Lt. James Cater

Regardless who gets elected, we are completely screwed.

Great bit of help!

With CCIP things get a lot better as far as getting the bombs on target. The only bad thing is that you'll have to practice a bit with normal sites to keep your skills up in case you decide to switch aircraft.

Yes i know it's been a while but i'm a few weeks from getting back in the air. I'm going to get everything fresh and will start right back at the beginning in 62.

I last flew IL2 back in 2004 so i figured i better ask a lot of questions. I just got ahold of IL2 Complete and plan to install sometime soon. Anyone know just how many patches etc there are to make it run nice? I'm just beginning the search. Thanks.

Thanks for the info. I want to get plenty of quality stick time so as to try flying in Wings Of Dover online and fly Blenheims.

I've been away for a bit but i haven't forgotten this place. I relocated three times and am picking up a new stick this weekend. Finished the campaign with Petersen. All went well and 24 kills were scored. Nice shooting in a Harrier! He began flying a further campaign in a Tornado and was off to a great start. When i get everything set up just right i'll most likely continue his adventures.

Just an update. Lost all internet access a few months ago. Am now relocating and will fill in info on the campaign by the end of next week. Peterson is having quite an adventure!

OCT79 Lost Hughie Tuck on a bombing mission. From what we've been able to figure out, as our F-15 escort engaged the foe to the NE of our track (we were heading due East) a pair of MIG23s made a high speed run from the North passing behind them and curving in to intercept us. We had split for the bomb run on the target about 10 miles ahead when the Hughie's AC exploded at 9 O'clock low. The RHAW was going on for a bit but we didn't know if it was MIGS, one of the three SAM sites within range or AA guns. I reacted quickly and dumped the 1000lb GP and tanks and broke hard left. Had some missles fired at me but as i was already going down fast i was able to evade them just over the treetops. Once down there i felt right and so engaged what turned out to be three MIG23s. Two of them were dispatched with sidewinders and the third buggered off after a few turns as more Yank F-15s came in from the north. Couldn't do anything else but to go home. Next mission was how it should be done. Had both RAF and USAF fighters providing a shield that shot down anything even remotely near the target area. For once we were able to do our job properly and so bombed and strafed without a care in the world. It was only on the way out when things happened. A pair of MIG27s were in the area though we ignored them as as we figured they would be shot down soon and anyways, we had work to do. As we set to leave the area to the NW the MIGs were a few miles ahead and so i decided to engage them. Well, i missed one and hit the other but he didn't seem too bad off and so just made a run for it to the east. The remaining MIG was a surprise as he slipped in behind P/O Micheal Gilroy a minute or so later (One of the New Boys) and shot him down! He then chose me as his next victim but i had an eye on him all the way. As he swung in behind he i waited a moment or two then rolled hard into a turn then reverse. It didn't take much. These MIG23/27s aren't built for low level/ low speed flying and this one was rather quickly gunned down with a single burst of 30mm. SAR couldn't get to Gilroy so he was taken prisoner. http://combatace.com/gallery/image/31071-clipboard-u17/ http://combatace.com/gallery/image/31070-img00038/

What happens in September? Life goes on.

OCT79 Milk run recce mission. Found out Hamburg area has zero AA defences. http://combatace.com/gallery/image/31069-clipboard-u16/

As it turns out i was wrong, there are two other pilots left as well. we received about 6 replacements but only one has any experience at all. Yes, campaigns can be quite tough and DiD really makes for a serious challenge. Everyone should give it a go sometime! Will be back to posting tomorrow.

