Adlerangriff. Mission 23: 12th August (3. Manston)

[Pitti]

Flight Reports: Mission 23: 12th August 1940

Template:

Mission Date: 12th August 1940

Name:
Rank:
Unit:
Aircraft:
Markings:
Aerodrome: Marquise East
Pilot Status: KIA / OK
Aircraft Status: Lost / Damaged

Victory Claims:

Time	Place	Aircraft	Opponent	Confirmed
-	-	-	-	-

(code here)
http://www.aircombatgroup.co.uk/forum/v ... =66&t=1169

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Mission Date: 12th August 1940

Name: Pitti
Rank: Major
Unit: Stab II./JG26
Aircraft: Bf 109 E-4
Markings: << + -
Aerodrome: Marquise East
Pilot Status: OK
Aircraft Status: RTB. Two bullet holes in the right wing.

Victory Claims:

Time	Place	Aircraft	Opponent	Confirmed
1428	Manston-Canterbury	Hurricane	-	yes (Wiesel)
1437	Mid Channel (Dover-Wissant)	Hurricane	-	yes (Trautloft)

At 1355 I took of togteher with the 6th Staffel to escort some Do-17 to an Attack on Manston airfield. I was leading the second Schwarm. This was the first mission where the new Staffelkapitän of the 6th STaffel, Leutnant Wiesel, was in lead.
Rendezvous with the bombers was took place at 1408 over Dunkirk. All of the three Staffeln meet up with the bombers in time and attached themselves to the bombers. While leaving the coast I heard that the forward bound group of Bf 110s is going to start their attack on Manston airfield.
We reached the target at 1425 and the bombers dropped their bombs directly on the target. We weren't attacked by the enemy until now. I spotted a group of Spitfires above us and gave orders to everyone to stick to the bombers. Some pilots ignored my call and went into combat with these Spitfires, soon I saw them getting shot down by the Tommy. Hopefully this was a lesson for everyone else to better follow my orders!
About one minute after the bombers had finished their attack, they got attacked by Hurricanes. I saw one Hurricane below me, slowly sneaking up on the bombers six o'clock. I went on him and gave him a full burst from short distance which ripped parts of the Hurricane and caused thick black smoke coming out of the engine. The Hurricane pulled away in a left turn down towards the ground. This victory happend at 1428 and was witnessed by Leutnant Wiesel.
While the bombers where heading home there where under continues attack until they left the coast at Dover. Then most of the enemies stopped their attacks. I found a lone Hurricane heading out over the channel, following a lone, already damaged, Do-17. What an easy prey for me. Mid channel I started my attack on the Hurricane which was sitting behind the bomber. I fired my guns and ripped of his elevator and coast liquid to stream out. He went down towards the sea. This was at 1437 and was witnessed by Hauptmann Trautloft.
After that I decided that it is time to head back home. But I heard calls over the radio that some Spitfires were spotted mid channel, pursuing some of our guys back towards France. I looked around and spotted about 3 of them around me. 2 far behind me but one lower in front of my on the six of a 109. I tried to attack the one in front of me to safe my comrade but the Spitfire pilot spotted me and broke away. In that same moment another Spitfire (a fourth one which I hadn't spotted before) opened fire at me causing, light damage in my wings. He pulled up and I dove down full speed towards France and thus get rid of him.
I landed back at Marquise East at 1450.

[Wiesel]

Mission Date: 12-08-1940 1350-1445

Name: Wiesel
Rank: Leutnant
Unit: 6./JG26
Aircraft: Bf 109 E-4
Markings: Brown 4
Aerodrome: Marquise East
Status: RTB, Pilot and A/C OK
Victory Claims:

Time	Place	Aircraft	Opponent	Confirmed
1435	Near Manston	Hurricane	-	Yes (6./JG26_HuffDuff and 6./JG26_Timo)

[Trautloft]

Mission Date: 12th August 1940

Name: Trautloft
Rank: Hauptmann
Unit: 6./JG26
Aircraft: BF-109 E-4
Markings: Brown 8
Aerodrome: Marquise East
Pilot Status: OK
Aircraft Status: Land on homebase after radiator damage

Victory Claims:
Time Place Aircraft Opponent Confirmed
- - - - -

[Timo]

Name: Timo
Rank: Hauptgefreiter
Unit: 6./JG26
Aircraft: BF-109 E-4
Markings: Brown 13
Aerodrome: Marquise East
Pilot Status: KIA
Aircraft Status: Lost

[Zalzam]

Mission Date: 12th August 1940

Name: Zalzam
Rank:Obergefriter
Unit: 5/26
Aircraft:110-C7
Markings:
Aerodrome: Oly- Plage
Pilot Status: KIA
Aircraft Status: Lost

Victory Claims:

Over Manston- 1 Spitfire Confirmed by Flyby

[Grey]

Mission 23: 12th August 1940

Name: Grey
Rank: FW
Unit: 5./JG26
Aircraft: Me 110C-7
Markings: Black 1 - wasp on both sides of the A/C's nose
Aerodrome: Oye Plage
Pilot Status: OK with Luger
Rear gunner Status: Not so sure..Dad's army took him separate for further interrogation with nylons (?!!).
Aircraft Status: Crash landed in between Sandwich and Woodnesborough


Victory Claims:

Time	Place	Aircraft	Opponent	Confirmed
14:	Manston air base	2 parked Spits, 2 hangers	64th	Everyone who dropped in later on that day

We, Krass’s Erprobungsgruppe 5./JG26 precision specialists took off from Oye Plage with Keitel Schnauffer as my rear gunner. So we went in a nice formation towards the target area.

It was like they knew we were coming since the last crates were already airborne. I took multiple pot shots at the last two who were taking off, just to get their blood running.

