small AAR Guadalcanal 14 November 1942

**fox** · 09-29-2017 05:50

Hello
Well ,there's a long time I didn't post ( almost 6 years...

)

The AAR
Guadalcanal 14 November 1942
Captain Joe Foss, a squadron member of the VMF 121 Marines squadron, and his wing escort 2 sbd Dauntless from the USS Enterprise. They are back from their mission on the battleship HIEI. They are trying to reach the aircraft carrier. One of the two dauntless is in bad shape, engine smoking, wounded rear gunner and unfit for combat.
They are capped by 3 zeros that come out of the sun within 6 hours and engage the fight.

3 zeros Japanese Altitude 5
2 US wildcats including one ace (Joe Foss) Altitude 4
2 SBD Dauntless Altitude 3. Dauntless are automatically managed.
The Zeros are within six hours of the American fighters at a distance from a ruler. The SBD are at a half-ruler ahead of the Wildcats. The USS Enterprise is the opposite.

Mission US: Allow the dauntless to arrive safely.
Mission Jap: descend the dauntless in priority to avenge the affront of the loss of the HIEI

HIEI trying to escape

Capped in their 6H the US fighter pilots could not prevent the destruction of the Dauntless. Ace Joe Foss was not on his mood that day. He made an Immelman to face the Japs, which it was good idea but forgets to use his exceptional pilot skill in order to come back faster near the dauntless. He will not be able to assist, helplessly, until the martyr of the bombers. His wingman, having only a few hours on Wildcat, gets turned on by making a climb and gets down soon after.
2 of the 3 Zeros takes advantage to melt on the SBD, while the other covers their rear in the event of a return of Foss.

Zeros and their preys

Joe Foss, on the top, will start his Immelman, his wingman tries to join more clement skies, while one of the Dauntless protects his wingman in bad shape.

Foss wingman got down, Joe is too far to intervene, it's the cure.

Foss returns to the massacre but eventually drops the fight.