352nd Fighter Group
S3:New World Thunder AAR
This was a tough series for us. We were given P-47C's (not iEN's best flight model) and told to tangle with 190A4's. However we held our own for the most part and, most importantly, when given escort missions, brought most of the bombers home.
Frame 1
Well. For the most part, this one sucked. We were tasked with setting up a BARCAP east of F24. So we rolled our
P-47C's from F8 and headed south. The whole way there we watched as our fuel gauges went down almost as fast as
the altimeter went up. Just as we cleared England's southern coast, we received word of a large LW raid inbound to
F2. I spoke with LB and we were vectored east to find them. We had just cleared 25,000 feet when YT spotted them
to the south about 4,000 feet higher. We turned to engaged and found ourselves looking at more than 10 190's. They
spotted us and dove in. Weiser went down while BBGun lost his elevator and Sicair lost his oil forcing them to RTB.
Everyone was trailing 190's as we ran north. YT and I turned back south to find Weiser when YT was engaged by three
190's. They managed to get him before I could reach them and began chasing me. They broke off and I rondevoused with
the remaining Bastards. We received word that another large group of LW were otw to F2 so we headed for them. Once
again we found ourselves under a mixed group of 109's and 190's who forced us away from the Ju 87's. Again I ordered
us to break out north to try and reach F8 so we could replane.
Frame 2 - Posted by Lt Col DGoose:
We rolled from f8 in P47C with orders to cap f19 from altitude and cover
a squadron of spitfires RTB from F19. As we crossed the English
coastline heading south Radar reported multiple Bandits approx. 40 miles
to our south. We immediately turned to 270 hdg to gain as much altitude
as possible. Crossing through 25,000ft we were ordered to reverse
course and engage. We soon sighted the LW approx. 5-7,000 ft above us.
Reported approximately 10 109G6. They immediately engaged us and we
fought an egressing fight to the north. During the battle a 109g6
latched on to Dune's 6 and managed to shoot him up causing a bail.
I arrived about 5 sec later and chased the con to the deck, caught and
killed him. During this fight another 109G6 had gotten h-kriz my
wingman. We regrouped tot he north and being low fuel RTB to F8.
Second flight we launched from f8 and headed south. Spotty radar
reports had LW hitting an English Convoy off the coast of Dover so I
headed the group that direction for an interception. Arriving on he
scene at 34,000ft we found approximately 7 FW190 at 25,000 feet. I
ordered the 328th and 486th to engage the cons but to maintain an
altitude advantage. During the dogfight we lost bbgn to a mid-air
collision. Radar immediately reported many more LW inbound from the
south. I ordered the group to disengage and head north. Being low on
fuel we patrolled the Dover area and soon had reports of cons slightly
inland engaged. Heading West we attempted to run them down without
success. Being low fuel we landed at F5 for fuel before making the
short hop back home.
Frame 3
Our initial orders called for us to lift from F8 and escort the 457th BG to F19. We waited until they had
formed up and traveled a distance away, then rolled in our P-47C's. I let them get a little far ahead of
us, so we leveled at 28,000 feet and went full throttle to catch up to them. As we passed 2.3.5, we went
over a group of unidentified cons. However we continued on to 2.3.2 and joined up with the 457th BG as they
began their run to F19. Whwk called them into the scopes and Todzil or Foxtwo spotted cons closing up on the
heavies' 6 o'clock. We dove into them and scared them down. I had one lined up, but he broke just as I went to
fire. We maintained the harddeck and our wing-pairs beautifully. As the 457th dropped, all of us were either
over the bombers or just behind them. The 457th flattened their target and we headed for home.
The trip back to England was uneventful and we landed back at F8. We had not lost a plane or a bomber so we were feeling pretty good. At that point Beaver requested that we escort the 450th BG(H) as they attacked F18. So we again lifted from F8 and (except for an unintended detour by the CO who can't tell east from south) met up with the 450th BG at 5.3.6, just as they began their bomb run. The 450th made their drop and began their egress north. We were getting calls of cons to the SW of us, so we were keeping our eyes open. Again we spotted the LuftWaffe diving in from the heavies' 6 o'clock, but we cut them off. One LW latched onto Todzla, but excellent use of RW between Jamdru and Todzla allowed Jammie to slide in behind him and shoot him down. After that it was a matter of following the buffs back to England and keeping an eye open. The 450th landed at F2 and we continued on to F8, where all the 352nd that had taken off landed again safely. I want to mention Weiser, Todzla, and Jamdru for special recognition. Weiser flew a perfect wing-pair for me during the second mission. I made several dives on cons who turned out to be Allied planes; and every time I looked back there he was. Todzla and Jamdru worked RW to the death of a LW. Todzla called for help and Jammie told him he was on his way. Jammie kept him informed of how far he was from the con and told him when to dive and when to slow down. Tod stayed calm and trusted his Group-mate and the end result was a dead German. All in all this was one of our best missions in a while. We stayed right with the buffs and every time I looked, I saw two Bastards. It was some of the best wing-pair tactics I've seen. And a special {Salute} goes out to the 457th and 450th BG's. It was an honor to escort you guys and a pleasure to watch you fly your tight formations and flatten your targets.
