Official Free Historical Campaign "Wings Over Caen"

[BlackSix]

Wings Over Caen

 

 

Timeframe: June 27th – July 27th, 1944
Unit: No. 245 (Northern Rhodesia) Squadron RAF
Available aircraft: Typhoon Mk.Ib
Duration: 10 missions
Average playtime: 5 hours

Languages: English, German, French, Spanish, Simplified Chinese, and Russian

Author: Alexander =BlackSix= Timoshkov

 

This free campaign requires IL-2 Sturmovik: Battle of Normandy.

 

Historical Background

One of the primary objectives of the 3rd British Infantry Division, which was part of I Corps and landed at Sword Beach on D-Day, was to capture the city of Caen. However, they did not succeed in this either on June 6 or the following days. Gradually, the German command turned Caen into the cornerstone of its entire defense in Normandy, where the majority of reinforcements were thrown in. The battle for the city dragged on for more than a month and a half, seriously slowing down the advance of the Allied forces in the British sector.

 

 The central role in close air support for British and Canadian forces was to be played by the four Typhoon-armed wings of the 2nd Tactical Air Force: Nos. 123, 124, 143, and 121. The latter included the 245th squadron which was engaged at the very tip of the advance.

 

 

No. 245 (Northern Rhodesia) Squadron, Royal Air Force

The squadron was originally formed in August 1918 and re-formed in October 1939. Using Hurricanes, it participated in the Dunkirk evacuation, served as an AA defence unit, and provided air cover for sea convoys. Since September 1941 it operated in the skies of northern France.

 

In January 1943 the squadron received Typhoons and in June has been assigned to the 2nd Tactical Air Force. During the invasion preparations, it continued the airstrikes against the enemy communications in northern France, rejecting the bombs in favor of the unguided rockets.

 

After two weeks of the Normandy landings the squadron has been ordered to move to the continent, but then all kinds of things went wrong. Our campaign starts right at this point and covers the most fierce fighting for Caen from June 27th to July 27th,1944.

 

Story

All the missions of the campaign were created using the real operation records of the 245th, the other squadrons of the 121st wing, and other units, allowing you to experience sufficiently authentic events.

 

No. 121 Wing Typhoons have been assigned four main tasks during this timeframe:

.  Suppression of the AA, AT, and other artillery batteries;

.  Destruction of enemy transport and armored vehicles both in road columns and on the battlefield;

.  Airstrikes against the enemy strongpoints;

.  Free hunt against the enemy road and railroad traffic not far behind the frontline.

 

During the campaign you’ll have the chance to try your hand at all of them, providing support for the main operations of the British High Command near Caen. The sorties will have different weather conditions, time of day, and battlefield smoke, recreating the real difficulties the Typhoon pilots had to overcome in addition to the fire from the ground and rare enemy fighters. 

 

 

With this work, we would like to pay respects to all RAF and U.S. Air Force veterans who were fighting in the Normandy skies and to Squadron Leader John Russell Collins in particular. He commanded the unit skillfully, made it a force to be reckoned with, and personally led it into combat on numerous especially dangerous occasions. Unfortunately, on August 11th, 1944, during the last mission in the operative cycle before the planned rest, his Typhoon was hit by enemy AAA and he was killed. In the campaign, you’ll be acting under his command and see his Typhoon designated MR+? in several missions.

 

 

P.S. We would like to thank Luke =LukeFF= Wallace for valuable input and help with research and all our beta-testers and translators who make the regular and timely campaign releases possible.

 

[MarcoPegase44]

First mission ..Transfert over channel

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[MarcoPegase44]

Good evening,
I played the first missions
Landings and take-offs are downwind according to the windsock While it should be headwind

[LukeFF]

Loving the ambiance in this campaign - seeing the ships in the Channel, other flights coming and going, the buzz on the radio from other flights engaging targets, smoke and traces at the frontline, it's all done so very well. ?? And, of course with it being a Typhoon, it's just that more awesome. ? 

[OG_NickNack68]

Yep! Flew the first 2 missions and it's really good! Only thing I'm bummed about is after just getting my VR setup last week and running smoothly at 80fps, now I'm dipping into the low 40's. It sure looks good even so!

 

Nick

[taffy2jeffmorgan]

problem with mission two, carried out the mission, told to return home, landed, taxied off the runway but no message to say " completed " ? so will have to fly again ?

 

Cheers

[BlackSix]

On 3/30/2023 at 11:05 PM, MarcoPegase44 said:

Good evening,
I played the first missions
Landings and take-offs are downwind according to the windsock While it should be headwind

I can't comply with this condition in missions for technical reasons. Moreover, in reality, the squadron was forced to take off only in a northerly direction for more than a month, regardless of the direction of the wind, and this was not a problem for them.

 

2 hours ago, taffy2jeffmorgan said:

problem with mission two, carried out the mission, told to return home, landed, taxied off the runway but no message to say " completed " ? so will have to fly again ?

It's hard to say what went wrong with your mission. Just turned on the autopilot and it successfully completed the entire 2nd mission, try to do the same.

[taffy2jeffmorgan]

Thanks BlackSix, I'll check it out.