5OCT79 Beautiful mission! Went out with one of the new boys this time, It was another sizable raid with lots of bomb carriers and plenty of fighters to keep the enemy away. We kept as low as possible heading to the IP NW of the target and had a great view of a big brawl going on to the north of our track. Every few seconds it seemed, another fireball was earthbound trailing dark smoke amidst the flash of large explosions as other planes blew up. Still, a few of the foe made it through and though they were concerned more on the strike coming in further south, a MIG23 was clearly seen coming in from 9 high moving to convert on our tails. Our counter was simple enough. Since we were not too far from the IP, New Boy would break right for the target and i would break hard left and judge the MIG's reaction. It was easy peasy, all things considered. It most likely looked like i was breaking into the attack while New Boy was oblivious and looking to drop some bombs. In all reality, it was just a matter of swinging round behind the MIG as it went after New Boy and letting fly with a sidewinder. Lots of light AAA at the target but it was hit. The flight home was really easy, There were so many aircraft shooting, bombing, and rocketing everything that moved below that we even went to altitude for the trip. A few more efforts like these and we'll break the back of the Red Air Force. http://combatace.com/gallery/image/31049-clipboard-u15/

Things seem to be looking up a bit. It's a stalemate at the front. The enemy hasn't made a push anywhere for the last few days and neither have there been any heavy air attacks either. Lots of recce and fighter activity on their part though. Mainly on the defensive as our side has been rather aggressive. Went out solo on the 2nd for an armed recce that i was sure would be another waste of time and fuel. Lo and behold there were some trucks and i dropped a cluster bomb on them and strafed a bit. Easy does it, then up to altitude for a look east as all kinds of activity is going on that way. It was too far out and everything seemed to have died down so back west i turned. After a few minutes, luck was with me. Basically put, had a pair of MIG23s on a northward course ahead and just below and they didn't have a clue i was there. Dove down, turned in from about 4 O'clock and let fy with the sidewinders. Missed with the first, hit with the second but only seemed to damage him a bit. Still had great position and speed so switched to guns and around we went. They didn't seem very experienced at all and so i got them both rather quickly then turned for home. The Fulda mission was just perfect. Hughie Tuck and i carried a single 1000 GP bomb each and everything went according to plan. Lots of MIG activity on our route to the target area but a combination of USAF, RAF, and Luftwaffe fighters to the east and south were seemingly shooting down every Russian in sight. Down onto the target, flak was suppressed, bombs away, target destroyed, then back to altitude and home we go. By this time our fighters were mainly getting set to leave but more MIGs were coming into the area. Not that it was doing them any good but still. We got reports of an F-15 going down 20 miles east so we turned and went to take a look. Fortune then smiled. A flight of Luftwaffe F-4s were being chased by MIGs as they were withdrawing and crossed ahead of us at high speed from 1 O'clock about 8 miles off and seconds later some MIG 23s came into sight. They were onto those Phantoms so much they didn't even move to engage us as we manoeuvred onto their six. Two sidewinders, two MIG23s. As we reversed to clear our tails, more action was going on at 12 low. An F-15 going west at speed was being tracked by a MIG21 so it was a matter of split essing down and going to guns. This MIG pilot was smarter though and hit full burner and turned away from the Eagle to try to outrun us. We had every advantage though, position, fuel, teamwork and weapons. Hughie was cleared to engage as there was no way to close to gun range anytime soon and as he was in a perfect spot just above and to the left of me it was a foregone conclusion. One sidewinder later and one burning MIG down on the outskirts of Fulda. http://combatace.com/gallery/image/31038-clipboard-u13/ http://combatace.com/gallery/image/31041-clipboard-u14/ http://combatace.com/gallery/image/31039-img00024/ http://combatace.com/gallery/image/31040-img00028/

30SETPT79 1OCT79 We are, for all intents and purposes, finished as a squadron. We have replacements but everyone but myself is gone. Marshall was downed by heavy groundfire on the airstrike and the rest as well as one of the new men on the CAP. Doesn't seem to matter downing two more of the enemy, we are done. http://combatace.com/gallery/image/31024-clipboard-u11/ http://combatace.com/gallery/image/31025-clipboard-u12/ http://combatace.com/gallery/image/31026-img00022/