S3 Series

Here is the draft plan. Edits in RED.

General Notes:
1 - We are running low on forward airbases and I believe we need the fighter escort to start in England to keep continent fields open for defensive operations.
2 – Strong Defense - We are focusing 6 of our 10 fighter steps on defense. Fighters will need to be flexible and allow rapid repositioning. These groups should refuel in stages to keep constant defensive posture. 3 of the steps will transition later in the frame to a reception escort.
3 - Offensive points - going for 65 points minimum and goal of 127 - Primary bomber targets will buy us 45 points. Secondary bomber targets will buy us another possible 30. Shipping strikes should buy us another 20-40 points (4 ships minimum with 8+ ships the goal). Close escort will switch to Search and destroy. If they find Ju52s, it could buy us another 12 points or so.

Nightstalkers: Field M107. Tactical strikes on northern Axis shipping and take out radar near C29 on first sortie to provide advantage for our defenders. Please advise frame CO of current status and positions to aid in pulling-the-trigger on secondary northern bomber targets. Please provide time at shipping and rtb time for 1st and 2nd sortie for final planning.

Bombers (Nomads & Dolittle's Raiders): Field L1. Ingress on “Blue Mission” primary targets L92, L93, L91. RTB after these primary targets unless cleared by frame CO to secondary targets 87 & 74. We will not exercise the secondary targets if the Nightstalkers are in the area. Please provide draft time hacks for both options for final plans.

352nd FG: Field M106. Escort Bomber Group to Target. After bombers drop on primary targets and they are clear and egressing towards secondary northern targets (or running directly rtb), you are free search and destroy (Ju52 @ 3 pts each, inflight AC @ 1 pt each, or parked AC @ 2pts each if you can do it w/o flack suicide)

4th FG: Field M25. First/Second Sortie – Defend T42, T43 and Ju52s in that area. Third Sortie – Reception Escort. After bombers are back in allied territory, return to defensive duties.

23rd FG: Field L27. Defend C28, T34, T36, and Ju52s area near 4,5x. Be prepared to send units to defend shipping near L26 if they come under attack (I will backfill with 4th FG if this happens).

4th FG - when time hacks are posted by the BG, please advise when you need to launch for reception.

Works for me......wilco

<S>
We will need to see a detailed route map with time hacks to make an endurance evaluation. It "could" be that making this trip from England will put the Group in a position that DTs can never be dropped and still have the endurance required to complete the mission. Escorting in an "always heavy" configuration will confine our position throughout the entire flight of the buffs. For our aircraft which become damaged or for whatever reason have to shed their DTs an "alternate" airfield on the continent would be greatly desirable. It also "could be" that an airfield on the continent will be required just to have a landing field within available fuel range for both the buffs and the escort fighters. Operating our three steps from the continent would also enhance our ability to complete the mission, endurance wise. We can RDV with the buffs nearly anywhere as long as we know where, when, and at what altitude.

<S>

FOOO, DEW:
There has not been a need for the fighter support group to use the 30-minutes from LAF1 to LAF19. We have never encountered cons along that line and we are off radar at all times. Why not pick a field on the mainland and save the 30+ minutes of fuel and flight time?

We can even delay long enough to allow all the fighter groups time to wipe out most of the enemy before we start heading to the targets. It could be a real shock to the enemy to run into a brick wall for the first 50-75-minutes of the night. Just remembering how it went in frame 3. At one point, fairly early on, someone told me that there were only 6 enemy cons in flight. It would be nice to replicate that experience.

We'll get you the time-hacks a.s.a.p.

Darryl <S>

Two steps of our fighters will be the P-38. That aircraft is unable to complete the flight with available fuel from England. Request at least one airfield on the continent. Also suggest that these aircraft be assigned to "defense" role.

dewolf - are you suggesting you split your squad into some escort and some defensive? From what I have seen, we didn't get that many attacks on the buffs during the previous frame. Would 2 steps of fighters be enough to cover the bombers, would you like to transfer a step from the 4th, or should we just have the 4th do escort and you swap roles with them? I suspect the 23rd will be closer to a 2-step squad this frame (w/ folks out on leave and me being frame CO). I believe the 4th and 23rd both have used P47 for a frame.

I believe we can also use the following fields for defense and allocate L27 or M25 to escorts: T31, T32, T42, T37. T42 is a remaining axis target, so I'm not sure we should plan on that.

Here are my thoughts with rearranging fighter assignments due to p38's short legs and adjusting fields... I'd like you guys to weigh-in ASAP:

352nd FG: Fields Tac31 & Tac 32 (alternates 37 & 42 as needed) First/Second Sortie – Defend T42, T43 and Ju52s in that area. Third Sortie – Reception Escort w/ at least 2 steps. After bombers are back in allied territory, return to defensive duties. --- fields are closest to the southern target defensive area

23rd FG: Field L27. Defend C28, T34, T36, and Ju52s area near 4,5x. Be prepared to send units to defend shipping near L26 if they come under attack (I will backfill with 4th FG if this happens). --- field is closest to the northern target defensive area

4th FG: Field M25: Escort Bomber Group to Target. After bombers drop on primary targets and they are clear and egressing towards secondary northern targets (or running directly rtb), you are free search and destroy (Ju52 @ 3 pts each, inflight AC @ 1 pt each, or parked AC @ 2pts each if you can do it w/o flack suicide) --- field is largest of what remains and a lot closer for escorts than 106 would have been

It is always our preference to fly the entire Squad as a unit. Operating from L-27 in previous Frames, allowed this to occur with no difficulties. IF I had to pick between the offered TAC fields, I would pass on TAC 31, but TAC 32 would be serviceable, but significantly removed from target areas by the bad guys. Flight is not currently enabled in the S3 Arena, or we would conduct a "serviceability" test on TAC 31. We have had bad experiences with "sticky grass" on the grass TAC fields and tend to shy away from them. Your call on the escorts. Frankly, I thought that just three steps of fighters were "stretching" the fighter cover for the buffs. IF they never get attacked, don't bother with an escort. Our experience was otherwise, but, again, your call. Just remember that any activity that "costs" three bomber aircraft negates entirely the "points gained" by closing any one field. We will also be several pilots "light" in Frame 5.

Dewolf - Would basing you at M25 give your P38's the legs to escort?

^^^^
Until we get exact route and time hack info from the buffers, it is impossible to tell. One must admit that would cut about 200 miles off of the round trip. With what is available in this Series, the ponies are IMHO the best choice for buff escort for a number of reasons.