Having the past frames behind us and experiencing tactics from both sides of the war, we decided to try something different. The 352nd dispatched 12 of their force to scout for the USN's ingress point leaving behind a smaller 352'nd unit as a rapid reaction strike force to aid their brethren as they egressed from the scouting position. As soon as Imperial command released everyone else for flight, 4th fighter group was dispatched to cover the 6.4 X position just shy of USN radar lines while the 23rd was dispatched to the 6.8 X region also just shy of the USN radar line.
We nervously watched as the USN came right down the middle to our shipping which is exactly what we were hoping for. 352nd was assigned to regroup and harass the USN in an attempt to lead USN to believe that 352nd were actually all 3 groups in order not to set off any alarm indicating that two strike groups were going to attack as USN made their egress, low on fuel, tired and mostly at low altitude. Japanese command were thrilled to see USN egress right down the middle.
At the point where it was thought that we needed to strike before USN egressed to far East, the 4th & 23rd were ordered to attack. Cables from various commanders indicated that USN was taken by complete surprise and for the most part things went as expected, although USN put up a fierce fight and we lost many good men! There was a least one friendly fire incident, results from that trial will be posted separately!
Thanks especially to 352nd for doing an outstanding job covering our flanking operations! And a big heads up to 4th & 23rd for getting into position and almost flawlessly executing their attacks - well done everyone!
2nd sortie was designed to stop USN as early as possible in order to save further damage to our precious Islands. The fog of war cost many Japanese fighters their lives but died in honor defending the homeland!
Below is 4th FG assigned squadron leader, "Robert's" AAR sent to HQ ->
Once the alarm was sounded of an incoming USAAF air raid, the Imperial 4th Kokutai took off and ran south as planned. We leveled out at the start to outpace the incoming USAAF. Once safe we climbed to 30k heading towards the rally point at the 6,1x. Omega had to re-fuel at the Yamato carrier due to unprofessional ground personnel failing to secure his drop tank. As the USAAF were assumed to getting low on fuel we proceeded to the pincer point at the 6,4x, just as the 23rd rallied at the 6,8x.
As the F6F's were reported to start their egress, we held our discipline to let the first 10-20 F6F's slip by as planned. Once the main group of F6F's and low TBD's started their egress, I judged the time was now to spring the trap or we would miss the opportunity, considering the F6F's are both faster + were flying at a more optimal top speed altitude. I heard reports of low TBD's far west of our position, but missed the crucial info about high F6F's trailing some 20-30 miles behind. Having no time to lose, the 4th Kokutai moved in for the bounce, assuming the 23rd would do the same, and caught the F6F's just in time.
Orders were to boom n zoom, which most of our pilots adhered to, although some went for glory and got tangled in. We lost two pilots when elviss flew into the icyplt's guns, and icyplt being distracted, ran right into the tail of the maneuvering F6F. During the fight reports were made several times of the 23rd arriving and flying over the fight. The 4th Kokutai still had the advantage, and encouraged of the fact that we would now get reinforced, I was blazing a bandit with my guns when my wingman billpe suddenly got ambushed and shot down. The 23rd were distracted by high flying enemy aircraft , and the 4th Kokutai suddenly found itself bounced by a whole group of new F6F's. I fought for my life as three enemy planes were attacking me. I survived due to vangrd and bollok clearing my six, but they were soon outnumbered and shot down.
The 4th Kokutai was slaughtered, and extending west I found jedijc and nookyb fighting F6F's low with the 23rd and remnants of the 352nd. I joined the fight as we seemed to have the numbers. Both jedijc and nookyb were shot down shortly after my arrival. I was on a bandit but got attacked by an F6F from behind. I managed to outmaneuver my foe and was about to get my guns on him, when another bandit snuck up on me and shot my plane to splinters.
Being picked up by a patrol boat, I watched as GCI as the 4th, 23rd and 352nd mounted for a last defense of Imperial territory. The 352nd, given the command, gave the order to move NW, and I was told several times the 4th was with them. To late did I understand the 4th FG had been following the 23rd instead, who did not follow the 352nd but instead moved to the 8,6x. I called the 4th to retreat as a huge group of bandits were incoming, but the 4th kept trailing the 23rd northwards and was swarmed and shot down save for 1 pilot who managed to land safely.