The Double D's

[Lt. James Cater 62]

Cocas,

 

a bit of hard learned advice.

 

On CAPs,Intercepts,and Sweeps bring at least two Flights. Preferably the entire squadron. Anything short of an F-15 is in critical danger with only a single Flight as you will be badly outnumbered in trying to get the primaries as well as the escorts.

 

Welcome to DiD!

[+KnightWolf45 1,147]

ok thanks for tip

[+Cliff7600 1,120]

Welcome to DiD Cocas!

That was the typical first mission ever with a DiD pilot. Good luck!

 

Yes Lt. the Sabres are a big concern and the only F-105 I shot at were slow. I never saw one of them since, too fast!

I have to find something to break from the fight when Bingo fuel, because if I run away safely with full AB, my wingmen get caught and shot.

 

 

6^th mission

 

1 Esk. 39 PML, Kluczewo AB – MiG-19P

 

10/31/62 Take off : 15.15 – Landing : 16.50

 

Target : Diepholz, Sweep

 

4 Aircrafts

 

We’re paying back. Flying to Diepholz was a long trip from Kluczewo.

 

We engaged four F-100. They fought a weird way, different than we saw till then, faster and higher. We learned later that they were French F-100. It was 4 vs 4 and it took long before I shot down my opponent. 2Lt Pawlikowski didn’t win but punched out and was rescued suffering few injuries. I joined up to Capt Wojciechowski and shot down his adversary. We were low on fuel so we set a course to the east but the enemies back up hunted Lt Grzech and shot him down near Bückeburg. Jan is safe.

 

Running out of fuel, I made an emergency landing at Finow AB while Capt Wojciechowski RTBed without problem.

 

I got promoted to Lt grade, and our troops are in Nürnberg.

 

 

7^th mission

 

1 Esk. 39 PML, Kluczewo AB – MiG-19P

 

11/01/62 Take off : 15.15 – Landing : 15.43

 

Target : Gross Dölln, CAP

 

2 aircrafts, #2 : 2Lt Maciej Surma

 

What a failure!!!

 

The mission was to perform a patrol near to the frontier, almost at home.

 

We intercept two F-100 and a difficult dogfight went to a tie. Bingo fuel, we RTBed but one of the Super Sabre followed us and jumped on us while we were on approach. I was Winchester so I wasn’t able to do anything but seeing the bastard shooting down 2Lt Maciej Surma who didn’t survive. It’s our first human loss and it was right here at home.

 

 

8^th mission

 

1 Esk. 39 PML, Kluczewo AB – MiG-19P

 

11/03/62 Take off : 03.23 – Landing : 04.00

 

Target : Sperenberg area, Intercept

 

8 aircrafts for a major scramble take off.

 

We intercepted an 8 Mirage formation but they were protected by Sabres. I saw machinegun tracers all around my cockpit and had to break before get hit. Pawlikowski took out 2 sabres and Capt Wojciechowski one of them. While I was trying to catch up the Mirage without success, 2Lt Sporny won a kill against a Mirage but that wasn’t enough to break their assault. They bombed the air base and I wasn’t able to shoot at them. I didn’t see them in the dark despite of my radar.

 

We set a course back home but 2Lt karol Surma got shot down and is wounded, Capt Wojciechowski was shot down too but is safe. I was so upset I decided to chase the last enemy fighters in the area, Maj Wiza and his #4 went with me but we were low on fuel and we went back home.

 

Capt Krol had been killed right at the beginning of the fight.

 

The squadron will leave Kluczewo AB and move in Germany at Rechlin Larz AB.

Edited November 6, 2010 by Cliff11

[Lt. James Cater 62]

I'm having a bit of a problem.

 

Flowers and DeComp have flown two missions in a F-111d but the roles and equipment given are a dead end as well as having a wingman at treetop level, which is amateur hour as the AI can't possibly fly low enough to use terrain and so pop up frequently and expose themselves like a flare to enemy radars.

 

The F-111D is tasked with Strike, Sead and Tacair. Sead is a sick joke as one never knows what the targets are until you get in the area and you only have CBUs in SAM heavy territory. They are also virtually impossible to do single handed as the AI can't even handle an approach to the target area.

