352nd Fighter Group
S3: The Soft Underbelly AAR
The Soft Underbelly had the 352nd flying as a member of the 15th Air Force out of Italy attacking targets in southern Germany. For the first two frames we flew P-47D's (obviously a ride many of us aren't familiar with), but for the last three we were back in our Mustangs. We also got the opportunity to fly escort for the 457th on most of these missions. Col Dune was the overall Allied commander for Frame 4.
Frame 1 - Posted by Lt Col DGoose
Our first sortie was to strike a major aerodrome in Southern Germany. Knowing that a direct daylight approach
would force us to fly a gauntlet of LW from Italy North we worked wit the commanders of the 457th and decided
a little deception was in order. The 352nd broke into two elements, an escort element and a decoy element.
Escort: dgoose, Todzla, H-kriz, Frfx, Audi, Whwk, BBGn and Foxtwo The escorts joined with the bombers SW of
Corsica and flew a western route around the west side of Switzerland and north effectively remaining off LW
radar. Decoy: Rhino, Alsail, Weiser, Buggma, Teqiza, Bomar, Dewolf and Jamdru. The decoys launched approximately
5 minutes after we did and flew a more northern route right over Corsica entering LW radar at the northwest
tip of Italy. The Decoy flight flew close formation and mimicked a Buff group all the way to target were they
then turned south and egressed. While the decoy was in action the 457th and the 352nd escort wing approached
target from the NW coming over the target completely unmolested. The 457th was able to drop payloads on the
airfield and connected factory leveling both. As the 457th was dropping the first LW showed up as 3 Fw190's
flew over deciding not to engage. While the 457th was dropping on target the decoy group ran into a gruppe of
FW 190's scrambling out of F5. During this encounter Rhino and Weiser were able to knock 2 Fw 190's out of
the air. While Rhino's group was engaged the 457th and escorts were headed south, when we were pounced by
approximately 8 Fw 190's coming in from the east. After landing I walked to the radio room just in time to
hear the 457th CO. COL Zomby calling a 100% return of his bombers. Not only had they flew into Germanys
backyard, pounded the target, but had come out unscathed. {salute} to the 352nd for an excellent mission. {salute}
to Rhino and the decoy flight for a grand performance and {salute} to my escorts for keeping the LW away from
the bombers. Even though our numbers 2 kills against 3 loses does not look good. The main point is that our bombers dropped a 100% payload on target and ALL of them made it home.
Frame 2
For this mission we were tasked with escorting the 457th BG and elements of the 1st ACG to bomb the airfield and
factory in southern Germany near F5. We were assisted by P-51B's of the 1st ACG. We rolled our P-47D's from F26,
went low to try and stay off German radar, then headed west to meet the heavies over Sardinia (F24). From there
we maintained our position along with the fighters of the 1st ACG. As we approached the southern coast of Italy,
the bombers broke into two units to better attack their targets. We stayed with the 457th while the 1st ACG moved
off a little to our right. We had several radar reports of fighters in our area, but forward sweeps by the 100th
FBG and 44th FS made sure we never saw them (WTG to both Groups!!!). The 457th continued up the 1 line and cut
over to make their run. After 3 passes our fuel was getting very low and the heavies started south. At this time
the P-38J's of the 100th and 44th joined us for a time, but the skies remained clear. A few of the Bastards were
becoming fuel critical so I sent them on ahead to make Corsica (F3) Then, just as we were about to leave Italy
several 190's were spotted heading north past us. They quickly turned in behind us and a swirling dogfight ensued.
Ruff was caught but Rhino and I managed to break clear. But, as our fuel was so low, we could not attempt to make
F26 and instead cut over Italy and headed to Corsica. Rhino and I were still low when we spotted a lone 109G who
quickly dove in on us. We cleared each other while maintaining our run for Corsica. Several more 109's showed up
but were bounced and run off by Jamdru and Whwk. A 109 from JG 14 latched onto Smithr, who kept rolling and set
him up for me. I hit him pretty hard and forced him to break off. Then, as he was leaking both fuel and oil, he
used his acceleration to gain some distance. Knowing he was about to ditch, I closed to 600 yards and, having set
my convergence to 450 , shot his tail off. By then elements of the 1st ACG, who had come back to assist us, the
44th and the 100th arrived overhead and allowed us to land our fuel starved Thunderbolts. Thanks again guys!
Frame 3
Our mission was to escort the 457th for their attack on F1. We lifted at T+17 in our P-51D's and rendezvoused with
them north of F23. After that the 352nd broke into squadrons, Frfx leading the 486th's low element, Rhino leading
the 328th in the center and HKriz taking the 487th high. (HKriz was forced back due to engine trouble but was later
able to rejoin us. Buggma arrived late and flew with him. Audi took over the 487th) The HQ section joined Rhino's
328th in the center. The 457th flew a beautiful formation to the target and we were unopposed. They made their first
drop and turned back for their second. It was then that Jamdru spotted several dots approaching the heavies. I ordered
the 487th into the attack and had the 486th move up. During this engagement Jamdru scored his first kill, Ebgb of JG
RG. The 487th scattered several 190's just as more showed up. I sent the 486th in on this larger group. Now the 328th
took positions closer to the heavies. The 487th began to rejoin the formation as Frfx and the 486th drove the 190's
low. They pulled them down and away from the bombers. Ruff lost his rudder and was forced to run; however a 190 caught
him. That 190, flown by Jckent of JG 2, was quickly dispatched by Whwk. Back at the bombers I followed Rhino and Bomar
as Rhino stalked a 190. Rhino pulled in behind and scored the kill of Seaman of JG 26. Jamdru who also shot down Madhtr
of JG 2 finished the scoring. During the attacks only one B-17G was lost (Zomby). After landing at F22, Texh requested
that we head north to the F9 area. When we arrived there was a large furball going on near F26, but we were unable to
join it due to 32-plane limit problems. We then attempted to catch the LW who were reported to be landing at F9, but
the skies began to darken and we were forced to head to F3. As the skies closed in the 352nd all landed safely at F3.
