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#4467633 - 03/26/19 10:02 PM Re: BoB2 screenshots [Re: 33lima]  
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For my third pass on the Heinkels, I again go for the group on the left. But this time, I steer for the fellow on the inside, partly to stay clear of the Hurricanes you can see ahead of me in the next pic, as they broke.

[Linked Image]

I get some hits on my target, but without obvious results. You may be able to see in some of these pics that these Heinkels have the unit code V4, which indicates thay are from Kampfgeschwader 1 'Hindenburg'.

[Linked Image]

By the time I break up and away, we are whittling away nicely at the Huns, with the group I am attacking seeming to have suffered the worst.

[Linked Image]

[Linked Image]

I come in for another pass, and damage another Heinkel - a different one I think, my previous target having dropped out of formation, and maybe even gone down.

[Linked Image]

[Linked Image]

As I come around for yet another crack, I briefly lose sight of the Huns, who have started another turn, onto a more southerly heading. They are still being hounded by Hurricanes, all the way.

[Linked Image]

I slip off to the right this time, and have a good look around before making my next move. I am alone, the BoB2 wingman AI seeming to put attacking their assigned target ahead of following me around - not inappropriate for the period, probably. At any rate, the only fighters in sight are Hurricanes, thank goodness.

[Linked Image]

In fact, there are so many Hurris that I have to work hard to stay out of their way while getting at the Huns again. I hadn't realised it yet in the excitement, but 111 Squadron is now on the job, too. In fact at this stage we probably out-number the Heinkels!

[Linked Image]

Predictably, my ammo gives out and I have to break off my attack without doing any damage.

[Linked Image]

As I swing around, it is obvious that others still have rounds left, and are making good use of them.

[Linked Image]

I trail along behind to watch the fighting for a while. On the right, you can see a conveyor belt of Hurricanes ripping into the main body of the Heinkels. On the left, the group on that side seems to have been chopped down to three survivors, all damaged, who have wisely put some distance between themselves and the centre of action.

[Linked Image]

I orbit for a while to see if the others began to break off too, then turn north for home, throttling back to enable Green 2 and 3 to catch up. I am quite relieved when they both do. A check with the rest of the squadron brings the answer that they are further north, already on their way home. So when I notice another presumably friendly group of fighters behind us on a parallel course, I reckon it must be 'Treble one', having finally broken off the action. And so they are - I can make out their code letters, JU, as I close in on them for some company on the way back to Biggin Hill.

[Linked Image]

So today, it was the Heinkels of KG1 that got massacred.

As shown in the 'Squadron Diary', we have lost just two damaged in our tussle with Hostile 101. The campaign results in BoB2 may still not always jive precisely with the rather excessively bloody outcomes from missions flown in 3d; but 8 destroyed and the same damaged is a a very respectable 'bag' for 32 Squadron. I'm not sure what the 'mimimal damage' assessment relates to - the raid's target looked hard hit, and the raiders certainly were.

[Linked Image]

The bad news is that our claims are now significantly behind losses. I suspect this is because we are now losing aircraft on the ground, at bombed fighter bases. I can only hope that when I look at the statistics in more detail, I will find that pilot loss rates are not getting any worse, and that production of fighters is at least keeping pace with losses . If not...well, we may indeed be fighting them on the beaches, next!

Attached Files shot_418.jpgshot_419.jpgshot_420.jpgshot_421.jpgshot_422.jpgshot_423.jpgshot_424.jpgshot_425.jpgshot_426.jpgshot_427.jpgshot_428.jpgshot_429.jpgshot_430.jpg22 July lunchtime.jpgshot_423.jpg
Last edited by 33lima; 03/26/19 10:10 PM.

SimHQ Battle of Britain II screenshots thread
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#4468086 - 03/29/19 08:25 PM Re: BoB2 screenshots [Re: 33lima]  
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Taking a break from the strain of battling hairy hordes of Huns...or is it hordes of hairy Huns...either way, today I'm flying BoB2's rendition of Brian Lane's 19 Squadron Spitfire on the takeoff training mission, operating out of Debden, if I remember my airfield selection correctly.

[Linked Image]

The CO wasn't impressed. I took the time to taxi out onto the paved runway first, and was told that if I took that long on ops, I would be mincemeat. TBH I think BoB2's COs are a bit on the fussy side. I very rarely get complimented on a takeoff, even if I manage to bounce only once or twice smile


SimHQ Battle of Britain II screenshots thread
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#4468097 - 03/29/19 09:07 PM Re: BoB2 screenshots [Re: 33lima]  
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Yes the CO/instructor in the take off training missions is very demanding. It has been many years since I last took off but I think the best I got out of him was a very reluctant admission that the time was all right but the take off was rather shaky, or words to that effect.

The sound in the gun camera recordings was very spotty at best, sometimes I got the sound of the guns and ambient engine sounds but usually just silence. I can't remember if the sounds were gone entirely by the last update.

Anyway, 33lima, as always lovely shots. I come here to look and admire every time you post! smile

Last edited by McGonigle; 03/29/19 09:08 PM.

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#4468102 - 03/29/19 09:31 PM Re: BoB2 screenshots [Re: 33lima]  
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Thank goodness it isn't just me that's due a conversion course 'from spring chicken to sh!tehawk in one easy lesson'!

Another break from the daily grind, sees me escorting KG55's Heinkels to knock seven colours of the aforementioned obnoxious substance out of Bristol's at Filton.

[Linked Image]

[Linked Image]


SimHQ Battle of Britain II screenshots thread
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"Everything we hear is an opinion, not a fact. Everything we see is a perspective, not the truth." (attributed to Marcus Aurelius)

#4468111 - 03/29/19 10:44 PM Re: BoB2 screenshots [Re: 33lima]  
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The results were amusing, even impressive, for a while....

[Linked Image]

...even when the Englanders' flak began filling the skies around us with impressive displays of vicious and noisy fireworks...

[Linked Image]

I got separated from my schwarm when the air-fighting started, and it was hard to work out who was shooting down whom...

[Linked Image]

I did eventually manage to pick out a Hurricane, which I hit and sent down. Not fatally damaged I have to admit, because in my haste I hadn't selected cannon, just MGs. Verdamt!

