21SEP2010

After Action Report
Operation “Rib Jab” 09/21/10

Specs in attendance:

Ditto

RTS

Joker

Swoose

Fuzeman

Seal

SKu

Luft

Skeksis

Milt

Gentlemen:

Mission started on time at 9:05 EST with the four heavy Mustangs (Joker, Swoose, Seal, and Milt) got off the tarmac a minute before. All others followed in an array of fighters, 190’s, Nik’s, 109’s, and Temps.

Takeoff field was A83, Target field was Bish A102. Knight base A117 was getting pounded from three different bases, and 102 was fully operational when we arrived. Our presence detected, the enemy scrambled quite a few fighters to try and climb up to us in a hurry!

Seal went in with his bombs first, smashing the radar. Joker soon followed, and put his eggs either on or very near the VH. Swoose went next, narrowly missing the VH. I went in last, and finished off the VH.

From there, we climbed back up into the thin air with our escorts, already engaged with the uppers from A102. My initial plan was to egress to A117, but soon a wall of fighters changed things, so we started back to our launch base, A83. I apologize for the confusion caused mid-flight by making this late decision, but I think it worked out okay: I didn’t hear “I’m down” very much last night until much later.

A few of us made slow turns just North of the base, and pounced on anything that was remotely close to our altitude. In the end, Seal go back with 3 confirmed kills, Joker with two confirmed kills, and Fuzeman with an astounding four kills! I am sure others came home with more as well, hopefully everyone got home safe on that first one.

After the first sortie, the gloves were off, and at one point, I remember seeing an absolute hoard of Bish planes completely surrounded by Specialist planes with superior altitudes… we dove in, watched each other’s back, and picked them off one at a time… from my perspective, it was absolutely glorious!

Special thanks to Ditto for diving in and saving my bacon that second sortie. I can’t remember if it was a Spit 16 or an LA7 that was picking me apart, but Ditto and others came to my aid and cleared my six thankfully, my goose was cooked and I knew it. I made it home all shot up, humbled. Thanks again man!

After the second sortie, we had the enemy thoroughly pissed with us, the mission became one of base defense. We went back and forth several times, but nothing really came close to those first two sorties in my opinion. Total mahem for the Bishops means total FUN for the Specialists!

I think everyone enjoyed it, or at least I hope they did. A nice surprise was to see Skeksis come up and get in some combat time, always a pleasure to wing with him!

My thanks to everyone that came, that was fun!!! The first two rounds are on me Gentlemen. At ease!

~ Milt

Mission Briefing 9-21-2010

OPERATION: “RIB JAB”

Roll call 9:00 PM EST, launch time: 9:05 EST.

Gentlemen:

Per Joker’s request, I’m putting the mission together for tonight.

That said, here it is:

Tonight, we’re going where the action is.

I would like to launch from behind a currently active base with a least a full radar bar of enemy activity in the sector. The objective is to go in as one group, consisting of attack and defense aircraft. The attack aircraft will be P-51D’s, laden with 1000 pounders, no rockets. For defense aircraft, either FW 190’s, or a 109 or two, perhaps even a Tempest if anyone is so inclined to put up some perks. (if anyone is feeling particularly perky, grab a 262)

The idea is to go in as high as we realistically can, away from mainstream activity, hit the base, then fight our way out, taking as many scalps as we can while heading back to our base. Once you’ve made the turn back to base, try to stay heading that direction until we’re safely out of injun territory, then you can turn back and pick off the stragglers.

The P-51’s will launch first, followed a minute later by the escorts.

Primary base targets are radar, VH, ordinance, then fighter hangers, in that order.

If we don’t get the fighter hangers that’s fine, I’m just naming them as secondary targets should one or more of the primary targets already be down.

I will be flying attack lead in a P-51, and will assign targets en route.

I’d like Fuze or Seal to lead the defense if they’re available. RTS or Joker to backup.

If we encounter enemy contacts that cannot be avoided on the way, everyone get light and kick ass, we’ll fly base defense in that scenario, and go FOC from there. I don’t want to lose anyone because they’re heavy and can’t maneuver. (Run, dip, duck, dodge, dive WHATEVER- we’re not giving the enemy the satisfaction! Your escorts are there to help!)

Depending on how many show up tonight, I’d like four 51’s, and an escort for every one of them. Obviously, the more the merrier and the more damage we can inflict.

Hope to see everyone up tonight!

At ease,

~ Milt