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This will be a full 1943 campaign against the AI. To keep things manageable, I will be taking control of 12th Air Force in the Mediterranean and leaving everything else to the computer for now. The campaign starts on August 17, 1943, just after the liberation of Sicily and a few weeks before the invasion of Italy. Other assets in the area include the British Mediterranean Air Command (MAC). Although I will not be controlling those forces, I will be coordinating with their efforts as much as possible.

I am going to start out by attempting to gain air superiority over southern Italy and by softening up targets in preparation for the invasion. I am sure the Axis will have air defenses present on the island of Sardinia to the north but since they will not interfere with my raids into southern Italy I will leave them for the MAC to deal with for now.

Here is a brief overview of the situation: 12th Air Force Overview

Here are the results for Day 1: 12th Air Force - Day 1

I will not be able to go into this much detail on every mission and hope to finish in a reasonable time... I plan on posting small updates throughout the week and a large AAR like this maybe once every couple weeks. I hope you all enjoy it.

Great AAR, thanks for posting!

NICE

very impressive

I would say though, until you can move all of the 12th, Sardina is a nice target for the other half of the 12th

wow, excellent detailed AAR!

very nice!!!

[&o][&o][&o]

Very detailed AAR, thanks for sharing!

Thanks very much !  I look forward to this, especially with the screen shots [8D]

As I _ think_ I recall from BTR you could time a fighter sweep in to cover the Bomb Groups withdrawl. Use to work well for 8th. AF deep raids. Still possibe here ?

Great AAR!

Letting the AI control the other parts so that you can focus on the 12th AF is one of my favorite parts of BTR. The air war over Italy is also very interesting. 

Excellent work, looking forward to future installments!

Good luck in your battle for Italy, you can tell us who works the AI and if is possible take control of specific air forces [:D]

HARDCORE!

A very cool idea. I was thinking of doing the same with the 8th AAF, possibly controlling the IXth AAF, and Fighter and Bomber Commands (actually everything flying out of Britain), since 8th AAF is what has always been the main interest for me.

Harley, this is not hardcore.  I tell you what is [:D] ..I have a a 1943 campaign as the Allies going on in the original game, I have listed every kill (enemy a/c type, location and time) and loss for the 8th AAF FC in Excel and I have also full rotation of 8th AAF FC pilots (trying to simulate a tour of duty this way). Not even close to finishing the game though, current date is March 4th 1944, and I'll possibly never finish this campaign especially now that the EDtoBtR is out.

I dont know if that can even be categorized as hardcore, sounds more like crazy to me [8|]

edit. Actually now that I have read Bunyap462's 1st Day coverage, have to say this is HC, very detailed info and interesting reading as well, keep it up!

Bunyap, I love the AAR format! I hope your able to keep it up. I for one will definitely be a fan of your AAR as long as you post it!

This AAR makes me want to get this game now! Look forward to more!

Thanks for the replys!

Day 2 is now up: 12th Air Force - Day 2

Strikes on railyards and airfields in Southern Italy... nothing too demanding. I'm going to try for "milk runs" for the next few days until I get a better feel for the game down.

ORIGINAL: Richard III

As I _ think_ I recall from BTR you could time a fighter sweep in to cover the Bomb Groups withdrawl. Use to work well for 8th. AF deep raids. Still possibe here ?

That is not a bad idea at all. I will give it a try this week some time. Another thing I can do is be a little smarter on escort coverage while the bombers are on the way back now that I have a better idea of when and where the interceptors will arrive. I can think of a couple cases where I misjudged just how close to Sicily the axis intercepters can get and cut my escorts out too soon.

Great AAR - you'll have a book when you are done to enjoy in the future.  Thanks for sharing!

I registered on these forums just to subscribe to this AAR. Keep up the good work.

OK, the day 3 report is now up: 12th Air Force - Day 3

Today was another set of raids on Southern Italy with some very successful fighter sweeps mixed in... More details above...

I have to work all through the weekend but I will try to knock out a couple more quick turns when I can and then do a detailed AAR on something special I have planned, hopefully next weekend...

good aars alot of hard work put into it and no post padding.. although you deserve it you.. go ahead and post pad a little

sweet aar,keep it coming.