[Linked Image]

It was some consolation that the target had evidently received a good German pasting, from KG55's Heinkels...

[Linked Image]

But it all went to pot, as the Englander would say, when yellow tracers suddenly started flashing past from behind, spoiling my sight-seeing, and indicating this impertinent fellow had showed up...

[Linked Image]

After that, it was all downhill, to borrow another English expression...

[Linked Image]

...rapidly downhill...

[Linked Image]


SimHQ Battle of Britain II screenshots thread
CombatAce Mission Reports
"Everything we hear is an opinion, not a fact. Everything we see is a perspective, not the truth." (attributed to Marcus Aurelius)

#4468238 - 03/31/19 12:07 AM Re: BoB2 screenshots [Re: 33lima]  
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Caught on the ground! Again! How did it happen?

It started badly. In the late afternoon (still 22 July in my RAF 'commander' campaign) Hostile 401, a 'hundred plus' raid, is rapidly approaching Convoy Felix. No patrol is on station and I rush to divert other squadrons, which the plot shows coming down from the north.

[Linked Image]

They are too late - the convoy is hit, fortunately suffering only light damage. The raid splits and then turns for home. I order my squadrons to return to base. But the Luftwaffe's not done yet. A couple of campaign hours later, a new raid is picked up and plotted - Hostile 751, 'sixty plus', heading in the general direction of the same convoy. By this time the squadrons scrambled earlier are back on 'the tote', available again for action. I order one squadron to patrol the convoy and three others to intercept the raid. That should give the Huns something to think about - this time I haven't left it too late and I can see our fighters will catch the raid, if not before it hits the convoy, then before it turns for home.

[Linked Image]

First to spot the bandits is 609 Squadron and I jump in as Green Leader, glad to be flying a Spit for a change. As I'd hoped, we're meeting the enemy well out over the Channel.

[Linked Image]

Off to 609's left, I can see another of our squadrons converging on the raid. Somewhere a bit further back are two others. I'm looking forward to ensuring this raid doesn't get away scot free, like the last one.

[Linked Image]

The raid's escorts have different ideas. A gaggle of 109s is sweeping ahead of the bombers and even as the CO is completing his attack orders on the R/T, the snappers are tearing straight into us, splitting up our formation and forcing us to fight for our own skins.

[Linked Image]

I pull up hard...

[Linked Image]

...and come around onto the tail of one of the Messerschmitts. He's fast and I can't gain ground...

[Linked Image]

...until I manage to land some hits on him, visible from the white flashes of the impacts. He pulls up sharply and I go up after him, but I lose him for a second...until I realise he's feet away above my canopy, so close I could chuck a stone at him...if I had one...

[Linked Image]

[Linked Image]

I try to roll into him but only succeed in losing him for good. I make several tight turns to clear my tail, fearful that he hasn't lost me. By the time I feel safe, the sky seems to have emptied, as they so often say it does during an air fight.

By this time, I'm over the coastline and looking left to the east in the direction of Dover, I get a nasty shock. The grassy airfield of Hawkinge, just north of the port of Folkestone, has been bombed! They weren't after the convoy, after all!

[Linked Image]

Looking around for somebody to punish, I notice some tracers coming up from the smoke rising from the airfield - Bofors guns in action against Huns, it must be. I can't see anyone at first but turn in that direction.

[Linked Image]

As I get closer I see the ack ack's target is a speck which turns out to be a 109. He veers away from me, towards some contrailing aircraft further east. You can just about see him above the reticle of my reflector sight. Evidently, the beggar hasn't noticed me. You'll do, I tell him silently.

[Linked Image]

I manage to get close and let fly. He turns hard left and disappears under my nose as I roll left and pull the stick back to cut inside his turn. Next second the 109 suddenly pulls up right in front of me and instead of instantly breaking to avoid a collision, I decide to take a snap shot first, get some rounds into him while he's there, right in front of me. Big mistake!

[Linked Image]

Back in the Ops Room, I can see Hawkinge wasn't just bombed - reports coming in confirm it was put out of action. And aircraft were caught on the ground - valuable fighters, this being one of our belt of coastal fighter bases. Whatever casualties were inflicted by 609 and the other squadrons I scrambled, we didn't stop this happening.

[Linked Image]

Overall, our losses and our claims now seem to be nearly in step, with our own aircraft production doing a slightly better job of keeping up than the enemy's. A narrow margin it is. We're still in business, but as well as organising effective interceptions, I need to get fighters threatened on the ground, into the air. Needless losses on bombed airfields I just can't afford.

Attached Files 22 July pm.jpg22 July pm H751.jpgshot_441.jpgshot_442.jpgshot_443.jpgshot_444.jpgshot_446.jpgshot_447.jpgshot_449.jpgshot_451.jpgshot_452.jpgshot_453.jpgshot_455.jpg22 July pm H751 Hawkinge.jpg

SimHQ Battle of Britain II screenshots thread
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"Everything we hear is an opinion, not a fact. Everything we see is a perspective, not the truth." (attributed to Marcus Aurelius)

#4468463 - 04/01/19 05:33 PM Re: BoB2 screenshots [Re: 33lima]  
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It’s now the early evening of 22 July 1940. The weather has remained clear and there are several hours of daylight left, which the Luftwaffe is not going to waste. I look down at BoB2’s Ops Room map. Above the footsteps and other intermittent background noises, I hear a WAAF calmly announce a new raid forming – Hostile 851, thirty plus. Earlier raids have been against my eastern flank, towards Dover and its famous white cliffs. This time, they’re going straight down the middle. There are no convoys in the area, so possible targets include nearby ports like Southampton, or 11 Group’s pair of coastal fighter bases near Chichester – the sector station at Tangmere with its own vital ops room, or the nearby satellite station at Westhampnett.

Out to the west, beyond the Isle of Wight, 234 Squadron’s Spitfires, from neighbouring 10 Group, are patrolling a coastal convoy. Rather than leave this interception to the campaign AI, I re-vector 234 to intercept the raid. I do the same for 501 Squadron, also from 10 Group and 32 Squadron, from convoy patrol further east. I completely forget to do anything about the aircraft on the ground at Tangmere and Hawkinge, which have both been bombed before. Whatever is left there will have to take its chances.

