23rd FG AAR Frame IV

=wilz= · **Joined:** Thu Nov 14, 2013 5:58 am **Posts:** 103

23rd FG stationed at Tac 36 waited in tower for our RV with the 4th when enemy aircraft were spoted to the north. We lifted quickly and attempted to catch the attackers hitting our Tac fields. They made one pass and quickly retreated back into LW territory. We landed and with an additional pilot showing up, used Tac 35 for two squadrons to avoid over stepping. Topped off with large drop tanks we lifted and started heading for RV with the 4th. As we approached the 4th, dar spotted what appeared to be bombers and fighters inbound field 19 and 24. Dobs stated it was our call, so I split the group with half staying with the 4th and HQ and 75th turning south to meet the attackers. We found JU88's low and 109's on the deck, and we dove in. We downed 3 JU88's and a couple of 109's, but they closed both fields. 74th and 76th made contact with the 4th and followed dobs plan loosing one pilot fending off high 109's after RV with the buff group.
HQ and 75th decided to stay near our tac fields and downed 3 more attackers before we called it a night.

Final tally for the night 7 kills for one loss.

Gums · **Posted:** Mon Jan 27, 2014 5:12 pm

Salute!

Yeah, gotta hand it to the Knights. They are very good, and maybe we should have had a flight or two of lites to defend our bases.

Hey!! I was pretty sure the 23rd showed up with the buffs when the Blue Noses had to RTB. Would like to hear more about that part of your mission. You guys showed how to get with the buffs and use the routes/DTF and such. Lessons to be learned.

Gums....

=dobs= · **Joined:** Sun Nov 10, 2013 5:08 pm **Posts:** 750

With no bites on the Decoy part of the mission, I directed them to angle southward to pick up the buffs. They were enroute when I sent a engaged with location on the fighter tac channel and showed up perfectly to take the hand off for close escort. Portions of the 352nd continued with them, and their arrival allowed us to go and clear squaddies who were defensive.

Great timing on arrival though for sure!

Dobs

Sasquatch · **Joined:** Sat Nov 09, 2013 12:29 am **Posts:** 230

Gums wrote:

Salute!
Hey!! I was pretty sure the 23rd showed up with the buffs when the Blue Noses had to RTB. Would like to hear more about that part of your mission. You guys showed how to get with the buffs and use the routes/DTF and such. Lessons to be learned.

Gums....

The 74th and 76th Fighter Squadrons (4 pilots each) RV'd with the buffs using the DFT and grid location/groundspeed along with the 4th FG near Kassel after the CO asked us to discontinue our feint N of the Buff group. Since the 4th was tasked with close escort, we tried to keep to either side working our way up to the 109's that were shadowing the group. Since the LW seemed more intent on looking for unwary targets of opportunity and staying high, we tried to lure them to the sides, away from the box. For the most part we suceeded, as almost every one that came down to our altitude (30-33k), made 1 pass and then was driven off. The 2 that I saw that made a deliberate attack on the high 6 of the box paid the price as I saw both go down although I think only 1 was credited.
After the final drop at Berlin, the LW made a spirited attempt at breaking us up and although we scored several hits, none of the 109s dropped. The 76th lost visual contact with the buffs at this time but we knew as long as we were mixing it up, the LW would have a long stern chase to catch the buffs returning to base. We unfortunately lost 1 pilot to a sneaky Ninja 109 pilot (never saw him) but after they thinned out, we pointed our nose down the DTF and eventually caught back up to the heavies knowing that pursuit was clear (we were at high power to catch up), landing back home with @40 gallons left.

Lessons Learned:
1) High power settings (80+) were used almost constantly. High Speed made the 109s job of weeding out the escorts very difficult as the closing rate was slow and they constantly overshot giving opportunities away (I saw hits on at least 4 LW myself).
2) By using a 'persecute to drive away' rather than a 'persecute to kill' philosophy, we were able to keep altitude, prevent multiple attacks and most importantly, maintain contact with the heavies while preserving fuel/ammo for the entire sortie.
3) Using point 1, the 74th and 76th roved the high 6 and flanks of the buffs constantly, compounding the LW attack problem. It's not the Merchantmen the Sub Commander fears, it's the aggressive escorts that manuever around them, dangerous and unpredictable.

Sasquatch · **Joined:** Sat Nov 09, 2013 12:29 am **Posts:** 230

Almost forgot the most important!

4) Communication, Communication, Communication! :mrgreen:

The lights always knew where the bombers were because we received an answer within seconds after asking. Sixes were called everytime an enemy fighter was drawing a bead (or just near) a friendly pilot. Squadrons were constantly talking, letting each other know what they were doing and throwing high 5's to each other (and well deserved too!). >>Excellent job all, great stuff! <S>

=dobs= · **Joined:** Sun Nov 10, 2013 5:08 pm **Posts:** 750

Nice post Squatch!

Gums · **Posted:** Mon Jan 27, 2014 9:44 pm

Salute!

Yeah, Squatch, you guys followed the "Red Tail" ROE.

No sense chasing a 109 down below 2,000 of the buffs. The enema dweebs will try the six o'clock attack, and they should be meat on the table for our lites sitting on the perch, The smart ones don't hang around.

We saw Dobs' call for you all to come south, BTW. Nofly and Gums tried to give location every time we could.

Great workin' with ya.

Gums sends...

-fooo- · **Joined:** Wed Nov 13, 2013 1:05 am **Posts:** 164

I'm thinking it would help to have a flight of P47D's with the bombers too, if they can make it with the fuel. From what I remember, the P47D can reach about 40K and keep those pesky 109K's looking over their shoulders.

S3 Series

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23rd FG AAR Frame IV

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