Mission Number 5: Da planes! Da planes!

[Rain Man]

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B-17 #20 – Sky Chief

Pilot DenverChief (4)
Copilot Iowanian (4)
Bombardier Sky (4)
Navigator Lzen (4)
Engineer AustinChief (4)
Radio Op. Michael Michigan (4)
Tail Gunner DJay23 (4)
Ball Turret Gunner UMKC 1L (4)
Right Waist Gunner mlyonsd (4)
Left Waist Gunner PennyWise (4)

Target: St. Omer’s fighter base
Mid-formation horizontally, low vertically (high vulnerability)

Zone 1 Out: Britain

No enemy

Zone 2 Out: English Channel (Entering Target Zone)

It rapidly becomes apparent that the Germans were expecting this raid. The sky is boiling with German fighters, and the Allied fighters have their hands full. Get ready for some shooting!

5 Fw190s attack – 3 are driven away by fighters

Lzen fires, misses
Michael Michigan fires, hits Fw190
Djay23 fires, misses
Sky fires, misses

2 Fws miss, break off attack

3 Fw190s are driven off by fighters

Entering Bomb Zone
Good Weather
Light Flak - misses
Sky delivers the goods – 30% score

Zone 2: English Channel (Leaving Target Zone)

5 Fw190s attack – 1 is driven away by fighters

Djay23 fires, kills Fw190
Pennywise fires, misses
Austinchief fires, misses
Umkc1L fires, misses
Sky fires, misses
Lzen fires, misses

Fw misses, breaks off attack

Fw scores 1 hit
-superficial damage to radio room

Fw scores 3 hits
-superficial damage to waist
-superficial damage to nose
-pilot compartment – Denverchief loses oxygen, switches to portable supply

2 Fws circle, attack again

Mlyonsd fires, misses
Austinchief fires, misses
Sky fires, misses
Djay23 fires, misses

Fw misses, breaks off attack

Fw scores 2 hits
-superficial damage to port wing
-port wing – inboard fuel tank is hit, begins leaking fuel. As long as no fire starts, it won’t be a problem since this is a short mission

Fw circles, attacks again

Austinchief fires, hits Fw190
Lzen fires, misses
Austinchief fires, misses

1 Me109 attacks in a vertical dive

Michael Michigan fires, misses

Me scores 1 hit
-radio room - Michael Michigan sustains a serious wound to the left thigh

Me circles attacks again

Austinchief fires, misses

Me misses, breaks off attack

4 Fw190s attack – 2 are driven off by fighters

Pennywise fires, kills Fw190
Djay23 fires, misses
Sky fires, misses

Fw misses, breaks off attack

Zone 1: England

Good weather
Good landing

Aftereffects

Michael Michigan will have to sit out the next mission while he heals, but can then resume his position.

Eligible for next mission

Pilot DenverChief (4)
Copilot Iowanian (4)
Bombardier Sky (4)
Navigator Lzen (4)
Engineer AustinChief (4)
Radio Op. Michael Michigan (4) will miss the next mission, but can come back after that.
Tail Gunner DJay23 (4)
Ball Turret Gunner UMKC 1L (4)
Right Waist Gunner mlyonsd (4)
Left Waist Gunner PennyWise (4)

18 enemy fighters in a 1.5 hour flight. That makes for a busy day.