AAR - BrisWingsofGlory WGS Campaign 1, Mission 1 - Polish Air Force 1939-45

[Carl_Brisgamer]

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Poland, 31 August 1939

War was imminent and every member of the 121 Eskadra Mysliwska knew it. For months now Nazi Germany had been demanding Poland cede the Danzig Corridor, and on 23 August 1939 the Germans and Soviets had signed a non-aggression pact. The Polish High Command had ordered mobilisation, and within days the squadron with its ten PZL P.11c fighters had been moved from their peace-time base to an advanced landing ground outside Krakow. There the pilots and ground crew waited for the storm to come....



Mission 1 Defensive Patrol Krakow 01-09-1939

At first light on 1 September 1939 podporuczniks (Second Lieutenants) Wacław Król and Władysław Gnyś of 121 Eskadra Mysliwska were already dressed in their flying gear ready for a dawn patrol. Wacław Król was the deputy commander of the squadron and an experienced pilot having joined the Lotnictwo Wojskowe after graduating from the Polish Air Force Academy in 1935. Władysław Gnyś had joined the Polish Air Force even earlier in 1931, and by 1936 had been one of Król's instriuctors at Deblin. This morning they climbed into the open cockpits of their gull-wing PZL P.11c fighters to face the Luftwaffe on this, the first day of war.



The two Polish airmen would not have long to wait, for soon after taking off from their airfield they spotted three Junkers Ju 87B-2 Stukas approaching the city of Krakow from the west at about 4000 metres.



The Stuka Kette from StG77 commanded by Leutnant Frank Neubert had been assigned to bomb a bridge over the Vistula on the edge of the city and were closing on their target.



Flying PZL P.11c 'White 3', ppor. Gnyś turned to intercept the German dive bombers.



The 'Polish pilots' Paul (seated) and Rod had both played WGS previously but this was their first time flying the rather fragile PZL P.11c - there was a suitable air of nervousness!



As the Stukas continued their steady progress, the two Polish airmen approached the formation from either flank, ppor. Gnyś in 'White 3' from the north and ppor. Król from the south.



Unfortunately for Władysław Gnyś the German formation banked left in his direction and soon a burst of fire from the wing mounted machine guns of the lead Stuka were perforating his aircraft!



Meanwhile Wacław Król had worked his way around behind the Stuka formation and opened fire on the right-hand aircraft. 7.92mm rounds from his twin Wz37 machine guns struck his target and soon a thin trail of white smoke was streaming from the German machine. Gnyś continued his progress across the front of the enemy Kette, collecting a few more holes in his PZL.



Continuing his attack, ppor. Król exchanged bursts with the Stuka's rear gunner .....



As ppor. Gnyś banked around to make a stern attack on the left hand Stuka. Just as he opened fire a burst from Stuka gunner Uffz. Klaus Meyer smashed into his own aircraft damaging critical systems, and within moments his PZL P.11c was falling from the sky. As his aircraft rolled inverted Gnyś released his harness and fell out into space. Clearing his doomed machine ppor. Gnyś opened his parachute, floating down safely to the fields below.



Alone now against three enemy aircraft ppor. Król dived down onto the right hand Stuka as the lead dive bomber dropped his 'eggs' in a vertical dive bombing attack on the eastern end of the bridge (partial hit, full load).



Król's burst caused further damage to the German plane but soon after one of the Stuka rear gunners found his mark and peppered the PZL's cockpit. Waclaw Król was hit by a German bullet, but he pressed his attack, determined to down his opponent. His efforts did not appear to be in vain as both the remaining Stukas were off target, with one scoring only a partial hit on the eastern end of the bridge and the other dropping his bombload on the western bank of the river.



As the dive-bombers screamed down to make their attacks the wounded Król overshot his Stuka.



The Polish pilot dived again and banked hard to port to make another attack. But this time he passed in front of the guns of a second Ju 87B-2. The pilot Ltn. Hans Rohleder's burst smashed the PZL's Mercury engine and mortally wounded ppor. Waclaw Król. The Polish fighter fell out of control, crashing into the Vistula River.



