Official Mosquito Historical Campaign "Gestapo Hunters"

[Jaegermeister]

"Gestapo Hunters" a Scripted Campaign for the Mosquito Mk F.B.VI in Normandy

 

 

About The Campaign:

 

Number 464 Squadron, Royal Australian Air Force began service in England as an Article XV light bomber squadron equipped with American made Lockheed Ventura bombers in December of 1942. The original cadre of the squadron was mostly composed of personnel from Australia and New Zealand, but due to attrition and combat losses, they were a mixed lot by the time they were re-equipped with the Mosquito Mk VI Fighter-Bomber in October of 1943. They executed day and night Intruder missions into France and the Netherlands where they specialized in precision low level bombing attacks deep behind enemy lines. They usually flew without fighter escort and relied on their high speed to evade enemy interception. They soon earned the informal nickname 'The Gestapo Hunters' due to their frequent attacks on SS occupied headquarters locations.

 

In this campaign you and your navigator will fly a mix of precision daylight bombing and night intruder missions. You will fly in formation on larger operations, but you will be on your own for some of the missions, as the pilots soon discovered that it was difficult at best to stay close to their companions in the dark of night. 464 Squadron’s tactics evolved as the Allied invasion of occupied France neared, and you will experience this first hand on D-Day and beyond.

 

The Mosquito MkVI fighter-bomber was a 2-place airplane, and the pilot and navigator worked closely together to complete the mission assignments. To depict this interaction, audio tracks for the navigator have been included providing voice prompts and directions during flight. These were recorded by Phil "Philthy" Vabre and we thank him for his contribution, which should add a note of authenticity that would not have otherwise been possible.

 

This is a historically based campaign depicting real events; however, the number of planes and the location of various targets have been altered to improve the player’s experience. The Mosquito was a long-range light bomber capable of flying to Berlin and back without drop tanks, so the 3 or 4 hour missions that were typically flown will be much shorter than they truly were. To improve your perception, it is recommended that you turn off the ambient light in your flying space during the night intruder missions unless you are using VR.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Timeframe: January through July, 1944

Unit: RAAF No. 464 Squadron, 140 Wing, RAF

Aircraft: Mosquito FB Mk VI

Duration: 12 Missions

Average Playtime: 15 Hours

Languages: English, Russian, Spanish

Author: James =Jaegermeister= Yarbrough

 

This Campaign requires IL-2 Sturmovik: Battle of Normandy - Standard Edition to play.

 

Available in the IL2 Store HERE

Available on Steam HERE

 

This thread is available to discuss the campaign, or report any issues you might encounter.  

 

 

Edited December 18, 2024 by Jaegermeister
Added Steam link

[Trooper117]

Just bought it, many thanks!

[E69_Cananas]

2 hours ago, Jaegermeister said:

 

Languages: English, Russian, Spanish

 

 

Sadly, the Spanish translation will be included in the next patch.

[Spidey002]

I had no idea this was being worked on! What a lovely surprise. Bought it for me and a two copies for my wingmen for Christmas!

[SARFlytitus]

Just bought !  Very nice 

[Jaegermeister]

4 hours ago, Spidey002 said:

I had no idea this was being worked on! What a lovely surprise. Bought it for me and a two copies for my wingmen for Christmas!

 

It was a top secret Christmas present, I hope at least some people enjoy it!  

[Aapje]

14 minutes ago, Jaegermeister said:

It was a top secret Christmas present, I hope at least some people enjoy it!  

 

Sneaking up on us like a Mosquito raid on a gestapo HQ.

[LukeFF]

I can tell this is going to be fun but frustrating. I just tried mission 1 - followed the nav's instructions and we ended up flying straight off the edge of the map - even though he told us target was "dead ahead". 😄 Looked at the debrief map and saw we were in grid 2131 when we flew off the map. 

 

In fact, we were never really close to any of the waypoints. 

[jollyjack]

Jaegermeister has an unlimited fantasy, you could expect to be flying off any map.

