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#3576657 - 05/21/12 02:54 PM Re: AARs from Day 2 of Operation Sealion, the invasion of Britain (Cliffs of Dover) ***** [Re: HeinKill]  
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Happy to oblige...


September 26, S-tag +4, 1230 hrs GMT: Breakout from Denton


Elements of the 10th Panzer and Liebstandarte SS Adolf Hitler have fought their way out of the Denton Pocket. Rather than retreating South toward the main German force at Folkestone, they have taken British forces by surprise and escaped north toward Canterbury. The 1st and 2nd Canadian Divisions were in the process of reinforcing their southern front, and German armour was able to drive through a gap in British lines at Gorsely Wood. Panzer IIs and IIIs of the 10th Panzer and Stugs of the Leibstandarte SSAH, backed by motorised troops of the XXXXI Army Corps, have radioed to Berlin that they have reached the Canterbury train station and are pushing on the center of the city. They are however, totally cut off from German supply lines. In an act of bluff and bravado, Adolf Hitler broadcasts to the British people, "Germany wants peace with Britain," he thunders, "But your leaders have brought war to the high streets of English villages and cities, and the German flag now flies from the spires of Canterbury Cathedral! London is next! The nations of Britain and Germany are not natural enemies. I call on Britain to surrender and avoid an inevitable and terrible fate!" After a conference with Churchill, Dowding orders all remaining 11 Group squadrons withdrawn north to preserve them for the defence of London. Churchill convenes an emergency session of the War Cabinet.

Outside Canterbury

The Stugs of the Leibstandarte SS emerge from woods into the outskirts of the city, their barrels covering the famous Cathedral.




A mile away, the Panzers of 10th Panzer grind onwards, their engines now running on fumes, diesel fuel almost exhausted.



While on a nearby hilltop, a motorised SS flak batteri watches the skies



The panicked defenders of Canterbury cower behind sandbags, barrels pointed in all directions, knowing an attack is coming, but from where?




At the train station, troops frantically load fuel and ammunition, trying to move it out before the German attack begins.




Then, through the trees, an AT position sees movement



His 2 pounder barks, and a German scout erupts in flame



Before the Panzer IIIs fire in answer



And the battle is joined in earnest, with the British heavy guns now engaging



Overhead, 109s from JG26 arrive. Having flown from France, they have only ten minutes fuel in their tanks, and begin immediately searching the sky for RAF




While below them, 4 Bf110C7s of Erpro 210 out of Hawkinge appear: their objective, to knock out enemy AT and AAA positions.



Flak begins to erupt around them immediately



And one of the precious 110s is hit



His wingman settles his sights on the city, scouring the ground for the deadly AAA emplacements



Ahead he sees Panzers engaging British ground troops and drops on a wing to get a better view



But the British are in light vehicles and poor cover, not worth wasting his bombs on them...



Then he sees what he is looking for. An AT position in the grass of a field below, probably concealed from the Panzers, but sticking out like a beacon to him.




He extends away to build up speed to climb and attack, as a flak burst shakes his machine.



He checks his controls and instruments...all normal. Diving on the AT position he opens fire with his MGFF, the heavy rounds slamming into the ground around the gun and crew.



As he pulls away, he sees ammunition go up. No need for his bombs here either!



Then in a field outside the city, he sees the source of the flak. A Bofors, cleverly sited among some destroyed vehicles.



The wrecks of the trucks will give it cover. He needs to be sure of this one. He arms his two HE bombs.



As he drops down toward the target, he thumbs the bomb release, waiting for jump of the machine as the weight of the bombs falls away...but...NOTHING



The bomb mechanism must be jammed! Apparently that flak hit wasn't as benign as it seemed...



He checks his forward guns with a tentative 2 second burst, but they are also dry. Verdammt! He has no option but to return to Hawkinge, and land with two armed bombs aboard. Not a prospect he is looking forward to.

Below, the 10 Panzer and Leibstandarte SS advance



The overwhelmed defenders of Canterbury powerless to stop them



At the train station is enough fuel and food for a Division, and if they can capture some British guns, ammunition as well.

**************

These AARs and screenies are taken from the Sealion Mission Pack, Luftwaffe campaign, available for free download here:

http://bobgamehub.blogspot.com/p/cliffs-of-dover-missions.html

**************


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#3576666 - 05/21/12 03:17 PM Re: AARs from Day 2 of Operation Sealion, the invasion of Britain (Cliffs of Dover) [Re: HeinKill]  
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Sept 26, S-tag +4 evening: Black Death

In today's fighting so far, the RAF has lost 32 aircraft and the Luftwafe/Axis forces 27. RAF 41, 501 and 72 Squadrons are so depleted they are effectively non operational and have been moved north for a rest. The commander of Lehrgeschwader 2 has requested his pilots and aircraft be withdrawn to Calais for rest and to refit, but this has been denied. At Denton, 15,000 German troops dig in for the night, under heavy artillery fire. They have no armour, no armed vehicles, and precious little food or ammunition. Leibstandarte SS, 10th Panzer and troops of XXXXI Corps have succeeded in capturing Canterbury train station and the area around the Cathedral. They have fortified their positions and captured British supplies, ammunition, AT guns and AAA. A stronghold has been established on the main island in the River Stour east of the Cathedral. The 1st and 2nd Canadian Divisions have attacked north in the wake of the German armoured push on Canterbury and established a line just south of the city to prevent a further breakout South by German forces. In the west and north, troops of the British 29th Infantry Brigade have established positions on the opposite bank of the Stour, while reinforcements are being moved up, to pen the German troops into the eastern part of the city.

Hitler has ordered his troops in Canterbury to hold the city, 'to the last man, tank and grenade'.

At Manston

Manston cannot be readied for full squadron operations due to damage to unexploded bombs which will take days to clear, and with enemy forces now at Canterbury, it has been determined to once again abandon the field. 64 Squadrons reluctant new CO, Flt Lt James Rankin, takes the 4 available machines on a final patrol to cover the area between Dover and Folkestone.




The Royal Navy is due to begin an all night bombardment of Folkestone port from 1730 hrs and 64 Squadron is to provide cover. From tomorrow, 64 Squadron will have to fly out of Biggin Hill.

Above Canterbury


The Beaufighters of 29 Squadron spread into line abreast formation as they close on Canterbury. They have already been named Der schwarze Tod (Black Death) by the invading troops, because of their night black camouflage and ability to rain destruction from above.



Taking off from nearby Canterbury field, two Hurricanes from 111 Squadron are intended to cover the Beaufighters while they hunt.



But the pilots of LG2, flying CAP over Canterbury, have other ideas...



They spot the Hurricanes as they rise out of the clutter of the ground below, and drop on them.




One of the 109s overshoots, opening himself to a volley from a Hurricane.



He zooms high, the Hurricane following him, hammering him again



But a second 109 is shadowing and his 20mm cannon punches through the Hurricane's wing, severing vital control wires.




The Hurricane pilot leaps, as the second Hurricane flees, leaving the Beaufighters on their own...




At Folkestone

Flt Lt Rankin watches as three RN destroyers stand off Folkestone and pound the port with impunity.




Suddenly he sees some dark specks over the Channel. But he has not been notified of an incoming raid by Sector Control. While he checks with the ground controller, he sends his tail end Charlie to investigate.



As the pilot nears, the specks resolve themselves, into...



"Stukas, dozens of 'em!" he calls.



But his CO has problems of his own. Over Folkestone he sees Bf110s of Erpro 210, also closing on the navy ships.



"Do what you can Torrid 4," he calls, "We're going to be busy down here."



It takes the Spitfire pilot precious minutes to get to altitude, and close with the Stukas, and as he opens fire on the lead element, they invert and dive on the ships below.



He can only follow them down, watching helplessly as their bombs pepper the water around the warships



As they pull out, low and slow, he pounces.



Watching gratefully as his victim falls into the waves below



Meanwhile, the 110s of Erpro 210 let fly with their AP bombs.



He watches in horror as they strike home, this time sending flame belching from the decks of two of the destroyers



Rankin closes behind one of the Zerstorers



He fires, blasting away the tailplane and rudder, and the 110 rears up abruptly, slowing so dramatically it catches him by surprise.



The pilot of the 110 drops his nose, and rakes the Spitfire with MG and cannon, driving Rankin to take evasive action.



