The Double D's

[Lt. James Cater 62]

http://combatace.com/gallery/image/19747-n12/

http://combatace.com/gallery/image/19748-n13/

http://combatace.com/gallery/image/19749-n14/

23APR65

 

This is war and losses are to be expected, but they always hurt when they happen.

 

Everett Olmstead and his right seater 2LT Abraham Able are MIA after being shot down heading out of the target area.

 

Everything was routine until literally seconds before we were going to begin our attack on the primary target. A flight of SPADs was hitting the same place and they also got what we were coming after. Decisions, decisions and Everett was going after a triple A position while me and Andy would drop on other buildings on the enemy base. There were a lot of other aircraft in the area and the flak was suprisingly fierce. As we set up for our attack, we could hear damage calls on the radio and actually saw an earthbound fireball a few miles to SW of the target as a plane went down.

 

The attack itself was no problem as we manuvered to get the best setup and dove in from the NW. We had plenty of time to look things over and made a drop that walked our bombs (14 MK82s) across the base.

 

My horrible error was in making a climbing turn out to sea instead of staying low and fast. I was fine even though i was taking some fire as i would soon be out of range. When Everett tried to close up he was losing airspeed and exposing himself like a shooting gallery pigeon. Someone saw his plane going down trailing smoke and crashing just offshore but didn't see any chutes in the area.

Edited April 30, 2011 by Lt. James Cater

[Slartibartfast 153]

Nice... tried to fly with the A-26 but system keeps hanging... to be honest I think I have a screwed merged install... oh well uninstall and a reinstall of everything again...

[Lt. James Cater 62]

One big plus about the Invader...

 

You can carry enough ordnance to do serious damage in one pass. My current loadout for a strike is 14 MK82s divided between the bay and wing stations. That is good enough to do a tornado's worth of destruction provided one gets a good line to drop on. For CAS, i like a combination of M36E2 clusters and napalm

[Lt. James Cater 62]

http://combatace.com/gallery/image/19760-n15/

http://combatace.com/gallery/image/19761-n16/

APR65

 

Back into the swing of things.

 

Had a nice time working over Charlie. Marine and ARVN patrols have been finding evidence of lots of enemy activity to the just below the DMZ and so we were fragged to provide a few planes to hit them whenever they popped up. It was only a matter of waiting and sure enough, the VC showed themselve by ambushing some Marines.

 

It was a rather cut and dried affair after that. We flew down loaded with CBUs and napalm and rained down hell on Charlie.

 

The Dong Hoi strike was an improvement on our strike procedures.

 

1LT Robert Autrey and his co-pilot 1LT Charles Baker came along and we did the usual route heading passing of the Mu Gia pass. Make you wonder if this area is the sole place in North Vietnam that is devoid of AA guns. Anyways, we went over the coast and then turned back once we cleared the Arrowhead.

 

We had a pair of Huns out of Da Nang doing flak suppression and they had great timing. Just as we swung around at the IP they showed up and we went in.

 

It was really nice. The guns opened up on as we broke through the clouds but we had the advantage. Bombs away and full throttle towards the hills at 1500ft!

 

The fire was there but it was inaccurate. A few evasive dips and we soon were out of range. Then it was a climb back to altitude and home we went.

[Lt. James Cater 62]

http://combatace.com/gallery/image/19787-n18/

http://combatace.com/gallery/image/19788-n19/

http://combatace.com/gallery/image/19789-n20/

NOV1965

 

Rob and Charles are dead.

 

Just before their last mission they went out with us, Captain Evans,and 2LT Alfred Brown on an armed recce. It was strickly routine so that's all i'll say about that.

 

What did them in was a strike on an NVA artillery position.

 

The Marines had been pushing hard to the north to clear the area below the DMZ and were rather successful except for one area where they were getting hheavy fire from Artillery dug in up in the hills.

 

That's where we came in. Major strikes were planed in the area and we were slotted to go after the guns along with some SPADs out of Pleiku. With all the whiz bang jets around it makes one wonder why they wanted a bunch of prop jobs to do the job but i just figured that with the lousy weather, only we could get down at a decent enought speed to see things enough to drop.

 

It took a lot of time to figure out who else would go. so in light of the importance of the target, i decided to ask Rob and Charles the day before to do it since they were top flight pros. Of course they agreed and it was on.

 

Everything was normal until just after the IP.

 

Flak started coming up from a base area we knew of near our route but we assumed they didn't have any heavy stuff. We were right back in April, by now there are big guns every where up north. As we approached our tip in point, we could see heavy AA fire being directed at the flak supressors as well as the Spads which droped just before we began our attack. To say the target wqas defended is an understatement. They had a lot of 57mm and 85mms banging away at everything that flew, including us. As soon as we heard Rob call "bombs away" we looked dead at the target and let fly ourselves with 5 CBUs. Just as we were begginning to get out of there a blinding flash showed above us and we knew it was bad when we couldn't get Rob or Charles on the radio.

