Image aero-JOURNAL #71
A chapter of Pierre Clostermann's "Grand Cirque" was entitled "Ball Bearings and Flying Fortress", which is the idea of this scenario featuring the B-17s of the 8th AF, the escort fighters of the USAF and RAF and the interception fighters of the Luftwaffe, a Defense Against Aircraft (Anti Air or FlaK) is also present.
The situation results in the absence of the "figures-pushers-friends"!?!, so it will be a solo battle vs AI. A 2.10 m x 0.98 m map is deployed representing the coast and the different objectives, allied planes at a maximum distance from the edge, defense planes entering from the sides as the bombers and escorts cross the coast.
The "full load" rule (BoB page 40) is applied for all the bombers, the escort fighters since they are equipped with drop tanks.
On the other hand, the Spitfire, P-47 and P-51 fighters respect the historical distance on the game map, then drop the tanks and fly briefly across the Channel.
Spitfire : 1/3 of the course, P-47 Thunderbolt : 1/2 and P-51 D Mustang all the way there and back.
From an Osprey map
Schweinfurt raids:
17-08-1943: Messerschmitt Regensburg factories + ball bearing factory at Schweinfurt out of 376 Bombers engaged 60 are lost and 55 damaged... Remember a B-17 crew is composed of 10 members...
14-10-1943: 291 B-17 F engaged on Schweinfurt
24-02-1944: Schweinfurt where 49 Bombers are lost
13-04-1944 626 Bombers escorted by 871 Fighters fly over Schweinfurt-Augsburg-Oberpfaffenhofen.
ORDER OF BATTLE
If we follow strictly this date of 17 August 1943 few planes will be able to be put on the mat, so the general idea is to use all the planes having worked from 43 to 45 in the North-West Europe sector.
The more observant and perceptive will find other historical errors... The most obvious one is that the planes painted with the black and white D-Day stripes would have no place there...
From an Osprey map
None of the three bombers participated in the raids and this B-17 F did not fly with the B-17 Gs
« Memphis Belle »
Mission 21 > April 17, 1943: Bremen-Germany / Focke-Wulf factories
Mission 25 > May 17, 1943: Lorient-France / submarine base (last mission)
« A Bit O' Lace »
Mission 28 > Sep 17, 1944 Capt J C Ray: Arnhem-Holland / flak towers (first aircraft mission so named)
« Li’L Eight Ball »
Mission 1 > May 7, 1944 and 123 missions in total
No aircraft on the set has the same registration, decoration, this B-17 G is a converted "A Bit o' Lace", the choice (.) was for a deco requiring very few modifications. Let's hope this "L'iL Eight Ball" brings luck to this B-17 in the scenario.
ALLIED MISSIONS :
1 - Bombing of the Schweinfurt ball bearing factories
2 - Escort the bombers and divert the Luftwaffe fighters (return to the departure base if short petrol, refuel and leave for 2nd escort)
3 - Diversion on a railroad convoy transporting tanks
4 - Photographic reconnaissance of the objectives.
5 - Strafing of FlaK batteries
AXIS MISSIONS:
1 - Intercept bomber formations with the JagdWaffe and FlaK before they drop their bombs. The Bf 109 attack of the fighters, the FW190 attack the VierMots (historical)
2 - To land for refueling and to take off again to intercept the return of the formations of B-17.
PLACEMENT TOUR 0
Only the Spitfire PRU is advanced to more than a ruler and evolves at altitude 8 (high altitude) to escape the FlaK.
The remaining escort of P-51 D are not placed because of lack of place... Let’s pay attention to the possible collisions.
The interceptor fighters are spread out on the edge of the map and will enter at the most appropriate moment.
Programming of all maneuvers 1 and 2... The dashboards are minimalist and everything fits under a clip; a lap marker die comes in handy to keep things straight.
If there are no questions we can go… Gentlemen start your engines
TURN 1
A - The option to bypass the AA batteries is taken but driving a Flying Fortress box is not obvious, hence a collision safety space.
B - The FlaK battery having been charged during the setup of Turn 0 (.) a salvo is engaged on the ZPoJ spitfire according to BoB rules pages 34 & 44; counter A = 2 and draw counter C = 0.
C - The high altitude cover is assured by the Spitfires MkIX and XIV on level 6.
D - The photo recce is progressing to level 8; but reading again the rule "photo recce" BoB page 41 it is stipulated that photos are taken at altitude 3 or less and slow speed ; so change of objective: first the factories and then on the way back the panzer convoy because even with maximum dive the altitude will be much higher than 3 when passing over the train.
TURN 2 to be continued
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