Their bombs gone and no further Polish fighters to harry their progress the Stukas formed up and returned to base. Two of the Luftwaffe dive bombers were only a little worse for wear but the third Stuka engaged by ppor. Król was so badly damaged (89%) it had to be scrapped. Within a hour or so ppor. Władysław Gnyś had made it back to the airfield, where his fears were confirmed by the news Waclaw Król had been killed. But with the skies of Poland turned black by swarms of Luftwaffe aircraft there was little time to mourn the loss of comrades.





Above is a screen shot of the Campaign Mission log for this action. The Poles' baptism of fire did not go smoothly, but Paul and Rod were keen to get back in the air and exact some revenge for the loss of podporucznik Waclaw Król.

[Nightbomber]

Thanks for an interesting AAR, Carl. Pity your players in P.11c planes were shot down and had a limited fun.
Ahhh... another example of the overpowered rear gunners in WGS, IMHO. But that is just a game.
Two questions arise:
1. Did you use a consecutive shooting rule for the Stuka rear gunners? It may end in a devastating effect for the intercepting fighters. We usually turn it off.
2. What are the stats for P.11c you use?

Rep guns ready! And jammed.

[Dan-Sam]

Just a little confused from two stars for podporucznik's - I guess there should be just one...

[Carl_Brisgamer]

Thanks for an interesting AAR, Carl. Pity your players in P.11c planes were shot down and had a limited fun.
Ahhh... another example of the overpowered rear gunners in WGS, IMHO. But that is just a game.
Two questions arise:
1. Did you use a consecutive shooting rule for the Stuka rear gunners? It may end in a devastating effect for the intercepting fighters. We usually turn it off.
2. What are the stats for P.11c you use?

Rep guns ready! And jammed.

Hi Andrzej,

We are using the Aim bonus for all aircraft, but also the Disruption rule.

The PZL P.11c stats are in the WGS unofficial aircraft spreadsheet - Firepower is A/A (two 7.92mm machine guns), Manoeuvre deck is the custom ZL deck, 13 damage points, climb rate 4 and maximum altitude 9.

After the first two missions Rod's pilots were just unlucky not to shot down two aircraft - both the Stuka from mission 1 and the Dornier from mission 2 barely made it back with just 2 damage points each. They also need to coordinate their attacks better - it was usually Rod who was the more aggressive fighter pilot and he ended up getting shot down while Paul was a little more cautious.

This weekend the action moves to France where the Polish pilots will make up a 'Patrouille Polonaise' as part of a French Armee del'Air escadrille flying cannon armed Morane MS.406 fighters. The boys are looking forward to the increase in firepower!

[Carl_Brisgamer]

Just a little confused from two stars for podporucznik's - I guess there should be just one...

Thanks Daniel, the source document I located must relate to the modern Polish Armed Forces - http://www.wikiwand.com/pl/Podporucznik

I will fix them up next time.

[Nightbomber]

Thanks Carl and Daniel, you both are experienced pilots.

[Dan-Sam]

I was just little confused, because here in Central Europe there is a tradition to have one star for sub-lieutenant and two for lieutenant. At least in past times. Now Czech Army and Airforce haven't sub-lieutenant rank, so we are starting with two. But Slovaks chenged it and lieutenant has just one. Crazy, little nations we are

[Carl_Brisgamer]

I was just little confused, because here in Central Europe there is a tradition to have one star for sub-lieutenant and two for lieutenant. At least in past times. Now Czech Army and Airforce haven't sub-lieutenant rank, so we are starting with two. But Slovaks chenged it and lieutenant has just one. Crazy, little nations we are

Badges of rank for central European nations is not an area in which I am well versed so thank you for pointing this out Daniel - I have learned something today

[Nightbomber]

I was just little confused, because here in Central Europe there is a tradition to have one star for sub-lieutenant and two for lieutenant. At least in past times. Now Czech Army and Airforce haven't sub-lieutenant rank, so we are starting with two. But Slovaks chenged it and lieutenant has just one. Crazy, little nations we are

I still remember my first Czech Army insignia earned at Origins 2016 and wear it with proud on my green military shirt.

[Carl_Brisgamer]

Thanks for an interesting AAR, Carl. Pity your players in P.11c planes were shot down and had a limited fun.

Good news Andrzej, the Patrouille Polonaise flying for the French have broken their drought with a kill last Saturday - AAR here: http://www.wingsofwar.org/forums/sho...-Force-1939-45

The boys were very pleased.

[Lt. S.Kafloc]

Its great to see early war aircraft. Great AAR. Looking forward to the rest.