Some Tiny Air Combat at Koepang, DEI

Started by bigjackmac, 01 December 2018, 02:54:07 PM

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Sunray

Lovely eye candy to enjoy Jack.  Thank you.

I followed the links and low & behold there is ground installations, airfields and all manner of targets. Amazing.

I appreciate that at this scale they are caricature - and the scale is what ...at least 1/1200 ?  smaller ?

And +1 for getting the next generation involved.

Womble67

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bigjackmac

Sunray - I appreciate it!  Yes, Thomaston's artistry is quite amazing, isn't it?  I'm not exactly sure what the scale is, I put it around 1/1250.  And the boy's (obviously) having a great time ;)

Thanks Andy!

I've played three more fights, working on the batreps.  Getting close to getting back to some fights on the ground, so don't fret if dogfighting isn't your cup of tea.

V/R,
Jack

bigjackmac

All,

First off, I hope everyone had a Merry Christmas!  Now to the point.

Three days ago Captain Jordan and three of his pilots took to the air and  managed to shoot down three enemy fighters and two enemy bombers, at the cost of only one P-40 damaged!  But the Japanese are keen on making Celebes theirs (in the Killer Pelicans games, the enemy aircraft were flying out of Kendari, Celebes), and the Army pilots expect their stay at Makassar to be short-lived as Japanese landing forces are sure to arrive any minute now.

Two days ago was a black day, indeed, for the Chickenhawks, with two Japanese fighters and two Japanese bombers shot down, but ALL SIX American fighters were shot down...

Yesterday the Chickenhawks shot down three Oscars and four Helens, but two Japanese bombers quickly and easily finished the destruction of the Dutch coastal artillery batteries covering the intended invasion beaches, then shifted their runs to the actual beach fortifications, causing moderate damage, and the Army pilots had four of their P-40s shot down (10 in two days!).


Here come the Japanese bombers...


And here come the P-40s to meet them.


Lt Daniel pulls high, rolls over onto his back, and flashes through the enemy bomber formation, guns blazing.  In typical Army fashion, he hits nothing...  To see how the fight went, please check the blog at:
https://oldleadbreed.blogspot.com/2018/12/dutch-east-indies-21.html

This fight went pretty well, but it was not enough to stave off the Japanese onslaught.  Despite keeping the Japanese bombers from destroying the beach fortifications, Japanese amphibious forces were still able to land on Makassar, and with that it was necessary for the Chickenhawks to quit the Dutch East Indies.  The squadron had only six of its eighteen aircraft left, and their pilots (Capt Biasucci and Lieutenants Kimble, Goode, Daniel, Sanders, and Gann) flew them out, escorting a gaggle of U.S., Dutch, and Australian bombers, patrol, and cargo aircraft south (one carrying Captain Jordan and Lieutenants Cotton, Potts, Dawkins, Banks, Beach, Kenn, Pace, and Macon) to Australia.

There the squadron was able to re-form in Darwin, receiving replacement aircraft but no new pilots.  Just in time for Japanese aircraft of the "Kido Butai" to make their deadly attack on the port of Darwin, coming right up!

V/R,
Jack

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bigjackmac

Thanks, Will, I'll have the next one up in about an hour.

FYI, I've received my flight stands and aircraft are on the way for Battle of Britain!

V/R,
Jack

bigjackmac

All,

The Army fighter squadron has fled the Dutch East Indies, ultimately arriving in Australia.  There were new aircraft waiting to be uncrated and assembled, but no new pilots.  Captain Jordan immediately set about getting the remnants of his squadron ready for combat, assuming they'd be striking back at the Japanese in the vicinity of Timor, or even New Guinea, which was now under threat.  But it's 1000 on 19 February 1942, in Darwin, Australia, and a massive air raid by Japanese carrier aircraft is inbound., the Japanese determined to reduce the threat from Australia to its landings in New Guinea.  The Chickenhawks are down to 12 pilots and aircraft, but they scramble everyone, four pilots in three successive flights, rising to defend the myriad ships docked in the bay, nearly defenseless against the coming onslaught.


The Chickenhawks on the prowl, from top to bottom:
Chicken 02: 2nd Lt Beach
Chicken 01: 1st Lt Kimble
Chicken 03: 1st Lt Goode
Chicken 04: 2nd Lt Daniel


The Japanese 1st carrier strike, six D3A "Val" dive bombers escorted by two A6M "Zero" fighters.


Lieutenant Beach is the fox in the henhouse, finding himself all by his lonesome with three Vals.  To see how the fight went, please check the blog at:
https://oldleadbreed.blogspot.com/2018/12/chickenhawks-in-darwin-1.html

Next fight is the second flight of Warhawks, led by Captain Jordan, coming up to meet another group of Japanese bombers.

V/R,
Jack

paulr

I've been following these games with interest

The Chickenhawks  would have been very welcome at Darwin

On the day none of the 6 Wirraway advanced trainers available for the defence of Darwin were serviceable, probably best for the pilots

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bigjackmac

Paul - The games have been a lot of fun, simple and (thus) quick, really feels fast-paced and intense like I figure a dogfight should.  And yeah, I know what you mean about the lack of (aerial) defenders on 19 February 1942, though I thought there were a couple Allied fighters that got aloft and were shot down?  Wiki (I know, but it's all I've got) told me 1st Lt Robert Ostreicher of the USAAF, took his P-40 up and actually shot down a Val, though "...all other P-40s were shot down or destroyed on the ground."

Anyway, I needed somewhere to park the Chickenhawks after DEI and northern Australia fit the bill; I hadn't planned on actually having any fights there, but then, as my campaigns so often do, it grew.  I just couldn't help myself ;)

Thanks, Lemmey!

V/R,
Jack

bigjackmac

All,

It's 1000 on 19 February 1942, in Darwin, Australia, and a massive air raid by Japanese carrier aircraft is inbound.  The Chickenhawks are down to 12 pilots and aircraft, but they scramble everyone, four pilots in three successive flights, rising to defend the myriad ships docked in the bay, nearly defenseless against the coming onslaught.

Lt Kimble already led one flight into combat, downing one Zero and four Vals without loss, though two Vals entered the harbor.  Captain Jordan is leading the second flight into action now.


It's an aerial melee, falling shell casings and falling planes, plumes of smoke leading down to the warm, blue waters below.  To see how Captain Jordan became an ace, please check the blog at:
https://oldleadbreed.blogspot.com/2018/12/chickenhawks-in-darwin-2.html

Next fight is coming right up, Captain Biasucci leading a four-ship flight up to meet six Kate torpedo bombers escorted by four Zeros.  Yes, four P-40s vs four Zeros, to get at the six Kates, should be interesting!

V/R,
Jack

Duke Speedy of Leighton

You may refer to me as: Your Grace, Duke Speedy of Leighton.
2016 Pendraken Painting Competion Participation Prize  (Lucky Dip Catagory) Winner

steve_holmes_11

Very nice.

How many squares across and won is your board?

Techno


bigjackmac

Thanks guys, and Steve, it's 33 x 14.

V/R,
Jack