Having fun with the campaign mode

[hames123]

Just post about the best sorties that you have had using the campaign. For example, the best campaign mission I had was on where I destroyed 2 T-34s with the Stuka. However, even after the mission was complete, I stayed to watch and observed that the remaining T-34s destroyed all the AT guns. Once I returned to base, I started landing when suddenly the alarms went off the AA started firing. A flight of PE-2s flew over, dropping bombs on the runway and destroying a searchlight.

 

I only wish that in the Battle of Stalingrad ground support missions, there would be less BT-7s and Panzer 38ts and more T-34s and Panzer 3s(especially for the Germans, most missions give them only Panzer 38ts, and they get mauled by the defence)

[Max_Damage]

I like it too! Such a nice relaxing and realisting/immersive single player game.

[216th_Lucas_From_Hell]

A few memorable ones, deep from the archives...
 

Frantic Pe-2 mission, pair with a pair of P-40s escorting, dive bombing a convoy. Took off, climbed to 2700m and followed the route (very easy with that glass bottom). Closer to target a group of two Bf-109s engaged another two P-40s that were on a sweep and then another two Bf-109s went right onto me and my fellow Peshka. Attempted to dive towards the target and past the enemy but the Messer hit a head on burst that damaged both engines and pierces both fuel tanks. Set bombs to 1/4 second interval, drop all, and rockets to fire in salvo. Approaching the column both engines sputter. Lining up, one of them quits, other is sputtering. Must deliver bombs, must deliver bombs. Fired the rockets from a distance, then opened the bomb bay doors and dropped all the FAB-100s in a row. Got hits! Leaking all kinds of grey, black and white smoke, I set course East. Wingman bombs and is damaged by Bf-109 as well, starts to RTB. Two Bf-109s come in shooting but I'm too busy holding the plane level. Gunners damage two Bf-109, I am still alive and flying, no wounded personnel. Damaged Bf-109s break away close to the front lines. Flew right over artillery position, thankfully flak didn't hit. Working engine starts to overheat, decreased RPM. Aircraft is hard to control, RPM still wobbling. Closer to base, tried to climb to 200m and the engine held up. Managed to speed up from 200 km/h to 250 km/h on final by burning altitude. Deployed gear - so far so good, 230 km/h. Deployed 20% flaps... 200 km/h. Looked like we'd make it... and we did! Bouncy touchdown but manageable, spun out in the end but all alive and the aircraft is in one piece. As a cherry on the cake, as I opened the window to get some air I saw a smoking aircraft in the distance - the wingman made it back too.

 

Later in another I-16 ground attack mission (2 + 4 escort) we came across some Bf-109Fs. Having learned my lesson, my pair flew right by them as the escort held them back. As we approached the artillery position we were bombing, I saw a flight of Bf-109Fs patrolling it so I went right through the clouds and climbed to 1500m. That would give me a chance to dive bomb, climb up and dive again before being engaged. The plan went well, and in three passes the artillery was gone. However, the previous group of Bf-109F-4s had followed us here apparently and now a 6 x 2 battle started. My wingman unfortunately was shot down, but I managed to hide into the clouds as an F-4 closed in and as he dove out of the cloud in a split-S I turned around and went right after him, nailing the bastard with a good 20mm burst from up close as he levelled out. Initially he looked fine (prompting me to think 'what the...!') and then I saw some radiator fluid leaking. Two seconds later his wing bent into two and that was the last I saw of him. Turning hard east again, one more Bf-109 came close to shooting me down but I evaded his attack and went cloud-hopping all the way home. Arriving at Klin I did a low pass and a roll, before landing successfully.

 

