S3 Series

4FG upped with 13 (1 GCI). We keep 4 back to cover CVs and sent the rest offensive after shipping. Another lesson on why plans never survive contact with the enemy. We vectored about but never really engaged during sortie one. The 2nd sortie we started out as we had during the first but were directed to head towards F1 in support. Then we were told to go after shipping and trucks. For ship attacks the 60 kg bombs proved ineffective so took several ships out by strafing but that quickly used up our ammo. Our GCI questioned the large group heading west on DAR and finally decided it must be enemy looking for the CVs. We recalled all to the CVs but our strike force was engaged below 10k and thought they had an advantage so turned to kill. That was a huge mistake as we did not have the numbers, half our stikers were too low on ammo, and so we lost several and were delayed in returning to the CVs. We had four left to attempt to protect the CVs but they were swept aside by enemy escorts and ineffective against B-17s. Thus we were forced to land-base and use our 2nd aircraft to go after shipping. That also proved ineffective as we were easily jumped by enemy fighters before we could reach their shipping and we lost most of the rest of the squad.
An interesting frame but not fun. <S> bombr-