 

CAS is touch and go and Strike is a whole experience unto itself involving going deep into enemy territory by a single aircraft. Alone and unsupported, relying on planning, wits, and just plain guts to get the bombs on target and getting out alive.

 

F-111s were the primary deep threat for the USAF in Europe and in light of that, i'm asking if i can forgo the SEAD missions in favor of the more proper Strikes and to a lesser extent, CAS.

[+Cliff7600 1,120]

Contemporary to the F-111D there were already Wild Weasels aircrafts.

Imo, unless you have specific weapons (HARM, Maverick AGM), forget about SEAD and focus on strikes and CAS is logical.

 

Good luck with the Aardvark!

Edited November 7, 2010 by Cliff11

[Lt. James Cater 62]

CAS requires timing as to avoid coming into an area with no friendly fighters. Those i can still handle I'll disregard SEAD for a while to see if we get supplied with the needed weapons. The strike missions also take a very long time do the the routes involved. Going straight in at a target is near suicidal and even egressing requires some thought so one can pick a way through the defenses.

[Lt. James Cater 62]

http://combatace.com/gallery/image/17299-clipboard-e2jpg/

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18/19SEPT79

 

The more things change the more they stay the same.

 

MAJOR Tommy DeComp and i are back again. We went on the usual different paths on follows in the Air Force it was a hell of a thing that both of us ended up being F-111 qualified. Needless to say, once i found out that he was available strings were pulled and we were a team again. Not only that, we were were back in Bitburg!

 

Kickoff was a CAS mission. It was a complete mess since were were intercepted by some MIGsabout 20 miles short of the target area. Luckily we avoided the first attacks but our wingman could hack it so had to jettison his bombs. Earlier, i had a technical fault and lost half of my CBUs. The remaining ordnance was ineffective and the enemy rolled on. By this time, some Dutch F-16s were overhead and a nice fight broke out. As we turned to exit the area we found a MIG23 at 10 high not too far away from us and since we had a pair of the new 9Ls with us we pulled hard in his direction and it was just like the old days. A strong growl, a pull of the trigger and we had a kill!

 

A few minutes later we were on our way out and fired at another MIG but a Dutchman got him first.

 

 

On the 19th was a hell of a mission.

 

To make it brief, we took off alone and climbed up to 30,000, turning to head for the Jutland, which was a navigation point for us. We then headed east over the Baltic until we reached the IP and went down to right over the waves. Everything was fine until the pop up point 10 miles from the target as we were being tracked by a Straight Flush. Just as we fired the ordnance (24 Snakeyes) we got locked and Tommy yelled out about a SAM from 3 level. We already had the ECM going so we pumped out a combination of chaff and flares while diving back to the deck from our attack altitude of 1,000ft.

 

The SAM guided onto the chaff and exploded behind us. In the meantime we broke lock and headed out of the area at full burner. About 20 miles later we turned southwest and began the long leg back towards the front. The trip was somewhat nerve racking knowing that we were going to have to fly right under a number of Soviet aircraft returning from their missions over NATO territory. At one point we had visual on some SU15s at about 15,000ft right over us and a little later some MIG21s at 10,000 a few miles north.

 

Seeing as we are still alive, they probaly never saw us. Anyways, we were on our way out at top speed so we would have made a hard target to engage as they were probaly low on fuel to begin with.

 

Finally we got back to the front, climbed and flew the last leg back to base.

 

The way things are now, flying THUDS was a walk in the park and dueling with MIGs in an F-4 a mere diversion.

Edited November 8, 2010 by Lt. James Cater

[Slartibartfast 153]

Try an F-4G vs Su-27's thats a losing situation most times... At least the Aardvark can run fast and low to be honest I wouldn't be taking the Vark anywhere over 10000ft and that would be on the cruise home over Nato Lines...

 

Well I setup the ODS and I am getting some practice flying in and I will soon be back up driving an A-7E... I think.

[Lt. James Cater 62]

When the Vark is over enemy territory, I try not to go over 500ft if i can help it. It uses up a lot of fuel and takes a lot of concentration but is the only way to to stay alive and get the mission accomplished.