[LukeFF]

Had better fortunes the second time finding the target. 👍🏻

[Trooper117]

4 hours ago, LukeFF said:

In fact, we were never really close to any of the waypoints. 

 

Get rid of your navigator back to the training unit... ask around the Sqn for Flt Sgt  Wee Jock “Poo-Pong" McPlop, he's sh*t hot!

[Jaegermeister]

5 hours ago, LukeFF said:

I can tell this is going to be fun but frustrating. I just tried mission 1 - followed the nav's instructions and we ended up flying straight off the edge of the map - even though he told us target was "dead ahead". 😄 Looked at the debrief map and saw we were in grid 2131 when we flew off the map. 

 

In fact, we were never really close to any of the waypoints. 

I think it was fairly common for the Intruder flights to never find the target and return home with their bombs intact.

[LukeFF]

2 hours ago, Jaegermeister said:

I think it was fairly common for the Intruder flights to never find the target and return home with their bombs intact.

 

Okay, fair enough. 🙂 On the next attempt I flew a better course and this time the target indeed was dead ahead.

[Spidey002]

8 hours ago, LukeFF said:

I can tell this is going to be fun but frustrating. I just tried mission 1 - followed the nav's instructions and we ended up flying straight off the edge of the map - even though he told us target was "dead ahead". 😄 Looked at the debrief map and saw we were in grid 2131 when we flew off the map. 

 

In fact, we were never really close to any of the waypoints. 

I just followed flight lead!

Made it to the air field, but crashed while strafing parked planes. Might have gone a LITTLE too low… 😬

[MarcoPegase44]

Hi  @Jaegermeister,

 

I noticed a small historical error at the start of the first mission, the stationed Dakotas wear landing stripes.

Edited December 18, 2024 by MarcoPegase44

[LukeFF]

41 minutes ago, Spidey002 said:

I just followed flight lead!

 

I tried that too but both times Spud said we lost #3. 😄 

[Juri_JS]

3 hours ago, Jaegermeister said:

I think it was fairly common for the Intruder flights to never find the target and return home with their bombs intact.

Did RAF intruders use target markers or illumination bombs as help for finding their targets? German intruders used the LC 50 illumination bomb and the Russians the SAB for this purpose.

[LukeFF]

Best comment so far about this campaign (from Facebook):
 

Quote

So you:

a) fly mosquitos,

b) for the RAAF,

c) blowing up the Gestapo.

You guys really know how to get me to hand over my money.

 

[Jaegermeister]

6 hours ago, Juri_JS said:

Did RAF intruders use target markers or illumination bombs as help for finding their targets? German intruders used the LC 50 illumination bomb and the Russians the SAB for this purpose.

 

They did. It's mentioned in one of the briefings about half way through the campaign. Boston Bombers dropped flares for the Mosquitos to attack ground targets at one point, Mosquito pathfinders dropped flares for other Mosquitos, and then later on, Mosquitos dropped flares to illuminate their own targets. The biggest problem they had was that the flares blinded them and they couldn't see anything after that.

 

7 hours ago, MarcoPegase44 said:

Hi  @Jaegermeister,

 

I noticed a small historical error at the start of the first mission, the stationed Dakotas wear landing stripes.

 

I'll check it out, I've corrected that more than once and it might have been accidentally changed when I corrected a spawning issue with the Dakotas. I don't think the skin assignment codes have been changed recently.

 

6 hours ago, LukeFF said:

 

I tried that too but both times Spud said we lost #3. 😄 

 

You have to stay REAL close to not lose him. It's not easy.

[LukeFF]

2 hours ago, Jaegermeister said:

You have to stay REAL close to not lose him. It's not easy.

 

Yeah, he doesn't mess around at all. 😄

[easterling77]

I did the first mission last night (fitting time and surrounding lighting) and Jesus that was a ride.

 

Without the trusty navigator I wouldn't made it! - Flying by night in such weather and getting to a specific point was a true challenge.

