|
Edited per Phenix S6:
American Eagles launched 15 pilots during the frame: Besea-, Booner, Countt, Crommm, Darken, Foss-j, Heaven, Hookem, Hookls, Okdoc-, Ozzone, Pppepp, Rock--, Swanee, and Waggaa. Our orders were to protect the human buffs and we were largely successful in that mission. The first target was the DAR at 68. The first surprise was when F32 opened up on us with horrendous AAA. That was unexpected as F32 had been destroyed last week. A short time later, F32 was seen in flames and announced destroyed by the system. Not sure if that was our charges or Jabo. We proceeded to 68 and the buffs hit it royally while we kept the flies off. Next target was F33 via F34.
About this time, the buffs started to string out and it became very difficult to provide coverage. Somewhere in here, 2 AE proceeded lower to help what we thought were friendly buffs with lites nearby. They were soon overwhelmed by Hurri's who dropped their loads and turned on our fighters. We lost one in that fight. The other escaped to F18 with help from one AE and other friendlies. Very scary escape. The 2 Ae's re-upped from F18 to gain alt over the channel.
About this time, the rest of AE were fully engaged covering our buffs over F33. It was difficult because the buffs had to make several runs on target. Fortunately for us, the enemy had sent much of its strength to attack Dover when we were over F33. Otherwise, we may well have been overwhelmed. The buffs egressed east and AE flew a running battle covering them til the channel. We were very spread out by now and decided to rendezvous north of Dover. Our GCI reported an AI Wellington attack inbound to the F6/F18 area. AE responded and used all ammo and fuel remaining hitting those Wellingtons to no avail. The Wellingtons were like sponges just soaking up bb's and cannon alike with nothing to show for it. We lost one more pilot to a collision with a Wellington. NOTE: The S6 shows 24 Wellingtons lost during the frame but no kill credit for Axis squads that I can see.
From this point on your correspondent is a little hazy. I believe our human buffs hit F35 on the next sortie and we got them in and out to the channel. When clear, AE assisted Dover driving back an attack on the Dover area troops and armour. We returned to F9 to rearm/refuel. A third sortie was attempted by our buffs to finish off F33 but AE would have been unable to rtb, re-up, and re-join our charges for escort duty in the time left before the no-strike cutoff. Buffs conferred with the side CO and it was decided to abort and save assets for next time. AE rtb'd and re-upped to secure the French coast. The buffs rtb'd and so did we.
Tally:
Kills: 5 (Pppepp 3, Okdoc- 1, Swanee 1)
Losses: 6 (Booner, Crommm, Darken, Okdoc-, Waggaa, Hookls)
S!
Crommm
American Eagles
|
crommm
