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Experienced showed in Frame 4. The veteran Ki44 units from China were used to fighting P38s and P40s there. They knew if they could get the high altitude P38 low and slow, their more nimble interceptors could shoot them into the sea. And this they did shooting down 16 P38s for the loss of 13 to the American fighter. This becomes more impressive when you count the other 25 aircraft. The P38 in return could only claim the 13 Ki44s protecting their low level ship strikes.
But the most hazardous duty that day had to go to the low-level skip bombers attacking Japanese convoys out or into Lae. New Japanese flak cruisers proved much more deadly than the typical escort destroyers most often encountered. And if they tried to stay high and level bomb the Ki44s pounced on them in numbers, even with their relatively weak armament they sent 12 B25Ds into the sea off of F61. But ship flak and collisions claimed at least a dozen or more B25Hs at wavetop height. Many B25s were last seen trailing smoke from one or two engines and heading out to sea to never be seen again.
Sake flowed freely in the Japanese jungle strips that night and many a ground crew waiting past hope for returning American bombers.
Japanese make up a huge deficit in frame 4 and trail the Allies 349 to 384 going into the final frame.
Canadian Thanksgiving this Sunday so no event. Final frame runs Oct 18.
Pilots KIA in Frame 4 - only those flying a 1st line aircraft in this frame must fly a 2nd line aircraft in Frame 5. Those flying a 2nd line aircraft may ignore their deaths.
352nd FG The Bluenosed Bastards of Bodney, =jman=
352nd FG The Bluenosed Bastards of Bodney, chicdg
352nd FG The Bluenosed Bastards of Bodney, jlordj
352nd FG The Bluenosed Bastards of Bodney, redsgt
352nd FG The Bluenosed Bastards of Bodney, todzla
352nd FG The Bluenosed Bastards of Bodney, vulche
416 RCAF The Lynx, -deak-
416 RCAF The Lynx, swede-
417 RCAF The Windsors, beaver
417 RCAF The Windsors, muzz--
475th FG Satans Angels, -honor
475th FG Satans Angels, byheck
475th FG Satans Angels, dawger
475th FG Satans Angels, skuzzr
4th FG, omega-
American Eagles, bluzoo
American Eagles, heaven
American Eagles, klicks
American Eagles, ozzone
JG 51 Mölders, -briar
JG 51 Mölders, easyed
JG 51 Mölders, oledkk
JG 77 Herz As, goneer
Knights who say Ni!, lumpyu
Knights who say Ni!, okdoc-
Knights who say Ni!, swanee
Night Stalkers, coolon
Night Stalkers, mt-dew
Night Stalkers, muskyz
Notes:1. Taken by surprise at how well the Ki44 did this frame. Probably should have been assigned to 1st line rather than A6M5a but it will make the final frame interesting.
2. Replacing some of the Japanese DDs with American was probably a bad idea. Their AAA was wicked, 40mm twin mounts compared to the triple 25mm Japanese mounts. They will represent cruisers from now on and the Japanese escort DDs. Interestingly B24Ds sank two American DDs and 1 Japanese in Frame 4. Probably from altitude which is no mean feat. Upgraded values for any moving ship sunk.
3. B25s normally a tough opponent were being shot out of the sky relatively easily. Dpwmgraded their point values.
4. Final frame will have no transports or boats just Japanese DDs and Freighters. Freighters are still being treated with great care due to lag or pull up limitations on the B25 so beware when attacking them.
Good Luck.
jabo
