Once upon a time in the West (early WW2 on the West)

[gutland]

After years of preparation (and added Covid delay) we have started with our gaming group WW2 campaign of early air war on the west. Having been reading the book of Miroslav Šnajdr “No return ticket 1940 – chapters of air war” I got inspired to “refly” missions of brave men of the time. So, I started to make notes for scenarios. To have more compact campaign, more books followed...



Credit shall be given to Pavel (Mauhur), who introduced Wings campaigns in our gaming group and paved the way.
As ships play significant role in some scenarios, I shall give the credit also to Neil (Skafloc) for using his Naval warfare mechanic.
I have also spent wonderful time sawing Chinese tin ship miniatures apart

[gutland]

One hour from declaration of war on 3.9.1939 F/O Mc Pherson and his Blenheim Mk.IV crew took off from Wayton airfield. Their mission was reconnaissance over Wilhelmshaven harbor as Britains strategy was to eliminate Kriegsmarine first. Lone aircraft succeeded in passing in 22 000 ft over ships, providing scheme of ships layout. Due to the low temperature at the high altitude camera froze after 70 frames and so did the wireless. So, the report was handed over after landing. Raid of No2 Bomber group had to be delayed for next day…

F/O Mc Pherson had to repeat his risky mission. At 8:35 he took off for Wilhelmshaven, Cuxhaven and Kiel. Weather was awful. Heavy rain and dense clouds made him fly very low. He had passed warship in Wilhelmshaven in 250 ft. Radio transmission with observations was received unreadable unfortunately.

5 Blenheims Mk.IV of No 139 Sqn took of wrom Wyton at 15:32. They did not succeed. Due to the bad weather, they could not find the targed and dropped load to the sea. Operation order did not state any alternative target stating that highest priority shall be not to harm any civilian. Half an hour later 5 Blenheims of No 110 Sqn followed. They performed far better. AA fire had opened after first bombers finished their attack. Unfortunately, 11s delay bomb fuses which should enable low altitude bombing often malfunctioned.
Third wave of No 107 Sqn ended terribly. AA fire with assistance of Bf-109E (Lt. Metz) downed four of five Blenheims. The worse damage was caused when shot down Blenheim wreckage fell on cruiser Emden.

Scenario: Sea and harbor, Cloudy with low ceilings
Targets: Admiral Scheer, Emden (both equipped with automatic controlled AA)
RAF: 5 Blenheims Mk IV, 2x500 lbs bombs each, delay fuses (explode on 4+, bombing from ALT 1)
Luftwaffe: 1 Bf-109E1

Scoring:
LW 2 VP for each ship not hit,
RAF 4 VP for sinking Admiral Sheer, 2 VP for damaging she >100 HP, 2 VP for sinking Emden
All (common) 2 VP for shot down enemy plane, 1 VP for enemy escaping plane. Blenheims may leave RAF side of gaming area after bombing with no penalty.



Photo report

Raid was successful. Light cruiser Emden was sunk (F/O Mc Pherson) and Panzerschiff Admiral Scheer suffered light damage (P/O Murphy). Only one Blenheim was lost (Sgt. Prince). Shot down over the sea by Bf-109 (Lt. Metz), MIA. Radio operator – gunner of P/O Lightholler shot down one Bf-109, navigator wounded. Bomb delay fuses malfunctions reported.

RAF victory 4 (2 Emden sunk, 2 shot down Bf-109) : 2 (shot down Blenheim) Luftwaffe

[gutland]

Luftwaffe sent armed reconnaissance of He-111 I/KG 26 over the mouth of Thames against shipping operations.

Scenario: Sea
Targets: Merchant ships, appear on 6+ , roll until He-111 reach ¾ of the length, in number of D6(1=1, 2-3=2, 3-4=3, 6=4)
RAF: 3x Hurricane Mk I
Luftwaffe: 3x He-111

Scoring:
Luftwaffe 2 VP for sinking the ship, if they did not appear 1 VP for each He -111 who crossed ¾ of the length and returned safely.
All (common) 2 VP for shot down enemy plane, 1 VP for enemy escaping plane.



Photo report

Merchant convoy spotted; one ship sunk (Lt. Dahmen). All bombers downed by Hurricannes (P/O Mc Winet and P/O Brown) and ships AA

RAF victory 6 (3 shot down He-111) : 2 (ship sunk) Luftwaffe

[gutland]

First fighter engagement took place in the morning of September the 8th. Four Bf-109 of Staffel 1-JG 53 commanded by Staffelkapitän Oblt. Mölders, veteran of Condor Legion, attacked six Curtiss H.75 of GC II/4. French managed German to withdraw scoring two of them with no loss. In reality only Mölders Messerschmitt was hit. Pilot managed emergency landing in Birkenfeld with damaged engine.

Scenario: Patrol
Armeé de l´Air: 3x Curtiss H-75A1
Luftwaffe: 3x Bf-109D

Scoring:
All (common) 2 VP for shot down enemy plane, 1 VP for enemy escaping plane.



Photo report

Lt. Mölders was decorated by Cross of Iron for shooting down two Curtiss H-75. Last of the French, S-Lt. Michelin eliminated mutually in final pass with Lt. Katz.

Luftwaffe victory 6 (3 shot down H75) : 2 (shot down Bf-109)

[gutland]

Three Fairey Battles of No 88 Sqn were caught by Messerschmitts of Jgr 152 during reconnaissance flight near Saarbrücken. Their French fighter escorte of GC II/6 Moranes was late. German shot down 2 Battles and gunner of the third one Bf-109. German side have not recorded any loss however.

Scenario: Reconnaissance over Germany, 2 mission objectives
RAF: 3x Fairey Battle
Armeé de l´Air: 2x MS 406 arrrive when recee photos are being taken.
Luftwaffe: 3x Bf-109D

Scoring:
RAF 2 VP for successful recce objective photo delivered,
All (common) 2 VP for shot down enemy plane, 1 VP for enemy escaping plane.



Photo report

Two of three Fairey Battles were shot down by Lt. Davidoff who earned Cross of Iron decoration. He was later shot down by arriving escort Morane piloted by S-Lt. Gauloises. Of Fairey Battles only Flt Lt Pitfield manage to reach home base with objective photos.

Allies victory 6 (2 shot down Bf-109, objective photos) : 4 (2 shot down Battles) Luftwaffe

[gutland]

On 1st of October 1939 three Blenheims of No 139 Sqn were sent for Intelligence over airfields in north-west part of the third reich. F/O Mc Pherson flew one of them. Another plane No N6231 flown by F/O A.C. MacLachlan reached its destiny after meeting Messerschmitts of Staffel 2./JG 1.

Scenario: Coast and inland, Reconnaisance, separate objective for each plane
RAF: 3x Blenheim Mk IV
Luftwaffe: 2-3x Bf-109 E1

Scoring:
RAF 2 VP for successful recce objective photo delivered,
All (common) 2 VP for shot down enemy plane, 1 VP for enemy escaping plane.



Photo report

F/O MacLachalan left the formation as his objective was eastbound of others. After successful taking snaps, he was attacked by Rotte of Bf-109 E1 and was shot down by one of them (Lt. Fingerhut). F/Lt Barton and F/O Mc Pherson took reccee pictures as well and reached safely the base.

RAF victory 4 (2 objective photos) : 2 (shot down Blenheim) Luftwaffe

[Stumptonian]

Excellent series of AAR.
REP sent.