[Linked Image]

First to spot the bandits is 234; so I jump in as Green Leader. A quick check of my fuel gauge shows that I still have plenty left from my earlier patrol task. Green 2 and Green are in position, tight on either side.

[Linked Image]

Up ahead is the raid. The two groups on the right seem to be bombers, with what might be 109s or 110s out to their left. Further right, roughly above my radio mast, is a group of aircraft which must be 32 Squadron coming across from the east. The boss isn’t saying anything yet, so I turn on padlock and call them in. I hear myself on the R/T reporting fighters and then bombers at 12 o’clock. The boss confirms he’s seen them - ‘Help yourself’ is the gist of his orders.

[Linked Image]

The 109s are by now off to the left somewhere, so with the rest of 234 between us and them, I edge Green Section out to the right and swing in behind the nearest group of about thirty bombers as they sweep past. As usual in BoB2 when you’re close enough, medium bombers are identifiable from their tight formation, most often in groups of ten or fifteen in two or three wide vics of five apiece, stepped up to the rear. As I go in, the rest of 234 has cut the corner and is also about to attack, so I hang back briefly to let them have first whack.

[Linked Image]

These particular Huns are Ju88s,. I go for the one on the left rear of the nearest group, coming in from astern and taking my chances with return fire. The results are spectacular – the Junkers first starts smoking, then, after a final burst, blows up!

[Linked Image]

I’ve not escaped unscathed, though. In particular, a round - or was it a piece of the disintegrating bomber? - has whacked into my armoured glass windscreen. This rather spoils my view through the gunsight. As I break away to contemplate how this might affect my next move, Green 2 is making his attack. And a look behind to clear my tail reveals not 109s, but a squadron of Hurricanes in a compact mass, streaking in to hit the Huns.

[Linked Image]

I pull up and to the right, to see how this goes. Already, the first rounds are being exchanged. A flash from the leading Hurricane and smoke streaming back from one of the bombers shows that both sides are getting hits, already. If only the 109s don't intervene, we could do these boys some serious damage.

[Linked Image]

...to be continued!

Attached Files 22 July pm H851.jpgshot_456.jpgshot_457.jpgshot_459.jpgshot_460.jpgshot_461.jpgshot_462.jpg
Last edited by 33lima; 04/01/19 05:39 PM.

SimHQ Battle of Britain II screenshots thread
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#4468470 - 04/01/19 06:33 PM Re: BoB2 screenshots [Re: 33lima]  
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I wait for 32 Squadron to finish their attack, before slipping back down to make my next one.

[Linked Image]

But there’s a problem. I find my damaged windscreen makes aiming near impossible, forcing me to come in from below so that I actually can see something of my target as I approach. At closer range, the bomber I’m trying to get at is almost completely hidden by the damaged glass.

Struggling to do some decent shooting, I come in low but quickly lose my target behind the smashed glass. In my frustration to get some results from the pass, instead of breaking away, I foolishly end up flying on through the formation, shooting at anything and everything that comes into my line of sight. More through luck than judgement, I avoid colliding with anything. But I can see yellow tracers flashing past and hear the metallic impact of those that hit me. By the time I come out the other side, my Spitfire had been fairly plastered by return fire.

[Linked Image]

There are holes everywhere (except the nose - I’ve yet to see a damage decal show there in BoB2) and my engine is running badly, losing power and surging.

[Linked Image]

I come around for another go, by which time the Ju88s are now being attacked by 234's Spitfires again. I’m unable to join them; my engine is struggling, though not leaving a trail of smoke. The Spit wants to roll right and I need to hold the stick well left and forward, to maintain something resembling level flight. It's just as well those 109s spotted earlier seem to have disappeared, for some reason...perhaps 501 Squadron, coming down from the north-west, has kept them occupied.

I tag along behind the Huns for a while, easy prey for any 109 that should come along. None do. I’m not even keeping up with the 88s, let alone closing the range. All I can do is watch.

[Linked Image]

And there’s plenty to see. A succession of fighter attacks knocks down bomber after bomber.

[Linked Image]

[Linked Image]

By this time, we’re over the coast and I’m glancing down at Tangmere’s paved runways and the grass of Westhampnett nearby, fully expecting the bombs to start bursting on one of them.

[Linked Image]

Up ahead, it's not all one-way traffic, for at least one attacker goes down in flames under return fire.

[Linked Image]

A little later, his parachute slips past, not far to my right...

[Linked Image]

The Huns are getting very much the worst of the fighting, though. I reckon only half the bombers will still be in formation when they reach their aiming point - whatever it is. Finally, I see the smoke rising from Westhampnett. It’s hard to be sure, but the bombs have certainly not hit the landing ground itself. It looks like they may have gone wide of the airfield altogether. We may have put the bombers off their aim, as well as exacting a stiff toll for their visit.

[Linked Image]

The air battle is still going on when I turn away, about the same time as the surviving Ju88s come left and around, to make their own getaway.

[Linked Image]

I often end the mission at this point rather than make an uneventful flight back to base, especially if it’s a long trip. But I’m clearly unlikely to make it all the way to 234’s home airfield at Warmwell, some distance away to the west. As there are other options nearby, I decide to continue flying and land. I descend towards Tangmere, visible just beyond the smoke rising from Westhampnett.

[Linked Image]

I call up Control to get a wind direction at ground level. This comes back as 180 degrees, but by the time I come down, revs still dropping, I find myself poorly positioned to use Tangmere’s shorter, north-south runway. So I curve into nearby Westhampnett, whose grassy landing ground gives me a bit more leeway as regards landing direction, at the cost of less room to make my approach. A tight turn onto a curving short final further reduces the speed built up during my descent, and I can safely drop both undercart and flaps. Winding back the elevator trim then stops the rattling and shuddering, but by this time my nose is dropping sharply and I have to pull back hard on the stick to brake my rate of descent as I roll out of the turn. The good news, as I had suspected, is that the bombs have not only missed the landing ground, but fallen off the airfield to the west.