 

They took a direct hit from what was most likely an 85mm round in the main tanks and their plane simply disintergrated. There was nothing we could do so we headed on our egress towards the coast. We were just about to pass near another patch of guns when luckily, a fast mover launching rockets at one attracted their fire and so warned us of the danger. We veered to the SE and after a minute or so we heard of some Marines in a fight with Charlie. Me and Andy looked at each other and called it in. We found them in short order and made multiple passes shooting the hell out of them with our .50s.

 

By the time we were heading climbing for the trip home, we heard more about the artillery site. The place was so infested with guns that it took six fast movers to neutralize the area. Even then, a Navy A4 was shot up bad and his wingman downed by the guns.

 

What a lousy day!

 

http://combatace.com/gallery/image/19790-img00431

[Lt. James Cater 62]

http://combatace.com/gallery/image/19821-n21/

http://combatace.com/gallery/image/19822-img00434/

NOV65

 

Another lousy mission.

 

Suffering losses in the worst ways.

 

Four of us went out on an armed recce near an NVS basecamp. We found the camp when some serious tripple A opened up on us but 1LT Darrell Mckee found some trucks that i sent him to take a closer look at a potential target. As the rest of us whipped it around to head back towards Mckee, something went wrong since 2LT Imants Shannon lost control and went in.

 

Danm it all.

 

Well we worked over the trucks something fierce with CBUs and rockets and blew the hell out of them. We still had to worry about going to far south down the valley as the NVA were shooting for all they were worth every time we got within range.

 

When i saw Mckee heading for the guns, i figured maybe he was going to make a turn near them and head back towards the trucks. Instead, he made a run to drop his CBUs and was promptly shot down. As i circled back to make a run on the last truck, i saw his plane going down trailing smoke and impacting about a mile NE of the basecamp. Didn't see any chutes.

 

The only good news of the day was finding another NVA base and making a successful drop on it. As i sent Capt Evans on home just a bit before me and Andy did, he went to altitude while i stayed low. We had an idea that something was in the area since some Huns heading North earlier drew some fire near our flightpath and we could easily see the smoke from the bursts. We figured it as a pair of 100mm guns and who knew what else.

 

The what else turned out to be a quad 14.5 and a self propelled dual 57mm setup. We got one of the big guns on our initial pass and missed on the 14.5 with some rockets on the second. Instead of pusing our luck we decided to go home as we had this place marked on our map and will be back soon.

Edited May 17, 2011 by Lt. James Cater

[Lt. James Cater 62]

http://combatace.com/gallery/image/19834-n23/

8NOV65

 

Two flights. Milk run except for the horrible conditions over the target area due to clouds and ridgelines. Only a single plane dropped.

 

We went home and that was it.

Edited May 6, 2011 by Lt. James Cater

[Lt. James Cater 62]

NOV65

 

Just to let you know that i did two more missions and somehow lost the AARs.

 

Not to much to report. On the first we went down to a VC camp SW of Da Nang. Midway on the trip, we overflew that NVA basecamp and our B flight went to work on them while the rest of us went after the main target. After that was done, we went back up and finished off what we could find.

 

The second was a big fiasco.

 

A combination of wrong ammo and lousy luck made for a busted mission as we mised a warehouse located just downriver of the Ben Thuy plant.

 

At least we didn't get hit as we made two passes through some hot fire.

Edited May 17, 2011 by Lt. James Cater

[Lt. James Cater 62]

Will be back in the skies in a while. Had a really intense and classic mission wiped out by a program crash just minutes from from landing. Have been doing something else the last few days as i was feeling burnout approaching.

[Jaman 5]

Have been rather uninspired to play Korea, so after spent quite a few days flying over Flanders, Cambrai and Israel; I´m back to business.

 

http://combatace.com/gallery/image/19926-briefing6/

http://combatace.com/gallery/image/19927-debrief6/

 

Pretty much rutinary recon mission over Sondok port. Climbed to 20000ft for a comfortable journey there and swimmed through the AAA fire to get the pictures. Nothing else to report, quite a boring mission.

 

http://combatace.com/gallery/image/19928-m6p1/

[Jaman 5]

http://combatace.com...9930-briefing7/

http://combatace.com...9931-debrief7a/

http://combatace.com...9932-debrief7b/

 

The reds have launched an offensive against the city of Seul. The 80th squadron was ordered to support the 1st Armored division defending the city.

The flight to Seul was uneventful, the good weather allowed us good visual of everyhing up to several miles. We must have arrived at the city too soon, because nothing was happening.