Then he flees for the relative safety of the invasion zone...



But he underestimates the grit of the British AAA gunners on the burning destroyers. Undaunted, they open fire on the 110 as it passes abeam...




Setting the starboard engine ablaze. He checks his instruments, and sees the revs and pressure dropping fatally



With one good engine he could probably get home, but with only half an aileron and rudder, he has little hope. He warns his gunner to ready to bail out, and reaches for the canopy release




As the doomed Zerstorer reaches the port, he pulls it into a zooming climb, turning the last energy of its engine into precious altitude for their jump



He leaps, followed soon after by his gunner





Over Canterbury

LG2 has found the Beaufighters too. And the first ever dogfight between cannon armed aircraft has begun.



But to call it a dogfight is unfair. The 16,000lb Beaufighters are ungainly and slow. They are designed for night fighting against bombers, or pounding ground units with their cannon, not for mixing it with the mostly deadly air to air fighter in the world. The 109s easily turn inside them.



It is slaughter.






As they continue their patrol over Canterbury, the 109 pilots see flames and smoke rising from German and British positions alike.

Panzers in the streets of Canterbury! The front line is now only 60 miles from London.

Suddenly anything seems possible again!


**************

These AARs and screenies are taken from the Sealion Mission Pack, Luftwaffe campaign, available for free download here:

http://bobgamehub.blogspot.com/p/cliffs-of-dover-missions.html

**************


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#3577318 - 05/22/12 02:04 PM Re: AARs from Day 2 of Operation Sealion, the invasion of Britain (Cliffs of Dover) [Re: HeinKill]  
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Oooooooh, goody, goody, goody!


(Also, it's "Der schwarze Tod". ;))

#3577332 - 05/22/12 02:37 PM Re: AARs from Day 2 of Operation Sealion, the invasion of Britain (Cliffs of Dover) [Re: HeinKill]  
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Thanks! Duly corrected!

Now, before I proceed I would like to remind our dear readers of a true event in May of 1940 called the 'War Cabinet Crisis'.

You can read all about it here...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/May_1940_War_Cabinet_Crisis

But in brief:

In May 1940, the fate of the world, the future of an empire, and the destiny of a nation rested with two men; Winston S. Churchill, the newly appointed British Prime Minister and Edward Wood 3rd Viscount Halifax, the British Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs. Both of these men passionately believed in saving Britain from the military nightmare they been placed in by Nazi Germany. However their approaches to achieving this were radically different. Halifax believed that it might be possible to secure a peace treaty with Germany that would safeguard British independence as well as its imperial interests. On the other hand, Churchill believed that German dictator Adolf Hitler would only honour such a treaty whilst it served his own interests. Instead Churchill favoured a continuation of the conflict at all costs until final victory was secured.

I would also point out that in Sept 1940, in this timeline, when Germany invades Britain, Halifax was/is still in the War Cabinet.

OK, that is all I need to say at this point...

wink



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#3579101 - 05/24/12 08:40 PM Crisis in the War Cabinet... [Re: HeinKill]  
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Sept 27 1940: s-tag +5, morning

Like the refugee choked streets of London, the British war cabinet is paralysed. A former Lord of the Admiralty, the now Prime Minister Winston Churchill, backed by his Deputy Prime Minister Atlee, argues that the intervention of the navy has meant the German invasion is close to collapse due to lack of supplies and reinforcements. But Conservatives Lord Halifax and the Lord Council Neville Chamberlain argue that with an estimated 150,000 German troops ashore in England (the actual number is closer to 90,000), naval successes are irrelevant. Canterbury is in the hands of German forces, Dover could fall any moment, and the RAF has lost or been forced to abandon key 11 Group airfields in the South East - Hawkinge, Lympne and Manston.

The Prime Minister says that under no conditions would he contemplate any course except fighting to the finish, "Even should every gentleman in Whitehall be required to take up arms and paint the bridges of the Thames in their own blood!". Churchill cuts the meeting short, and announces he will discuss the issues with the 25 ministers of his Outer Cabinet.

Halifax by this point is incensed. He sees the opportunity to sue for peace slipping away. He informs Chamberlain that he wishes to open a dialogue with Germany, and if satisfied that matters vital to the independence of Britain are unaffected, communicate to Germany Britain would be prepared to discuss terms. Unknown to Churchill, Halifax the previous evening had sent an emissary to the Swiss Ambassador, requesting he approach the German government to 'gain an understanding of their reaction should Britain offer Germany terms for a cessation of hostilities'.

Emboldened by his approach, Hitler orders Reichmarschall Goering to redouble attacks on London, and on British forces on the Western bank of the River Stour at Canterbury. The 16th Army is ordered to shorten its Western front and move forces north to try to lift the encirclement of XXXXI Army Corps at Denton. Hitler says to Goering and Army Group A commander Generalfeldmarschall von Rundstedt, "Give me Canterbury for two more days, and I will give you England!"

At Canterbury

The troops of the Royal Warwickshire Fusiliers and 7th Armoured tank regiment had met Panzers before. And as they watched through their glasses, the troops of the 10th Panzer and Leibstandarte SS prepare their defensive positions, it was with a particular and personal hatred.

In the mess at the Fusiliers staff quarters at Warwick, was a plaque dedicated to the troops and officers of the 2nd Battalion, executed by the SS after being taken prisoner during the battle of Arras in France. Provoked by reports that the British had executed German officers, the prisioners had been stripped and herded into a milking shed. The SS troops threw in grenades and opened fire with machine guns, leaving the wounded to die. The survivors of the massacre had been taken prisoner a few days later by the regular German army, and news of the atrocity had found its way back to England. The commander of the Fusiliers, Major General R C Macdonald, had personally requested his troops be moved ino the line, when it was learned that it was the SS which had penetrated to Canterbury.

The 7th Armoured also had bitter experience against the SS tanks. At the Battle of Arras it had been the 7th Armoured, together with the 4th, which threw back Rommel's troops in a counterattack that had halted the German advance on Dunkirk. Only the arrival of the SS tanks, and the deployment of Flak 88 guns by Rommel as anti tank weapons, had stopped the British from breaking the German advance entirely. Instead, they had suffered the ignominy of being rescued by French armour from the 3rd Light Mechanised Division.

It was not with impassionate eyes they surveyed the German positions either.

0730 GMT North of River Stour

The British were preparing a simultaneous push on Canterbury from the North of the Stour to take the German positions on the island before they could be better fortified, and from the South and East through the city center to displace the troops at the train station and Cathedral. Armour and towed AT guns were being moved into the line.

However the German commander at Canterbury, SS-Hauptsturmführer Wilhelm Mohnke, did not intend to allow the British the luxury of a set piece attack. In the pre-dawn hours, he had moved a company of Stugs from the SS and Panzer IIIs and Pumas of the 10th Panzer, over a German held bridge to the north bank of the Stour for a spoiling attack. They moved into cover and shut down their engines to conserve fuel. And waited.



The first inkling the troops of the Fusiliers and 7th Armoured received of the attack was the throaty growl of diesel engines starting in the early morning silence. When informed by a runner that German tanks had been heard in front of the line, the Fusiliers intelligence officer had assumed they were south of the river and being moved to hull down defensive positions. He sent a communique to staff HQ: "German armour repositioning on Stour south bank."

At 0730, with the sun in the East directly behind them, the German panzers broke from cover and charged the British lines. On the right flank, the faster Panzer IIIs and Pumas sped up the hill toward British troops running frantically for their AT guns.



While on the left flank, where scouts had indicated the 7th Armoured had brought up a company of Valentine tanks, the SS Stugs crept forward like a swarm of armoured cockroaches.



At a distance of less than 500 yards, battle was joined, with the British 2 lb AT guns barely able to dent the heavy armour of the Panzers.



In Blitzkrieg fashion, the fighter bombers of Erpro 210 arrived overhead with deadly precision as the attack got underway...



Adding the scream of their engines, the rattle of their cannon fire, and the crump of their bombs to the general mayhem.




But it was the Pumas that caused the first significant damage, their speed and agility allowing them to get right up amongst the British lines and attack AT guns from their flanks before British infantry with AP charges were able to disable them.



The Panzer IIIs had to stop to fire, and the concentrated efforts of several of the Fusiliers AT guns, combined with a handful of hastily brought up Cruisers from the 7th Armoured, began to slow the German onrush.