[Linked Image]

By this time, I have realised that I should have bailed out while I still had the height for it. My surging engine means that I am porpoising badly as I come in, unable to maintain a steady sink rate. I just about clear the airfield's perimeter track, then touch down, hard. Too hard. The Spit somersaults - and that's that.

[Linked Image]

Back in the relative safety of the Ops Room, a quick check of 234’s squadron dairy shows that we are claiming 9 bombers destroyed, and as many again damaged, for a moderate loss in aircraft and pilots. It also casts doubt on whether we really say any 109s. The Hurricanes from 32 Squadron which I saw intercepting are claiming 2 downed and 2 damaged but have lost 8 - perhaps the 109s got them, instead. Five-oh-one must have been late for the party, because their diary shows no claims or losses. I’m just sorry my own role in the battle wasn’t more constructive, and my sortie’s ending wasn’t less destructive.

[Linked Image]

But the war goes on. Already, a fresh raid is reported, coming in from the west again, where the damaged Convoy Felix is still chugging along near Dover, and my coastal fighter fields at Hawkinge and Lympne are both heaving damaged. It’s been a long day and it’s not over yet!

Attached Files shot_463.jpgshot_464.jpgshot_465.jpgshot_466.jpgshot_467.jpgshot_468.jpgshot_469.jpgshot_470.jpgshot_471.jpgshot_472.jpgshot_473.jpgshot_474.jpgshot_475.jpgshot_476.jpg22 July pm H851 234.jpg

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#4468504 - 04/01/19 10:52 PM Re: BoB2 screenshots [Re: 33lima]  
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A massive report to go with the massive action! cheers


The older I get, the more I realize I don't need to be Han, Luke or Leia. I'm just happy to be rebel scum...
#4468625 - 04/02/19 07:34 PM Re: BoB2 screenshots [Re: 33lima]  
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Cheers Rick - glad you're having equal fun with - and with comrades-in-virtual-arms are flying the mission report flag for - WoTR!


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"Everything we hear is an opinion, not a fact. Everything we see is a perspective, not the truth." (attributed to Marcus Aurelius)

#4468879 - 04/04/19 05:02 PM Re: BoB2 screenshots [Re: 33lima]  
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At last! A new day has dawned, 23 July 1940. Even though the BoB2 commander campaign lacks the objective of individual pilot survival, I’m finding that simply getting to the end of each day with the best results you can, is a satisfactory substitute. It’s like completing a mission in a conventional pilot campaign, except that I’ve had the experience of flying several missions, each with their own challenges, to get there, not just one.

They say the early bird gets the worm; today, the greedy Luftwaffe eagle is up for an early breakfast. By 06:30, looking down at the BoB2 Ops Room map, I hear a WAAF announce the first raid, Hostile 701. Its marker, showing sixty-plus, begins to track north across the wide stretch of the English Channel between Cap Gris Nez near Calais, and the Cherbourg peninsula over to the west. It could be headed for the port of Southampton, or the damaged airfields of Tangmere and Westhampnett. Or maybe targets further inland, or the RDF/radar stations along the coast. Three squadrons are directed to intercept it, a mix of scrambles by the campaign AI and myself manually scrambling or re-vectoring existing patrols. I watch as the three blue and white fighter squadron markers come down from the north, almost one behind the other, and see that the leading one will meet the raid just before it crosses the coast.

First to sight the bandits is 19 Squadron, famous for being the first equipped with the Spitfire. I accept the offer to fly, choosing Green Leader as usual.

[Linked Image]

This puts me out to the right flank of the tight squadron formation where I have some elbow room, and means I don’t need to direct the whole squadron.

[Linked Image]

As expected, the bandits are right ahead - and slightly higher. Apart from a few Reichs defence missions in modded Il-2 ’46 and the venerable European Air War, BoB2 is the only sim I have ever played - or seen - which gives you that oh-so-satisfying feeling compounded of awe, anticipation and apprehension, when you get your first sight of the oncoming aerial armada that you’re are about to smash into.

[Linked Image]

This morning, I can see what looks to be about thirty bombers in three groups of around ten. Of rather more concern, there’s also a veritable cloud of smaller specks which can only be snappers – fighters. These look to be slightly below the bombers, and as I watch, a group of them loses its tight formation as the individual aircraft start manoeuvring. This can only mean one thing – they have spotted us, and are coming to get us. And it must be us – no other RAF squadrons are anywhere in sight. I can only hope that the other two I know to be in the air are not too far behind.

On spotting the bandits, I have as usual padlocked them up and then used BoB2’s comms menu to report the sighting. The message (from myself!) then displayed and heard gives the direction and relative height of first the fighters, then the bombers. Responding, the boss had acknowledged with ‘All right – I’ve got them’ and then given quick orders, detailing B Flight – which included my Green Section – to tackle the fighters. It’s maybe worth mentioning here that in these mission reports, I’m not using my imagination to embroider or enliven the story with invented dialogue or events – what you see/read is what I got. And there is much R/T chatter going on in BoB2 that I don't mention.

The boss’s orders are a bit redundant, since by the time he has finished, the fighters – 109s – are tackling us.

[Linked Image]

I come up and around to avoid a frontal attack, intending to come around behind the 109s as they sweep past. A last look above reveals the bombers merrily sailing northwards completely unconcerned, with the rest of their close escort still in place. I’m tempted to go for them but my own squadron has enough on its hands without me going glory hunting.

[Linked Image]

So I return my gaze to our attackers and chase one of the Messerschmitts. He jinks and turns, but I see flashes from some hits. This causes him to jink some more.

[Linked Image]

After a few more hits, he makes a diving turn towards the sea. Rather than follow him down out of the battle, I break to clear my tail and look for another victim. But the sky suddenly seems to have cleared of the 20-30 aircraft which were there just a few seconds ago. Where is everybody?

I hear one of the boys calling for help and looking back out to sea, notice a speck trailing smoke, tailed by another one. So I head on over that way, but lose sight of both aircraft when, still just faint specks, they dip below the horizon.