I thought it could have been a false alarm when the radio chattered something about enemy troops. Soon the whole city was englufed into an all out battle with T-34 tanks rolling through the streets opposed by our own Shermans.

http://combatace.com...age/19934-m7p2/

 

Without losing a moment me and my wingmen dived, dropping bombs and launching rockets all over the place. The effect seemed to be minimal. Then we engaged with our .50cal machineguns, not the best thing to attack a T-34, specially when they decide to jam (why would anyone decide to keep this guns as our main weapons 5 years after the second world war, is beyond me).

http://combatace.com...age/19933-m7p1/

 

As we kept trying to strafe them, the reds kept pushing and eventually they´ve got to the center of the city where they stopped. We fought until the ammo ran out. I called RTB and we moved home, once again, without any opposition from the North Korean air force.

http://combatace.com...age/19935-m7p3/

 

Even though they conquered the center of the town, it seems their casualties were too high and had to retread shortly after. Our mission was considered as a success, although my wingmen effectiveness was less than amusing (I´d very much like to choke them myself).

[Lt. James Cater 62]

http://combatace.com/gallery/image/19921-n26/

15NOV65

 

Great mission!

 

Me and Andy along with Captain Charles Evans and 2LT Eddie Io were loaded up with 5 CBUs each for a strike at an enemy base camp. It seems that intel tracked some trucks to a location in southern Laos and wanted us to screw up the works by taking out some of the personnel in that area.

 

It was a routine flight down there and the only glitch was having to circle 20 miles out due to being a little earlier than a pair af fast movers (F-4s) that were due to handle the guns that were there. Well, they came in firing rockets and got a number of secondaries which told us this was some sort of refueling facility. Down we went and made a beautiful drop with only machine gun tracers to deal with. 10 CBUs went off over and around the target area withing seconds of each other and we got some nice secondaries also.

 

Job done, back to altitude and home.

[Lt. James Cater 62]

Nice work Jaman!

 

One of these days i'm going to have to try flying in Korea.

[Lt. James Cater 62]

http://combatace.com/gallery/image/19966-n28/

http://combatace.com/gallery/image/19965-n27/

http://combatace.com/gallery/image/19967-n29/

NOV65/MAY66

 

Had a really bad time near the Arrowhead. Decided to bring along plenty of company but it went very bad.

 

Armament problems meant that some could be effective and the gunners down there got their fill. Olmstead (who had just gotten back from being downed) Basel, and Brown were shot down. We got a truck convoy but it wasn't worth it.

 

After being off ops for a while we went back into action.

 

It was a beautiful piece of work as we came in just as a B-52 strike was working across the target area. Whatever those guys down there they wanted to take out were doing ended for sure as we rained down 10 CBUs in quick order upon their heads.

[Jaman 5]

http://combatace.com...0002-briefing8/

http://combatace.com...3-debriefing8a/

http://combatace.com...4-debriefing8b/

 

Some naval interdiction for the 80th. Recon Navy units have spotted a North Korean cargo ship moving close to the coast from Vladivostok, probably in rute to Sondok. Our orders were to sink it.

 

Once again the weather was pleasent. On our way to the target several other planes joined us, a couple of F-51 Mustangs tasked with the destruction of the port AAA guns and four F-84s who had to escort us.

And a good thing the Thunderjets were there because a pair of Yaks jumped us just 10 miles away from the target. The F-84 did their job and engaged in a heated dogfight with the reds.

 

Thanks to that we could engage the ship that was already leaving the port full speed ahead. My wingman beat me to it and dropped his 1000lb bombs right into the target causing a tremendous explosion. A few minutes later the ship was resting at the bottom of the sea.

 

(I wanted to take screenshoots of the explosion by my wingman was faster than I expected and caught me off guard, I couldn´t take any)

 

We were RTB when I heard one of the F-84s screaming for help with a Yak right on his tail (for crying out loud, couldn´t he just speed up and leave it behind?). I turned on him, climbing a little and then I saw the Yak around 3000ft below me going the opposite direction. I took the chance and dived on him sending a 3 second burst right on top of him that sawed his nose off completly. After that me and the Thunderjets went RTB reaching home sound and safe.

http://combatace.com...age/20005-m8p1/

[Jaman 5]

http://combatace.com...0007-briefing9/

http://combatace.com...0008-debrief9a/

http://combatace.com...0009-debrief9b/

 

The s**t has hit the fan.

 

This day was supposed to be the start of a new bombing campaign against the reds, a campaign that would have pushed them kicking and screaming into China. Our squadron was ordered to bomb some ammunition factories at Wonsan.

http://combatace.com...age/20010-p1m9/

 

Even though our mission was a success, the campaign itself is in danger, the whole air superiority is in danger. The Mig-15 has arrived. A bitch capable of outgun, outmanouver and outclimb every and all of our jet fighters actually present in Korea.

http://combatace.com...age/20011-p2m9/

 

We were lucky to arrive early. We dropped our bombs 5 minutes before any other airplane reached their assigned targets and quickly went RTB. As we were egressing a battle in the air erupted right behind us.

