Had one of those really good sorties last night...

[BlitzPig_EL]

The BlitzPigs were tasked with taking out German boats that were off loading supplies to trucks on the far northern section of the Volga.

 

We were three Pe2s, escorted by two Yaks.  We were at bases to the east of Stalingrad.  Intel said to expect some kind of air cover, but it was not known what, or how many.

 

So, we took off, formed up and started a cruise climb due north to our targets.  We decided that splitting the attack would give us a better chance at survival (boats are vicious). So BlitzPig_Ham would level bomb from altitude and RockRidge and I would dive bomb.  I took the boats and Rock was to work over the trucks.

 

As we approached at 2000 meters we sighted the enemy fighter cover, a flight from the Gruppo Autonomo in MC 202s.  Four of them in one group and two flying in another.  Our brave Yak pilots, broke off to try to keep them busy while we set up for our run.

 

Ham was setting up his level drop and watched as I made the first attack  I nosed over from about 1900m with the dive brakes deployed and lined up on the outer boats, which were in two rows of three for off loading cargo.  I pickled off the bombs and nearly blacked out on the pull out and was greeted with Folgores flashing by my cockpit windows and the rest of the guys on comms laughing in astonishment at the size of the explosion from my bombs.  I sunk three of the boats outright and the other three were damaged or burning.  Ham finished off the other three from high above.  

 

Meanwhile our Yaks managed to keep the Regia Aeronautica off of us, but paid the ultimate price in so doing, as did Rock in the other Pe 2.   As I was climbing out for home I saw I was trailing fuel and coolant from the number 1 engine.

 

Uh oh.

 

I set up a conservative cruise climb to try to keep the engine from over heating, and to save fuel and headed for home.  I had just got to about 1500 meters, about half way home, when no. 1 failed.

 

Feathered the prop, trimmed the nose slightly down and hoped for the best.   Now it was just a matter of if the fuel load would last long enough to get me home.   It's amazing how tense this was, even though I knew I was sitting in my home, and safe.   Immersion is a wonderful thing.

 

Fuel is now getting me really worried as the needle keeps trying to find the 0 mark on the gauge.  But I broke through the clouds and had our base in visual range.

 

Now the hard part, getting the Pe2 down on one engine.

 

No bother flying the circuit, I just set up for a right turn onto final from my track in,   Gently decrease throttle on the good engine to get speed low enough to deploy gear and flaps.  Had to dial in full right rudder trim and still give it some boot to keep her nose lined up with the runway...  speed bleeding off and controls getting a bit mushy...   Last time I looked at the ASI it was showing about 160kph.   Ailerons getting somewhat ineffective now...   over the threshold...  gentle (very) flair and....    one little bounce and then planted it on all three wheels.

 

Wow,  I was literally sweating bullets.   

 

Taxied up in front of the Officer's Club and shut her down.

 

Home for Vodka and medals.

 

It's moments like that that keep me, and the rest of the BlitzPigs flying this thing.

Edited May 14, 2016 by BlitzPig_EL

[6./ZG26_Emil]

Great to hear. It might not be as easy as the old days but once you get in to it this sim is a lot of fun.

P.S we had a sortie where every Ju-88 ran out of fuel (due to damage) either on landing or just in the approach and that was after a 1 hour 30 minute sortie.

 

That will be one of those unforgettable flights

Edited May 14, 2016 by 6./ZG26_Emil

[KoN_]

Our squad started to fly the Italy campaigns , it was very confusing for us to start off with `but once we adjusted to the visibility bubble , it was indeed good fun .

We thank the campaign makers and their efforts .

We are looking forward to a next  campaign soon . 

[RockRidge]

Twas a good night indeed!

[BlitzPig_EL]

And thanks to you Rock for all the mission builder tinkering!!

 

Well done sir.

[SC_Manu653]

Nice AAR BlitzPig EL, someday we will see the BltitzPig fly on the SNBF !

[216th_Lucas_From_Hell]

What a fantastic AAR, EL!

 

I am entirely with you on the immersion, this is the thing I appreciate the most about this sim. I've had countless moments when I landed, turned off the engine then spent a good minute to catch my breath and calm down a little.

 

On a SNBF a while ago we were four LaGG-3s escorting a group of Pe-2s attacking a dock. One by one they were ripped to tiny shreds, and we watched everything unfold from above. After the last Pe-2 crashed and exploded there was nothing to do but to RTB. Only position calls, navigation and formation instructions could be heard on the radio, coupled with the occasional "bummer..." uttered. One by one we landed at our home base, and it was with a heavy heart. Having bombers you're escorting fall in this game hurts more than one would expect, even when it was due to flak. A week later we came back to that same area but with six LaGG-3s only. This time we set the whole lot on fire plus a train and two adjacent bridges, a suitable revenge that felt very, very good.

[BlitzPig_EL]

Well we are all well over 40 for the most part, (I'm over 60), we are all successful at life and living it, and if a bit of childish behavior comes out, so what?

 

I mean really, look at what we do.  

 

Grown men playing games on a computer.

 

Pretty childish on the face of it, isn't it.

[RockRidge]

I'm sure willy will be on the filter list.