[Linked Image]

By now I’m over the coast, and all I can see is the occasional aircraft flitting about much lower down, friend or foe I cannot tell – not without turning on labels anyway, and I prefer being in the dark to playing God. At least I know where I am – below me is Beachy Head, with its famous red and white ringed lighthouse on the eponymous beach at the foot of the cliffs.

[Linked Image]

There’s now no sign of even the thirty bombers, or whatever it is they have bombed – as I found out later, back in the Ops Room, they had basically destroyed Westhampnett airfield, somewhere off to my east. Out of curiosity I turn on the map and see that the markers indicating German aircraft seem either to be off the coast or heading back that way. Ignoring this God view information, I call up the squadron on the R/T, to be told they are to my north, in the direction of our home airfield and thus likely homeward bound. There may have been a reform order given, but I don’t recall hearing it. I could ask control for a vector to bandits, but I haven’t seen Green 2 or Green 3 since we ran into the 109s, so I decide to call it quits rather than try to win the war single-handed. I should have kept after that first 109, I tell myself ruefully, for all the good I have done since I let him go.

Back in the Ops Room, the next raid is reported and plotted forming up and then coming in, even as the previous one heads back to France. This time, the Huns are coming across the narrowest part of the Channel, the Straits of Dover. Their target could be the latter port, or nearby airfields, although the closest two, Hawkinge and Lympne, are already both heavily damaged and out of action. Here we go again. Despite the rather flat start, this is going to be another of those busy days!

Attached Files shot_477.jpgshot_478.jpgshot_479.jpgshot_480.jpgshot_481.jpgshot_485.jpgshot_486.jpgshot_487.jpg

SimHQ Battle of Britain II screenshots thread
CombatAce Mission Reports
"Everything we hear is an opinion, not a fact. Everything we see is a perspective, not the truth." (attributed to Marcus Aurelius)

#4468906 - 04/04/19 07:00 PM Re: BoB2 screenshots [Re: 33lima]  
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33lima Offline
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33lima  Offline
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It's now nearly 08:00 and Hostile 702 is rapidly approaching the coast near Dover, which is reported to be the likely target. But the raid flies on inland, with the two squadrons I manage to organise for an interception struggling to catch up, By disabling Hawkinge and nearby Lympne, Goering's boys have effectively blasted a gap in my outer ring of fighter stations. And now they are pouring through that gap.

By the time 32 Squadron catches up and I drop in as Green Leader...

[Linked Image]

...the raid is level with London and still hearing north. It's also several thousand feet higher, so while reporting the sighting on the R/T, I pull up sharply after them. There are plenty of targets in this area, including Tilbury Docks and the oil storage tanks at Thameshaven, so I'm not surprised to see the Huns are attracting ack ack at intervals along their flight path. BDG modder Stickman has put a lot of effort into deploying the correct AA batteries in their historical locations and it shows.

[Linked Image]

The raiders seem rather fast, even allowing for speed lost as we climb. After a fruitless chase the boss orders a course of 220, well away from the enemy. A check of my fuel guages shows no problem there. Not understanding the reason for the course change and reluctant for the virtual Londoners down below to see the raid unintercepted, I carry on after them. After a while, the rest of 32 is just a bunch of specks over to our left rear.

[Linked Image]

The Huns - who seem all to be bombers - are by now still going north, before turning and settling onto a more westerly course, roughly parallel to the Thames, well north of London. They are still a bit higher and I shadow them on a gradually closing course, hopng to catch them when they finally turn left across my nose to head south again. That will take them over London, and I am determined to make them pay for any bomb dropped on the great city, even if I can't actually stop them with just three Hurricanes. Well, two actually, for Green 3 seems to have disappeared somewhere.

[Linked Image]

By now, I can see landmarks like the Victoria and Royal Albert Docks over on the left of the pic, and the Isle of Dogs and its own docks hemmed in by the famous U bend in the Thames. Up above, the cloudless blue sky will make a fine backdrop to the air battle, when it comes.

[Linked Image]

We're now getting close, at which point the ack ack boys open up again.

[Linked Image]

Having come so far I'm in no mood to hang back now, so I plough on into the thick of it.

[Linked Image]

Suddenly, as the formation begins a left turn, one of the bombers is falling away, trailing smoke and minus part of a wing. Looks like the gunner boys have found the range!

[Linked Image]

Now it's the turn of the fighter boys. I can see now that the Jerries are Ju88s, which explains their turn of speed. Finally I close the range and let fly at the bomber on the outside left of the nearest group.

[Linked Image]

Sometimes, the Hun air gunners are better than others, in BoB2. This time, they seem fairly hot, for rounds are smacking into my machine. But I hold my aim and don't break until my target has turned out of formation with his right engine on fire. Got him!

[Linked Image]

I go slightly over the vertical as I bank hard to get out of the line of return fire before something bad happens to me, too.

[Linked Image]

As the range opens up, I level off. One down - only another twenty-nine to go!

[Linked Image]

to be continued!

Attached Files shot_488.jpgshot_489.jpgshot_490.jpgshot_491.jpgshot_492.jpgshot_494.jpgshot_495.jpgshot_496.jpgshot_497.jpgshot_498.jpgshot_499.jpgshot_500.jpg

SimHQ Battle of Britain II screenshots thread
CombatAce Mission Reports
"Everything we hear is an opinion, not a fact. Everything we see is a perspective, not the truth." (attributed to Marcus Aurelius)

#4469093 - 04/05/19 06:34 PM Re: BoB2 screenshots [Re: 33lima]  
Joined: Sep 2010
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33lima Offline
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33lima  Offline
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I come back after the Ju88s – there are actually 28 not 29, both ack ack and me having got one.

[Linked Image]

In the meantime, Green 2 (or the gunners – I’m not sure) has damaged one from the front of the pack, leaving the Hun trailing smoke.

[Linked Image]

I attack the bomber next to the right from the one I shot out of the rear group. I quickly take and get hits. Smoke from the damaged Hun streams back over me, so instead of firing half-blind and risking running into him, I slide over to the right and engage the bomber on the opposite side.

