AAR TOD 2 - "Begining of the end" frame 1

Date: 7.9.2001

Vikings' Roster:

GA
Duvel
Guiness
Malm
Bozon

Plane:

B-26

Mission:

We were assained to attack a factory at 10.8-6.
B-26 fully loaded with 250kg bombs and fighter escort.

Events:

Our escort didn't show up (#$&!@#@!).
like dogs in a bangkok resturant, it was obvious we were facing certain death.

vikings at dawn

In order to avoid enemy patrols we headed south over the ocean and then straight east for the target.
When we go "feet dry", GA spots dots at our 9 (txt message sent 15 sec. from time the dots became visible - VG GA!)
We go full throttle at the target for a quick drop, but malm is lagging d1.9 behind.
he gets attacked first by 6 ki61's.

malm defending

With a spectacular desplay of gunnery, he turns 2 of them into a fire ball, 1 hurt bad and disappeared (probably bailed) and 1 smoking. Finally, the fifth gets him as we make the delivery.

As malm is spanking the rude ki61's, we set a bombing run over the target.
here is guinness from an unusual view:

watch the head Guinness...

I declare taking the right side of the target, Guinness declares left and Duvel+GA take the middle.
Ii release only 4 bombs on a small structure, a large one and a gun position. Can't see the damage in the recording.

bombs away

At that moment, 4 nikis appear at our 9, co-alt. We try to stay together and defend:

run away!

first niki is in and goes for Duvel. they take out each other:

Duvel down

We have to turn back, and that is the monent the nikis are waiting for.
Now there are 2 ki61 and 6 nikis playing, 3 of us left:

3 vikings left & them damn nikis closing in on us

2 N1K's approach my 6 while i'm turning and can't shoot.
I jump to the top gun but as i do so the plane goes auto-level and i get only a few shots before the nik is in my tail. Return fire! I jump to the rear gunner but too late.

Return fire! one wing... oops

My B26 looses a wing and plunges down in smoke.
Malm is Guiness' gunner I think, and still pounding the japs. I use my last seconds for a last request:

"Tell my wife I lov..."

In this final pic U can see the 2 ki61 and 6 nikis go after GA.
I don't know if we got more of them but we all end up in the tower.
(at least we skipped the long boring flight back... )

Watch 6 GA !

Totals:
5 vikings up in B26 - 5 down.
6 ki61 - 4 down
7 n1k - 1 down

That's 5 for 5! not bad for a bunch of bombers...
maybe we got more of them while i died.

Conclusion:

1. We used only small portion of our ammo. in cases of "no second drop", we should use more salvo or use more bombs per target.
2. Taking 250 libs makes it a lot of small bombs. we'll never get more than 2 passes. so unless we have a lot of targets, we better take fewer but bigger bombs.
3. I recomend malm for a decoration:
   "for displaying superior marksmanship skills as a gunner, and single handedly delaying 6 enemy fighters in his B26 as his squad-mates go for the target" <S>

Waiting for my viking funeral (use a big boat will ya?)
Bozon