 

I'll try later...

 

We are only having frustrated middle aged man fun, mind you if you think the server name was fruity you wont approve of some of the in mission texts!

 

Nevermind our TS conversations.

 

And i am entirely to blame, well for the server anyway.

Edited May 15, 2016 by RockRidge

[SCG_Neun]

Well, I'm a history buff at heart, and I've gotten as close as I can to combat in the air from the simulations I've experienced.  Close enough to know, that when we go out on a mission I always check the heading back to base, and to have experienced the fact that the leader might be the first one to get killed, what now?  Where are we, what's the fuel situation, the weather, the ammo, damage if any.  Experienced enough to know those landmarks, because they might be the only thing I have to  help me to ditch or land behind our lines and not the enemies.  I hear pilots making choices like taking extra fuel, armor plating, no head rest, armor windscreens, bomb loadouts, etc.....Stuff that the average history buff might have missed in a book, or watching  a movie.  I've learned the advantages and disadvantages of the various aircraft over the years and I've had the privilege of flying with really knowledgeable guys that are way more experienced than me, who share their information over the comms with me, during missions and in routine practice and flying together.    When I hear about famous pilots and their accomplishments I can appreciate the fact that just logging over a thousand combat missions alone was an amazing feat considering mechanical issues, weather and human error....I can get a feel for the skills needed to bomb, strafe and bring down planes in air to air combat.  I've learned some basic flight skills, the do's and don'ts of takeoff, landing, formation flying, etc...  All this.....and I'm 61 years old and still learning and enjoying it.  I don't look at it as childish at all.  

[BlitzPigVoidcracker]

Twas a good night indeed!

It was! even though i had to retire just before the one EL describes here...*grumble grumble*

 

[seafireliv]

Well we are all well over 40 for the most part, (I'm over 60), we are all successful at life and living it, and if a bit of childish behavior comes out, so what?

 

I mean really, look at what we do.  

 

Grown men playing games on a computer.

 

Pretty childish on the face of it, isn't it.

 

Nothing childish about it, m8. Society goes crazy over football, don`t they? Heck, i`ve had to listen for a week as my county celebrated winning the Premier League!

 

It`s also a great way to keep the mind and reflexes from getting lazy too. It`s why I even still play the odd arcade beat-em-up.

 

 

Stay with a young spirit and keep playing games!

Edited May 15, 2016 by seafireliv

[BlitzPig_EL]

Oh, I intend to, be sure...

[6./ZG26_Emil]

Looks like the Blitz Pigs are back lol.....the original (only?) troll squadron

[BlitzPig_EL]

Troll?

 

Nah, we just have fun.

 

Hope everyone does.   Why else would we be doing this?

[BlitzPigVoidcracker]

Looks like the Blitz Pigs are back lol.....the original (only?) troll squadron

Back? Dooood, we never left!

 

[6./ZG26_Emil]

Back? Dooood, we never left!

 

 

[pilotpierre]

A couple of months off 70 and extremely grateful I am childish enough to enjoy flight sims and my model railroad.

[HamishUK]

Twas fun. Now if they would only sort out the ground handling...

[BlitzPig_Bill_Kelso]

INTERNET FLIGHT SIMS ARE SERIOUS BIZNESS PEOPLE...

 

BTW, this lady was talking about the blitzpigs FYI

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TCIYsXhR1D0

[216th_Lucas_From_Hell]

Had a great SP sortie plus a nasty surprise today, I believe it to be worthy of this thread.

 

Two MiGs flew from Zenino under terrible rainy weather to intercept some Messerschmitts that came in to attack a frontline airfield. At first we blew past them without contact, but the AAA gave the Messers away. Me and my wingman turned around and gave chase. One of them dropped a bomb at a AA gun before joining the group, which entered the thick cloud layer upon seeing us. I tried to chase them but it was useless, so I dragged my pair above the overcast in a steep climb and at its peak I was delighted to spot a pair of enemy aircraft beneath me to the right. Targets! I turned and let the MiG drop its nose, and surely enough one 109 came into my sights. I fired a good burst at it, and it started smoking and trailing fluids, dropping its bomb together with its wingman. I chased the second one, but after a minute of manoeuvring both dove westwards into the clouds and I lost them for good. Later it turns out a flight of I-16s came across the Messers and shot down two of them.

 

Knowing my location, I decided to go home instead of chasing enemy planes which had already dropped their bombs and escaped without dealing much damage. Me and my wingman set the heading to the next waypoint, and I decided to fly it above the clouds on v*t = d. Sure enough we hit the mark, and it was time for the last leg home. I set course and started a shallow dive so I could use the rivers to navigate (a very useful thing over Podmoskovye). A minute or two passed without much happening, then suddenly as we flew over a road I heard multiple cannon hits on my machine. Blimey, did the Messers come back? I broke right and rolled to look behind me but there was nothing there... except for four trucks. And from one of them another burst flew towards me, but this one missed. In panic, my wingman entered a steep climb through the clouds and that was the last I saw of him. With the danger left behind, I levelled out and assessed the damage - multiple hits on the left wing, but by most means it seemed like it would hold. The aircraft was handling fine by most means, and I had nothing to be too worried about. Then, as I struggle to check if there was damage to the tailplane, I saw more tracers flying past. Enough! I followed my wingman's advice and pulled straight through the clouds, where it was peaceful and quiet. With a couple of minutes to collect myself, I figure it's time to dive and look for the airfield.

