Origins 2022 Guadalcanal Thursday 9am
Origins 2022 Guadalcanal - Thursday 9am
In my second game we have a Japanese bombing raid on Henderson Field. A flight of four Bettys escorted by A6M3s is set upon by the Cactus Airforce’s Grumann Wildcats.
Altitude is marked by counters on the base of each plane. A= altitude, C= climb chits. We play with my modification where a climb card is worth 2 climb chits.
4 Zero and 4 Wildcat pilots get their flight plans from their respective HQs. Once the first shot is fired those planes as usual will be thrown to the wind.
The Wildcat formation closes in on the Japanese attackers.
The furball begins well ahead of the approaching Bombers.
As Henderson Field comes into view in the distance the furball gets closer. A Wildcat dancing closely with a Zero gets into the bomber string.
A pair of Wildcats are kept busy away from the Bettys by a brave Zero pilot.
Zeros attempt to chase after the Wildcats that have made a pass at the trailing Betty.
First kill goes to the Japanese.
The action gets heavy for the Bettys.
Zero pilot #1 (base #) knocks down a Wildcat behind a Betty.
Wildcat #2 can’t get the angle to shoot at the Betty lining up Henderson. The Betty is harassed enough though and misses the target as it’s bombs detonate in the jungle next to the airstrip.
Wildcat #4 is hit hard by the Betty’s nose gunner. Flamed burst out of the wing fuel tank.
Another bomb drop comes up empty. The Japanese are getting frustrated with the game master.
The burning Wildcat falls into the jungle beneath the Japanese bomber.
After missing it’s target the Betty is shot down by an Airacobra P-400.
Another Wildcat is downed by the teamwork of a Zero and a Betty.
The arriving Airacobras waste no time mixing it up with the Japanese.
A Betty and Zero are knocked down. The P-400s are getting the best of the Japanese.
Airacobra #4 takes on what’s left of the Japanese and hits a Betty’s port engine.
The sky is full of action. Burning Zero, two smoking P-400s, and the first P-400 goes down.
This raid on Henderson is a failure for the Japanese. They did down half a dozen Cactus Airforce planes but did no damage to the targeted airstrip.
Recon photos brought back to IJNA HQ will be useful for planning another mission. Naval support to ensure knocking out the airstrip will be coordinated with the next air attack.
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