[Stingray72 6]

Yes, the ODS is a very difficult but very fun campaign. I have a few pilots started, many of them survivors of battles fought over Europe on NF4. There are a few newcomers though, flying modern Navy jets from carriers, such as the F/A-18 and the Tomcat. This all started when I was unable to get WOV 1984 to work. Cliff budy, if your reading this, wepas editor? Having problems with that; I really wanted to start an F-4S campaign :( Yeah, ODS is to pooh though!!!! There certainly is lots going on and I love flying all of the newer fighters in a desert setting. It's nice also because it's realistic, not some made made up war over Europe or Vietnam in 1984. Oh, and the A-6 E model, sweet lol. Again with the weaps editor, would be nice to get an AIM-9 on that mother. I haven't had the opportunity but once, but on that mission where I had one wing this happened: I was approaching the airfield and the enemy planes were scrampling. Up in front of me about a mile away was a big ol' transport plane. Woulda been cool to take a whack at him in my A-6!!!!

[Lt. James Cater 62]

http://combatace.com/gallery/image/17303-clipboard-e4jpg/

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20SEPT79

 

Another deja vu feeling. Back to a target that i hit in 1962!

 

This one was going to be a bit tricky since it was right smack in the center of enemy territory, that guaranteed fighters and SAMs for sure on a direct route. So we decided to come in through a side door. We decided to fly "The Woods". Done right, it would get let us come right up to the target from the south. With the majority of their defenses concentrated to the west, there should be a gap down there.

 

It worked like a charm. However, our navigation was a bit off and twice we had to dog leg further south in order to get right over the proper line. We had perfect weather and we took off and climbed to 25,000ft. As we headed east, we had many calls from control. It seems Ivan was up in force and though most of them were well north of us, something seemed to be heading our way. So it was a matter of getting to the front before they found us.

 

It was our faulty navigation that helped. Something out there at 11 O'clock was tracking us and they were closing in. At the right moment, we turned a bit to the right and went for the deck. Once down there we went full power and doglegged one more time until we were satisfied, then throttled back and settled down. The rest of this part of the mission was quite nice. Apparently, this is like a near perfect highway right into their backyard. At the IP, we turned north and went full power once again. Due to the target location, it would be a pretty long approach and to be honest, our biggest worry was having a fighter patrolling over our route.

 

It was a very tense time as as we closed to within 30 miles, Tommy gave me the heads up and got set. We were green and commited to the attack.

 

Despite flying as low as possible, the terrain couldn't really hide us and as we went to attack altitude 8 miles out, we got radar activity in an instant. 2 miles out and a SAM was on the way from 9 O'clock! DAMNDAMNDAMNDAMN!!!!!!! Chaffflarechaffflarechaffflare and ECM from standby to on. An explosion behind us and we are at release point.

 

24 Snakeyes on the way and another SAM is coming up! More chaff and flares as we dive for the trees. That does the trick as they lose track and we go full burner as we turn onto our getaway route to the northeast. Having done enough time in the weeds at high speed,we knew that 20 miles would more or less rid us of any serious pursuit. Other than a Thud, nothing else is as fast down on the deck as a Vark is.

 

As we got to within 10 miles of the front, we knew nothing was going to catch us so up to altitude we went and turned for home. We knew full well that Soviet flights were also on their way back east to the south of us and we had 2 Limas. We had a quick discussion and nixed any consideration of going hunting.

 

We burned a lot of fuel but we still had a comfortable amount at touchdown. Gives thoughts of how out of the way we can make our routes now.

Edited November 10, 2010 by Lt. James Cater

[Stingray72 6]

Sometimes discretion is the better part of valor. I feel like I have ade this post before, major deja' vu lol! I think it is good to go home when you have the chance. It's not saying you are a coward, it's thining clearly, "I have low fuel, no gun, and who knows what trouble else I will find, time to RTB".

 

I recently read "When Thunder Rolled" and Ed Rasimus came hot off a target one day in a Thud and tried to rejoin on a flight of MiG's. He had, as he put it, a fighter pilot's dream, 2 MiGs lined up for him to shoot at, but he was low on fuel and one of his systems was wonky. He opted to just pass underneat them and head home since they hadn't seen him yet, and may have saved his own neck in doing so. This guy flw over 100 mission to North Vietnam, so it wasn't bravery that held him back, it was discretion. Good judgement is every bit as big as bravery in the cockpit. Nice work!!!!!

