Platzschutz career for Bodenplatte

[Eisenfaustus]

Currently reading Willi Heilmanns alert in the west. And while there might be much better books on the III/JG54 his description of their combat experience protecting Kommando Nowotny is an interesting read. 
 

according to him during the first 8 days of this duty missions went as follows: the doras went up, flew high cover for the starting jets and landed when the jets were gone. Then they went up again before the jets returned and landed after the jets were concealed in their boxes. While he claims they were successful in protecting the jets this way with nowotny only losing 3 aircraft in those 8 days he also states that he lost 70% of his squadron in these missions - especially as their fighters were quite vulnerable as well during takeoff and landing. 
 

Then they changed their tactics a little: now the jets would stay a little after reaching sufficient speed and altitude until his doras had landed and reached their boxes. Later he would only start after the jets returned so they could be his high cover during takeoffs. With this closer cooperation of jets and doras casualties could be reduced to sustainable level. 
 

This could be included into the III/54 and Kommando Nowotny mission templates. 
 

Benefits would be threefold:

1st much greater immersion as you would more feel part of a coordinated Air Force. 
2nd one German unit in Bodenplatte with serious reduced marching times

3rd much more thrilling me262 missions as the fights around the airfield would be a very different challenge from blasting the bombers outing the sky...

Edited November 24, 2020 by Eisenfaustus

[Raptor341]

Would be very interesting to see this simulated, as either side. 

[Pikestance]

This would be an interesting campaign module as well.