Frame 4
Our orders called for us to escort the 457th BG from F8 to attack the airfield at F18. 303 Sqn from the RAF
was assigned to us as a forward sweep. The plan worked to perfection. The 457th first flew north to gain
altitude and then turned south for the field. As they passed F8 on their way south, we rolled in our P-47C's
and took up position over them. Soon after the 303 rolled and headed for F18. The delay caused by the 457th's
initial move north caused us to arrive as most of the LW was forced to RTB for fuel. Two small LW formations
tried to intercept us, but were driven off by the 303's Spitfires. The heavies of the 457th made perfect drops
and we started north as angry swarms of LW tried to catch up to us. But they were too late except for two of the
457th who unfortunately fell behind the main group and were lost. We landed back at F8 with empty fuel tanks and
readied ourselves for our second mission. This time we were tasked with making a fighter sweep near F17. We rolled
again and began climbing south. Just west of Calais we met up with 303 Sqn again but got separated as dots appeared
on both sides of us. The dots quickly turned into Me 109's of JV 44 who outnumbered us. We tried to fight our way
out from over Calais, but just as we turned to run. The Fw 190's of JG 26 hit us. Together, the two JG's outnumbered
us by 3 to 1. I was forced to bail, but was quickly picked up by a Royal Navy picket boat and returned, wet, but
unharmed to England. As of right now I am not sure of how everyone else faired. I do know that Smithr managed to
keep his Jug just out in front of the Huns and made it home. He was the only one to do so.
Frame 5
For our first mission, Jamdru led Buggma, Foxtwo and Bomar on a low-level mission to destroy shipping off the coast
of Calais. They lifted and roared off in their Mosquitoes at low level. Just short of the convoy an errant wave
leapt up and smacked the bottom of Buggma's plane, forcing him to ditch in the Channel. The remaining Bastards hit
the convoy like a sledge and sunk more than four ships. They turned for home and raced over the cliffs of Dover.
In the darkness Bomar came up short of the field, but Jamdru and Foxtwo successfully landed. A great mission and well
run by Jammie. Our second mission tasked us with escorting the 457th BG on a strike of F15. The heavies lifted from
F8 and flew northeast to gain altitude. As they turned southeast towards the 8.6 cross, we took off in our P-47C's.
As we neared the buffs we received word that the LuftWaffe was closing in hard on the 457th from the east. We raced
towards the heavies and they came into sight just as cons were spotted over them. The first group of Me 109's dove
in on the 457th with us screaming in behind them. This left our 6's open to the rest of the Huns, but we had to get
to the bombers. Unfortunately, our late arrival allowed JV 44 to knock down several of the 457th with a few losses to
them. We quickly engaged the remaining 109's and pulled them to the deck as they tried to kill us rather than the
bombers. This led to several swirling dogfights that grew closer and closer to the waters of the North Sea. We overcame
the drawbacks of our Jugs by using some fantastic wingman tactics. I spooked a 109 and had another come in behind me.
He was quickly lit up by Sicair and forced off. He and I chased this 109 and forced him to ditch. We then saw several
more dots at 500 feet to the south of us and raced towards them. During the fight Weiser and Smithr were forced to
RTB because of damage. This left Jamdru, Foxtwo and Audi with the rest of JV 44. Jamdru scored a kill as Sicair and
I rejoined the fight. I latched onto a 109 that was after Jamdru, hittng him several times. Sicair finished him off.
I then spotted another 109 and shot him out of the sky. At that time members of the Pale Horses arrived and ran off
any remaining Huns. This left us at 500 feet over the water and our bomber group preparing to make its run on F15. I
rallied the Bastards and we began climbing towards them. The 457th made their drop and turned to the north. Soon after
that we spotted them and climbed up to take our positions. The egress was uneventful, which was good because our fuel
state was becoming precarious. As we passed over England, I requested and received release from Gen Whwk. We pointed
the noses of our Jugs down and dove past the three remaining members of the 457th.
Final Totals
| Kills | 6 |
| Dune | 3 |
| DGoose | 1 |
| BBGun | 1 |
| Jamdru | 1 |
| Loses | 14 |