 

~Stingray

[Lt. James Cater 62]

I've read "When Thunder Rolled" many times and that scene was something else. We could have turned south and within 20 miles found some aircraft that were most likely low on fuel,out of ammo, and completly unprepared for us coming in fast on their 6.

 

Don't let the F in front of the 111 fool you when you fly it. It's not a fighter by any stretch of the imagination.

[Lt. James Cater 62]

http://combatace.com/gallery/image/17308-clipboard-e5jpg/

21SEPT79

 

By now we have a certain method.

 

Take off, climb to altitude and fly the spot in the enemy defenses where they seem vunerable to a single aircraft slipping through. All the while keeping an eye on the RHAW and the fuel gauge.

 

This time we went north again. Straight up until we were over the coast then a slight northeast long leg to the IP. There is plenty of action going on over the front but we are rather safe as there is a wall of fighters protecting the high value asssets and covering for the CAS sorties. As we cross over the Jutland, we begin getting set for the IP miles ahead.

 

From the IP to the target is nothing fancy. We turn south and dive to right over the waves. As long as no fighters show up we will reach the pop up point with only the risk of flying over an alert AAA position.

 

30 miles out. Full military power and Tommy gives me the setup. By now we know there are radars out there looking at us. Hard to stay concealed in these flatlands so speed will ahve to do. Finally we are at the point and we pull up hard to our attack altitude. Even though we do it at 5 miles out this time, we are tracked and locked almost instantly. Just as quick is our reaction to their launching. ECM on, chaff pumped three times, micropause, three more times. An explosion behind us and we know it missed. Ordnance away and another SAM is up, repeat chaff deployment and back to just over the trees. As we abruptly plummet, lock is broken and the second SAM explodes harmlessly at 6 high.

 

As we turn to the southwest and hit full burners, we can see at 9 Oclock the smoke trails leading back to the launch site. We do our customary 20 miles at mach+ just in case and settle down for our run to the front.

 

Planning was perfect and we have no problems whatsoever on the egress. Finally back over the lines, back to altitude and the flight home.

[Lt. James Cater 62]

http://combatace.com/gallery/image/17309-clipboard-e6jpg/

22SEPT79

 

A really short mission,

 

We were on for CAS so we had CAPT Maddison/1LT Gateway along with us. nothing fancy, we just took off and headed for the target area at 5,000ft. It was about 70 miles away and by the time we got to within 30 a sizable fight was going on to the north and east of it. We were happy as it meant we should be able to sneak in, bomb, and run away.

 

What happened was that as we dropped, a pair of MIG21s bounced us from 7 high but we saw them coming and so were able to break into them as soon as all CBUs were on the way. One thing i could see in the mirrors as we hit burners pulling hard, was a stream of tracers. Judging from the intensity it must have been a pair of Shilkas but at the moment, they were the least of our worries.

 

As it turns out, the AAA probaly helped. The MIG tryng to get us would have gotten zapped from the fire if he tried to come in right behind us so he straightened up and went after Maddisson, who i just ordered to run for it. He made a feeble turn and so the Mig was right on him and fired a missle. Maddison dropped flares that decoyed the missle and luckily, some Brit F4s came into the area from the NW and distracted the MIG driver. As i was pulling around towards our egress route i pulled up towards Maddison and saw the MIG that was on his 6 begining to face the oncoming F-4. That allowed me to get the sight on him and fire a Lima.

 

Scratch one MIG21!

 

On the way out we fired the other Lima at an SU17 but were out of practical range. We then went full burner and exited the area even as the battle continued. Ivan paid hard today. We only know of two friendlies that were lost but at least a dozen of the enemy were shot down in the vicinity of the city.

[+Cliff7600 1,120]

You know that epic mission, where you get your aircraft heavily damaged and you struggle against the rudder and the stick to return to your home base, flying 100 knots and smoking black trail.

You finally land safely and you read in the debrief page that you have been killed, So unfair!!!

I had the opposite : I failed to win the DiD Darwin prize and the game was kind enough to tell me I was wounded and hospitalized.

 

9^th mission

 

1 Esk. 39 PML, Rechlin Larz AB – MiG-19P

 

11/04/62 Take off : 07.01 – Landing : --.--

 

Target : Werneuchen, CAP

 

8 aircrafts

 

It’s was a 4 ships mission before I asked Jan Grzech to lead a 2^nd flight. He said ok and we soon had three more volunteers to go with us.

