tikkifriend
02-13-2015, 05:44
VF 6
VF 1 Cdr Veron James. Vet
VF18 Lt jg Robert Castillo. S
VB 6
VB 2 Lt Sutton. Vet
VB 5 Ens Huff. S
VT 6
VT 7 Lt Cdr Woods .Ace Lucky git + evasion.
VT 9 Ens Barber. R.
The VT, VF and VB groups were a mish mash . With whole sections lost in the previous sortie, pilots and planes from different sections were amalgamated to form an attack squadron. With no one familiar with their wingman it promised to be a a testing sortie for all concerned.
http://www.wingsofwar.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=157394&d=1423827403
With the Wildcats well ahead of the bombers Lt Cdr Woods, who was in overall command of the strike planes, came over the RT
" Its the transports we have to get boys, leave the cruiser for another day unless we get lucky on the first wave with the dive bombers. Barber you stay close to me and I will lead you in."
"Roger that" . Barbers voice sounding strained and nervous. With 2 guys to watch over and only his second flight in combat as a pilot the pressure was taking its toll.
It seemed an age before the fighter cover called in to report 3 IJN ships on a bearing 136.
http://www.wingsofwar.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=157395&d=1423827406
" Ok boys shout out if you see them , and keep an eye out for any Zeros" Woods sounded calm and although Barbers mouth was dry with fear his Commanders voice felt re assuring.
The tell tale white puffs of AA fire began to blossom ahead of the Wildcats who immediately turned away. Then from nowhere tracers started flying past the dive bombers tails. A pair of Zeros had got behind and beneath them and were determined to stop them before they could attack the transports.
http://www.wingsofwar.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=157397&d=1423827413
Barber caught a glimpse of a white silhouette on his port side. the second pair of Zeros, coming at the TBs at full throttle . This could be a massacre.
http://www.wingsofwar.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=157396&d=1423827409
Barber fired hitting the right hand Zero (1). By some miracle the zeros did little damage (0,0,0,1) helped by the fact that he closest zeros pilot was a Rookie.
http://www.wingsofwar.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=157398&d=1423827416
The first Ens Huff knew of the ensuing damage was his rudder going slack for a second. Calling back to his rear gunner Bates his fears were confirmed (5 +RRD,0) As Bates reported the damage to the rudder. Huff called a warning out to his wingman.
http://www.wingsofwar.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=157399&d=1423827420
Castillo set his wildcat up to loop back to help the Tbs, James continued on his tight left turn.
Barber felt the impact as the IJN pilot collided with his tail (3+RRD) suffering no apparent damage himself (0) Weir his gunner/Nav saw the second Z flash past his sights and fired (0) Cmd Woods no2 did better (2) The rookies cannon shell missing their mark.
http://www.wingsofwar.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=157400&d=1423827424
As the Zero climbs to follow Huffs bomber Bates fires off a short burst (1) The other zero climbs and comes under the guns of Cmd James F4F (2) and Lt Suttons gunner Shipley who’s accurate fire struck the cowling smoke erupting immediately (3+smoke)
http://www.wingsofwar.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=157401&d=1423827427
A second burst from Bates peppers his targets wing (4). The reply was equally fierce (3)
Barber and Woods rear gunners trade shots with the zeros Weirs bullets passing through the the cockpits Perspex (2+pilot) and Fuller in T 9 clipping his target (3) for minimum damage (2,0,0)
http://www.wingsofwar.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=157402&d=1423827432
Ltd Cdm Woods could see the clouds rushing in , threatening to cover their targets.
http://www.wingsofwar.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=157403&d=1423827435
"Hit the deck Barber those Dauntless boys are too far behind” With that he dropped his TB to the deck
With a Zeke on Huff and Suttons tail Sutton suffers badly, but Shipley and finally Bates finish him off
http://www.wingsofwar.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=157408&d=1423827454
The cruisers AA opened up one shell exploding directly under Woods and causing his torp to drop prematurely and although it struck the transport ship it failed to explode. (3 non crit chits)
http://www.wingsofwar.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=157410&d=1423827462
Barber hits the waves The AA focused on the Devastator allowing the dive-bombers to get closer to their target. The Zeros started to reform and renew their attack. Castillo dropped down to cover his escort and James pulls round & over the top of the rookie Zeke pilot
The Dauntless rear gunners riddle a Zero as it flashes past their tails. The final rounds piercing the wing tanks. Flames rapidly followed (2+fire,2)
http://www.wingsofwar.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=157411&d=1423827466
Lt Huff points his dive-bomber at the slow moving cruiser. Flak bursts around him nd the scream of the air as it rushes past the air brakes is deafening.
