Solo AAR: Rising Sun, Falling Skies: Game 2 Yangchow August 1937
August 21st Yangchow:
After suffering heavy losses in daylight attacks at low level the Kanoya Kokutai tried to catch the 4th PG on the ground at Yangchow by mounting a dawn attack at high altitude. On the way to the target the 6 bombers got split up in the darkness and proceeded independently to the target. Captain Hanso Fuchida and 1Lt Watari Odamara fund themselves approaching the target by themselves.
Unfortunately for the Japanese the 4th PG had received orders the day before to take off at 5am and attack Japanese ground positions near Shanghai. So as the Japanese approached the Hawk’s were ready to take off at a moments notice.
Col Kao Chi-Hang and his trusty wing man Lt Tan Won scrambled immediately the warning came through. As the sun rose higher they could see 2 bombers approaching Yangchow.
The 2 G3M2’s banked left to continue their bombing run on the target.
The 2 Hawk’s barrelled in to the attack as the 2 Japanese bombers banked for their final run in.
Col Kao lined up on the engines and fired a quick burst. He was rewarded by seeing a trail of vapour coming from the port engine and it spluttered to a stop. The forward turret of the bomber quickly engaged Kao but the aim was not accurate.
Both Kao and Tan sped through the bomber formation turning right and left both tried to get onto the tails of the 2 bombers. The bombers banked right and Kao’s Hawk shuddered as bullets pinged into his fuselage. Tan was lucky as he was too close for either Japanese plane to engage him.
Tan’s Hawk was now caught in a deadly cross fire as all 4 dorsal turrets engaged his tiny plane. Kao frantically tried to bank harder to get back into the fight.
Tan’s tenacity had paid off. His single handed attack had forced both bombers to unload their bombs short of the target.
The lead G3M2 banked for home as the 2nd limped after it on 1 engine.
Tan was rewarded for his dogged tenacity as the lead bomber succumbed to damage and fell from the sky. He saw 2 parachutes open then realised he was flying dead stick! The last burst from the bomber had claimed his Hawk too. Flipping his stricken aircraft over he bailed out knowing he was over friendly territory, the Japanese would not be so lucky!
Kao seeing his wingman bailed out pushed the Hawk as hard as he could to cut off the last bombers line of retreat. Closing in he fired burst after burst.
Tailing the bomber he knew in his heart if his plane could hold together he had the bomber.
The Japanese rear gunner lined up, it was a chancy, long range shot...he pulled the trigger. Bang, bang, bang. Bullets thudded into Kao’s engine cowling and the nose dipped lower and lower on the Hawk. His aircraft was finished. Kao managed to glide into a soft landing. At least his aircraft could be used for spares if it could not be repaired. He looked up as a group of farmers came to his aid and he could see the Japanese bomber limp homeward.
Butchers Bill:
Capt Hanso Fuchida: RTB/13 damage/1 engine out
1Lt Watari Odamara: SD/ET/EXP/25 damage/2 crew captured
Col Kao Chi-Hang (yellow): SD/FT/18 damage/Crash landed
1Lt Tan Won (red): SD/FT/EXP/Rudder/23 damage/Bailed out
Awarded: Order of Loyalty and Valour:and 1 Star Medal for 1 confirmed kill.
Summary:
1. The boom chit accounts for 50% of the original damage of an aircraft. Hence the G3M2 was still flying after taking the boom chit.
2. Next game it will be September and the Japanese gain the A5M fighter.
What actually happended:
The Japanese did switch to a high altitude dawn raid against the 5th PG at Yangchow. 6 G3M2’s got separated in the darkness but pushed on to the target. The 5th PG were ready for take off. 2 Hawks were destroyed on the ground but 4 managed to take off and engage the bombers. 3 went after the 5th Chutai and shot down all 3 and 1 after the 4th Chutai managing to shoot down 1.
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Originally Posted by Carl_Brisgamer
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