I dropped my two 500Kg bombs dead on Manston target at the end of a 250 mph run. I could scarcely miss. There was no opposition on the ground. The concrete buildings collapsed and spread their fragments widely, as if made of paperboard. Telephone lines were torn apart, airmen and WAAFs were killed and injured, smoke and dust rose from the craters.
On my way back, as I had to turn in over Manston again, I quickly strafed some parked aircraft, nobody was sitting in them, nobody will be flying with them ever again.

On the extraction the British felt like we did them wrong, so when they found us, they turned our crate into French cheese. Crash landed and dad’s army took us in to custody. They did a bad strip search, cause I kept my Luger. I’ll try to make a run with this later on.

[Javelina]

Name: Javelina
Rank: Gefreiter
Unit: 4./JG26
Aircraft: BF-109 E-1
Markings: White 13
Aerodrome: Marquise East
Pilot Status: Alive, picked up by friendly ASR. In good spirits
Aircraft Status: Lost. Jettisoned the canopy, brought my crate in about 15km from the French coast. Took a hit in the radiator, engine eventually overheated and seized. Did a nice belly land into the Channel, and was picked up by friendly ASR.

(more info to follow...)

[Boyezee]

Mission Date: 12th August 1940

Name: Boyezee
Rank: Obergefreiter
Unit: 5./JG26
Aircraft: Bf109 E4
Markings: Black 14
Aerodrome: Marquise East
Pilot Status: Wounded but OK
Aircraft Status: Damaged - Bullet holes in wings and damaged controls, made a crash landing at base

I led the 5th Staffel in todays mission , due to all of the JABO volunteers coming from 5th Staffel we were down to only 4 aircraft, after take off we met the bombers east of Dunkirk and took our position to the high left of the bombers.

As we approached England a number of Spitfires were spotted high above us, our altitude was 6k, I was very surprised to meet them so high after the initial attack on the airfield, as we merged with the enemy we were outnumbered by 2 to 1, I took diving evasive action after an enemy aircraft moved to my six, after diving away I attempted to re-establish visual contact with my schwarm.

Stig had engine issues leading to him bailing out over England, both Esri and I reformed and headed back to the bombers as Keroth was engaged with enemy fighters. I spotted a enemy aircraft chasing a venting 109 so I dived after the bastard as he was chasing a smoking fighter, did this tommie have no honour?, I was unable to get a shot but I did get him off the tail of the damaged 109.

During this action Esri reported a damaged engine, I gave him the call to RTB before I attempted to find the bombers again, as I climbed to find them I was hit by an enemy aircraft, I took wounds and damage to my aircraft before heading south to get clear of my attackers, Keroth reported low ammo so the call was made to both RTB.

My damaged fighter made it back to Marquise to a bad landing resulting in a damaged prop.




As a further note to tonights mission, in future if we do a similar mission, which was a lot of fun to the strike force btw, could we somehow balance it a bit better?, for example call for 2 or 3 volunteers from each Staffel, as it was only the 5th that provided volunteers, as it was 7 of our available 11 pilots were on the strike force.

Or if not could they re-spawn after the attack and come back to provide fighter cover for us?, as it was the Spitfires that had been taken out could re-spawn and engage us at a superior altitude but the 7 pilots who made the JABO attack were out of the mission, although I understand it would be crap for the Spitfire pilots to not be able to respawn and take part it did mean that we were outnumbered by the very aircraft that had been attacked and in theory taken out of the fight, we had the same problem last week on the aborted mission.

[Chumleigh]

Mission 23: 12th August 1940

Name: Chumleigh
Rank: Feldwebel
Unit: 4./JG26
Aircraft: E-1
Markings: White 14
Aerodrome: Marquise
Pilot Status: OK
Aircraft Status: fuselage damage due to stuck undercarriage, engine

Engaged a flight of spits at 6,000 meters over Manston. We were outnumbered by more than 2-1 and I was forced to dive and run. I managed to find Reinhart and we re-entered the battle but were only able to score a few hits at best. A spit got on my 6 and damaged my radiator but I was able to escape and glide in for a belly landing after my engine gave up.

[Flyby]

Flight Reports:Mission 23: 12th August 1940


Mission Date: 12th August 1940

Name: Flyby
Rank: Unteroffr
Unit: 5./26_Jabo
Aircraft: 109 E-3/B
Markings: Black 8
Aerodrome: Oye-Plage
Pilot Status: OK
Aircraft Status: OK

I can confirm Zalzam's Spitfire kill. I watched it splash S.E of Manston Harbor. Seven Jabo fighters went out; three returned (Krass, Lee, and myself). This mission was probably run correctly, this time as a do-over. This mission was a bit more rough than it's earlier play. The Me-110 AI planes spwned in order, but went tits-up once feet wet, and instead of proceeding to Manston, both flights veered back feet dry. As we were to follow, this temporarily put us in disorder as we initially turned with them. Once we saw the AI not holding formations we split from it and proceeded on towards Manston, dropping low, and trying to get back on course. As we drew near, we were spotted by two recon aircraft, and apparently the word went out. Before we could get in our (hastily) pre-planed position to make our attacks we saw fighters scrambling below us, and some already airborne. So much for tactical surprise. We dropped on the airfield, then scooted out.

I can only confirm Zalzam's kill because I turned back towards Manston at his call for assistance. From behind it I saw the Spit spin into the channel. I then proceeded home to Oye-Plage and joined Krass in the landing pattern.

The mess was a somber place to be tonight. We drank to our fallen kamerades, then, later in town we diddled the young "hostesses" in their honor with an extra poke or two for each fallen pilot.
Flyby out