We played one huge mission on Friday evening.  The target was the ball-bearing factories of Schweinfurt, Germany.  The American forces consisted of 20 B-17Fs, representing the 381st BG, that were escorted by 6 elements of P-47Cs.  This force was intercepted by 7 German elements (4 Fw-190As & 3 Bf-109Gs). The FWs ended up tangling with the escorts while the experienced Bf-109 leader, Steve Keifer, told the other two rookie players, Doug Sun & Pratik Multani, to "follow him after the bombers". The trio braved the B-17 defensive fire and lost 1 fighter (Doug's Bf-109 leader) but they managed to down a B-17 (that wasn't by the "Exploding Fuel Tank") on turn 2. At the end of turn 3, the escorts managed to shoot down 6 FW-190As and 1 Bf-109G for the lost of 1 escort and 1 bomber.

    But during turns 4-to-7, a special mission fuel rule required the escorts to leave and the initial engaging German elements to disengage to return to base and refuel and rearm. The German players then flew another set of planes, plus 2 more German players joined in for a total of 9 fighter elements.  This represented the Luftwaffe Fighter Command committing more fighter groups into the battle.

    As the Americans experienced in 1943, unless they have long-range escorts, the bombers will get mauled. The same was true here as 13 bombers were lost getting to the target zone, with two more damaged that they had to leave the main formation and head for home as stragglers. That left 4 bombers to bomb the target. Flak made one more bomber a straggler and the last 3 bombers were shot down on the first home-bound turn before the escorts could have a chance to return on turn 14. The three damaged planes made it back to England because the Germans didn't make an effort to go after them. "It was a great day for the Luftwaffe!".

Turn 1 -

B-17, The Green Hornet, shoots down Sun's Bf-109 Leader.  Pilot bails out.

Turn 2 -

Forrest's wingman, Flynn, shoots down Kaczmerek's Fw-190 leader, Wolfenstein. Wolfenstein bails out.

Ryder's leader, Whitter, shoots down Lane's Fw-190 leader, Sussmann. Sussman bails out.

Multani's Bf-109 wingman, Steiner, shoots down unnamed B-17. (First B-17 downed).

Jones' leader, Tracy, blows up Coveney's leader, Vogel. Vogel is killed.

Scott's wingman, shoots down Kaczmerek's Fw-190 wingman (now lone leader), Hoffbrau. Hoffbrau bails out.

Turn 3 -

Forrest's wingman, Flynn, shoots down Multani's Bf-109 leader, Bahr. Bahr is killed.

Smith's wingman, Schmitt, shoots down Lam's P-47 leader, Lawson. Lawson bails out and is captured.

Scott's wingman, shoots down Smith's Fw-190 leader, Augenweiss. Augenwiss bails out.

Scott's leader, shoots down Smith's Fw-190 wingman, Schmitt. Schmitt bails out.

The 11 remaining US P-47 escorts reaches the limit of their range, disengages and returns to England.  At this point, 1 P-47 & 1 B-17 were lost.  Six Fw-190s and 2 Bf-109s were shot down, plus 1 Bf-109 was heavily damaged.

Game note: Coveney, Kaczmerek and Smith leaves the mission. Joining in the German side until the escorts return are Jones, Markevich, Forrest, Scott and Ryder, all flying Fw-190As.

Turn 4 -

Lane's Fw-190 wingman (now leader), von Cramm, shoots down B-17, Strato Sam. (Second B-17 downed).

Scott's Fw-190 wingman, Fredrik Ufholivood, blows up B-17, Chug-A-Lug-Lulu. (Third B-17 downed).

Turn 5 -

B-17, Damfino, becomes a straggler.  Forrest's Fw-190 leader, Kleperer, shoots down Damfino. (Fourth B-17 downed).

Scott's Fw-190 wingman, Fredrik Ufholivood, shoots down his second B-17, Hell's Angels. (Fifth B-17 downed).

Markevich's Fw-190 leader, Schmidt, shoot down B-17, Malfunction III.  (Sixth B-17 downed).

Keifer's Fw-190 wingman, Heintsmann, shoots down B-17, Sweet Le Lani. (Seventh B-17 downed).

Keifer's Fw-190 leader, Stein, shoots down B-17, The Hellion. (Eighth B-17 downed).

Turn 6 -

Multani's Fw-190 wingman, Mayer, shoots down B-17, Old Flak Sack. (Ninth B-17 downed).

Sun's Fw-190 wingman, Sontag, shoots down B-17, Feather Merchant. (Tenth B-17 downed).

Keifer's Fw-190 leader, Stein, shoots down his second B-17, The Green Hornet. (Eleventh B-17 downed).

Turn 7 -

Ryder's Fw-190 wingman, Matic, shoots down B-17, Lucifer Jr. (Twelfth B-17 downed).

Markevich's Fw-190 wingman, Meyer, blows up B-17, Whale's Tail II.  (Thirteenth B-17 downed).

Multani's Fw-190 wingman, Matic, shoots down his second B-17, Our Mom. (Fourteenth B-17 downed).

Remaining 6 B-17s approaches target zones.  Luftwaffe fighters breaks off to rearm and refuel.  Losses: 13 additional B-17s are lost while only 2 Fw-109A & 1 Bf-109G are damaged.  Two B-17s, The Joker & Old Sawbuck, are straggles and descend to low level and return to England.  Only 4 B-17 continues on towards Schweinfurt.

Turn 8, 9 & 10 -

Flak damages another B-17, Iris, and Iris becomes a straggler, leaves formation and returns to England.

Turn 11 -

Game Note: Jones, Markevich, Forrest, Scott and Ryder's Fw-190A elements have been replaced with Bf-109Gs.  Lane, Keifer, Multani and Sun's elements are also Bf-109Gs, with Multani and Sun's wingmen flying in their second missions.

Markevich's new Fw-190 wingman, Schiller, shoots down B-17, Big Time Operator.  (Fifteenth B-17 downed).

Multani's first BF-109 wingman, Steiner, shoots down his second B-17, Chap's Flying Circus. (Sixteenth B-17 downed).

Sun's first BF-109 wingman, Steiner, shoots down B-17, Lucky Lady. (Seventeenth B-17 downed).

Turn 12 - At this point, Luftwaffe HQ recalls all fighters as force of new P-47s are detected approaching Belgium.  They will escort home the 3 damaged straggles, Iris, The Joker, and Old Sawbuck.

Total losses: 17 B-17s and 1 P-47 to 8 Luftwaffe fighters and 4 damaged fighters.

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