S3 Series

Home Page FAQ Team Search
  Register
Login 
View unanswered posts View active topics  

Delete all board cookies

All times are UTC




New Topic Post Reply  [ 3 posts ] 
  Print view
Previous topic | Next topic 
Author Message
Offline 
PostPosted: Tue Mar 29, 2022 8:39 pm 
User avatar

Joined: Sat Nov 09, 2013 1:47 pm
Posts: 701
Location: Ottawa
2TAF HQ Ordered a "maximum effort" from the remaining Mitchell crews for a knockout blow to the enemies V-1 launch sites, but many of the aircrew where shell shocked from previous losses and only a few effectives were able to stomach manning their aircraft. Four flight leaders with three wingmen each answered the call.
Six Tempests and two Spitfire Mk IXs provided escort.
Having been warned by Funkaufklaerung units that the RAF were enroute, Luftwaffe fighter controllers scrambled a mixed group of Fw190A4s, A8s and Bf109G14s to intercept.
First contact occurred over the Channel after about 35 minutes of flight, with Tempests flying high over the buff formation spotting incoming fighters at high altitude. Both sides dropped their auxiliary fuel tanks, but before the Tempests could get close enough to engage, the LW fighters rolled inverted and dove down upon the bomber group. RAF Tempests followed, watching their airspeed quickly wind up to near Vne, but the Fw190s had too much of a lead. One close escort Spitfire was bounced from behind, then the Jager hit the bombers. Three B-25Js were quickly brought down and the sky filled with parachutes. A running fight developed with escorts Tempest and Spits holding the cagey LW at bay. One more B-25j was lost, but in an odd quirk an overly zealous German pilot did not look below him before opening fire and shot down his flight leader.
The remaining B-25Js reached their target, the V-1 launch site at Foret-de-Nieppe (F63), about 12 minutes after the initial LW attacks. Two B-25s were lost as they were dropping their loads. While damaged, the target was not knocked out of action and the B-25s were forced to re-attack. During the turn and second bomb run two more B-25s and a Spitfire were lost in exchange for a single 109. The formation was molested unit halfway across the channel with no additional losses for the Allies, and a second 109 shot down.
RAF photo interpreters passes on the bad news that the attack was not completely successful and a second mission would be required to close it. That mission was similar to the first with the LW attacking early over the channel. RAF fighters were a bit more successful at holding off the LW, but many B-25s still fell. The V-1 site was destroyed on the first pass, but four sites remained open and ready to start launching their missiles.

The numbers:

RAF
14 unique pilots, 31 sorties
8 B-25 sorties
14 Tempest sorties
8 Spitfire sorties
1 Typhoon sorties

Losses and kills
1 B-25J and 11 B-25J AIs. Killed 1 Fw190A4, 1 Fw190A8, 1 Bf109G14
2 Tempests. Killed 1 Fw190A4, 1 Bf109G14
3 Spitfire MkIXe. Killed 1 Fw190A4, 1 Fw190A8

Luftwaffe
7 unique pilots, 24 sorties
9 Fw190A4 sorties
6 Fw190A8 sorties
9 Bf109G14 sorties

Losses and kills
3 Bf109G14. Killed 1 B-25J and 4 AI
4 Fw190A4. Killed 2 Spitfires and 4 AI
2 Fw190A8. Killed 1 Tempest, 1 Spitfire, 1 B-25J and 3 AI

Kills/losses subject to confirmation in the S6.

Although RAF bomber losses were high, they were not as high as in Frame 3. Frame ruled an RAF victory, although only one V-1 site was closed.
Frame 5 sees the fight moving over England and the start of the V-1 onslaught. Frame 5 rules to be posted by Wednesday night.


Muzz
muzz--
Sqn Ldr
past-CO 417 Sqn RCAF
"Supporting Liberty and Justice"
--------------------------------------
Muzz's Maps


Top
 Profile  
Reply with quote  
Offline 
PostPosted: Wed Mar 30, 2022 11:27 pm 
User avatar

Joined: Tue Nov 12, 2013 5:25 pm
Posts: 660
Location: Northern Indiana
Nice write up Muzz!

I actually took a couple screen shots....


Attachments:
frame4-a.jpg
frame4-a.jpg [ 664.38 KiB | Viewed 1788 times ]


coolon
4th Fighter Group

formerly: -=Night Stalkers=- | 44th FS Vampires | Widowmakers
Top
 Profile  
Reply with quote  
Offline 
PostPosted: Wed Mar 30, 2022 11:27 pm 
User avatar

Joined: Tue Nov 12, 2013 5:25 pm
Posts: 660
Location: Northern Indiana
We got one!


Attachments:
frame4-b.jpg
frame4-b.jpg [ 538.28 KiB | Viewed 1788 times ]


coolon
4th Fighter Group

formerly: -=Night Stalkers=- | 44th FS Vampires | Widowmakers
Top
 Profile  
Reply with quote  
Search for:
Display posts from previous:  Sort by  
New Topic Post Reply  [ 3 posts ] 

All times are UTC


Who is online

Users browsing this forum: Google [Bot] and 15 guests


You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot post attachments in this forum
Jump to:  

Powered by The S-3.