The lines were in chaos, as one lucky Panzer shell hit an ammunition cache, blowing a hole in the British defences through which the Stugs were able to flood.




It seemed now that little could stop the SS tanks overrunning the 7th Armoured staff headquarters in the village above the Stour. But they had still not found the company of Valentines their scouts had assured them were held in reserve on this flank, and their advance was more cautious than it might have been as a result.



Their low profile and heavy 50mm frontal armour made them almost impossible to stop with normal British AT and tank calibre rounds, but they feared a flank or rear attack, where a lucky round could disable a track, penetrate side armour, or knock out the engine. But then the Stug commander spotted Valentine tanks in the line directly in front of him. He counted three. This must be the feared British armoured reserve! He confidently ordered his spearhead forward.



On the right flank, the British began to consolidate their line, and the Panzer IIIs were forced to stop and seek cover in declines, as more Cruisers joined the line.




But cover was hard to find, and the combined defensive fire of tank and AT guns began to take a toll on the German attack.



On the left flank, the British 7th Armoured finally mobilised its reserve company of Valentines. It wasn't strategic planning that had held them back, but the mere fact their crews were billetted in front line tents which had come under heavy fire in the first minutes of the attack. Precious time had been lost assembling and doubling through the village under heavy fire to reach their machines.

To call it a company too, was a glorification. It comprised a paltry 4 Valentines, but they swung into action without hesitation, emerging from their camouflaged positions behind the village in loose formation and at breakneck speed.




The scene that met the tank commander was one of horror. Stug fire was raking the British front line from a range of less than 200 feet! Most of the Fuslier's AT guns on this part of the line had been destroyed, and only two stationary Valentines sheltering behind the burning hulks of their comrades, were still returning fire.



But this meant the Stug's flanks were fully exposed. The Valentines charged forward.



They swung down hill, then spun on their tracks and caught the Stugs on their left rear quarter. They knew from the experience of fighting the Stugs at Arras, that they needed to concentrate their fire to have any effect, and the commander calmly called the targets, sending 8 lbs of HE downrange at a single German tank with every salvo.



From that moment, the Stug's doom was assured. If they spun to face the flanking threat, they exposed themselves to a broadside from the Valentines in the British front line. Within minutes, several were brewing up.



The German attack had been halted. The surviving Panzers backed away firing, returning to their positions across the Stour.



But it had succeeded in its aim. The planned British attack on the Stour island positions was delayed, while the British regrouped and attended to the damage and wounded.

Incorrectly, the British revised upward their estimate of the strength of the German force now quartered in Canterbury to the equivalent of two battalions, where it was in fact, little more than a half that size.

Mohnke had bought Hitler some of the precious time he had sought.


**************

These AARs and screenies are taken from the Sealion Mission Pack, Luftwaffe campaign, available for free download here:

http://bobgamehub.blogspot.com/p/cliffs-of-dover-missions.html

**************






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#3579142 - 05/24/12 09:39 PM Re: Crisis in the War Cabinet... [Re: HeinKill]  
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tanksalot Well done.

#3579598 - 05/25/12 02:58 PM Re: Crisis in the War Cabinet... [Re: HeinKill]  
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Either I'm witnessing one of the few instances where Seelöwe yields a german victory in the end (not a military one though) or you've got something up your sleeve for the Tommys (Churchill going Terminator on Jerry?).

Last edited by Heretic; 05/25/12 02:59 PM.
#3581137 - 05/27/12 09:32 PM Re: Crisis in the War Cabinet... [Re: HeinKill]  
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Wow, just wow. smile


I used to work for a living, but then I took an arrow to the knee.
#3581395 - 05/28/12 08:43 AM Condor Legion [Re: HeinKill]  
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Sept 27, afternoon: Condor Legion

RAF Fighter command has now been reduced to 434 aircraft, with eight 11 Group squadrons now non-operational due to fatigue and losses. However in the combat of early part of the day, Luftwaffe Luftflotte 2 and 3 lost 43 aircraft, and Reichmarschall Goering has been advised that the Luftwaffe is no longer able to mount a credible threat to Royal Navy operations in the Channel, nor maintain air supremacy over the invasion beach-head. Lehrgeschwader 2 and Erpro 210, based at Hawkinge in England, have been reduced to just 13 Bf109s and 8 Bf110s in total, but have been denied permission to withdraw to France. Fitters have placed damaged and fake airframes around the airfield to deceive British recon into believing the airfield is still operating at full strength.

Encouraged by the support of his Outer Cabinet, and the success in throwing back the German counterstroke by the Fusiliers and 7th Armoured, Churchill broadcasts on the BBC the speech that will become known as his 'Last Dawn' speech.

"...Herr Hitler claims that the German flag is flying over Canterbury and suggests we capitulate! To Herr Hitler I say, there is only one set of terms we will discuss with him. And that is the final, irrevocable, and unconditional surrender of Nazi Germany. Until the day arrives that he is willing to discuss those terms, we remain at war. To the German troops in Canterbury and Folkestone I say this. You are surrounded on all sides, whether by sea, by land or by air. Your ships can no longer supply you. Your generals have deserted you. You have until sunset tonight to lay down your arms. For if you do not, the sunrise you look upon tomorrow will be your last dawn."

The British PM orders ground forces to hold their positions around Canterbury and Denton in preparation for a full scale attack on the German strongholds in the morning. Bomber Command and the Royal Artillery Regiments are to 'destroy utterly, the enemy's will to resist'.

Hitler still holds onto a hope that the reports he has received of dissent in the War Cabinet will bear fruit. He orders supplies of ammunition and food dropped to the 10th Panzer and Leibstandarte SS in Canterbury. Nevertheless, Admiral Raeder directs his staff to draw up plans to evacuate the 16th Army Corps from Folkestone by night. The evacuation is planned for the night of 29 September, two days hence.

111 Squadron, combat patrol, Canterbury

P/O W.G.G. Duncan-Smith got his fighter pilot wings in Sept 1940. He had come a long way from Madras, India, the son of an officer in the Indian civil service. In Scotland he'd joined his school's OTC, then returned to India in 1933, but in 1936 returned to the UK to join the RAF.

Today he was flying as wingman to Flt Lt Ken Lee, a Battle of Britain veteran and ace with 7 kills to his record.



Their objective was to clear the skies over Canterbury to allow simultaneous raids by Bomber Command to hit German positions in the city. 64, 54 and 92 Squadrons were also en route. It was shaping up to be a serious show.





Over the Channel

Meanwhile, mid-Channel, Bf110Cs of ZG2 are escorting an air train of FW200 Condor heavy transports into the Folkestone-Canterbury corridor. Bf109s of JG26 and LG2 are expected to sweep the corridor clear, while ZG2 stays with the transports, protecting them and their vital cargo - ammunition for the tanks and armoured cars of the 10th Panzer and Leibstandarte SS.



Of the ten FWs which took off, one has already turned back with 'engine problems' - more likely a pilot with Kanalkrankheit (Channel Sickness), brought on by the thought of flying through hell with 2 tonnes of HE and AP tank rounds in parachute containers in the bomb bay.



Denton

The LG2 pilot wipes his weary face, and continues to scan the sky. Below he can see the fires of earlier shelling and bombing around the German positions at Denton, and feels pride at the strength and determination of the German troops below not to succumb.



Suddenly to port he sees the unmistakeable shape of RAF bombers, probably Wellingtons. By their heading, they are bound for the Denton pocket.



It takes all his willpower to leave them alone, but they are not his targets today. This is no frie jagd. His flight's job is to hunt down RAF fighters and drive them away so the incoming air train can get through. He banks away from the bombers and continues his patrol south. God help the men below.

The first of the Wellington squadrons reaches the bomb release point and its deadly cargo falls away.



The crew note with satisfaction as their bombs land slap across the top of the hillside where the troops have chosen to dig deep holes in the open field atop the hill, rather than risk being shredded by flying splintered trees and stones in the midst of the woods.




LG2 rendezvous now with the incoming transport aircraft, and just in time, as a flight of Hurricanes appears from both below




and above



The tactic, concocted by the British ace, Lee, is intended to split the escorting 110s and 109s and draw them down and away from the transports. He knows any fighter pilot with a survival instinct will choose to attack a target below him, rather than a target above, so that he has an energy advantage.

Sure enough, the LG2 and ZG2 pilots go after the low element.



