MISS FITZ LOG MISSIONS 1-17

MISS FITZ charmed life during missions 1-12 has changed for the worse with a spate of losses and casualties. 3 times they've lost their pilots and elected to abandon ship and send it our over the Wash to a watery grave. 12 crew KIA or DOW now over 17 missions = 7% loss rate.

Next mission is KASSEL - and MISS FITZ IV is LOW TAIL in good weather.

MISS FITZ TOUR

WULF BAIT LOST EN ROUTE TO REGENSBURG

 6 fighters attacked in zone 7 - the single engined fighters attacked with rockets - but had no effect. Then they regrouped and attacked from all angles. WULF BAIT's veteran crew damaged several attackers and drove off more - but the rudder and tail wheel were destroyed.

The pilot decided to continue - needing anything but a [6,6] DR to maintain control. Alas when entering zone 9 he rolled [6,6] and WULF BAIT spun out of control.

8 men bailed out and became POWs.

The real REGENSBURG mission was of course on 17th August 1943 - but in my game targets are generated randomly from a range of possible targets that is based on the historical record. The only thing that might have changed in mid August is the use of drop tanks  by P-47s and of course 4 more BG[H] started operations in July/August, so some would not have been ready in time for July 25th - but that doesn't make a difference in my game. Having one P-47 available to counter that big group of BANDITS that appeared in Zone 6 could have made a difference of course.

WULF BAIT

 

JUICY LUCY II

I keep forgetting to change the date and mission number.

JUICY LUCY - DAMAGE AND KIA

JUICY LUCY - NOT THE BEST START

DOUBLE DOWN - NOT THE BEST BOMBING RECORD IN 8TH USAAF!

DOUBLE DOWN STARTS HER TOUR

 OUCH! FLAK hits pilot compartment but no casualties or damage.

 TG claims the ME110 seconds later.

 TT gunner destroys an ME109 with his first burst of fire.

OOPS - missed again.

FLIRTY GERTY BECOMES MY MEMPHIS BELLE

 A very uneventful final mission with some FLAK over BOCHUM but no enemy aircraft, no damage and no casualties. 5 of the crew complete their tour with this mission, and 2 more are on 24 having been in the hospital. I'm surprised the BOMBARDIER has 21 and is still 7ML - but the NAVIGATOR took over doing the shooting.  Even the TG has 18.

An impressive array of kill markers  - though I think we can assume a 5 or 10:1 ratio of claims to actual kills. Even so they did well.

Though FLIRTY GERTY and her crew enjoyed fantastic luck at times, they were often very close to being shot down. What is significant is the long run of easy missions to France during the middle of her tour - had these been missions deep inside Germany things would have been a good deal tougher.

I think I have the balance about right now. What helped this crew was getting HEROIC gunners in the SWG and TT positions early on  - then adding RO and NAV all at 10ML. This made her deadly to BANDITS. She finishes with a total of 6 HEROES.

LOUNGE LIZARD LOST OVER NORMANDY

 After several more or less easy missions the end came all of a sudden with a rudder destroyed by flak over Rennes. The pilot elected to turn back, but lost control and the crew bailed out.

 LOUNGE LIZARD prepped for take-off for her last mission.

FLYING FISH LOST OVER SCHWEINFURT

Rudder destroyed by an ME109 - crew continued on to bomb the target scoring 25% on target, but when the A/C turned for home the pilots lost control and FLYING FISH crashed. 9 men made it out including the WIA NAVIGATOR who was helped by the BOMBARDIER - hero that he is.

Since SCHWEINFURT is deep inside Nazi Germany all the crew become POWS