 

I was constantly checking Heading - Hight - Level out the plane - Heading.... 

 

Arriving at the target, I was absolute surprised, I found it in the darknes - when the searchlights went on. - Surviving several close shost of tracers over the cockpit gave me multiple F**K-moments.

 

After safly landing back at base, I was just happy to have survived it - not hitting so much targets didnt bother me at all - surviving was the goal.

 

I have to say, this mission was a blast and congratulations to the outstanding work you made Sir @Jaegermeister - this is the stuff that gets me in enjoying this simulation.

 

 

Best greetings 

DP

[Jaegermeister]

I'm glad you are liking it. It was certainly a gamble to even try to make it at all.

 

There was some discussion about whether it was a good idea to have the first mission at night in poor weather or not, but I figured if you are learning how to swim, you might as well just go jump in the deep end of the pool right away.

 

Some missions are easier than that, and others might be more difficult.

 

 

Edited December 19, 2024 by Jaegermeister

[LukeFF]

The ambiance of seeing the ships crossing the Channel at night was also a nice touch.

Now that I've actually mapped my bomb release button properly, hopefully mission 2 will go more smoothly. 😄

But yeah, my sentiments about the first mission were much like easterling's as well.

[354thFG_Leifr]

I'm kinda tempted in to this given the extra voice details, and the fact that I was looking forward to the Mosquito the most at release and have barely used it.

[Chief_Mouser]

Having run out of fuel I ditched just off the French coast and died, so have to do Mission 1 all over again 😠. Never mind, I panicked and started looking for the enemy airfield long before I got there - this time I'll wait for my trusty nav to chip in; a jolly useful chap until the same flak that holed my tanks got him. Although he did tell me that we'd crossed the coast long after he was dead 😁.

Edited December 20, 2024 by Chief_Mouser

[Jaegermeister]

2 hours ago, Chief_Mouser said:

Having run out of fuel I ditched just off the French coast and died, so have to do Mission 1 all over again 😠. Never mind, I panicked and started looking for the enemy airfield long before I got there - this time I'll wait for my trusty my nav to chip in; a jolly useful chap until the same flak that holed my tanks got him. Although he did tell me that we'd crossed the coast long after he was dead 😁.

 

Yeah, there are a few small issues, but the benefits seem to outweigh the negatives. He is a great ventriloquist, you can't even see him move his mouth at all really. 

 

I also found that he is quick to jump out the hatch when you get hit and I have not made it out after him yet 

[GSHWK_Houndstone_Hawk]

Lovely that the Mosi is getting some love but sadly, and with absolutely no fault to the highly talented campaign maker, a mosi mission absolutely MUST be flown very low and very fast and with the limitations of this sim, the a.i. refuse to fly under 500 ft which is why I only make mosi missions in a coop multiplayer environment.

[Jaegermeister]

4 hours ago, GSHWK_Houndstone_Hawk said:

Lovely that the Mosi is getting some love but sadly, and with absolutely no fault to the highly talented campaign maker, a mosi mission absolutely MUST be flown very low and very fast and with the limitations of this sim, the a.i. refuse to fly under 500 ft which is why I only make mosi missions in a coop multiplayer environment.

 

I agree, and fortunately you have the opportunity to do that. Those Mossie pilots were not generally constrained to large formations and staying tight together. You will be by yourself or lead a flight of 2 on various occasions. A couple of missions would have been better off at a lower altitude, but as you mention, they don't want to go much below 800 feet ASL. They will go a bit lower over land. 

[easterling77]

Just finished 2nd mission - seeing these numbers of planes is very impressive

 

only one minor issue:

 

after the attack run I could't activate the egress point but I'm guessing that was because of the game logic.

My flight leader endet up in this situation

 

 

and that maybe forced another member of the flight to circle arround him for the rest of the mission

 

 

I headed home on my own and after succesfull landing, my trusty navigator gave me the after landing checklist, so no big deal.

 

This campaign is a great fun so far.