[Elem]

How on earth do you get through Operation Goodwood? The AA is deadly!!! And if you can avoid that, scoring a hit with those AP rockets is all but impossible.

[KevPBur]

On 4/2/2023 at 9:25 AM, taffy2jeffmorgan said:

problem with mission two, carried out the mission, told to return home, landed, taxied off the runway but no message to say " completed " ? so will have to fly again ?

 

Cheers

 

I had this as well on my first attempt at mission 2.

After then several attempts, all of which involved me being hit by the flak, hills, trees and pretty much anything else I could crash my plane into, I successded in returning and landing and completed the mission.

I don't know what was different on the last one other than most of my flight had already TRB before me having spent all their ammo.

 

Inspite of my inabilty to hit anything with the rockets and my only too preficient abilty at lawndarting the tiffy I am really enjoying this campaign. thank you

 

[BlackSix]

On 4/5/2023 at 5:21 PM, KevPBur said:

I had this as well on my first attempt at mission 2.

Guys, this looks really weird.

I checked the mission completion logic again, it's exactly the same as in dozens of my other missions.

If we don't have to relocate to another airfield, then everything works like this: after you take off and move 1 km from the airfield, a 5-minute timer starts. After that, the airfield is ready for your landing and successful completion of the mission.

Look what I did: took off, ignored any waypoints, took 5 minutes to fly to the front line and return, landed, mission successfully completed.

 

Maybe you are trying to complete the mission and exit to the menu before your plane has come to a complete stop? I have no other ideas...

 

And thanks for the feedback, and don't worry about your accuracy when shooting rockets, in reality, Typhoon pilots also very rarely hit targets)

[jollyjack]

9 minutes ago, BlackSix said:

...... when shooting rockets, in reality, Typhoon pilots also very rarely hit targets)

 

I like chasing uboats with typhoons and rockets however, my fav indoor sport ?

[LukeFF]

On 4/5/2023 at 7:21 AM, KevPBur said:

Inspite of my inabilty to hit anything with the rockets and my only too preficient abilty at lawndarting the tiffy I am really enjoying this campaign. thank you

 

Try setting your gun sight angle to 2 degrees - you should see much better accuracy. 

[KevPBur]

On 4/6/2023 at 5:47 PM, LukeFF said:

 

Try setting your gun sight angle to 2 degrees - you should see much better accuracy. 

My main problem is the pitch authority in the Tiffy is so twitchy along with needing to retrim for every slight change of speed in the dive. Diving in the Tiffy is like trying to ride a bucking bronco. Therefore, I'm not really getting the target on anything!

[Billsponge1972]

6 hours ago, KevPBur said:

My main problem is the pitch authority in the Tiffy is so twitchy along with needing to retrim for every slight change of speed in the dive. Diving in the Tiffy is like trying to ride a bucking bronco. Therefore, I'm not really getting the target on anything!

Couldn't agree more! I don't fly that aircraft too much so maybe I just need some practice.

[mudgnome]

Ok ,must have my stupid head on here……but where is the download link?

[LukeFF]

17 minutes ago, mudgnome said:

Ok ,must have my stupid head on here……but where is the download link?

 

There's nothing to download if you own Battle of Normandy.

[mudgnome]

Just now, LukeFF said:

 

There's nothing to download if you own Battle of Normandy.

Ahh...ok many thanks.

 

[Billsponge1972]

  Great campaign so far! Well written and well designed!

Once I got a handle on the Typhoon I could see how it was a beast of a good ground attacker.

  Didn't the typhoon historically carry bombs? I thought I read somewhere that it historically could carry two 500lbs./1000lbs underwing.

 

[LukeFF]

2 hours ago, Billsponge1972 said:

Didn't the typhoon historically carry bombs? I thought I read somewhere that it historically could carry two 500lbs./1000lbs underwing.

 

Yes, but Typhoon squadrons (and usually the whole wing) were specialized - either they carried bombs or they carried rockets, but not both on operations. This both simplified logistics and training.

[BlackSix]

4 hours ago, Billsponge1972 said:

  Great campaign so far! Well written and well designed!

Once I got a handle on the Typhoon I could see how it was a beast of a good ground attacker.

  Didn't the typhoon historically carry bombs? I thought I read somewhere that it historically could carry two 500lbs./1000lbs underwing.

Thanks!

Yes, as Luke said, the Typhoon squadrons were very specialized. Bombs are much easier to use and would have been a great addition to the gameplay but No. 245 Squadron used rockets only.

[MarcoPegase44]

Goodwood..!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Good morning,

In my recordings of this campaign, I did not see Bren Carriers or Churchill tanks??

Maybe I missed it, or these vehicles were forgotten???

for the moment I have just finished GoodWood

 

Edited April 10, 2023 by MarcoPegase44

[BlackSix]

36 minutes ago, MarcoPegase44 said:

Good morning,

In my recordings of this campaign, I did not see Bren Carriers or Churchill tanks??

Maybe I missed it, or these vehicles were forgotten???

Good morning,

I can't answer about Bren Carriers, maybe they came too late to be added to the campaign. But I definitely didn't use Churchill, it's a highly detailed Tank Crew model, I can't put it in the missions.