The B-29s were the first ones to spot the Migs. Soon two of them fell down in flames. The F-84s and Panthers joined the fight after dropping their bombs, but to little effect. They just could not keep up with the Migs.

http://combatace.com...age/20012-p3m9/

 

We arrived back to base without problems, but I´m not sure if we will be so lucky next time.

[Slartibartfast 153]

Back in Action WOE 1st Gen Style.

 

Wings Over Africa.

 

Pilot :- Lt Wolfgang Kurz 1st Gruppe/JG26 "Schlagetr"

 

Operation Skorpion 5th June 1941

 

No Missiles this one so is a great test of Dogfighting etc...

 

First flight:-

 

Sweep over Sofafi looking for trouble.

 

Flight of 4 Bf-109 E7 Loadout 1 Droptank full guns

 

Pilots Lt Kurz, Lt Schubert, Hptm Münchberg and Lt Johnen

 

Take off at 08:00hrs and headed to the target area 45 minutes away. As we motored into the area we spotted a fight on the ground so we headed towards it and spotted 3 twin motor Blenheims running in so we dove on them shooting them down in very short order. As we started to climb back up though we where bounced by 6-8 Hurricanes as far as I could tell 4 went after the others while 2 picked on me. I engaged one in a headon attack neither causing any hits this then turned into a free for all and we shot them all up and down. My fight was hectic trying to nail one while staying out of the way of the others guns. Which I was successful at and my wingman came and shot the one off my tail and the other 2 cleared up the rest. Whilst all this was going on a flight of Italian Ju-87B's flew in and hit the tommies position but it was all to no avail as our troops where pushed back.

 

Kills :-

 

Kurz 3 2 Blenheims 1 Hurricane

Schubert 3 1 Blenheim 2 Hurricanes

Münchenberg 1 Hurricane

Johnen 3 Hurricanes

 

We lost Johnen as his last kill he crashed into his opponent. He jumped and landed safely though he was captured and is now a POW.

 

 

Only Screenie due to flight being too busy in the dogfighting...

[Slartibartfast 153]

Well back to service as usual...

 

Close Air Support for a team attacking Sofafi

 

Bf-109E7 Gun's and 250Kg Bomb

 

Pilots Lt Kurz, Lt Schubert, Hptm Münchberg and Oblt Hohagen

 

Well back up we go and with barely time to drink an ersatz. Back in the hunt though this time we are hitting ground targets. Briefed back to the same area to hit a stubborn dug in set of Armoured cars. Take of and join up as soon as possible and head straight to the area at high speed. On the way out we had no problems lined up and proceeded to hit the targets we all killed an armoured vehicle what the tommies call a Humber. During the dive attack I had most of my tail shot off but proceeded to attack a pair of Blenheim bombers and shooting them both down. Landing was interesting as my tail feathers where severely holed. We all made it back safely with only mine damaged by a few 15mm bullet holes... and so the war rolls on. Makes my score 5 now.

 

Kills :-

 

Kurz 3 2 Blenheims 1 Humber

Schubert 1 Humber

Münchenberg 1 Humber

Hohagen 1 Humber

[Lt. James Cater 62]

Just to let everyone know, i'm back in action and will post details of my latest mision when i get home from work tommorrow.

[Lt. James Cater 62]

I'm out of action until who knows when, but i'll be back as soon as i can!

[Lt. James Cater 62]

Looks like i'll be back in action within two weeks. I've recently moved and i have to go get my gear out of storage and set up in my new location.

[CockPit2014 5]

 

Rule No.1 when a pilot dies he is gone for good. You will have to create a new one starting from square one again

 

 

Does this mean that if a pilot is MIA in a Single Mission or a Campaign could he/she be used again?

[Lt. James Cater 62]

Does this mean that if a pilot is MIA in a Single Mission or a Campaign could he/she be used again?

 

The way it's been done before MIA is end of pretty much end of story. Personally, i would be inclined to roll some dice and give something like a 10% chance of the pilot being among the living.

 

PS will be out for a bit longer as i have to get a new monitor and joystick

[CockPit2014 5]

The way it's been done before MIA is end of pretty much end of story. Personally, i would be inclined to roll some dice and give something like a 10% chance of the pilot being among the living.

 

PS will be out for a bit longer as i have to get a new monitor and joystick

 

Thanks

[Lt. James Cater 62]

I'm finally flying again. Have done one mission in WOE and will do another before writing them up.

 

DID IS BACK!!!!

 

Have five missions done in a Thud WOE! Game On!

Edited June 4, 2012 by Lt. James Cater