or later get me if I didn't plan a different path. So I decided to turn northeast to stay clear of number 1's firing range as I got closer to numbers 2 and 3. My maneuver caught number 2 by surprise: he couldn't change course on time and passed me by, and by some stroke of luck number 3 was still just too far to get a clear shot. Close call!
112235
112236
At the end, and as I had barely eluded number 1's gun, I followed my plan and executed one last climb. In a matter of minutes I was too high for numbers 2 and 3 to shoot at me and for number 1 to succeed in taking me down. I pushed the throttle full forward and left it there until I was sure I had been left alone. »
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Thanks to Carl for his fantastic campaign design!
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