16 August 1944. Somewhere in France. After the German Army's failure to break through the American 30th ID at Mortain, the USAAF 9th Air Force attempts to inflict as much damage as possible on the retreating German forces. Based on initial reconnaissance reports, the 2nd Panzer Division is attempting to escape across a bridge at Lonlay-l'Abbaye. Two P-47 "Jugs" armed with rockets are ordered to destroy the bridge and eliminate as many ground targets as possible.
On the initial approach, red leader 1st Lt. Raymond Sparks is hit by flak but taking only two damage. With his wingman, 2nd Lt. John "Blue" French, the Jugs destroy a flak emplacement and wiping out two German units before launching their rockets at a convoy crossing the bridge. Sparks' rockets smash into an ammunition truck on the far side of the river, destroying most of the convoy that had reached apparent safety on the eastern bank. French isn't as lucky; his rockets cause only superficial damage to the bridge.
Another round of flak opens up on the two American pilots. French's bad luck continues and is hit by flak for 10 points of damage. Before being destroyed by Sparks' 50 cals, a German MG rips through French's Jug and his P-47 catches on fire. The pilots swerve to continue their attack on German ground targets, destroying two more flak positions. French soon realizes that he can't afford to take more damage. He decides to find a pasture to land in and prays a French farmer can hide him before an angry German patrol shows up looking for revenge. He flies off the map with 19 damage.
Sparks swings his Jug around and exchanges fire with a German MG squad. Though Sparks successfully wipes out the unit, his Jugs catches on fire. Swerving to put the fire out, he avoids another round of flak and is able to strafe the western bank, destroying the last flak emplacement and shooting up the surviving soft armor targets, stuck in a traffic jam caused by the burning ammunition truck. Despite having 11 damage, Sparks decides to distract the last German unit visible on the western side of Lonlay, a squad heading towards French's burning Jug (now safely landed). Exchanging blows, he decimates the German unit, dealing 20 damage and taking 6. Out of ammunition and with his plane barely holding together, he limps back to base.
Final results:
Sparks:
4 German infantry units
3 flak guns
The convoy on the eastern bank of Lonloy
Took 17 damage, returned to base to fly another day.
French:
2 German infantry units
1 flak gun
Took 19 damage, forced to make an emergency landing. French hid in a haystack for two days, watching the last units of the 2nd Panzer cross the river but was eventually rescued by an American infantry patrol.
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For context, I'm thinking of trying to create a "Normandy Breakout" campaign focused on July-August 1944 and this is the first test mission I flew. I'd like to figure out incorporating an element of ground combat (with moving tanks, infantry being able to shoot at each other) to increase the stakes of ground-support missions. Let me know if you have any suggestions!
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