The Hurricanes try to gain more height, but the German fighters have the speed advantage



Lee sends two of his four Hurricanes to the aid of the embattled 111 Sq pilots he used as bait, while he gets into position to attack the Condors. Stuck to Lee's wing as they climb even higher above the melee, Duncan-Smith sees the cold despatch of one of his fellow pilots by a workmanlike German flyer who catches the Hurricane hanging at the stop of stall climb.




The cannon rounds of his MGFF sawing the Hurricane's wing off at the root...



Duncan-Smith feels his left leg on the rudder pedal begin to tremble uncontrollably. His big hulking Hurricane seems suddenly so fragile.

Over Canterbury

The second wave of Wellingtons goes in now, this time aiming for the troops fortifying their position on the island in the Stour west of the city itself.



They have chosen the island deliberately, knowing that if they can hold the only two bridges onto and off the island, any attack the British attempt has to come by fording the River Stour, a natural barrier more valuable than the deepest tank trap. But communication with their troops at the train station and cathedral is sporadic, and at risk of being cut off. About half of the available fuel and ammunition supplies have been moved to the island, Hauptsturmführer Mohnke is reluctant to commit everything to the island gambit, and directs his troops to move as much food, fuel and ammunition as they can into the Cathedral itself, believing this is the last thing the British will bomb.

Above him, the Wellingtons release their bombs. High altitude bombing is never precise, but the Wellingtons have orders not to hit the city itself, where thousands of civilians are still cowering in their cellars or trying to flee the fighting.

The first of the squadron's bombs fall wide and right, on the west bank of the Stour, but thankfully short of the town.



But the main salvo lands square on the island, and a huge ball of fire rises immediately from the epicenter.






The toll among the troops in their dugouts and trenches is minimal. The loss of fuel and vehicles however...

Near Denton

"Spitfires coming in," Lee observes over the R/T, "Looks like 64 Squadron, we'll let them have the first crack at the Condors. Stay with me, and keep your eyes open back there!"

His decoy ploy has drawn the enemy fighters away, leaving himself, Duncan-Smith and some Johnny Come Latelies from 64 Sq to take on the Condors.




The flight of Spitfires makes a slashing front quarter attack, and the Condors seem to panic. The break untidily.




A short burst from one of the Spitfires is enough to send the leading Condor up in a ball of flame.



"My goodness," Lee remarks quietly, "What do you have on board those things Jerry?"

The Spitfires hit again, and again, as the Condors nerve breaks, and they turn away from Canterbury and put their noses down to head for France







One of the Spitfires in particular seems determined to get close for his attack. His Brownings scissor into the Condor ahead of him, and it too explodes violently



However the wing of the Condor is blown back in its slipstream, and straight at the Spitfire!




It misses his machine by bare inches...



The Spitfire flight leader, no doubt shaken, if not singed, pulls away and calls his machines to regroup.



"111 Squadron Red flight, this is 64 Squadron Greyhound flight, there are still three of the blighters left...would you like to have the ball?"

"Very good Greyhound, we'll have a bowl," Lee replies, then to Duncan-Smith, "Turning to attack now," he says, "Stick tight Smithy."




They have a few thousand feet of altitude over the Condors, and are already flying at full throttle. Duncan-Smith expects Lee to chop his throttle back for a measured merge with the target, but he continues flying flat out. Nervously, Duncan-Smith watches his airspeed indicator climb, watching the needle go through 220, then 260 mph...



...then 280, 300, 320...

As they close on the Condors, they are close to their maximum speed of 340 mph. Holding tight to the stick of his shaking machine, he tries to remember at what speed the wings will rip off.



But Lee makes a raking pass at the lead Condor and pulls up sharply, and Duncan-Smith stays with him



It seems to fly on unperturbed, so they settle in behind the tail end charlie, and Lee gives it a long burst. It starts smoking and drops away




Without faltering, Lee continues, ignoring the return fire, closing now on the next machine in line, and hammering it too with his MGs



Debris flies back from the Condor, a piece of fuselage, a hatch door...



They slam into the Hurricane, but Lee keeps control of his machine, and the Condor banks away right, both wings blazing




Lee falls back now, and Duncan-Smith forms on his wing, watching as he checks his controls and instruments carefully.

"It's no use Red 2, I think I've chewed up my prop, I can feel she isn't pulling enough sky," Lee says resignedly, "I'll have to make for Lympne. Finish off that last one, will you? The sky is clear of Jerry."

"Yes, Sir!" Duncan-Smith says, nervously, and across the crackling wireless, Lee appears to hear his fear.

"Get some height boy, then drop on him like a hound of hell," Lee says, "Just don't linger in front of him - that 20mm nose cannon has a nasty sting."

"Sir."

Duncan-Smith doesn't wait for any more advice. Fighting down the bile in his throat, he pulls his Hurricane up and over, back toward the last Condor.




At 250 feet he lets fly with a long hosepipe burst. With satisfaction he sees the left tailplane fall away and ducks underneath the behemoth at the last second




He can see it is mortally wounded. In the cockpit of the beast, he sees a frightened face, a young man his own age, no more, staring grimly up at him.



As he drops back behind the Condor for the kill, a strange feeling comes over him. He has trained 4 years for this kill, and now that it is his, he cannot make it.



He pulls up alongside the Condor, and watches it intently



Below and behind them is the invasion beach head. Where hundreds, no, thousands have died in the long days since the landing. Anger rises in him at the thought, but it isn't enough. Not for today anyway...



He banks away, leaving the Condor crew to focus on getting their crippled machine back to France.



Then he notices his nausea is gone, his leg no longer trembles...



He realises he has crossed the Styx now, and that this one small act of mercy will be his last.

(P/O "Smithy" Duncan-Smith went on to become Group Captain Wilfrid George Gerald Duncan Smith, DSO and Bar, DFC and 2 Bars, and finished the war with a total of 17 kills.)


**************

These AARs and screenies are taken from the Sealion Mission Pack, Luftwaffe campaign, available for free download here:

http://bobgamehub.blogspot.com/p/cliffs-of-dover-missions.html

**************





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#3581409 - 05/28/12 09:33 AM Re: Condor Legion [Re: HeinKill]  
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awesome stuff biggrin

#3581531 - 05/28/12 02:52 PM Re: Condor Legion [Re: HeinKill]  
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Whoa, read it holding my breath.
My oh my...

My hat is off to you.


Click to reveal..
"Himmiherrgottksakramentzefixhallelujah!"
Para_Bellum

"It takes forever +/- 2 weeks for the A-10 to get anywhere significant..."
Ice

"Ha! If it gets him on the deck its a start!"
MigBuster

"What people like and what critics praise are rarely the same thing. 'Critic' is just another one of those unnecessary, overpaid, parasitic jobs that the human race has churned out so that clever slackers won't have to actually get a real job and possibly soil their hands."
Sauron
#3581839 - 05/28/12 11:15 PM Re: Condor Legion [Re: HeinKill]  
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resident pacifist (sic)
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Methinks the German holiday in England is about to end.


I used to work for a living, but then I took an arrow to the knee.
#3581965 - 05/29/12 05:38 AM Re: Operation Sealion, the invasion of Britain (Cliffs of Dover): Update 28 May, S-tag +4: Condor Legion [Re: HeinKill]  
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Another little historical side note that may be of value...



Edward VIII (Edward Saxe-Coburg-Gotha; later The Duke of Windsor; 23 June 1894 – 28 May 1972) was King of the United Kingdom and the Dominions of the British Commonwealth, and Emperor of India, from 20 January to 11 December 1936.

Edward became king when his father died in early 1936. Only months into his reign, he caused a constitutional crisis by proposing marriage to the American socialite Wallis Simpson, who had divorced her first husband and was seeking a divorce from her second. Rather than end his relationship with Simpson, Edward abdicated. He was succeeded by his younger brother Albert, who chose the regnal name George VI. With a reign of 326 days, Edward was one of the shortest-reigning monarchs in British and Commonwealth history. He was never crowned.

After his abdication, he was given the title Duke of Windsor. He married Simpson in France on 3 June 1937, after her second divorce became final. Later that year, the couple toured Germany and met with Adolf Hitler. American intelligence reported during the war that Wallis Simpson had previously had a relationship with the then German ambassador to the UK, Joachim von Ribbentropp, and had maintained contact with him through intermediaries even after the outbreak of war between Britain and Germany. After private accusations that he held Nazi sympathies, Edward was assigned to the Bahamas as the islands' Governor.