[Linked Image]

[Linked Image]

My eye seems to be in today and an engine goes up in flames. A few missions back, I noticed that I had target size set to medium, which makes getting hits easier but distributes them more widely.

[Linked Image]

Since reducing that to the lowest/hardest level, I’m finding that the ability to aim for specific parts of the target mostly repays the lower hit probability. On a good day, anyhow. And today seems to be a good day…so far…

I break away to take stock, having taken some hits in the process. Everything seems to be working normally.

[Linked Image]

Right-O, here we go again. Ahead and slightly left, I'm cheered to see Green 2 making another pass, so I come in as fast as I can to spread the return fire

[Linked Image]

By now, we are over the East End of London, where the docks and other targets abound. But there is still no sign of any bombing being done. There are some airfields (Croydon, Biggin Hill and Kenley) to the south of London and roughly on the Huns’ way home, but it begins to look as if either they are not going to bomb, or – much more likely - in the excitement I have not noticed them doing so. Switching to tour guide mode for a moment, if you look up to the top left, you can see Tower Bridge over the Thames, and next to it on the northern bank, the Tower of London.

[Linked Image]

Green 2 has the bit between his teeth and gets there ahead of me. His reward is another Ju88 going down. Despite less than stellar co-ordination, we're proving a decent double act. Flanagan and Allen have nothing on us.

[Linked Image]

The bomber I left smoking has refused to straggle and is still in formation. I decide he will be the best target – I’m getting low on ammo and an already-damaged bomber is more likely to go down with less rounds. This works out quite nicely.

[Linked Image]

Before I have to worry about being blinded by smoke, I can see fire has taken hold. So can the bomber crew, for they are wasting no time in bailing out, with the first chute open and the second beginning to.

[Linked Image]

The other Huns are meanwhile doing their very best to knock me down, too.

[Linked Image]

These Ju88s are A-5 models with the longer-span wings of the chronologically-later A-4. When hit, they seem to be more prone to engine fires than either Heinkels or Dorniers. For some reason, if this machine is anything to go by, the BoB2 Ju88s seem to have a crew of five, rather than four.

[Linked Image]

Anyhow I’ve been pushing my luck and my Hurricane has been accumulating hits. My last pass results in my ammo running out almost at once, doing no visible further damage, in return for taking yet more hits. By the time I break off, my trusty Merlin is running unevenly and the aircraft wants to roll to the left. Time to go home! At least I have given the Londoners – those who haven’t taken to the shelters when the air raid sirens sounded, anyhow – something to cheer about.

[Linked Image]

If you're wondering why the BoB2 Hurricane has this bulbous, slightly oversize prop spinner, apparently this is the one for the Rotol constant-speed propeller for the Spitfire, fitted before the proper, more bullet-like Hurricane version became available, for the Mark 2. Hurricanes with a 3-blade prop and a smaller, distinctly pointed spinner have the earlier De Havilland 2-speed prop - which was converted to constant-speed operation by late July for Spits, and by mid-August for Hurricanes.

I’m a bit short of real-world time to fly home, so I quit and return to the Ops Room. I have only really begun to explore the many info boxes available but I remember that there is one which will answer that burning question - what the bombers actually bombed. This is the Hostiles List, as seen below, which does exactly what it says on the tin.

[Linked Image]

So - this is interesting! - the answer is, Hostile 702 bombed North Weald. This is an 11 Group fighter airfield north-east of London. I take a moment to ponder the significance of this information. Having pounded many of our outlying fighter bases, the Luftwaffe has now extended its attacks to the inner ring of airfields around the capital! I get the sense of plans drawn against us, that are unfolding nicely – from the enemy’s point of view!

I am also getting a sense of why sims like Rowan’s Battle of Britain, its successor BoB2, and the likes of Mig Alley and Falcon 4, are so very highly regarded for their ability to give you the feeling you are part of a convincing, bigger air campaign, going on all around you, growing and developing day by day. If there’s a better-executed or more immersive and engaging air combat sim than BoB2 with the BDG 2.13 update, I have yet to see or play it.

Attached Files shot_501.jpgshot_502.jpgshot_503.jpgshot_504.jpgshot_505.jpgshot_506.jpgshot_507.jpgshot_508.jpgshot_509.jpgshot_510.jpgshot_511.jpgshot_512.jpgshot_513.jpgshot_514.jpg23 July am H702.jpg
Last edited by 33lima; 04/06/19 02:20 PM.

SimHQ Battle of Britain II screenshots thread
CombatAce Mission Reports
"Everything we hear is an opinion, not a fact. Everything we see is a perspective, not the truth." (attributed to Marcus Aurelius)

#4469195 - 04/06/19 01:50 PM Re: BoB2 screenshots - the RAF campaign [Re: 33lima]  
Joined: Apr 2013
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Blade_Meister Offline
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Posts: 2,079
Atlanta, GA, USA
Great report 33lima. This is getting more and more interesting mate. No progress for me, but I am off Monday so hopefully then. Keep up the great reports so we can see where this ends up mate. Maybe on the Ju88s are A-5 they have bigger wing tanks and by the time you intercept them they emptier than a smaller tank would be, as these bombers may be going longer distances to target, and your 303s aren't very friendly when playing with big wing tanks with lots of fuel fumes in them. Just physically bigger targets also. At an rate your observations make reading this AAR very interesting. Thanks for that. biggrin


S!Blade<><

#4469202 - 04/06/19 02:01 PM Re: BoB2 screenshots - the RAF campaign [Re: 33lima]  
Joined: Sep 2010
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33lima Offline
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33lima  Offline
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Cheers Blade and looking forward to your project seeing the light of day...or night, if you see what I mean smile I've just flown the next mission and it's back to...you guessed, your favourite new friend...

[Linked Image]

Pics and the story behind them will be up later today.

Attached Files shot_535.jpg
Last edited by 33lima; 04/06/19 02:21 PM.

SimHQ Battle of Britain II screenshots thread
CombatAce Mission Reports
"Everything we hear is an opinion, not a fact. Everything we see is a perspective, not the truth." (attributed to Marcus Aurelius)

#4469245 - 04/06/19 07:34 PM Re: BoB2 screenshots - the RAF campaign [Re: 33lima]  
Joined: Apr 2013
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Blade_Meister Offline
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Looking forward to it Sir. Will read this evening.

