pappyb wrote:
Did not have our full contingent, so pappyb decided we would all be in 110s.
Launched out of F47 heavy to hit F90 with the haze in the area. About halfway there we
got notice from CO coolon and our GCI(bombr-) that enemy was closing in on F 90 with a large group
and coolon ordered an abort. We turned north and flew back towards 47 and CMD advised east looked clear to go, so
we turned back to F90 and destroyed the bridge and some of the trucks.tanks and bldgs. The group rtb and rearmed
for another run. This time I decided to go NOE east, then south to 90. On lanching the group, I turned east a little too
soon and wound up flying in dark mountain canyons. Not a smart move without TAR and got us boxed in by a high mountain which
was too much for the 110s heavy and pilots with little experience in type. Lost some of our group to that mountain.
The rest of the group rtb and relaunched to hit all but the camo ammo dump when we got chased out by the 352nd.
We ran northeast, then northwest to 47, but lost all but bolok+ who was flying with us.
Bolok+ volunteered to go back and hit the ammo dump and went NOE east, then south to 90 and finished it.
Bad night for the 4th, but we did some damage and are learning the ways of the 110.
Big <S> to coolon for a good plan ans jabo for a great terrain and exciting times for us.
Her is a much better report of our activity for the night:
Report
1st sortie:
The 336th "Die raketen" launched Bf110C-4s with the 4th JG from F47 for a quick strike on F90. The 100th JG "Die Nebel" met us en route but the allied commanders had gotten intel on the strike and their 352nd Hurricane squad intercepted. We retreated west but the 352nd had alt and their fighters quickly caught up to our bf110s, burdened with 2x500kg bombs. We jettisoned our ordinance for speed but to late as the 352nd was now over us and tore the wings of both icyplt and grilem & bwilld. Now unburdened our bf110s showed proof of superior german engineering and outran the hurricanes before our RTB to F47.
2nd sortie:
Launching with the 4th JG we ran noe to strike F90 again. However the 352nd kept close watch and our daunting "bodenkontrolle" bombr- made up a plan on the fly to hit F92 instead. We flew through the valleys and mountains at treetop level, and this time the Allied never saw it coming as we fell upon the tanks & trucks at F92. After showing the Allied troops the capability and cunning of the Luftwaffe we RTBed to F47 to re-arm.
3rd sortie:
Launching heavy the 4th JG was set on dealing a fatal blow on F92. However the fickle winds in the valleys caused heavy turbulence right as we were climbing a mountain top, and caused our Bf110s to rapidly lose altitude. We desperately dropped our bombs, which saved many german lives, but several were lost by detonating bombs or crashing into the mountain side.
After re-arming we spread all over the valley, with bombr- hitting the allied tanks at F92, while me, bollok and jedijc etc were playing cat n mouse with the 352nd.I was seperated from my wingman Pcalex when suddenly a huge formation of Allied Blenheim bombers showed on radar while the allied fighters were RTB for fuel. The spread out fragments of the 4th JG climbed to meet them. With =weis= as my rear gunner I dove twice in perfect angles, setting up each attack, against the rear-buff until the Blenheim crumbled from german bullets. Jedijc, vanguard and ccajun were also making sure many bomber crews would never make it back. Just as I was to make my last pass on another straggler, I reminded myself not to dive to soon on a straggling bomber, but keep discipline and wait until I was right above him at a 5k alt advantage. I dove with my engines screaming and bullets spitting, but just before passing under the buff a single tracer left his defensive guns smashing the glass of my canopy. I don't remember much but =weis= apparently helped me bail and I hit the ground unconcious with a nasty wound in my shoulder. Doctors say I'll be able to fly again after thorough recovery treatment.
Subsequent sorties:
From what I've heard over a drink at the Offiziers-klub, our Jagdgeschwader was later able to deal a final blow to F92, and morale is high among the ground troops as we are certain Greece and England will not stand for long against the combined German/Italian effort.
End report
Lessons from frame 2:
* Our Bf110s can outrun the hurricanes if unburdened.
* If you die when we fly bf110s, please jump in as gunner for a squad member. Having =weis= as extra eyes and firepower helped a lot.
* It's very hard to keep noe among some of the valleys, but with the right timing we can keep under radar long enough for their hurricanes to RTB or get out of place.
* No matter how well you set up an attack, a stray bulllet can still ruin your day.
/robert
CO 336th of the 4th JG
I don't think the fighter guys are allowed to gun after they die. We never have in the past.
<S>
pappyb