And that's all I'm sayin'

H


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#3582644 - 05/30/12 10:39 AM Flight of the Monarch [Re: HeinKill]  
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S-tag +5, Sept 27, evening: Flight of The Monarch

At 1300 hours GMT German Foreign Minister Joachim von Ribbentropp receives an urgent radio message from Oberbefehlshaber Der Luftwaffe in Berlin. Just after dawn, a British Avro Anson aircraft evaded anti aircraft defenses and landed at the Hawkinge field. On board was a man claiming to be the Duke of Windsor, the former British King, Edward VIII. With him was a woman purporting to be the Duchess of Windsor, Mrs Wallis Simpson. They claim to bear letters discussing terms of an armistice on behalf of 'sensible men of high rank' in the British Government.

Von Ribbentropp's own sources indicate the approach may be coming on behalf of the Halifax faction inside the War Council. He orders that LG2 fighters be allocated to escort the Anson immediately to France, where he will meet with the Duke at Marck Calais airfield. Von Ribbentropp calls the Fuhrer immediately, alerting him to the possibility of division within the British War Cabinet and the unexpected approach by the Duke. Hitler and von Ribbentropp had previously discussed installing Edward as King again, should the invasion succeed, but they never dreamed the Duke would approach them first.

Hitler immediately convenes a meeting of his High Command. Generalfeldmarschall von Rundstedt is ordered to direct his troops in Canterbury and Folkestone to 'hold for 48 more hours'. The troops beseiged in Denton are ordered to break out and reinforce the 10th Panzer and Leibstandarte SS in Canterbury, even though all present know that without armour and resupply, this will not be possible.

A decision is also made to deploy the 22nd Air Landing Infantry Division under Generalleutnant Hans Graf von Sponeck. The 22nd had been held back, after heavy losses sustained in battle in the Netherlands, but three Infanterie-Regiments are available, the 16th, 47th and 65th, and can be dropped within the next 24-36 hours with light weapons. Hitler orders them to be equipped in the uniforms of the 10th Panzer and dropped at night near the city of Maidstone, halfway between Canterbury and London. They are to attack Maidstone the following day and create the impression that German troops are advancing even closer to the capital. Joseph Goebbels, the minister of Propaganda, wins agreement that the target of the operation be to capture the BBC broadcasting station at Maidstone and use it to transmit German language broadcasts and English language news into London.

Admiral Raeder is the only voice of reason at the conference. He points out that his Kriegsmarine has been reduced to a coastal protection force. German forces in England are either beseiged at Denton and Canterbury, or falling back to the invasion beachhead at Folkestone. They can no longer be resupplied by sea, and air resupply is both high risk, and unreliable. Though Goering dismissses his assessment, Raeder points out that the Luftwaffe can no longer secure daytime air supremacy over even the limited airspace over the landing zone, as evidenced by the total decimation of the Condor resupply operation the previous day. The only option for resupplying German troops now is by inaccurate night-time drops. The British political situation is interesting, but six months of terror bombing had not served to break the British will, and he argues, the true military situation must be obvious to British high command, giving them no reason whatever to consider peace terms, even with a handful of paratroops suddenly appearing at Maidstone.

He advises Hitler of his preparations to rescue troops from Folkestone using all available merchant and fishing craft. His staff have calculated they can ferry 20,000 troops per night back to France under cover of darkness, and the weather for the next three nights offers ideal cloudy conditions. Estimated losses due to Royal Navy action would be at worst 5,000 men per night, which Raeder deems acceptable. Given two nights of good conditions, the operation could rescue most of the 40,000 men trapped in Folkestone.

Hitler is enraged that preparations for an evacuation have been initiated without his express order. Raeder is removed from his command, and the evacuation plans are cancelled.

"We are on the brink of victory!" Hitler rages at his generals, "Is there anyone else who wishes to discuss defeat??"

No one replies.


At Hawkinge Luftwaffe field


It was a long wait, but orders have finally arrived concerning the Duke. After a hastily convened staff meeting, it is decided a light escort will be the safest protection for the Anson and its precious cargo. Anything more than a pair of 109s might attract undue attention from the RAF. A second patrol from JG26 will meet the Anson and the LG2 109s off Calais and escort them in.

There is a brief dispute about whether it will be wiser to put the Duke in the back seat of a Bf110, which is 150 mph faster than the Anson, but it is agreed the greatest danger to the Anson is the first ten minutes of flight, as it exits British airspace, and using a British aircraft makes it less likely the RAF will attack it.

The Duke is a strange bird, effeminate but haughty, and as he farewells his wife, Wallis Simpson, for whom he abdicated the throne, he refers to her in curious terms, "Don't worry Mumsie, I'll be back soon enough," he says. "I shall give your regards to Joachim."

The 109s take off first.



And only when they are on station over the airfield and report the sky is clear, does the Anson poke its nose out of the hangar in which it is hidden, and taxi out to takeoff.





The 109s double back to meet it, while in the background, Royal Navy ships lie off Folkestone once more, pounding the port and beach head.



O'Gorman's wood, 500 yards North of Hawkinge

The two OSS officers, one a spotter, the other a radio operator, have used the last two hours getting into a position where they can observe and report on activity at the Hawkinge airfield from the cover of dense undergrowth. As the heat of the morning builds, they try to ignore the itching and the prickling of their rough camo suits.

They have been sent in to confirm a very unusual report.

A source within the German high command in Berlin has reported that a British defector, 'of high rank' was flown into Hawkinge in broad daylight this afternoon, and is to be smuggled out again as a matter of some urgency. That is all the information they have.

Then the spotter lifts his glasses and clucks his tongue, "Well well well, that's something you don't see every day Johnny."

"What is that Sir," asks the R/T man.

"A British Anson taxiing around as cheeky as you please on a Luftwaffe airfield," he remarks, "I think our man is about to do a bunk Johhny, radio it in would you? Quick smart!"

Over the Channel, West Dover

The day has left a poor taste in the mouth of the Australian Sunderland crew from 10 Squadron, patrolling fruitlessly up and down the Channel off Le Havre looking for German u-boats that either heard them coming and slipped beneath the waves, or simply weren't there. Now they are bound for home at Plymouth and well deserved sleep.

The radio message is a welcome diversion, "This is Plymouth ground control to Porpoise 2, I have a job for you Porpoise."

The commander lifts his R/T to his mouth, "Do tell Plymouth."

"Keep your eyes open for an Anson exiting Dover area at around 500 feet Porpoise, we need a confirmed sighting, and a bearing on it, if you please."



It's a strange request, but he relays it to the crew and agonising minutes go by until the nose gunner shouts, "I have an Anson beetling along under us Sir! Looks like he is heading S-SE, on a bearing for...Calais, I'd say."



Fixated as they are on the Anson below them, the Sunderlands do not see the escort of 109s above.



The 109s do however see the Sunderlands. And ignore them. Their only mission is to get the Anson to France.

At Manston

News of the Anson works its way from Coastal Command at Plymouth to the OSS and thence to Fighter Command with deadly efficiency, indicating that someone higher up knows who the Anson's passenger might be, and has put the entire air defence apparatus on alert. Maps and aircraft plots are hastily consulted and two Spitfires at Manston prove to be the only fighters with the speed and enough fuel to possibly catch the fleeing twin engine light aircraft. They scramble immediately, one with only half a tank of fuel, the other three quarters full.



Both pilots pale, at the orders they have received, and at their chances of making it back from this mission.




15 minutes later


The Anson and its escort is now within sight of Calais, but so are the Spitfires. They have no trouble locating the action - the air over Calais is humming with circling fighters, but only one flight appears to be on an approach for Calais, and the twin engined Anson is easy to spot.

They speed after the Anson, ignoring the 109s. It is a race, to the death.

The escorts from LG2 spin on a wing and drop down on the sudden threat.




But the Spits have only one goal in mind. The Anson.

One of the Spits gets within range, engine screaming, throttle through the gate, 109s hard on its tail.



Neck craned to look over his shoulder, he sees a 109 lining him up. The Anson is still small in his sights.

He fires.



But so does the turret gunner of the Anson, and the .303s pepper the Spitfire, sending dirty smoke spewing from a radiator. The Spit is forced to break off.



