Axis were overly keen to shoot down the buffs, first engaging right at the south edge of the Combat Zone in an effort to strip the escorting fighters.
Buffs gunners and escorting SpitIXs and P-38Gs made it a bad decision, with 5 Bf109s shot down before the Allies suffered a loss.
This more or less set the tone for the evening, with the Allies being dominate, or at least not behind, in air-to-air fighting for the first time in the series.
Allied buffs bombed the port at Augusta (F145), destroying shipping and port infrastructure, before heading west to hit one of the southerly satellites of the Gerbini airfield complex (F132), then flipping back to again hit the port before egressing home.
B-17s destroyed 14 military ground targets and closed the Port of Augusta, scoring 25.25 VPs [Port 145 was not captured as Ref143 blocked the supply line], but this success did not come without cost. Axis fighters brought down three of the big bombers and damaged two others (2 of the AIs were reported destroyed after their lead pilot successfully landed. These were ruled only damaged and not scored).
The Allies lost 18 fighters and three B-17s to all causes, while the Axis lost 23 aircraft.
This scored the Allies 41 VPs and the Axis 46 VPs.
Both the Allies and the Axis lost 19 pilots KIA or POW. This was the first frame where the Axis suffered significant pilot losses.
Frame 5 Scoring
Allied......85.25
Axis .......65.0
Allied Victory
Series Final
Allied...477.25
Axis.....602.5
Major Axis Victory!
Scoring details are
hereCongratulations to both sides for a hard fought series. <S>
RL permitting, the S3 will be back again in September for another season.
Muzz