 

I was looking at the map, flying at 1500m (~5000ft) and I woke up in a bed at the hospital. K….!!! What happened???

 

Jerzy and Bogdan, who were wounded too, told me that I crashed without warnings. The MiG was slowing going down and hit the ground like a belly landing. They thought I lost consciousness and they just couldn’t believe me when I told them I was reading the map.

 

Lt Chudek and 2Lt Pawlikowski won a victory, one Hunter each, but Jerzy, Bogdan and 2Lt Jeka had been shot down.

 

 

10^th mission

 

1 Esk. 39 PML, Rechlin Larz AB – MiG-19P

 

11/06/62 Take off : 09.50 – Landing : --.--

 

Target : Milowice, Intercept

 

4 aircrafts

 

I was taking off but the plane bounced when I tried to rotate. I was told by the ground crew that I lost the two wheels of the main landing gears. I will have to eject… Lt Rayski took command of my flight and went to perform the intercept. I was still flying and radioed to my wingmen to join up, they answered yes but they carried on their way. I was alone, flying much higher than them.

 

I jumped on the enemy bombers before Rayski and I had to attack them on my own. I turned to the six of the Canberras and got shot down by I don’t know who. The escort maybe. I ejected near ùsti nad Labem and felt lucky not to be injured this time.

 

 

11^th mission

 

1 Esk. 39 PML, Rechlin Larz AB – MiG-19P

 

11/07/62 Take off : 10.10 – Landing : 11.05

 

Target : Zerbst, CAP

 

4 aircrafts

 

Everything went good this time. We were informed that there were many bandits to go after and I waited a bit to choose which ones to engage. We tried to catch up some bombers on their egress and we took out four Canberras, two for Capt Wojciechowski and two for me. Very neat, the “fight” lasted 30 seconds.

 

We engaged two Mirages that were chasing a MiG-21. The hunt was high speed and they shot down the soviet before we were able to do anything. It was harsh, the Mirage pilot was quite aggressive and I wasn’t at my best. During the dogfight I radioed Wojciechowski and Chudek to RTB to avoid them to be hunted on their egress. 2Lt Kornel Sporny stayed to cover me. A second Mirage went in the battle and it was a 2 vs 2 that nobody wins. The second Mirage escaped, but my opponent after few wild moves, head on low level, broke the fight and tried to escape too. Kornel joined up as I was Winchester and shot down the Mirage.

 

Kornel landed safely at Rechlin Larz but I made an emergency landing at Brandenburg, fuel gauge at zero.

 

Three take offs from Rechlin Larz / zero landing.

Edited November 11, 2010 by Cliff11

[Lt. James Cater 62]

Wow!

 

That kind of luck is just unreal. also, it's amazing about all those MIG19s being shot down as encountering them has always been a bit of a terror for me. They are that good at dogfighting.

[+Cliff7600 1,120]

Yes, maybe the orders I give to my wingmen are not relevant to the situation.

 

About the crash, it's a first... and I don't think that will happen again.

I checked the pilot datas, it doesn't appear, shot down only 1 time. I've ejected twice plus the crash, it makes three actually.

I won't complain, +10 missions is good in comparison with the mistakes I made.

 

In fact it's the second time I crash while I was looking at the map. The first time the pilot was killed.

Edited November 12, 2010 by Cliff11

[Lt. James Cater 62]

http://combatace.com/gallery/image/17328-clipboard-e7jpg/

23SEPT79

 

A milk run!

 

We decided to be sneaky and went north at 20,000ft before turning east towards the IP. It worked, since there was some intense action on the direct route. We criused at such a leisurely rate that by the time we got to the IP, both sides had broken off and were headed home.

 

We made a usual attack and only drew meager ground fire right at the target.

 

Piece of cake!

[+Cliff7600 1,120]

12^th mission

 

1 Esk. 39 PML, Rechlin Larz AB – MiG-19P

 

11/08/62 Take off : 11.06 – Landing : 12.24

 

Target : Gütersloh, Sweep

 

8 aircrafts

 

It was a 2 ships mission but I asked Jan to come with us and Capt Wojciechowski with Marek Rayski decided to do the same, each one with a wingman. We thought that such a force would be useful when reaching the area of Gütersloh.