And the 109s are on him like flies on a dead horse. 20mm rounds slam into his fuselage and wings.



His machine is doomed. It was a hopeless bloody mission anyway, he reflects as he leaps into space.



But his Spit staggers through the air without him, climbing in a dead spiral that can only have one end.



He looks frantically about him, he can only hope his wingman...NO!!



The other Spit dissolves in a ball of flame. He watches the carcass spear into the port below.



Calais

The victorious pilots of LG2 turn back for England, and hand off the Anson to JG26.



The passenger is the Anson is shaking. He tells himself it is the cold air rushing through the bullet holes in the side of the Anson in front of him. But he is glad when the pilot announces to him in measured German, that they are beginning their approach to Calais Marck.




British Fighter Command has one more desperate die to throw.

At the same time as the two Spitfires were scrambled from St Omer, two obsolete Blenheim 1s on an intruder mission to attack St Omer were diverted to Calais. It was the longest of long shots. There was no possibility to brief them without giving away the intelligence obtained by the OSS, so they could only be redirected to attack Calais, without knowing why.

And Fighter Command had no way of knowing if the Anson would even land at Calais, let alone when.



But chance is a fine thing.

As the Anson begins its final approach, the Blenheims are closing on Calais Marck from the West.



To the fighters of JG26 and flak crews on the ground, they are near invisible, the bright orb of the sun obscuring them completely.



However each carries only two 500lb bombs. Their target is the airfield, they were not briefed to aim for any of the aircraft there in particular. They center their sights on the grass landing strips, and release...




The first of the bombs detonates 500ft from the taxiing Anson.



But the last three send up a geyser of flame and a pressure wave that picks up everything in its path and seems to throw it straight at the Anson.



An empty fuel drum flies horizontally across the field and with a terrifying 'whang' strikes the starboard rotor, and the engine begins to clatter before the pilot hurriedly shuts it down.



Although it shakes like a leaf on a storm tossed tree, the Anson keeps its feet.

Deciding he has had had more than enough excitement for one day, the Luftwaffe pilot brings the small British machine to a stop at the end of the landing field. He looks over his shoulder at his passenger, who gives him a ridiculous grin and makes the 'V for Victory' symbol that the British Prime Minister has become famous for.

The Luftwaffe pilot just shakes his head, and waits for the approaching convoy of vehicles to take the fool away.


**************

These AARs and screenies are taken from the Sealion Mission Pack, Luftwaffe campaign, available for free download here:

http://bobgamehub.blogspot.com/p/cliffs-of-dover-missions.html

**************




[Linked Image]
#3583204 - 05/31/12 09:39 AM We All Die [Re: HeinKill]  
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S-tag +6: Sept 28, morning, 'Not my day to die.'

After constant overnight artillery and aerial bombardment, British ground forces advance in strength on encircled German positions at Denton and Canterbury. At Denton, the British 45th infantry division meets light resistance, but most of the remaining troops of the German XXXXI Army Corps and VII Army Corps are out of ammunition, and many are wounded. At 1100, a message is received at British VII Corps HQ Waltham, from Oberst Wilhelm-Hunold von Stockhausen, commanding officer of the Grossdeutchland Infantry Regiment, indicating that they will lay down their arms and surrender at 1600 hours.

At Canterbury the situation is altogether different.

German troops around the train station at Canterbury, and on islands in the River Stour, are dug in, and still relatively well supplied thanks to a daring night time German air resupply drop, and captured British weapons and stores. An early morning attack by the British 1st Armoured reserve on German positions at the train station was repulsed, as was an attempt by the 2nd Canadian Division to land troops on the northern flank of the German positions at Vauxhall Lakes.

At 1115, German radio broadcasts a speech from Paris that shocks Britain to its core.

It is not a powerful oration. The speaker, though calm, seems almost to be pleading. And the message is possibly all the more chilling because of that.

"People of my beloved Britain, my name is Edward, Duke of Windsor. I am speaking to you from Paris, France.

You all know the reasons which impelled me to renounce the throne. But I want you to understand that in so doing I never lost my love for the country and the people of Great Britain. No country, and no people, are dearer to my heart.

So you must believe me when I tell you that I have found it impossible through these last dark days, to watch the actions of the Government of Prime Minister Churchill, without the deepest and most wrenching dismay.

I want you to know that I have exhausted every possible avenue within my power, to persuade Mr Churchill to make peace with Germany and thereby to preserve the prosperity and integrity of our realm, and enable Britain to take its rightful place in the new Europe.

Germany is not our natural enemy. I am the proof of that, as I speak to you from Paris, where I have been greeted cordially, and walk about this great city as a free man.

I wish every Englishman to enjoy that privelege.

Therefore I call on Prime Minister Churchill, and his Government, to seek immediately an honourable end to this war.

I can assure you, Germany will listen."


Dover

Around Dover German troops are in retreat toward Folkestone. Royal Navy ships lay off the coast, bombarding the port. In the West the lines held by the German XIII Army Division and 7th Flieger Corps have been broken by the arrival of the 18th Brigade of the 2nd Australian AIF Division, transported from Salisbury Plain three days earlier where they had been training for combat in North Africa. The Australians have retaken Hythe and are within range of Hawkinge airfield. In the East the 8th Panzer has been driven back from Dover, by the British 29th Infantry Division and 1st Tank. In the north of the German Folkestone pocket, the 29th infantry division commanded by Generalmajor Walter von Boltenstem has been ordered to hold against a strong attack by the British 45th Infantry Division, in order to allow air operations at Hawkinge to continue for as long as possible, while the German High Command prepares to negotiate terms with the British peace faction.


At Hawkinge

Troops of the Australian 2nd AIF are advancing on Hawkinge. LG2 has been reduced to just a handful of serviceable aircraft, and as the morning patrol takes off, a heavy mortar barrage marches across the hangars and repair shops.





Folkestone

When Erpro 210 landed at Hawkinge it was able to field 36 Bf110C7s and 17 Bf 109E3 and E4Bs. It is now down to just 6 flyable Bf110s and 11 Bf109s. All AP bombs have been expended and just a few HE bombs remain with which to conduct attacks on ground targets. Enemy troops are closing on Hawkinge and Royal Navy destroyers lay off the coast, bombarding German positions in the port. Erpro 210 conducts a successful raid on the destroyers, disabling one sufficiently that it can no longer steer. Ju88s are called up to finish the destroyer off.





Over Canterbury

Staffelkapitän Herbert "Ihle" Ihlefeld had now become the highest scoring ace of LG2, with 24 kills since he began fighting in Poland. It gives him no satisfaction however, because other, better pilots could have outscored him by now.

If they were not dead.

Like the pilot who got caught in the artillery barrage as they were taking off. He had a jammed throttle, was a minute later than the others in getting airborne. The first shells came down as Ihle was retracting his wheels, and they caught his tardy rotte leader just inches off the ground. Ihle saw his machine fold into two and fall like a shot partridge. That man had been an ace as well, with 6 kills to his credit.

As he takes his battle weary flight up over Canterbury yet again, he ponders that fact.



What is it that separates a dead ace, from a living one? Both have sharp reflexes, a good eye, excellent flying skills. In fact, he knew many men, dead now, who were better fighter pilots than he. Pure luck then?

He did not believe in luck. There were no rabbits feet or sweetheart lockets in his cockpit. Fate? He did not believe in fate either. "Ihle" believed in one thing - he was terrified of dying, and that kept him alive.

For every dogfight in which he came home with victories, there were two in which he chose not to fight. He always picked his fights carefully. He calculated his chances. He attacked when he had height, the element of surprise, overwhelming numbers on his side.

He ran when he was outnumbered.

But Seelowe. Damn it. Seelowe. This invasion and the stubborn refusal of Reichsmarchall Goering to take LG2 out of the line, even though it had been depleted beyond recognition... Seelowe was trying to kill him.

That was the thought that crossed his mind as he saw British bombers once again appearing on the horizon. He scanned for an escort, but could see none. And perhaps for good reason.



The more he counted the more bombers appeared out of the morning haze. He shook his head. Did the RAF really have such numbers at its disposal? It rivalled some of the German raids of the earlier Battle of Britain. There must be a hundred aircraft headed his way!




And what did he have to put against them? Four 109s!



To stand against this armada was insanity. It was pointless. If each of his men could bring down 2 bombers, there would still be 90 raining bombs on German positions below.

