AAR - BrisWingsofGlory WGS Campaign 1, Mission 12 - Polish Air Force 1939-45

[Carl_Brisgamer]

France 1940 Mission 12 Defensive Patrol Paris 03/06/1940



By early June 1940 the war situation was looking grim for France. The best and most modern French armies had been sent north at the start of the German offensive and had been lost in the resulting encirclement. Now the French commander in chief General Weygand had only sixty divisions to defend a front stretching almost 1000 kilometres from the Channel to the Maginot Line. The Armee del'Air had suffered heavy losses in the desperate battles over northern France and now the British Royal Air Force squadrons in France had been withdrawn back to their island it would have to fight on alone against the might of the Luftwaffe. French Intelligence had received information the Germans were planning a massive aerial attack to precede a ground offensive, and the High Command ordered all available Groupe de Chasse north to defend against the assault. With no radar to provide a warning about the timing or direction of the attack the Armee del'Air was forced to spread its meagre force of just 150 fighter aircraft along a wide front. On 2 June 1940 GC II/7 received orders to send a detachment to the airfield at Meaux-Esbly west of Paris. The Patrouille Polonaise was selected, and flew north that afternoon with whatever aircraft they could muster.






The following morning Sous Lieutenant Władysław Gnyś in D.520 'White 2', Sous Lieutenant Tadeusz Kowalewski in 'Red 4' and Adjutant Władysław Chciuk flying 'White 8' took off to patrol the skies north east of Paris. Sgt. Leopold Flanek in 'White 6' was also kitted up and placed on standby at Meaux-Esbly.



Today's mission was a 'big show' so the campaigners drafted in some extra assistance to run friendly and opposition forces. From left to right we have Charlie (forum member provost121), Paul (seated), Rod, Wayne (forum member whiskysierra), Russell (forum member skippy), Shane, Dan (forum member Slexlaw) and Andrew. With five at the table including myself it was a good turnout for www.wingsofwar.org members.



North east of Paris over 1000 Luftwaffe aircraft were taking part in Operation Paula, intended to destroy French airfields, aviation factories and other vital assets around Paris. Flying at 6000 metres a Dornier Do 17Z-1 Kette of Kampfgeschwader 2 is targeting an airfield .....



..... while Junkers Ju 88A-1's of Lehrgeschwader 1 have been ordered to bomb a nearby rail-yard. 1000 metres above their charges, Messerschmitt Bf 109E-3's of Hauptmann Balthasar's 1.JG1 are escorting the bomber formations.



From the east the Patrouille Polonaise approaches at 6000 metres ......



..... while from the west a flight of Morane MS.406 fighters of GC I/2 also joins the fight.



As the fully laden bombers continue their lumbering towards their targets .....



..... Hptm. Balthasar orders his Schwarm forward to engage the French fighters.



As they close on the Dorniers the Patrouille Polonaise of Rod, Paul and Wayne appear to be in good spirits ......



..... while Dan running the Ju 88s and Andrew flying a Morane are giving their full attention to their next manoeuvres.



It is the same with Russell flying two 109s and Charlie running his Dornier Kette.



The Polish pilots make a head on run at the Dornier Do 17s ....



..... while the Moranes of GC I/2 split up, with one brave soul (Andrew) heading for the escorting Messerschmitts while the others (Shane two aircraft) target the Ju 88s.



The Moranes open fire on the lead Junkers at close range while Cpt. Robert Williame in Morane 'White VI' manages to come in fast under the guns of the Messerschmitts.



S-Lt. Władysław Gnyś and Adj. Władysław Chciuk bank around to make beam attacks on a Dornier, but S-Lt. Tadeusz Kowalewski in 'Red 4' opting for a head on attack finds himself subject to the attentions of two Messerschmitt Bf 109s.



As 20mm cannon shells and 7.5mm machine gun bullets spatter the lead Junkers a fire breaks out, sending flames streaming back from the aircraft.



Hptm. Balthasar in 'White 1' and his Rottenkamerad Obergrefreiter Hans Lass in 'White 8' perform a split S to get in behind Cpt. Williame's slower Morane.



Kowalewski's 'Red 4' is hit hard by close range cannon and machine gun fire. With his controls smashed, S-Lt. Kowalewski bails out of the stricken D.520. Uffz. Emil Clade in Messerschmitt 'White 3' calls "Abschuss" over the R/T as he watches as the French fighter spinning earthward trailing smoke, marking his first victory.



Cpt. Robert Williame's Morane is hit repeatedly by cannon shells as he tries to escape the two 109s on his tail .....



..... while on the other flank Władysław Gnyś and Władysław Chciuk are engaged by the other Rotte of 109 escorts.



With the 1.JG1 Messerschmitts keeping the French fighters busy the Luftwaffe bomber crews make runs on their targets unmolested. At this time Sgt. Leopold Flanek arrives over the battle area flying 'White 6', having been scrambled from Meaux-Esbly.



The Junkers Ju 88s bank away from the rail-yard, the burning aircraft having extinguished the fire by executing an over-dive. Two of three bombers dropped their bombs squarely on the target.



The Dorniers of KG2 smash the airfield with high explosive bombs and the new C-250 Flammbombe incendiary. Their runs complete the Dorniers bank away to port .....



..... with the Polish Flight in pursuit. Dornier Do 17Z-1 U5+AP is lagging behind, one of it's Bramo engines having been knocked out.



A Dornier is hit and starts trailing smoke.



Cpt. Williame in Morane 'White VI' heads back towards his flight with Balthasar and Lass still on his tail.



The Junkers 88s scatter .....



