S3 Series

Frame 4 saw the Allies re-attacking the railyard at Rouen in an effort to close it. Again the B-24Js were forward deployed to F17 (Staplehurst) a launched a medium sized raid of 16 B-24Js escorted by a pair of P-47Ds. Tragically, a B-24 was lost in some sort of take-off accident, and a spare bomber joined the formation. The raid headed SW from F17 and eventually entered Axis radar about 40 miles north of St Valery (F99). Meanwhile, a second pair of P-47s headed south east from F17 towards Cap Gris-Nez. and then turned south paralleling the coast, presumably looking for Axis fighters. At the mouth of the Somme they turned inland on a fighter sweep, but did not encounter the LW. Eventually they joined the bomber group north west of Rouen after it was already under attack by Jagdfleiger.
As in frame 3, the LW intercepted the buff group while still over the Channel. The bomber formation resembled more of a loose gaggle than the tight defensive formation seen in the previous frame. Head on attacks quickly shifter to rear and rear-quarter attacks as the defensive fire was less intense. The formation was mauled with a number of AI wingmen being lost. The escorting pair of P-47s were effective, destroying one Fw 190 and so severely damaging another that it crashed and burned while attempting to land near the V-1 site at Parquet.
The bombers pushed forward, making two passes over the rail yards, leaving only a few structures operational.
LW fighters did their best to maul the B-24s on the egress, with at least one aircraft shot down. Two more B-24s were lost in landing accidents.

A second attack wave was launched, with four P-47s sweeping low over the sea toward Rouen while 6-7 bombers (2 players, uncertain of number of wingmen) proceeded independently towards the target. The Allied fighters were briefing spotted on radar as they crossed the French coast and the waiting LW fighters dove after them. A running fight commenced, with three of the P-47s reaching Rouen, destroying several buildings with the massive fire power of their eight .50 calibre machine guns. At least one Axis pilot mistook the effects of the .50s for a bomb dropping. The jadgflieger over Rouen were so aggressively pursuing the P-47s they did not realize their own guns were damaged the rail infrastructure. All four of the Jugs were brought down by a combination of AAA and axis fighters. Meanwhile, as the frame's conclusion approached, three B-24Js pressed their medium altitude attack against Rouen, successfully dropping on target and destroying more of the installations, but missing two critical objects and failing to close the field.
With a violent cold front approaching from the west, the B-24s raced vainly across the Channel towards safety. It was not to be as the severe storm ripped six bombers from the sky at frame's end before they could land.

Reminder for future series, if you are not in the tower when the log stops, you and your wingmen are counted as lost.

Team Green
8 Pilots
352nd: juice=, =wilz=, crhtwo, redsgt, -guns-
Other: WLDBIL, okdoc-, =vslp=

B-24J - 9 sorties, Destroyed 13 ground objects. One player and at least 11 AI wingman lost.
P-47D - 8 sorties, shot down 3 Fw 190A-8, destroyed 3 objects strafing, 4 aircraft lost.

Team Gold
6 pilots
RCAF: muzz--, -deak-, yukone
23rd: -splt-, grmpy-
4th: jedijc

Fw 190A-8: 17 sorties, destroyed one P-47D, an uncertain number of B-24 AIs, 3 aircraft lost.
Bf 109G6: 4 sorties, destroyed one P-47D, an uncertain number of B-24 AIs, no losses
Bf 109G6/RVI: 3 sorties, no kills, an uncertain number of B-24 AIs, no losses.

Scoring for Frame 4
Team Green scores 3 VPs for enemy fighters that were lost.
Team Gold scores 44 VPs for 11 4-engine bombers that were lost and 4 points for enemy fighters lost.

Series Scoring
Team Gold turned it around in the final frame and doubled their score:
Team Green 61 VPs
Team Gold 96 VPs

TEAM GOLD THE WINNERS OF S3 #134 PRELUDE TO OVERLORD

This Sunday, S3 #135 Prelude to Overlord Redux (PTO2). Series will be a repeat of S3 #134, but with the Teams switching sides.