20July2010

(webmaster note: Pics/films to follow)

Operation
Titanic Lancaster
7/20/2010

This evening the main fight at 9 pm was a large furball between 77 and 78, with Bish field A132

to the south a bit, and relatively quiet. We elected to target this base.

We launched from a field to the east, A73, and rolled 4 formations of Lancs with a group

of 4 escort P-51D's lead by MILT. We climbed out SW toward 132 and got to a bombing

alt of 12k.

Luft, Swoose, Seal and Joker flew the Lancs in line abreast formation across the

town and dropped parallel patterns with good results.

As we hit the town we began to pick up some interceptors, but they were taken out quickly

by our escort group. The buffs then egressed the base area to the SW, reformed, and then

made a 180 back towards the base.

This time we hit the base and took out all 4 FH's ( medium base ) , while our heavy escorts

made sure the VH was closed for business.

As we started our return trip we picked up several more enemy fighters, but AFAIK none of

our Lancs was lost to them due to the excellent escort work of MILT, fuzeman, SKu, and RTS.

There were lots of Knights just north at A78, so we headed there and dropped fast to land.

I thought we made a pretty good showing on the text buffer, and we left A132 almost ready for

capture.

Overall a really great job by everyone, and with a little more help I think a capture would

have been possible.

The pressure was still being put on A77, and next run ( FOC ) we headed towards that

base from A78, but on the way there it was captured by the Knights.

We diverted back to 132, which had become fairly hot. After a prolonged furball we ended up

back at A77, defending against a determined recapture effort.

At the time I logged it was still in Knight hands.

Great job guys.

Always proud to fly and fight with the Specs!

Joker <S>

Mission Orders
7-20-2010

All right men...

tonight we will be in bombers....Lancasters to be exact, and attempting to close

down and perhaps capture a strategically located enemy base.

I would like to have 4 - 5 formations of Lancs loaded up with 14 x 1000 lb bombs.

The rest of the squad will fly escort fighters,led by MILT. The escorts can choose

to roll heavy and then go light if engaged, or if not they can use the extra ords to help

take down the town, or for "cleanup duty".

I will leave that decision up to MILT.

I would like us to try to stay in a tight formation in the approach to target to make

things easier for our escorts and for mutual defense.

The goal is to close down the hangars and the VH on the first pass, then hit the

town. Depending on the map arrangement we might be able to do this in one pass.

There will certainly be some buildings remaining up in the town after the bombing run,

so escorts will probably also be called in to strafe down the rest of the town if

we get that far.

See you all tonight

Joker <S>

Gentlemen:

Per the assigned mission, the escort ride of choice for tonight is the P-51D, w/skin of your choice.

Due to the lack of a belly turret on the Lancaster, we’re going to have to be extra vigilant tonight for the presence of enemy fighters.

If we’re going to hit a base that’s actively engaged by other Knights and already being well defended, we’ll leave the ordinance at home and stay with the group; we’ll play it by ear when we check in.

If we’re going to hit a base that’s not currently active, we’ll take 1000’s pounders and 75% fuel, and get light if necessary as Joker outlined.

See you on the flight line,

~ Milt