..... as the Polish Flight fights both the Dorniers and their 109 escorts.



Adj. Władysław Chciuk scores his fourth victory as he brings down damaged Dornier U5+AP. The crew all manage to bail out before their aircraft crashes on the bank of the Seine River.



Hptm. Balthasar also scores his fourth victory, shouting "Horrido" as his cannon shells smash the engine of Cpt. Williame's Morane MS.406, with Obgr. Lass also stitching up the French fighter in its final moments. Cpt. Williame bails out as his machine plunges down out of control.



Relieved of the burden of their bombloads the Junkers pilots open their throttles for a quick exit from the battle area.



The skies over Paris are thick with aircraft, German and French. A Junkers fires a burst at Adj. Władysław Chciuk's D.520 'White 8' .....



..... followed by a devastating burst fired at long range by Ltn. Ludwig Franzisket in Messerschmitt 109 'White 2'. Chciuk looks behind him seeing two 109s closing fast and decides it is time to go. Pulling back the canopy he turns the badly damaged Dewoitine onto its back and bails out. Ltn. Franzisket calls "Horrido" as the D.520 falls away, the Luftwaffe officer's first victory.



Having sustained engine damage in the fight with the Ju 88 formation Sgt. Jacques De Puybusque in 'White XV' breaks off. He nurses his crippled Morane back to base, where the damage and a lack of spares keep the mechanics busy for the next two weeks.



Unable to catch the speedy Ju 88s the third Morane pilot Lt. Jacques De La Bretonnière flying his undamaged 'White VII' also breaks for home.



Dorniers 'U5+BP' and 'U5+CP' evade further interception and return to base. Both aircraft sustained damage but will be operational by 7 June 1940.



The Junkers formation from Lehrgeschwader 1 all make it back to base, with only 'L1+FN' having taken any hits. Despite the damage caused by the fire the Ju 88 will be repaired by 7 June 1940.



With the bombers safely away Hauptmann Willi Balthasar gives the order to return to base. The opening mission of Operation Paula has been a success for his Schwarm with three victory claims and no losses. Only Ltn. Ludwig Franzisket's 'White 2' suffered serious damage during the fight with the Polish flight, enough in fact that his machine was deemed irreparable and subsequently converted to components.



S-Lt. Władysław Gnyś and Sgt. Leopold Flanek flew their damaged Dewoitines back to Meaux-Esbly. Having been in the thick of the action 'White 2' flown by S-Lt. Gnyś was too badly damaged to be repaired and was scrapped. Sgt, Flanek's 'White 6' had also taken a battering but within three days would marked on the aircraft roster as 'serviceable'. With two aircraft lost and two damaged GC II/7's Patrouille Polonaise was out of action for the moment.



S-Lt. Kowalewski and Adj. Chciuk found their way back to the airfield later that afternoon, bringing with them a tail fin from the Dornier Do 17 brought down by Władysław Chciuk as evidence of his victory. His Dornier was one of only ten Luftwaffe aircraft shot down throughout the day. The Armee del'Air lost twenty aircraft destroyed on the ground and another fifteen shot down. Six of sixteen airfields hit suffered serious damage and fifteen factories reported bomb damage. Although the Germans had failed to deliver a knock out blow the loss of more than ten percent of available fighters was a result the Armee del'Air could ill-afford. That evening the ground crews and even the pilots worked feverishly to repair battle damaged aircraft ready to oppose the next wave of Luftwaffe attacks they knew would come.

[Stumptonian]

Loving these stories, Carl.
I also realized something else I enjoy about your presentations - no range rulers and no damage chits until the end make the scenes more "real".


Twoje zdrowie

[Carl_Brisgamer]

Loving these stories, Carl.
I also realized something else I enjoy about your presentations - no range rulers and no damage chits until the end make the scenes more "real".


Twoje zdrowie

Cheers Pete

Regarding damage I agree the photos are better without the chits, and given it's a face to face game the players would revolt if I suggested we laid them down as we go!

This mission was the first where the players were faced with multiple bomber flights and I think they were a little overwhelmed. Good practice for Battle of Britain though about the need to concentrate their forces and focus their fire.

[ptownhiker]

That is a great description of a desperate battle. Thanks for sharing it!


dave s

[Carl_Brisgamer]

That is a great description of a desperate battle. Thanks for sharing it!


dave s

Glad you enjoyed it Dave. I have another one to report from this weekend which I will try and post tomorrow, stay tuned.

[CappyTom]

Wow! Best report I've read in a long time. Thanks for sharing the history and the game play. Looks like a great day for all.
What an inspiration.

Thanks again,
Thomas

[Dwarflord22]

Another amazing AAR! Love the story, narrative, pilot stories and pictures!!

[Lt. S.Kafloc]

Brilliant action all the way Carl. The way you are building up the history of the Polish squadron and their adversaries is inspiring. Wish my REp gun wasn't out of ammo.

[Carl_Brisgamer]

Thanks for the positive feedback gentlemen, much appreciated.

[Setarius]

Another excellent story and game Carl. Glad you were able to get so many together for the battle.

[Carl_Brisgamer]

Another excellent story and game Carl. Glad you were able to get so many together for the battle.

Thanks Dale. As we get into the Battle of Britain the number of campaign participants will increase so it is good we are able to provide some 'training' to new players in these early missions.

[twr]

Wonderful report with excellent photos.

[Carl_Brisgamer]

Wonderful report with excellent photos.

Thanks Keith. The campaigners played out missions 14 and 15 last week, I am trying to find time to post the AAR.

Stay tuned.