 

Imagine my surprise when I dip the nose, eyes on the artificial horizon and altimeter, and am greeted by the open field of Zenino right beneath me! Home sweet home, I've made it! Zenino was close to the front lines - you could only approach it from the East, otherwise you'd already be within AA range. I did as the mission planning recommended, set the flaps for about halfway and entered the base leg. Gear down, cockpit open, ASI was showing 210 km/h and slowly decreasing. Everything was set for a perfect landing. I took some rough aim between the bonfires and trimmed the MiG nose up. The descent was smooth as butter, and as I cleared the last few trees it seemed like this would be the best MiG-3 landing of my life.

 

...BOOM!

 

With my mouth hanging open I looked at the helpless picture in front of me. What went wrong? A bug?! Everything looked perfect up until that second! I then look at the searchlight to the left side of the runway and notice that my wreckage was strangely parallel to it. There and then dawned on me that my amazing mission ended up tragically because of me missing a bloody searchlight hiding under the MiG's nose. The horror, the horror!

 

But the campaign has been a blast so far, I'm very pleasantly surprised.

[[CPT]Pike*HarryM]

I had a pretty good offline SP campaign mission the other night. Wanting to unlock a few of the E7 skins (having only unlocked the first one, plain white), hopped in that and opted for a g-attack mission. Objective was to "stop the train" which of course means the E-Loco. 2 E7s escorted by 4 F2s. Full settings, etc. Take off without incident and fly to the objective point fairly far behind enemy lines. Just about to the objective and hear radio call about Indianer being spotted, the escorts and my wingman veer off to the left, leaving me alone to hit the train. I soon spot it as it is headed through a forest. Make a good pass and drop my SC250, which exploded just behind the tender, destroying most of the train. The Loco keeps going of course so I have to get it. Fortunately my bomb seems to have taken care of the flak cars which makes things easier. I come in on the Loco from behind and give it a long burst but no luck, the target was somewhat lost in the steam cloud. The next few attacks I hit it from the side with the rest of the cannon ammo and lots of MG which finally destroy it. Look around and I see a MiG trailing vapors, either coolant or fuel. He is low and at low speed so I am able to saddle up on him and pummel him with MG fire, and finally his wing breaks off. I start heading west reasoning that my MG ammo is getting low. A plane flys by in the opposite direction, a P-40! I decide not to engage him though, he turns to follow but loses speed and is unable to catch up to me and gives up. My wingman and one of the F2 gets shot down by a P-40, maybe that one. I make it safely back to base and land, getting credit for several train cars, flak guns, and one plane. With the bonuses it was something like 320 points which unlocked 3 skins. 

[LLv24_Zami]

Nice story Lucas, thank for sharing!

 

I just flew my first campaign mission after a new patch. Intercepted few Sturmoviks in F-2. Nothing special, I had a successful mission shooting one down before loosing the rest to the clouds and made home safely with all wingmen following unharmed. Haven`t had time to fly much lately so it was fun 

 

One thing though, AI P-40 can`t still fight on low altitude. They usually crash when maneuvering. Made a bug report about this earlier but apparently fix did not made to this patch.

Edited May 18, 2016 by Zami

[216th_Lucas_From_Hell]

One thing that helps the campaign now is the number of secondary aircraft flying, plus loads of ground activity. I nearly strafed a friendly position that was firing at an enemy convoy near me thinking it was enemy AA, but they shot a green flare when I went in to attack. Now in nearly every flight I see at the very least one group of fighters or bombers unrelated to the mission goal, and I even had to take-off with the base under attack by six Bf-109s.

 

My only campaign experiences with the P-40 had them fight just fine, but I saw a flight leader break an engine today while escorting my flight.

[Trooper117]

I've had flares fired off when doing ground support missions in the campaign before this patch so it's not new... it's a nice little detail though

[216th_Lucas_From_Hell]

I think it's always been there, only for some reason I hadn't seen them before.

[seafireliv]

One thing that helps the campaign now is the number of secondary aircraft flying, plus loads of ground activity. I nearly strafed a friendly position that was firing at an enemy convoy near me thinking it was enemy AA, but they shot a green flare when I went in to attack. Now in nearly every flight I see at the very least one group of fighters or bombers unrelated to the mission goal, and I even had to take-off with the base under attack by six Bf-109s.

 

My only campaign experiences with the P-40 had them fight just fine, but I saw a flight leader break an engine today while escorting my flight.

 

The green flare firing i`ve never seen, but that`s likely because I hardly ever choose ground attack missions. This makes me wish that missions were ordered to you rather than you choose, which again is highly unrealistic. Sims that order you to fly a variety of missions consecutively train a pilot up on missions he doesn`t even like doing much.

[Yogiflight]

If you`d like the missions ordered to you, try Warhamm`s IL2 Career Generator. It´s nicely done, I fly the campaign with it.