S!Blade<><

#4469259 - 04/06/19 08:54 PM Re: BoB2 screenshots - the RAF campaign [Re: 33lima]  
Joined: Sep 2010
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33lima Offline
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33lima  Offline
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Belfast, NI
The morning of 23 July passes, and the plots dry up. Until shortly after mid-day, when the calm and unhurried voice of an unseen WAAF announces a new raid, designated Hostile 101. I watch its plot coming roughly north-west towards Southampton. By re-vectoring two patrols, I bolster the squadrons scrambled against it by the campaign AI directives (which I am invited to approve or change at the start of each daily session, of which there are three). I watch as four squadron markers converge on the raid. One of them has to give up due to a shortage of fuel. But the other three keep tracking towards the raid, now reported as sixty-plus. This is going to be interesting!

[Linked Image]

First to sight the enemy is 609 (West Riding) Squadron, formed as part of the Royal Auxiliary Air Force, probably equivalent these days to the US Air National Guard. I jump in - as usual - as Green Leader. Here's the view of the squadron to the left from my cockpit. Another intercepting squadron - probably the Hurricanes of 607 (County of Durham) Squadron - is visible in the distance as a ragged row of specks. Green 2 is to the near left and Green 3 is out of sight to my right. We're flying in four tight vics or sections of three, Figher Command being trained for air defence duties against bombers rather than fighter vs fighter work. That was before the 109s were based just across the English Channel.

[Linked Image]

And it looks like about half Hostile 101's reported sixty bandits are 109s. The rest are evidently three of the usual tight, wide but shallow wedges of twin-engined bombers, type so far not identified. The thought that two more RAF squadrons are on their way helps. But for a while, we are going to be on our own against this mob. The boss is in no mood to wait for re-inforcements, and orders B Flight - which includes Green Section - to take the fighters.

[Linked Image]

A bunch of 109s breaks off and makes a pass at us. I pull up and around, then come after them. They turn away, seemingly wary of tangling with our Spits, perhaps content to break up our effort to get at the bombers.

[Linked Image]

I learn that all is not what it seems when, out of the corner of my eye, I see a Spitfire below and ahead of me briefly framed by tracer smoke trails - and then blow up!

[Linked Image]

Our Spitfires are in fact the meat in a Messerschmitt 109 sandwich.

[Linked Image]

Meanwhile, the Hun bombers and the rest of their escort roll inexorably on towards the south coast of England, not far away.

[Linked Image]

Well, we have stripped away part of the escort so it's up to the other intercepting squadrons to take it from here. B Flight's job is to keep 'our' 109s tied up. After a bit of twisting and turning to avoid getting whacked myself, I come in behind one of the beggars.

[Linked Image]

I get some hits on him and he rolls over onto his back and dives away. I try to follow him...

[Linked Image]

...but he quickly opens out the range. Seeing that he is streaming a light trail of smoke or vapour, possibly glycol, I let him go. Hopefully, he'll stay gone.

[Linked Image]

I turn left to clear my tail and look for another, more worthy target. They suddenly seem hard to find. Then the boss comes up on the blower and orders the squadron to reform. Are we breaking off so soon? I still have plenty of fuel and ammunition!

[Linked Image]

I call up the CO and ask for the squadron's whereabouts. It turns out they're to the north, between me and the coast. Unable to see them, I head that way, looking in my mirror frequently, and making what I hope to be unpredictable changes of heading about my mean course.

[Linked Image]

As I come up to the coast, I can see there is an air fight up ahead, with distant aircraft flitting back and forth, up and down - about ten of them, as far as I can see. It looks like several individual combats are going on. This will be a good opportunity to sneak up on somebody, so that's my plan.

[Linked Image]

...to be continued!

Attached Files 23 July am H101 1213.jpgshot_515.jpgshot_516.jpgshot_518.jpgshot_519.jpgshot_520.jpgshot_521.jpgshot_522.jpgshot_523.jpgshot_524.jpgshot_525.jpgshot_526.jpgshot_527.jpg

SimHQ Battle of Britain II screenshots thread
CombatAce Mission Reports
"Everything we hear is an opinion, not a fact. Everything we see is a perspective, not the truth." (attributed to Marcus Aurelius)

#4469272 - 04/06/19 10:05 PM Re: BoB2 screenshots [Re: 33lima]  
Joined: Mar 2011
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Rick_Rawlings Offline
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Originally Posted by 33lima
Cheers Rick - glad you're having equal fun with - and with comrades-in-virtual-arms are flying the mission report flag for - WoTR!

I wish I had your dexterity on the keybord for AARs, I'm ready to throw it out the window after a few sentences... You really put me in the mission though and help me appreciate how the whole Rowan air command approach works in practice!


The older I get, the more I realize I don't need to be Han, Luke or Leia. I'm just happy to be rebel scum...
#4469378 - 04/07/19 04:56 PM Re: BoB2 screenshots - the RAF campaign [Re: 33lima]  
Joined: Sep 2010
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33lima Offline
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33lima  Offline
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Belfast, NI
Thanks Rick!

Now, where were we...ah yes, I remember now...

Nearing the coast, I fall in behind two fighters in trail formation which are moving across my nose from left to right. Happily, the one to the rear turns out to be a 109 so I let him have it. Not for the first time, I get hits but don't knock him down, and the usual merry dance ensues.

[Linked Image]

BoB2 is notable for its range of authentic aircraft finishes and markings, but I don't think 109s so commonly had yellow motor cowlings this early in the battle.

Anyhow I don't seem able to catch this particular yellow-nosed b**tard who leads me all over the sky.

[Linked Image]

Having to watch my tail and take pictures doesn't help. This particular pic does nicely illustrate that the 109's leading edge slats are animated in BoB2, so I suppose taking it was worth the risk.