 

Again big Thanks for this

[Jaegermeister]

7 minutes ago, easterling77 said:

Just finished 2nd mission - seeing these numbers of planes is very impressive

 

only one minor issue:

 

after the attack run I could't activate the egress point but I'm guessing that was because of the game logic.

My flight leader endet up in this situation

 

Spoiler

 

and that maybe forced another member of the flight to circle arround him for the rest of the mission

 

 

 

I headed home on my own and after succesfull landing, my trusty navigator gave me the after landing checklist, so no big deal.

 

This campaign is a great fun so far.

 

Again big Thanks for this

 

Yes, unfortunately the way the formation AI works if a flight leader crashes and does not die, No. 2 does not take over as the flight leader. The mission logic in this campaign is set up so that any issue of this nature should not prevent the mission from continuing as normal, just without the rest of the flight.

 

Glad you are enjoying it. Keep the screenies coming! 

[easterling77]

🍻

[MAJORgoonMADLOU]

4 hours ago, Jaegermeister said:

 

Yes, unfortunately the way the formation AI works if a flight leader crashes and does not die, No. 2 does not take over as the flight leader. The mission logic in this campaign is set up so that any issue of this nature should not prevent the mission from continuing as normal, just without the rest of the flight.

 

Glad you are enjoying it. Keep the screenies coming! 

Im SOOOO glad you made this campaign. Instant buy for me.  I was just getting ready to start a Mosquito campaign at that "other sim." But I really wanted to do one here.  GB does WW2 best IMHO.

 

I tried doing a few Mosquito careers in GB but it seems they are ALL night missions. Im not a vampire! LOL. I like to be able to see the countryside from time to time. Yours at  seems to at least have some day missions and from what I have read so far, is a blast.

 

When does the next Mosquito campaign come out?

[Jaegermeister]

4 hours ago, MAJORgoonMADLOU said:

 

Yours at  seems to at least have some day missions and from what I have read so far, is a blast.

 

When does the next Mosquito campaign come out?

 

It's about half day and half night. There are more night Intruder missions after D-Day since the Mosquitos were mainly assigned to that duty over the Normandy front. 

 

Next Mosquito Campaign? No, the sequel is titled "The Adventures of Spud Down Under" and it's a C-47 campaign over New Guinea.

[Jaegermeister]

Haha, only kidding @PhilthySpud. I wouldn’t put you through that again.

 

I guess you noticed that the navigator in the Mozzie goes by “Spud” now?

[354thFG_Leifr]

5 hours ago, Jaegermeister said:

Haha, only kidding @PhilthySpud. I wouldn’t put you through that again.

 

I guess you noticed that the navigator in the Mozzie goes by “Spud” now?

 

He is Nigel, forever and always.

[Ulricus]

Just bought it and will 'unwrap' it over X-mas.

[KoreyPong]

Just finished the third mission : this campaign is a blast so far, thanks to the historical objectives and the visual treat of seeing flights of Mosquitos roaming around over enemy territory, lurking for their next prey.

 

The voiced navigator is a great addition : finally he is no longer that weird guy sitting silently close to you in the Mossie cockpit.

 

Thank you for your work and let's all wish a great career in voice acting to Phil "Philthy" Vabre !

[Nocke]

Do I have to repeat a failed mission to continue the campaign?

If not, I buy it right away.

Otherwise, not.

[LukeFF]

5 hours ago, Nocke said:

Do I have to repeat a failed mission to continue the campaign?

If not, I buy it right away.

Otherwise, not.

 

Only if you're killed. 

[LukeFF]

@Jaegermeister, on mission 3, is it intended for the #3 guy in the flight to be the #2 plane in the line astern formation? I noticed each time that I thought I was a safe distance behind our leader, he'd be right on top of me passing me in an attempt to get in front of me. First time I got away with it because I was just to the side of him and managed to hit the target (before being shot down), but on attempt #2 he dropped his bombs on my plane and blew us up.