JUMPING JACK CRASHES INTO CHANNEL

Beset by a veritable swarm of fighters JUMPING JACK'S RUDDER was destroyed causing the PILOT to lose control and crash into the sea. 4 chutes but only the PILOT made it.

JUMPING JACKS TOUR BEGINS

The two veteran crewmen of BAD APPLES I-VI both died of wounds sustained during mission 25. Tragic really.

I've begun again with  a fresh crew and A/C and already bombed (or rather missed completely) St Omer. Some screenshots.

MISSION 25 FOR ONE AT LEAST

Following 3 disastrous missions on the trot our 2 survivors join a crew of new guys for missions 25 and 24 of their tours. Bremen again.

Total losses so far 43 men killed and 5 B-17s.

BAD APPLES III CRASHES INTO THE NORTH SEA

4 Me 109s attacked in ZONE 2. No ESCORTS appeared to help. The PORT WING ROOT was destroyed and BAD APPLES III crashed with 6 CHUTES counted. 5 of the crew survived and were rescued. One already WIA before he bailed out could not survive in the water.

BAD APPLES HEADED BACK TO ST NAZAIRE

I admit to a certain feeling of trepidation. St Nazaire mission 19 gave BAD APPLES III a real scare. This time they enjoy a slightly better formation position and EXCELLENT fighter cover from P-38s that should be some help right out to zone 7.  I'm saving this one for the morning when I'm fresh and able to focus properly. I'll try to post a few screenshots as I go along.

So far 25 men have died manning BAD APPLES I, II and III. 7 of them BOMBARDIERS.

Update - They didn't make it to St Nazaire but had to land in SW England after the Starboard Tail Section was destroyed.

BAD APPLES III LOG UP TO MISSION 15 - WILHELMSHAVEN

This paints a rather grim picture. 18 KIA and 2 B-17s lost. Only the ENGINEER remains from BAD APPLES I. It seems to be dangerous in the NOSE - with 7 KIA already. The rest are evenly spread across the other 8 crew-stations. A lot of destroyed fighters, though we might allow for a little over-reporting. Bombing is poor overall but with some better percentages mixed in. Funnily enough, the third best score was achieved with a destroyed bomb-sight - bombing by blind chance.

The crew is gaining experience and can give the Luftwaffe pause for thought. They will have their work cut out as more and more missions are flown beyond the range fighter cover. The Thunderbolts and Lightnings do great work but still leave little gaps even before zone 5 and 6. 

I can't pretend my simulation is in any way accurate but it does capture the feel of those early months quite well. It feels dangerous but the B-17 (if not the crew) can survive a lot of punishment and still bomb and return. Often I've felt this is it as 3-4 BANDITS close in only to see them driven off or the B-17 soak up hit after hit.

BAD APPLES III lead bomber for KIEL Mission

Quite nervous about this one....

Set upon by fighters in ZONE 3 with ESCORTS nowhere to be seen. BOMB BAY doors jammed and had to turn back. Stacks of FW190s on the way back but no-one seriously hurt.

Bremen next!

BAD APPLES II is no more

Despite being in the MIDDLE position BAD APPLES II is quite exposed. As it happened, fighters pounced in ZONE 2 and both PILOTS were WIA. Nevertheless BAD APPLES II flew on to the target and scored 11% hits, only to have the NOSE destroyed by FLAK and both NAVIGATOR and BOMBARDIER KIA. The return journey was fraught but no further damage was incurred. BAD APPLES II had to be abandoned because no officer remained to attempt a landing.

BAD APPLES and BAD APPLES II

BAD APPLES II ready for ABBEVILLE. Only the ENGINEER survives from the initial crew of BAD APPLES.

BAD APPLES II does have a good crew though. HEROIC 10ML TOP and BALL GUNNERS and ML 8 BOMBARDIER and RADIO-OP. Between them they provide good all around defensive fire.

The BOMBADIER has also landed the plane safely when both pilots were KIA.

ANOTHER ONE BITES THE DUST!

RAININ'HELL caught fire over ABBEVILLE and went down in the Channel. 3 chutes but only the wounded heroic waist gunner survived to be rescued.

JUICY LUCY'S TRAGIC END

A FLAK HIT in the PILOT COMPARTMENT over ROTTERDAM WIA both pilots and DESTROYED the FLIGHT CONTROLS. B-17 crashed. Uncontrolled bail out - 4 chutes.

I like the way the FLAK scatters about randomly. It is quite fun rolling thru FLAK and seeing if it hits rather than rolling on some table. More nerve wracking and impossible to figure the odds - just gotta run the gauntlet.

I also enjoy the fur-balls as the ESCORTS tangle with the BANDITS - more interesting than 'removing # BANDITS'.

Generally - it's working how I want it too.  A mission takes 20mins to 2 hours depending and I have a high level of automation which helps me not to miss something out.

For now the extra B-17s in the formation have no function though I left them able to place guns and hit location. For now I'm happy just to have them as decoration. They don't drop bombs or place FLAK either.

JUICY LUCY'S TOUR CONTINUES

After Pilot, Co-Pilot and Engineer taken out by FLAK the Baombardier took the controls and landed the B-17 with no damage. All crew except Bombardier and Radio-op bailed out before landing and all survived except the wounded Pilot, who was killed.

Here's Juicy Lucy and crew prepped for take off for the next mission - Amiens.

New Screenshots - lots of changes

LATEST SCREENSHOTS

LITTLE FRIENDS TO THE RESCUE!

2 kills and the third driven off. Nice work!

 Not such great work was the 0% accuracy with the bombs - but the bombardier has been killed by FLAK so it's not his fault.

NEW B17F counter

I realised my bare metal B-17 was a G model and not an F, so I recoloured it in green. Quite a lot of work but fun and a nice result.

I also have new fighters both BOGEYS and LITTLE FRIENDS. Pix of these to follow. All my fighters can bank left and right now - which looks nice.

MORE FROM UNION CITY'S MISSIONS OVER NORTHERN FRANCE

MORE B-17X PICS

 B-17 'UNION CITY' BOMBS THE AIRFIELD AT ST OMER.

CREW LOG AFTER RETURN - THE PILOT HAD A ROUGH LANDING AND SOME INJURIES WERE SUSTAINED.

IMAGES FROM MY NEW GAME

NEW PROJECT - REHASH OF B-17 QUEEN OF THE SKIES

MORE LATER!

CASTLE HILL - test with new rules

Having another go at this with the new HEADS DOWN rules. Working very smoothly.  The FJ are having a harder time this time and allowed most of the Rajputanas to escape from Pt 165 back to the Yellow house area. This force includes 3 heroes and a 10-1 so will be tough to reduce. Meanwhile some deadly sniper fire from the other Rajputanas caused several broken stacks which has stalled the German push completely. Meanwhile the German 105s (pre-registered now) have found their mark on the Castle and are raining down some heavy fire. Interesting so far - I'm most curious how the new HTH rules will work inside the castle. a -11 DRM is possible!.

Operation Dickens 1654

The NZ seem to have peaked. The Castle has been captured but without armoured support or more infantry they cannot cross 'Spandau Alley' and reach Route 6. I already lost 2 full sections trying - all KIA. This is about right however and exactly what the NZ accomplished on the day.

Meanwhile, recent rules changes seem to be working out well. I've increased the effect of Sniper fire and 0mR fire considerably. Now once you get the upper hand in close combat it is more decisive. I've created a HEADS DOWN status which is not as safe as PRONE which I no longer allow in buildings/rubble etc. This means the best TEM normally possible is +6. Still pretty safe really.

Operation Dickens at 1640