It was suicidal.

"Ach. What the hell," he thought. "We all die."

He waved to his number two and drove straight at the leading wave of bombers, firing as they came. At the last minute he pulled up, rolled over on his back, and let gravity pull the nose of the Emil down toward the enemy again.



Tracer from dozens of guns crossed the sky in front and behind him as he opened fire.



We all die...

His target started to flame, and he pulled up again, sharply.





He watched, satisfied, as the Wellington fell away, but his high roll brought him into the sights of another dozen guns, and this time, they found their mark.



MG rounds thudded into his cowling. He dropped the nose, prepared to bunt away, but as the machine came level, the engine gave a terrifying BANG and the cowling flew away!



His engine coughed, the prop stopped, then it coughed again and sputtered back to life, but it was surging badly and he could smell glycol.

He rolled away from under the guns of the Wellingtons.



He quickly weighed his options. He had enough power to keep his machine in a shallow glide, but no more. He could put down somewhere, but only Canterbury itself, and a small part of it at that, was in German hands. Denton was too far. Hawkinge, no chance.

It was Canterbury, or a prison camp. He pointed the nose of the 109 at the island in the Stour.



How many times had he flown above it, pitying the men down there under a canopy of artillery and bombs. It had never occured to him he might one day be one of them.

As he closed he could see the island itself was out of the question. It was a shattered burning mound dotted with wrecked vehicles and criss crossed with trenches and pits. To the East though...a field...close to German lines...

He dropped his wheels.



The field was too short. He realised that as he dropped his Emil in over the treeline.



But there was nowhere else for him to go. He should have landed wheels up, used the drag of his fuselage to pull him up quickly. Oh well, luckily the undercarriage of the Emil was a fragile contraption.



He chopped the throttle, pulled back on his stick to stall his machine. His leading edge slats slammed open, and the 109 dropped like a bag of shot.



Straight at the buildings and trees at the end of the field. The gear ripped away. This was the moment of greatest danger, when the smallest dip in the ground could send his machine somersaulting onto its back at 50 mph.



But the air intake dug into the dirt and he pitched forward against the gunsight, bloodying his forehead.





He scraped to a stop about five meters from the nearest tree. And about fifty meters away from surprised German troops, standing at a gullaschkanon about to be dealt their breakfast amid the debris of the last raid.



"We all die Ihle," he muttered, "But not me, not today."

As he climbed from the cockpit of his shattered Emil, the first bombs from the Wellingtons began to fall.

(Herbert Ihlefeld died at the age of 81, in Germany, in 1995. By the end of the war, he had been credited with 132 enemy aircraft including 15 four-engined bombers and 26 Spitfires. He survived being shot down no less than eight times during his 1000 combat missions.)


**************

These AARs and screenies are taken from the Sealion Mission Pack, Luftwaffe campaign, available for free download here:

http://bobgamehub.blogspot.com/p/cliffs-of-dover-missions.html

**************







[Linked Image]
#3583235 - 05/31/12 11:56 AM Re: We All Die [Re: HeinKill]  
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Lifer
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Damn shame my disk is scratched to hell so i can't play anymore. I'll have to buy the download version next time i remember.

#3583606 - 05/31/12 09:03 PM The Canterbury Firestorm [Re: HeinKill]  
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I know plenty of people have said they would be using their CoD disks as coffee cup coasters but man, you just and went and did it didn't you!

Yeah and verily, on with the story...



S-tag +6, Sept 28, evening.

Lord Halifax asks to meet with Churchill at his residence Chequers, in Buckinghamshire northwest of London, where he has retreated with his inner council (of which Halifax is no longer a part) to consider events.

Halifax conveys the news to Churchill that he has received from Germany, through Swiss intermediaries, the German terms: an immediate cessation to hostilities in Europe, the Mediterranean and Africa. British troops in North Africa and the Mediterranean to return to pre-war borders, leaving Germany and Italy a free hand in those regions. Axis and British ships to have mutual berthing rights, Axis and British commercial aircraft to having mutual landing rights.

Halifax announces with satisfaction that the Axis powers have accepted that no German troops can be stationed on British soil, and British sovereignty in the Middle East and Asia will not be threatened. Halifax then lays before the British Prime Minister Hitler's grand vision as though it is his own - Britain, Germany and Italy united, against the common threat of Bolshevism.

He says Hitler has given the British 24 hours to respond to the terms.

Churchill has Lord Halifax placed under arrest.

He returns to his study to confer with the Lord Privy Seal, Clement Attlee, and Minister without Portfolio, Arthur Greenwood. Notably absent is former Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain, whom Churchill believes rightly to have been in league with Halifax.

"We must resolve this situation with alacrity, before news of this shameful move by Halifax becomes public," Churchill concludes. "There is already a note of hysteria in the press over the defection of that damnable Duke!"

He puffs his cigar and paces,"Now, I am assured by Field Marshall Alexander, and General Auchinleck, that we have the means to roll up the German army at Folkestone, and throw them into the sea within days.

However Canterbury...Canterbury is a stickier wicket, and we could be facing a siege of some weeks." The men look grave, aware of what a drawn out battle at Canterbury could mean for both morale, and continued division within the British parliament, not to mention the Royal Family.

"But Charles Portal believes strategic bombing is the answer," Churchill continues, speaking of his air Marshall. "Portal says his 100 bomber raid today has all but obliterated German positions on the Eastern Stour. He says, that his Wellingtons can lay a continuous carpet of bombs on the heads of German troops throughout tonight, and all through tomorrow, that will mean the only Germans to be found in Canterbury two days hence will be the dead, the maimed, or the insane."

"How can they aim at night? It will be just like the Blitz, bombs falling indescrimately," Atlee points out.

"Pathfinders," Churchill tells him. "A new and potent tactic."

Churchill explains that Blenheims of bomber command will approach the target at low level and place slow burning incendiaries on the target area, upon which the medium Wellington bombers will aim, ensuring their accuracy.

"Portal says his men can place their bombs within 100 feet of these sparklers," he says.

"What of the city? If they cannot?" Atlee protests, shocked. "They must be given time to properly evacuate!"

Churchill considers, "How much time is needed?"

Greenwood consults his briefing notes, "The roads north and east are choked with traffic. It will take several days."

Churchill stands, stubs out his cigar, "Sirs, we do not have days. We may not even have hours. I will ask Portal to send in his pathfinders, and his 100 bomber raid, tonight. I told Herr Hitler his troops would not live to see the dawn, and by glory they shall not."

Atlee blanches, and speaks in a low voice, "My goodness. What of the Cathedral?"

"We will pray, Gentlemen, that even God is willing to pay a price to rid England of this evil," is Churchills reply.


110 Squadron Blenheims, 20 miles east of Canterbury, 2300 hours GMT



110 Squadron had been through a bruising war. They had the pride of being able to claim the first airborne bombing attack on German forces, when five of its Blenheims flew from the civil airport at Ipswich to attack German warships near Wilhelmshaven. But losses in the Battle of France had seen them reduced to a training unit, and then experimental tactics unit, limited throughout 1940 to trying out low level bombing tactics and weaponry, and lately, the pathfinder incendiaries.

Their weapon was the TI Bomb, Type H. About 2 feet long by about 2 inches in diameter, it ejected flare pellets sequentially. The type H was filled with alternately coloured pellets (red/yellow or red/green or yellow/green) and illuminated for about 15 minutes in total. They were visible up to 20,000 feet in a clear sky.

But the sky over Canterbury was anything but clear.

"20 miles from target," the bomb aimer announced calmly, "But I can barely see the city, there is a shroud of smoke..."



The crew was used to low cloud, mist, even fog, which could suddenly clear over the target at a moment's notice offering a clear shot, so they stayed on course.

But as they closed, the smoke from burning vehicles, diesel fuel, shattered woods and buildings only became worse.

There was cursing in the forward compartment, then a frustrated voice, "It's no use."

"There are ten squadrons of Wellingtons and Blenheims 15 minutes behind us Johnny," the captain reminded him gently, "Who cannot drop unless we light their way."

"Nothing," the bomb aimer muttered, "I can see sweet bugger all! Wait!"



Suddenly a gap opened.

"There's the city, but I can't see the Cathedral...no, I...where the blazes are we...damnation, it is covered again."