[Billsponge1972]

I see.

I thought maybe it was a different Typhoon Mark that carried bombs. But still, shouldn't they be available in the game? Maybe as a one or the other payload depending on which squadron is flying?

[LukeFF]

1 hour ago, Billsponge1972 said:

I see.

I thought maybe it was a different Typhoon Mark that carried bombs. But still, shouldn't they be available in the game? Maybe as a one or the other payload depending on which squadron is flying?

 

Bombs have always been an available choice.

[Billsponge1972]

 I never noticed! ? They're locked in the campaign but I'll give them a go in quick missions when I get home tonight. 

[Billsponge1972]

I can confirm that bombs are not available as a payload with the Typhoon anywhere in game for me. I'm up to date at v5.101b.

[LukeFF]

57 minutes ago, Billsponge1972 said:

I can confirm that bombs are not available as a payload with the Typhoon anywhere in game for me. I'm up to date at v5.101b.

 

They are definitely there. Have another look: ?

 

[Hanu]

Just completed this during easter; very nice campaign. For once you had a short trip to target area ?

 

Sadly the ground attack AI is really poor... Most of the time my wingmen did not shoot a single rocket during the mission. Even when ordered to freely engage. Feels like those wingman orders are there just for nothing.

[Billsponge1972]

I'm such a slug. Sorry LukeFF! I see them now. ?

[AEthelraedUnraed]

On 4/6/2023 at 5:36 PM, BlackSix said:

Guys, this looks really weird.

I checked the mission completion logic again, it's exactly the same as in dozens of my other missions.

If we don't have to relocate to another airfield, then everything works like this: after you take off and move 1 km from the airfield, a 5-minute timer starts. After that, the airfield is ready for your landing and successful completion of the mission.

Look what I did: took off, ignored any waypoints, took 5 minutes to fly to the front line and return, landed, mission successfully completed.

 

Maybe you are trying to complete the mission and exit to the menu before your plane has come to a complete stop? I have no other ideas...

 

And thanks for the feedback, and don't worry about your accuracy when shooting rockets, in reality, Typhoon pilots also very rarely hit targets)

Sadly, I can confirm the issue. Flew the whole route, took me well over 5 minutes, destroyed a couple of vehicles in the target area and returned to base. I got the message about the last waypoint and my pilot asked for landing clearance (so the Land MCU was definitely triggered). Came to a full stop at the center of the airfield just beside the runway, stopped the engine, but I couldn't continue to the next mission. I didn't record the mission, but I do have a screenshot of my flight path:

 

 

Other than this rather annoying bug, great campaign so far! Very atmospheric, and in the first 2 missions I didn't experience any time dilation (flying VR on a mid-range system).

Edited April 12, 2023 by AEthelraedUnraed

[BlackSix]

Well, for now, the official recommendations for solving the problem with the second mission will be as follows:

1) select custom realism level and enable the option "Invulnerability";

2) start the mission, turn on the autopilot and 8х accelerate time, the autopilot will successfully complete the flight by itself.

[Magnum11]

no download link

[jeanba]

On 4/10/2023 at 10:33 AM, MarcoPegase44 said:

Goodwood..!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

One thing I actually love with Black Six campaigns is when I see AI planes in a mission, I always want to fly "their mission"

[LukeFF]

2 hours ago, PughsterMagnum11 said:

no download link

 

https://forum.il2sturmovik.com/topic/83615-official-free-historical-campaign-wings-over-caen/?do=findComment&comment=1265030

[MarcoPegase44]

 

 

 

[FoxbatRU]

13.04.2023 в 23:36, MarcoPegase44 сказал:

Hit by Typhoon cannons!???

[kilroy987]

When I read that Battle Over Normandy now has a scripted campaign, I picked it up.

 

I tried the first mission.  It's quite some distance to the attack point - 30 minutes of travel, 4 minutes of hell.

Unfortunately, I got shot down.

 

I hope the rest of the campaign offers more of a view than being over water all the time.

I guess I'll find out!

 

I hope more scripted campaigns are on their way, too.  They are my preferred way to play the game.

[FoxbatRU]

13.04.2023 в 01:49, AEthelraedUnraed сказал:

Sadly, I can confirm the issue.

In my second mission, for some reason, the destruction of tanks does not count. I kill them, they disappear, but only armored cars and MLRS count.

 

 

And the rest, as always, amazing and immersive in the atmosphere!?

[KevPBur]

On 4/15/2023 at 2:38 AM, kilroy987 said:

When I read that Battle Over Normandy now has a scripted campaign, I picked it up.

 

I tried the first mission.  It's quite some distance to the attack point - 30 minutes of travel, 4 minutes of hell.

Unfortunately, I got shot down.

 

I hope the rest of the campaign offers more of a view than being over water all the time.

I guess I'll find out!

 

I hope more scripted campaigns are on their way, too.  They are my preferred way to play the game.

 

The rest of the missions are about 5 minutes flight time to target.

I think you could probably hit the target area wit the rockets without even needing to taking off or just through handgrenades we are so close.