Bombing the Reich - 12th Air Force

[Rebel Yell]

Really enjoying this one. Great effort.

[Bunyap462]

OK, I finally have a weekend! Turn 4 is now up.

12th Air Force - Day 4

This was another set of railyard raids against southern Italy with a foray into Naples. I pressed on with a full set of missions despite the bad weather and lucked out.

[Bunyap462]

Here is the first of several quick turns to get caught up:

12th Air Force - Day 5

[skrewball]

Still loving how your putting this in AAR! So are you going to go into detail about the 47th BG? For the past few days it looks like you've had the area under control. What was different this time around?

[Bunyap462]

ORIGINAL: skrewball

So are you going to go into detail about the 47th BG? For the past few days it looks like you've had the area under control. What was different this time around?

Two things went wrong for those guys: low altitude anti-aircraft guns and poor timing.

I sent these A-20s in at 100 feet to stay below the radar coverage but either did not have current recon photos for or did not notice the 24 AAA sites in the area. Going in low level against defended targets is generally a bad idea and today's raid proved it...

Second, this mission was meant to be carried out in coordination with a big B-26 raid on Foggia to the northeast. I have had great success so far sending small groups in 5-10 minutes after the big raids hit Axis radar coverage. The intercepters usually go after the big raids and leave the smaller groups alone. Today, my small group went in at the exact same time as the bigger raid. The Axis saw the small group first and sent every fighter this side of Rome in after them...

[Hard Sarge]

yea, down low, those MGs are murder

as are the 20mm, the quad 20mm, the 37mm

unless you know the coast is clear, down low is murder

[Bunyap462]

Day 6 is complete:

12th Air Force - Day 6

This was an all out raid against airfields north of Naples.

[Bunyap462]

Day 7 is posted:

12th Air Force - Day 7

This is a set of missions against Naples, Foggia and some power plants in the hills north and a bit east of Naples.

The first week of bombing went well. The Axis air threat is now almost non-existent in the heel and toe while strikes later in the week weakened defenses around Foggia and Naples. The Italian rail network has also taken considerable damage.

We just recieved our "Avalanche" tasking from higher headquarters so more focus will need to be placed on disrupting the troop concentrations in preparation for the invasion. To do this, I am swapping out my two groups of Spitfires for P-47D-6s. This will give a little more air-to-ground punch and a little extra range to these units.

I will spend the rest of the day looking over my forces then carry on with week 2...

[Bunyap462]

I will begin week 2 with a quick look at my forces and Axis air defence strengths:

12th Air Force - Week 2 Overview

I will also throw in a few links to information on the air war in the Mediterranien... (You old timers know all about these I am sure.)

AU Press has several books for download on a multitude of topics: Air University Press

In particular, check out Air-to-Ground Battle for Italy. I haven't gone very far inoto it yet but I have yet to meet a WWII memoir I didn't like...

The Air Force Historical Research Agency has the official histories available for download here: AFHRA Click on "studies" at the top and go from there. This is enough to keep a person busy for years...

[Richard III]

Great AAR in an excellent format. Thank you. [8D]
 
Just a question, I`m into week 3 in the `43 full campaign, pounding the Troops holding the Gothic Line.  My 12th. AF Spit Sqds. have yet to transition to P-47`s. Are you actually flying them ?  I wonder if the change - over date is random.
 
RL.

[Bunyap462]

Day 8 is complete...

12th Air Force - Day 8

I sent some B-26s up to Rome and was surprised to find that the Luftwaffe has pulled out of the area...

[Bunyap462]

ORIGINAL: Richard III
Just a question, I`m into week 3 in the `43 full campaign, pounding the Troops holding the Gothic Line.  My 12th. AF Spit Sqds. have yet to transition to P-47`s. Are you actually flying them ?  I wonder if the change - over date is random.

Yeah, I have 6 Squadrons up to strength and will start flying them next turn. I made the switch by going to the "detail" screen for the units and clicking "change aircraft type". There happened to be 90 or so P-47s in the replacement pool so I went ahead and snagged them...

I am really not sure if allied units upgrade automatically or not. I had always assumed you had to do it manually but that was a long, long time ago...

[Bunyap462]

Day 9 is complete:

12th Air Force - Day 9

Big B-17 raid on Rome and my first use of B-24s and P-47s...


Here is how the real 12th AF fared: (NAAF is North African Air Force... 12th AF doesn't officially exist until 1 Sept 43.)
8/25/43 NAAF
Around 135 B-17’s and 140 P-38’s attack satellite A/Fs at Foggia. NATAF FBs hit trucks S of Sinopoli.

[Bunyap462]

And here is turn 10:

12th Air Force - Day 10

Lots going on today but I had to contend with the weather... I can not wait for the invasion to begin so I can get my P-40s closer to the action.


Here is how the real 12th AF fared:
8/26/43 NAAF
Over 80 NASAF B-17’s, with P-38 escort, bomb Capua A/F. More than 100 ftr-escorted MBs hit Grazzanise A/F and satellite field. P-40’s bomb Carloforte and strafe S part of Sardinia. NATAF MBs and LBs bomb tgts on toe of Italy, including railroad junction at Locri and gun positions at Reggio di Calabria and Villa San Giovanni.

[Nemo121]

It really is very interesting to see things from "the other side of the hill" and kudos to you on what looks like a very successful game being played in which you are causing a lot of damage for quite limited loss.

[skrewball]

Noooooooooooooo....don't let this amazing AAR fall into obscurity! 

[Oliver Heindorf]

yes plz post agian ! [:)]

[Rob Brennan UK]

Ditto the previous sentiments , just found this and i love it [&o]

[Jugjock]

BY - Very much looking forward to your next installment. I can imagine how much time it takes to capture screen shots, write-up the summaries, and post the results in PDF files. Your writing is very technical and precise. Your efforts have been a big help to me in understanding the many of the detailed complexities of this game. Thank you for sharing!