=dobs= wrote:
Tmoa, still waiting on that AAR:)
Dobs
Here you go:
Fliegerkorpscommando AAR
22. März 1944
Dr. Dart
Generelmajor
Luffflotte 6 (Lf6)
As dictated to -tmoa-
Going into this week, I wasn't certain if the Terrorfliegers were to continue flying straight into Germany directly or come in from the Northwest; or both so as to force us to spread our ever dwindling forces. While pondering which approach would be used by the enemy, Dobs and Dawger come strolling into my office. [Don’t get me wrong, I do respect a clean-shaven, neatly groomed aviator, but these two take it too far! How do you get your boots to shine like that? And their uniforms? Looks like they just graduated from Jagdfliegerschule, except the medals, of course.] So they come in like they know something and suggest we continue to send air patrols to the north and keep our lookouts ready for yet another bombing run straight in from the west. Now Dobs is a great aerial tactician and Dawger probably designs new aircraft in his sleep, so I hear them out. I avoid eye contact.
Luftflotte 6 (Lf6) consisting of JG51, JG77, and TK (get a number already, there are many to choose from) are quickly sent in Me 109’s to scout to the northwest and are broken into two groups.
JG475 held on the runway for a few minutes in their FW190’s in order to be given vectors for intercept once the incoming enemy bomber group(s) is spotted.
AE/Haze stayed on the runway for about 15 minutes in Me109’s, waiting for initial contact reports and for me to get a clear picture of what type of attack to expect from the Terrorfliegers.
JG417 (or is it 127?) stayed on the runway in FW190’s to support AE/Haze.
10 to 15 minutes after activating air units, ground spotter and radar operator reports began to flood in. The enemy was sending in aircraft straight in from the west. The southern element of Lf6 was redirected to the south to identify the incoming enemy aircraft (e/a) while the northern group continued in the northwest in case this was a ruse. JG475 headed in the direction of the e/a reports. JG417/AE/Haze dumped their coffee and rolled engines; another long day had begun.
Within 5 minutes of the first ground/radar reports, the southern group of Lf6 had spotted the lead fighter escort group of the enemy and found them en masse. The northern group of Lf6 was now redirected to the south on an intercept course; JG475 continued toward the location reports. JG417/AE/Haze went airborne and climbed to engage the bomber groups and escorts inside Germany.
Elements of Lf6 engaged escort aircraft and began the cat-and-mouse game of separating these tenacious pilots from the bombers bent on our destruction. Unfortunately, JG475 arrived early with much of the escort still in place and were only able to get one good pass on the first group of bombers as the escorts broke away to pursue them. The remaining group of Lf6 arrived and worked on keeping the escorts separated from the bombers; downing many escorts while losing only a few. JG475 proceeded to make passes on the following bomber groups with much success. [I knew that if Dobs and Dawger made it through alive, they would be insufferable.]
The bomber groups, although less in number and with their escort in disarray, proceeded on to Germany where JG471/AE/Haze pounced on them and proceeded to drop more bombers and escorts. [They did their job and reacted with a shrug; it's what they do.]
Lf6 and 475th refueled and lifted again to meet up with the bombers returning to their home. I turned over fliegerkorpskommando duties to my XO Briar [kisses] and I upped with Lf6 for clean up duty. Ground spotters and radar operators spotted the enemy reception escorts off the east coast of England as they headed to receive the returning enemy bombers. Briar was able to direct us behind the reception duty aircraft and we surprised them and began shooting them down.
Before the day was over, the Terrorfliegers destroyed one target and heavily damaged another. But the price we made them pay was satisfying: 43 bombers and 38 fighters were shot down while we lost 16 fighter aircraft.
***Postscript:***
Later that night, at the bierstube, Dobs and Dawger were half-way across the room and smiling at me in their impeccably neat uniforms. Briar—schnapps in hand—spilled something on Dawger’s uniform and -tmoa- scuffed Dobs’ boots as he walked past. Both Dobs and Dawger shot me fierce looks. I made eye contact. And smiled.
=dobs=