Today I had one of those missions which shows why I love the current setting so much. Set off in three Pe-2s to bomb a German airfield. Briefing said level bomb from 5000m but that wouldn't deal as much damage, so I checked the map, consulted the wingmen and agreed on a plan. Four I-16s were with us for this mission. The enemy airbase was directly to the West of us, and though it was a bit far and without many landmarks, a railway could be used to get there and back. We took off, formed up and I levelled out at 600m. Halfway to the target I saw a puff of white smoke from the middle of the forest - a locomotive! Above it there were a few Bf-109s, but I couldn't let the chance pass. I selected a single bomb to be dropped and went in, while my escort fighters quickly climbed then dived on those Bf-109s, damaging three of them in ten seconds! Releasing one of my ten FAB-100s, I was gleeful with the direct hit scored. The flak car hit me repeatedly but only my gunner paid for it - wounded, not too badly though. One Bf-109 came along with us but it was damaged by wingman n.2 and finished off by my stricken gunner. The enemy airfield approached and I selected a series of four bombs to be dropped. First pass, direct hits and two Bf-109s go up in flames. I went around and strafed the other apron, dropping another four bombs and thus another Bf-109 together with some trucks exploded. We didn't take any significant hits from the AAA, I had one bomb left, we went home following the railway. That last bomb was dropped towards the same locomotive I saw before, my gunners shot at it but the thing still kept running without its cargo. Closer to the frontlines I strafed an artillery position but to no avail - the guns were self-propelled armoured ones, nothing 7.62mm rounds could do about it. Finally I did a smooth landing and took the poor gunner to the regiment's doctor, still happy with the results despite the damage

 

Today I had a very nice campaign mission on the MiG-3 - I went up in a pair to intercept enemy bombers. The ground control did not spot them, but thankfully I eyeballed them on time. They had three He-111, covered by four Bf-109F. No big deal though, this is 6 IAK-PVO and we fear nothing! I told my wingman to cover me and went right for the bombers, shooting up a He-111 at close range. Full power, zoom climb. The four Bf-109s were catching up but I had a decent opening. Meanwhile, after distracting the whole enemy escort flight my sneaky wingman turned around and instead made a fast attack at the second He-111! That beautiful bastard, he smoked the Heinkel very nicely. I took the chance, and dove with the engine boosted, looking to finish the affair before the 109s closed in. Thankfully it worked - the n.2 in the formation my wingman damaged started a desperate dive and dropped all its bombs. With momentum from it, I similarly ripped apart the formation leader who also disengaged. Now I could go home calmly, so I set course 120 and proceeded to Kubinka at nominal power. The enemy escorts of course did not agree with that, and followed closely. I knew they could catch up eventually, but I ran a little until I saw five aircraft, meaning my wingman was nearby to help. I then started a zoom climb boosting the engine, taking two meaningless hits from a Bf-109, and dove behind one of them. I missed, but it scared it off for a bit. Realising the odds were against me I figured I had to get out of there so I dove 4000m down into the cloud cover. I felt bad for my wingman, of course. I lost an aileron in the process, but the clouds discouraged my pursuers from coming at me. I found the airfield, overwhelmed with guilt, when I see something popping out of the cloud and then out of nowhere the radio opens up - "Gannet 2, requesting approach!" We'd made it, alive! And it turns out those two Heinkels crashed, so our pair really did deal a lot of damage.

 

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!

[hames123]

Had a Stuka mission, enemy tanks advancing on friendly lines. Me and 1 other Stuka take off, equipped with the latest 37mm gunpods. Flying to the target, I line up with a T-34, while my wingman flies on to loop and dive on the enemy. I hit the enemy T-34 a few times, yet it kept moving, with no apparent signs of damage. As I pulled up, I spotted a Bt-7 ahead. One shot, 2 37mm shells hit and the Bt-7 brewed up. Turning, I lined up another pass on the T-34, but ended up too close to aim properly. Right then, a Yak and a 109 come zooming at me, both firing at each other and turning. Avoiding this, I dived again, on a Bt-7, 4 shells later, it explodes. 2 tanks in 3 minutes. I see my wingman diving on a 3rd tank, and he destroys it. Finally, I turn on the T-34 and fire the last few shells into it, hiting it in the engine compartment for the 3rd time. Hoping against hope, I observe, but the T-34 shrugs off the blow and continues, destroying all the guns. Me and my wingman turn and leave at treetop height, after seeing 4 more fighters entering the fray from the Russian side of the lines. After a safe approach, we both landed safely, with a good 3 tanks confirmed destroyed.

[Max_Damage]

Which teammate radio commands do you use on ground attack missions?

[hames123]

Just don't give them any, when you fly to the target, the pilot will automatically tell them to attack tanks/artilery.

[Yogiflight]

I order them to follow me, because I noticed, that without a command, they quite often start attacking on their own. But when I am the flightleader, they have to start their attack after me. Like it should be with fighters the same.