 

Over the target, there was no enemy so we called for an interception course and the radar controller gave us 2, 3, 4, 5 times a new course to engage some “bandits” which were supposed to fly at 10000m. We drifted till Frankfurt Am Main and I decided that was enough, there wasn’t enough fuel left anymore to engage anybody and fly back to the base. We RTBed.

 

Everyone landed safely but our troops had been repulsed.

 

BTW Capt Wojciechowski is an ace since yesterday.

[Stingray72 6]

January 23, 1991

 

Weather: CAVU

 

Time: 0721

 

23rd TFS , King Khalid AB - F-4G

 

Tiger Flight:

 

Tiger 01: 2nd LT James Notheisen

Tiger 02: 2nd Lt Halbert Smith

 

Mission: SEAD - destroy enemy anti air capabilities near Hejef AB.

 

Took off normally from King Khalid AB and flew to target area with no threats or opposition. Once near target area began picking up radar signals. fired a HARM missile and killed a Flat Face radar. proceeded to attack AAA around the AB destroying 4 gun site, 2 radar and two large caliber manned weaps. While on one of the runs I was hit several times by AAA and had to pull off target to asses damage; all clear so continued to go after AAA so the next flight could have an easier task. Fired last HARM at a threat received on my RHAW and killed an SA-8. Landed at King Khlid with no further action.

 

 

James Notheisen was awarded an Air Medal and promoted to 1LT on this flight for his actions. Congratulations!!!!

Edited November 18, 2010 by Stingray72

[Lt. James Cater 62]

Just a quick heads up. Will post report in a few hours, the real world intrudes on flying.

[+Cliff7600 1,120]

This is a sick campaign!!!

There must be a bug somewhere, I'm still alive!

I don't understand but let's see how far this will go...

 

13^th mission

 

1 Esk. 39 PML, Rechlin Larz AB – MiG-19P

 

11/09/62 Take off : 12.06 – Landing : --.--

 

Target : Bremen, CAP

 

4 aircrafts

 

Once again I asked Jan to help me for this patrol, and we took off as a 4 ships patrol.

 

We were on time over Bremen and we engaged 4 Mirage III. I turned tight and fast to chase a bandit that was winning on Marjan. I saw the French launching a missile from his port wing but with a sharp burst I took him out and Marjan escaped from the poorly maneuverable missile. Our MiG-19 are superiors in dogfight to this Mach2+ delta fighter and we were eating them. I followed Jan while he was shooting down his opponent and when I tried to engage another one I caught him up too much quickly and collided with him. Maybe he was idling… The Mig-19 must be a very strong and resistant aircraft because I wasn’t killed in this collision. I managed to open my chute and saw the Mirage’s pilot under his chute too. I was rescued but I lost another plane. My wingmen returned home safely.

 

I must be more cautious or I will be killed soon.

 

 

14^th mission

 

1 Esk. 39 PML, Rechlin Larz AB – MiG-19P

 

11/11/62 Take off : 07.38 – Landing : --.--

 

Target : Pünitz, Intercept

 

4 aircrafts

 

Scramble alert, we took off and pushed hard to intercept an enemy raid.

 

We did that perfectly and jumped on 4 F-100 before they saw us. Lt Chudek shot one down and after few maneuvers I had a victory too. Chudek got another one and we were told to bugger off. We headed to the east because they were many fighters in the area and I didn’t want to lose anybody today. But a lonely F-100 hunted us and as he was attacking my wingmen I went to his 6 o’clock. I try to shot him down but I ran out of ammo. I thought I could ram him but it would mean that I would destroy my plane. I tried to overtake him to drag him and let the guys shot him down. But he was a better pilot that I expected and he got me. I punched out.

 

The three others were safe but I lost another plane. There’s only six MiG-19 left at Rechlin Larz…

 

And one day or another I will lost my unbelievable luck and I wish I will not be in flight that day.

 

I’m promoted to Captain rank.

Edited November 20, 2010 by Cliff11

[Stingray72 6]

Dang luck lol, you better hope the campaign ends before yo are outta planes!!!

 

Also, how the heck do you get promoted to Capt for getting shot down? In the USCG if I run a boat aground on anything but for emergencies I lose my letter and a stripe.....

 

 

~Stingray

[+Cliff7600 1,120]

When things go bad and get worse, promotion goes quicker