I want to say this was one of the best and most disciplined missions I've seen the 352nd run in a long time. The way
you stayed with your squad and did not engage until ordered was fantastic. You can see that it directly led to the
486th being in position to attack the second wave of LW and Rhino and the 328th being in position to intercept that
last 190. Congrats to all the Squadron leaders and members for a job very well done. And thanks to all that showed up.
It was a great turnout! And {salute} to the 457th for another well flown frame. Next time you're all coming home!
Frame 4
My plan had two goals; confuse the LW by getting all the planes in the air at the start then make them wait and then
pound the everliving shit out of them once we got there. I believe we succeeded on both accounts. It's been a long
time since I've seen the buffer that one sided. I wanted to set up a defined bomber stream and dared the LW to fight
there way to it. They took the dare and paid for it. There was some great flying going on tonight. In the east the
450th and 31st hit F16 and I believe did heavy damage to it. The PH's did a great job helping out the 31st's advance
Squadron. As I mentioned above, the VVS squadrons also really stepped up by tying up at least 15 LW and keeping the
away from the 450th. In the center the DoD, TF 17 and GB 40 had a tough job by themselves. I knew they were
understrength, but they hit F7 anyways. I know that this kept several LW units from attacking either of the buff
streams. And special congrats to Gb 40 who tied up a much larger group of LW and allowed the 31st arrive and kill
them. In the west was where I put our main effort. And I believe it paid off. Thanks to the 457th and 1st ACG for
agreeing to combine forces to make it easier for the 352nd to escort you. And a great job on hitting F1. The 44th
did exactly what they were supposed to do and engaged several LW units long before they could hit the 305th who
received great protection from the Haze and the Swamp Foxes. The 44th also whipped the LW up one side and down the
other first over F5 and then later at F26. The NightStalkers kept any LW from reaching the bomber stream and then was
outstanding finding the 100th BG and getting them out. The 100th and 305th both flew a long way and made it count
when they got there. Thanks to the work of their escorts I believe that each BG only suffered one loss. Then the
whole thing devolved into a big furball over F26. The LW commander kept throwing new units at us and you all kept
killing them. I wanted to be flying with you guys so bad.... I'm not sure how the scoring will work out, but I do know that in RL we would have probably knocked at least 3 LW units out of action for awhile.
{salute} Allies. It was an honor and a pleasure to lead you tonight.
Frame 5
Our first mission of the night called for us to fly a forward sweep for the bombers hitting F5 and F1. We rolled at
T-0 and made our way north. The flight was uneventful until we reached F1. Jamdru spotted a group of 6 or so cons
heading south on our 3ok so I ordered the 486th and 487th to engage them. At that point DGoose spotted more cons to
our 12ok. I told Goose to take the 328th after those and I went with the other two squads after the first batch. This
began a series of engagements that covered a 10-mile area around F5. I snuck in behind 4 190's and crept up to D3 on
the tail-end-charlie. But I screwed the shot (buck-fever baby. I was waiting for the other 190's to see me and I'd
just seen a 262 flying around the area). I knocked off a few pieces and dove out. This seemed to be the story for
everyone else as we kept pushing the LW farther down and allowed the buffs to fly past. I called for a rally and
Mt-Dew asked us to pick up the 1st ACG and escort them in. So we flew to meet them and stayed with them until they
made their drop. At that time our fuel was seriously low and we had to head home. (I wish we could have stayed,
several of 1st ACG's buffs were later lost to jets). On our way home a 262 went under us and we dove on him. At
525mph IAS my Pony was acting like it'd been stuck in a paint-shaker and I had to pull off. We continued home and
most of us landed with less than 10% fuel. We'd scored no kills, but hadn't lost any (except one who crashed on
landing) and kept them busy. Our second sortie called for us to head north to the F26 area. As we approached F26
Mt-Dew asked us to keep going to the F7 area in an effort to help cover the NightStalkers. Unfortunately none of
them were left by the time we got there. We found several 190's and 109's but they kept trying to drag us through
the ack at F7 and the bridge. Frfx and Crsair died to ack and Foxtwo was forced to ditch. DGoose scored a kill and
Buggma scored his first S3 kill when he cleared a 109 off Rhino's wounded Mustang. I on the other hand blew another
open shot. As darkness fell we made our way to F26.
Final Totals
| Kills | 16 |
| DGoose | 3 |
| YT | 3 |
| Jamdru | 2 |
| Rhino | 2 |
| Dune | 1 |
| Buggma | 1 |
| Frfx | 1 |
| Foxtwo | 1 |
| Whwk | 1 |
| Skybax | 1 |
| Loses | 12 |