http://www.wingsofwar.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=157412&d=1423827472
Shipley empties another burst into a tailing Z, Smoke erupts again from the cowling (3+Smoke) the return fire missing its mark. (0)
http://www.wingsofwar.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=157413&d=1423827476
Huffs bombardier drops his bombs on the cruiser hitting it amidships and Sutton dives at the transport his rear gunner wounded by the smoking Zero (2+LRD, Pilot+5 0) the plane almost on its last legs he releases bomb, Pulling up he sees the resulting explosion Barber launches his torp at point blank range but the torp fails to reach its target
http://www.wingsofwar.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=157414&d=1423827480
James fire causes little damage (1) to his target but his second burst at short range brought it down (7+eng,4+RRD)
http://www.wingsofwar.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=157416&d=1423827488
The flaming Zero breaks off combat and limps for home, The bombers also turn for the safety of the Wildcat fighter cover who were closing in on the lone remaining Zero whos rookie pilot, seeing his comrade scattered or shot down turns tail and outruns the enemy fighters.
Result
USN
VF 6
http://www.wingsofwar.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=157418&d=1423827497
VF 1 Cdr Veron James. Vet RTB /1kill/no damage
VF18 Lt jg Robert Castillo. S RTB/no damage
VB 6
http://www.wingsofwar.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=157419&d=1423827501
VB 2 Lt Sutton. pilot Vet. Shipley RG/W/ 15pts /RTB .
VB 5 Ens Huff. pilot S. Bates RG 1 kill 8pt /RTB
VT 6
http://www.wingsofwar.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=157417&d=1423827492
VT 7 Lt Cdr Woods .Ace Lucky git + evasion. 10pt/RTB
VT 9 Ens Barber. R. 15pts/ RTB
IJN
http://www.wingsofwar.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=157420&d=1423827506
2 Zeros destroyed
2 RTB 1 pilot wounded
1 Cruiser damaged
1 transport damaged
Ooops looks like the IJN took the day with a couple of duff torp runs and a whole undamaged transport.Neil I await the fate of the badly damaged bombers especially Barber who looks to have had a close shave. :)
VF 1 Cdr Veron James. Vet
VF18 Lt jg Robert Castillo. S
VB 6
VB 2 Lt Sutton. Vet
VB 5 Ens Huff. S
VT 6
VT 7 Lt Cdr Woods .Ace Lucky git + evasion.
VT 9 Ens Barber. R.
The VT, VF and VB groups were a mish mash . With whole sections lost in the previous sortie, pilots and planes from different sections were amalgamated to form an attack squadron. With no one familiar with their wingman it promised to be a a testing sortie for all concerned.
http://www.wingsofwar.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=157394&d=1423827403
With the Wildcats well ahead of the bombers Lt Cdr Woods, who was in overall command of the strike planes, came over the RT
" Its the transports we have to get boys, leave the cruiser for another day unless we get lucky on the first wave with the dive bombers. Barber you stay close to me and I will lead you in."
"Roger that" . Barbers voice sounding strained and nervous. With 2 guys to watch over and only his second flight in combat as a pilot the pressure was taking its toll.
It seemed an age before the fighter cover called in to report 3 IJN ships on a bearing 136.
http://www.wingsofwar.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=157395&d=1423827406
" Ok boys shout out if you see them , and keep an eye out for any Zeros" Woods sounded calm and although Barbers mouth was dry with fear his Commanders voice felt re assuring.
The tell tale white puffs of AA fire began to blossom ahead of the Wildcats who immediately turned away. Then from nowhere tracers started flying past the dive bombers tails. A pair of Zeros had got behind and beneath them and were determined to stop them before they could attack the transports.
http://www.wingsofwar.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=157397&d=1423827413
Barber caught a glimpse of a white silhouette on his port side. the second pair of Zeros, coming at the TBs at full throttle . This could be a massacre.
http://www.wingsofwar.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=157396&d=1423827409
Barber fired hitting the right hand Zero (1). By some miracle the zeros did little damage (0,0,0,1) helped by the fact that he closest zeros pilot was a Rookie.
http://www.wingsofwar.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=157398&d=1423827416
The first Ens Huff knew of the ensuing damage was his rudder going slack for a second. Calling back to his rear gunner Bates his fears were confirmed (5 +RRD,0) As Bates reported the damage to the rudder. Huff called a warning out to his wingman.
http://www.wingsofwar.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=157399&d=1423827420
Castillo set his wildcat up to loop back to help the Tbs, James continued on his tight left turn.