[Linked Image]

In the end I black out trying to make a sustained high-speed, high-G turn and lose him in the darkness. Just before it went dark, my controls had stiffened up from the speed and I ease back on the stick, conscious I have been descending and the water is now close. When this control effect kicks in, with BoB2 it can be really scary; especially if you are low and all the more so if you can't see. And of course you are totally vulnerable to anyone in a position to take a shot at you.

I'm relieved when the lights come on again and I can see that I've come out one wing down and low, but have managed to avoid smacking into the Channel.

Phew! That was close!

[Linked Image]

I have lost sight of my opponent and the sky around seems clear, so I fly inland. If I can't rejoin the squadron, maybe I can catch the Hun bombers on their way home.

[Linked Image]

Soon, I see the flashes and black bursts of ack ack fire, up ahead and well inland.

[Linked Image]

Then the skies clear again as the AA fire pauses. But as I get closer, I can see a series of specks across my path, widely spread out in ones and twos and coming my way. They're barely visible in the pic below but there's at least eight of them. They can only be 109s withdrawing.

[Linked Image]

I veer off to the right of the single speck furthest to that side, then, staying low, come in around behind him.

[Linked Image]

At full throttle I'm able to close slowly, and soon confirm he's a Messerschmitt.

[Linked Image]

I let him have it of course. He disappears in a flurry of flashes and smoke from hits, and instinctively I break sharply to avoid either running into or overshooting him. It is as well that I do so.

[Linked Image]

I didn't see the bunch of 109s coming up behind, until I broke. Now that I have, I hold my turn to come around behind them - I might was well go down fighting. More throught luck than judgement, I end up on the tail of one of the diving Huns, who have had to pull out for lack of height. So I fairly lace him before breaking again, without waiting to see who might be trying to lace me. You can see that in addition to the vertical bar of the third gruppe, my target has what looks to be the seahorse on a blue shield unit badge of 9 Staffel, III/JG3.

[Linked Image]

I quickly clear off and am relieved to find that the other 109s aren't chasing me. They've crossed quite a stretch of Channel to get here and have as much to cross to get home, so they'll have little fuel to spare. Emboldened, I slide back over and start stalking the last of them from below and behind, ignoring the ack ack.

[Linked Image]

Again I manage to close the range and have a rattle at the fellow on the outside left of the group.

[Linked Image]

I hit him, but not fatally. He breaks left and down. At that range I'd expected my eight Brownings to chop him up, and I'm slow to react.

[Linked Image]

He disappears somewhere below, hard to spot against the ground. For all I know there may be more 109s streaming south, coming up behind me, so I decide to get out of it and this time stay out. It's a bit of an unhealthy spot for single Spitfire low on ammo and with a pilot who needs more practice in air to air gunnery against other fighters.

Give me bombers, any day!

Attached Files shot_528.jpgshot_529.jpgshot_531.jpgshot_532.jpgshot_537.jpgshot_536.jpgshot_538.jpgshot_539.jpgshot_540.jpgshot_541.jpgshot_542.jpgshot_543.jpgshot_544.jpgshot_546.jpg

SimHQ Battle of Britain II screenshots thread
CombatAce Mission Reports
"Everything we hear is an opinion, not a fact. Everything we see is a perspective, not the truth." (attributed to Marcus Aurelius)

#4470175 - 04/12/19 06:00 PM Re: BoB2 screenshots - the RAF campaign [Re: 33lima]  
Joined: Sep 2010
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33lima Offline
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33lima  Offline
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Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 2,712
Belfast, NI
Hurricane Interlude...well, there's a piece of orchestral music called 'Spitfire Prelude', so there might as well be a SimHQ post called 'Hurricane Interlude'. Seeing as how it's got a few screenies featuring Hurricanes from a historical mission, set in between two on campaign missions...makes perfect sense to me, anyway...

Can't recall which historical BoB2 mission this is, possibly one from a London raid on 9 September 1940. Having picked the RAF side, I had a choice of flying the mission with three or four RAF fighter squadrons. I chose 310 (Czech) Squadron, not as well known these days as 303 (Polish) but with its own fine record. The squadron code is 'NN' and I seem to remember that until the BDG modders developed the Multiskin feature, this was carried on all BoB2's Hurricanes.

Here we are on sighting the enemy. I think the built-up area in the middle distance is western London, with West End centre right and the Thames running left to right. I just noticed recently that BoB2's London doesn't seem to feature Millwall Docks in the river's U bend over to the east, which is odd considering how accurate most else is. You can see two of the other intercepting squadrons I could have flown with, over the nose of my aircraft, and two more, over to the left.

[Linked Image]

And here are the Huns - bombers disappearing off screen left centre, having come up the Thames Estuary from the east, and the 'snappers', Me109 escorts who are already coming at us.

[Linked Image]

The boss's orders were for 'B' Flight to take the fighters - this seems the norm, so stick to Red or Blue Sections when choosing your position before the mission, if you want to have a crack at bombers instead. In this case there were probably enough 109s to make the distinction academic.

The rest of the mission involved an engaging but not particularly conclusive series of tussles with Messerschmitts. I sent two down smoking - in the Great War, these would have been credited as 'Forced Down', these days they will be 'Probables' or more likely just 'Damaged'. My first target was White 5 from II/JG3 (not named 'Udet' at this stage, I think) - the II Gruppe horizontal bar (no bar for I Gruppe, vertical bar for III Gruppe) is after the fuselage cross and the II/JG3 unit badge (red-edged white shield with tilted black cross) is ahead and below the cockpit canopy.

[Linked Image]

[Linked Image]

Shortly after I was engaged with this fellow, whom I also damaged, as you can see from the smoke trail. He is likely from a different gruppe, with those prominent yellow wing-tips as rapid identification markings.

[Linked Image]

Anyhow, after that it was back to campaign porridge, flying Hurricanes again. So the practice from my Hurricane Interlude came in handy!

Attached Files shot_547.jpgshot_548.jpgshot_549.jpgshot_550.jpgshot_551.jpg
Last edited by 33lima; 04/12/19 06:43 PM.

SimHQ Battle of Britain II screenshots thread
CombatAce Mission Reports
"Everything we hear is an opinion, not a fact. Everything we see is a perspective, not the truth." (attributed to Marcus Aurelius)

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