"Very well, we're going around again," the pilot said with patience he certainly didn't feel, "We have time for three passes."

Canterbury civilian airfield

151 Squadron's F/Lt. Richard Stevens had been flying Night Fighter missions against Blitz bombers in his Hurricane mk II, since the Luftwaffe had turned against London at night in early September 1940.

Stevens' first kill came on the night of 15 Sept 1940. At 12.56 am, he took off in his Hurricane from 151 Squadron's forward base at Manston. Half an hour later he received reports of raiders headed towards London. Homing in on the shell bursts from Ack-Ack batteries below, he soon found the slim shape of a Dornier 17. Stevens called 'Tally Ho' and climbed after it, up to 30,000 feet, where he closed to 25 yards and let rip with his guns. The aircraft dived and Stevens followed, giving it another burst. The bomber burst into flame and crashed into a wood near Hornchurch. It was the first confirmed kill by a Night Fighter.

Night Fighting was a solitary trade that suited his reckless temperament. He was not suited to either leading a wingman, or following a flight leader. He took ridiculous risks in the night sky, barreling along at great speed in pursuit of shadows or half glimpsed spectres. More than once he had near misses with aircraft he saw only once, as he flashed over or underneath them, and never saw again.

Tonight, with Manston now a skeleton of a field, he was flying out of Canterbury civil field. Sector control had reported a small raid of Heinkels over Kent on a track toward the East End of London, and he scrambled with relish.



In another branch of the forces, Stevens would certainly have been a sniper. Had even considered that path until he was bitten by his first experience of flight.

As he lifted away from the field and locked his eyes to his instruments, he wet his lips in anticipation. Most of these flights ended in frustration, having never seen the enemy, but they always started with the chance of a kill.

Over Canterbury

"That's it Barrel flight," the lead Blenheim announced, "We are pulling the plug." They had made three harrowing passes over Canterbury with German AAA firing at the sound of their engines, but not once could they locate the Stour, and the German positions in the east of the city. "Biggin Sector control," he said into the R/T, "This is 151 Squadron Barrel flight, we cannot locate the target, repeat, we cannot locate the target. No choice but to call off the raid, Biggin."

"This is Biggin Hill Sector Control, we acknowledge your report Barrel flight, the raid will be cancelled. Better luck next time 151," the controller said, with a human touch.

The Blenheims pulled away.



What happened next would be analysed by historians and military pundits for the next fifty years. It would become the subject of books, and of movies.

And yes, it resulted in one of the most celebrated war crimes trials of the 20th century.

150 Squadron

No.150 Squadron went through two incarnations during the Second World War, starting as a Fairey Battle Squadron, which later converted to the Wellington. At the start of the Second World War No.150 Squadron moved to France as part of the Advanced Air Striking Force. Like the other Battle squadrons in the AASF No.150 suffered heavy loses during the German invasion of France in May 1940, and had to evacuated back to Britain in mid-June.

In July 1940 the squadron began its conversion to the Vickers Wellington, and its training in night bombing.

Squadron leader Peter Liang had joined 150 Sq after France. He was young, at 30 years, for a squadron leader in Bomber Command, but already making his mark, turning around the conversion and training of his unit in record time. He had been second in command for the large daytime raid of the morning, and then named as lead pilot for the night time raid on Canterbury, tonight, because of his expertise in night bombing.

It had taken an hour for the 94 Wellingtons and Blenehims of Operation Bunter to form up north of the Thames Estuary, but now they were crossing the coast, with Canterbury just ten minutes away.



They were approaching the initial point, and he was about to begin his run in checklist, when the radio crackled to life, "150 Squadron Bunter lead, this is Biggin Sector Control, please acknowledge."

"150 Squadron Bunter leader here Biggin," he replied, "We acknowledge."

"Thankyou Bunter leader, you are to turn to 90 degrees and exit the area please Bunter leader, the Operation is cancelled, repeat the Operation is cancelled."

Liang looked ahead, where he could see fires burning on the horizon, almost certainly the incendiaries dropped by the pathfinders. He looked at his copilot incredulously.

"Repeat please Biggin!"

"I repeat Bunter leader, you are to turn to..."

At that moment, a flak burst from an 88mm cannon exploded inches from the belly of the Wellington and it erupted into a ball of blazing vapour.



As it fell, the crew dead instantly, it took the Wellington beside it down as well. The impact spread through the Bunter formation like ripples from a rock in a pond. Pilots already stretched to the limit by night flying in relatively close formation, began falling out of formation. In moments, ten more aircraft had collided.

There were however 82 aircraft still on a heading for Canterbury, and the next day, in fact, for the next 50 years, more than 300 accounts of the next twenty minutes.

Two of the Blenheim squadrons had also heard the message from Biggin Hill aborting the mission, and turned out of formation.

Four Wellington squadrons did the same.

However six Wellington and Blenheim squadrons did not. They mistook the fires burning from earlier raids, and from ground fighting throughout the city, for the flares of the pathfinder unit.

And they dropped their bombs on Canterbury.



In total, 200,000lbs of high explosive fell on the city within the next twenty minutes.

Flt Lt Stevens

Stevens hunt for the German raid had been fruitless. But in the distance he had seen the ripple of falling bombs on Canterbury, and taking it as a sign the German raid had in fact been headed there, and not London, he made a beeline for the city.

As he approached, his heart rose in his mouth.



A fireball was lifting into the sky from the center of Canterbury, that lit the sky like a rising sun.

He watched it spread horizontally, a wave of fire spreading like a liquid fuel flame on water. Ahead of him he saw an aircraft (an RAF bomber!) tumble from the sky and explode on the houses below.



In horror, he circled above the flames.

As he neared the famous Cathedral, he saw fire licking at its ancient towers and a curtain of thick black smoke behind it.



"My God, my God," he said in a strangled voice, and began weeping, "What have we done?!"













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#3584383 - 06/01/12 09:23 PM Re: The Canterbury Firestorm [Re: HeinKill]  
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theKhan Offline
resident pacifist (sic)
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#3584411 - 06/01/12 09:55 PM Re: The Canterbury Firestorm [Re: HeinKill]  
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Aye, keep say´n this...


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Para_Bellum

"It takes forever +/- 2 weeks for the A-10 to get anywhere significant..."
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"Ha! If it gets him on the deck its a start!"
MigBuster

"What people like and what critics praise are rarely the same thing. 'Critic' is just another one of those unnecessary, overpaid, parasitic jobs that the human race has churned out so that clever slackers won't have to actually get a real job and possibly soil their hands."
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#3585257 - 06/03/12 11:56 AM Eyewitness [Re: HeinKill]  
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"I walked around looking for my family . . . Oh, what a nightmare! ... The place was smashed to bits ... it was dark but everything was burning ... I had to climb over mountains of rubble to get to the street where my family lived ... our street was demolished and on fire ... some houses were smoldering empty shells ... I was sobbing uncontrollably ... I couldn’t find anybody ... it was the most terrible feeling I have ever had...I was only 7 years old and I felt like the only person left in the world’



We lost everything ... I had the clothes I stood in and a case with a Thermos flask. My father and I stood inside the shell of what used to be our building ... it was just four burned walls ... I looked up ... all that was left was the grate and a pot with what was supposed to be our dinner ... it may sound terrible . . . but I was glad in a way that my mother had died the year before ... she loved that house ... it was her life ... it would have destroyed her to see it like that ... I’ll never forget that burning smell till the day I die ... it wasn’t the smell of death ... it was the smell of everything”.

“All my mother's family and relations lived in what used to be called Sturry Road... every single one of them died”.

“We lost everything ... it was raining bombs ... I counted seven which had hit my street. They was creaters all over the roads and gardens ...”.

“When I came out of the shelter I remember thinking ... what a mess ... it was numbing ... you just couldn’t take it all in ... rubble ... mountains of it ... houses sliced open ... walls all black and burned”.

"There was Germans and British soldiers digging in the rubble together, trying to save people."

“My grandmother took us to the relief centre in Harbledown... we had lost everything ... our house was a burned empty shell ... there were bodies lined up along the street covered with sheets ... ..dead Germans and dead Britons lying side by side in the street...and lots of injured people ... it’s strange the things you remember ... there was a woman’s feet sticking out from under a tarpaulin ... she still had her slippers on.

I stopped to look at her. My grandmother said ‘Lets go. There are a lot worse off than us'.






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