Barber felt the impact as the IJN pilot collided with his tail (3+RRD) suffering no apparent damage himself (0) Weir his gunner/Nav saw the second Z flash past his sights and fired (0) Cmd Woods no2 did better (2) The rookies cannon shell missing their mark.
http://www.wingsofwar.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=157400&d=1423827424
As the Zero climbs to follow Huffs bomber Bates fires off a short burst (1) The other zero climbs and comes under the guns of Cmd James F4F (2) and Lt Suttons gunner Shipley who’s accurate fire struck the cowling smoke erupting immediately (3+smoke)
http://www.wingsofwar.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=157401&d=1423827427
A second burst from Bates peppers his targets wing (4). The reply was equally fierce (3)
Barber and Woods rear gunners trade shots with the zeros Weirs bullets passing through the the cockpits Perspex (2+pilot) and Fuller in T 9 clipping his target (3) for minimum damage (2,0,0)
http://www.wingsofwar.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=157402&d=1423827432
Ltd Cdm Woods could see the clouds rushing in , threatening to cover their targets.
http://www.wingsofwar.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=157403&d=1423827435
"Hit the deck Barber those Dauntless boys are too far behind” With that he dropped his TB to the deck
With a Zeke on Huff and Suttons tail Sutton suffers badly, but Shipley and finally Bates finish him off
http://www.wingsofwar.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=157408&d=1423827454
The cruisers AA opened up one shell exploding directly under Woods and causing his torp to drop prematurely and although it struck the transport ship it failed to explode. (3 non crit chits)
http://www.wingsofwar.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=157410&d=1423827462
Barber hits the waves The AA focused on the Devastator allowing the dive-bombers to get closer to their target. The Zeros started to reform and renew their attack. Castillo dropped down to cover his escort and James pulls round & over the top of the rookie Zeke pilot
The Dauntless rear gunners riddle a Zero as it flashes past their tails. The final rounds piercing the wing tanks. Flames rapidly followed (2+fire,2)
http://www.wingsofwar.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=157411&d=1423827466
Lt Huff points his dive-bomber at the slow moving cruiser. Flak bursts around him nd the scream of the air as it rushes past the air brakes is deafening.
http://www.wingsofwar.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=157412&d=1423827472
Shipley empties another burst into a tailing Z, Smoke erupts again from the cowling (3+Smoke) the return fire missing its mark. (0)
http://www.wingsofwar.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=157413&d=1423827476
Huffs bombardier drops his bombs on the cruiser hitting it amidships and Sutton dives at the transport his rear gunner wounded by the smoking Zero (2+LRD, Pilot+5 0) the plane almost on its last legs he releases bomb, Pulling up he sees the resulting explosion Barber launches his torp at point blank range but the torp fails to reach its target
http://www.wingsofwar.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=157414&d=1423827480
James fire causes little damage (1) to his target but his second burst at short range brought it down (7+eng,4+RRD)
http://www.wingsofwar.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=157416&d=1423827488
The flaming Zero breaks off combat and limps for home, The bombers also turn for the safety of the Wildcat fighter cover who were closing in on the lone remaining Zero whos rookie pilot, seeing his comrade scattered or shot down turns tail and outruns the enemy fighters.
Result
USN
VF 6
http://www.wingsofwar.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=157418&d=1423827497
VF 1 Cdr Veron James. Vet RTB /1kill/no damage
VF18 Lt jg Robert Castillo. S RTB/no damage
VB 6
http://www.wingsofwar.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=157419&d=1423827501
VB 2 Lt Sutton. pilot Vet. Shipley RG/W/ 15pts /RTB .
VB 5 Ens Huff. pilot S. Bates RG 1 kill 8pt /RTB
VT 6
http://www.wingsofwar.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=157417&d=1423827492
VT 7 Lt Cdr Woods .Ace Lucky git + evasion. 10pt/RTB
VT 9 Ens Barber. R. 15pts/ RTB
IJN
http://www.wingsofwar.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=157420&d=1423827506
2 Zeros destroyed
2 RTB 1 pilot wounded
1 Cruiser damaged
1 transport damaged
Ooops looks like the IJN took the day with a couple of duff torp runs and a whole undamaged transport.Neil I await the fate of the badly damaged bombers especially Barber who looks to have had a close shave. :)