Matrix Games Forums

Can anyone verify if the B-32 was operational before the war ended? According to "The Army Airforces of WWII", the official history of the Army Airforce during WWII, the AAF managed to get a group of 15 in action before the war ended:

"Unhappily, the development of the B-32 lagged far behind that of
the B-29. Not until August 1944 did the AAF put its first B-32 to
service tests.” Not counting the three experimental models, only 13
B-32’s had been accepted by the end of 1944; total production by the
end of August 1945 had reached 118 . Only fifteen of these planes
saw combat, in the western Pacific with the Far East Air Forces just
at the close of the war."

If so maybe it should be represented since the scenario is designed to run untill mid 1946.

Yes, it was in "combat", if you want to call it that..

http://www.csd.uwo.ca/~pettypi/elevon/b ... 32-01.html

The first combat mission took place on May 29, 1945. It was a strike against a Japanese supply depot in Luzon's Cayagan Valley. All three of the Dominators were to take part, but -108528 aborted on takeoff. The other two proceeded to the target. Unopposed bombing runs were made from an altitude of 10,000 feet, and both aircraft returned without incident. This raid was followed by a series of attacks on Japanese targets in the Philippines, in Formosa, and on Hainan Island in the Tonkin Gulf. The only opposition encountered during these missions was some rather inaccurate flak. The tests were deemed a success, and plans were made to convert the entire 386th Bombardment Squadron to B-32s. The 312th BG was scheduled to move to Okinawa as soon as the 386th conversion was completed.

Following the dropping of the atomic bombs, in August of 1945, the unit was ordered to move to Okinawa before the conversion could be carried out. Six more B-32s joined the squadron on Okinawa a few days later. Combat operations continued in spite of the de-facto cease-fire that had been called following the bombing of Nagasaki. During this time, the B-32s flew mainly photographic reconnaissance missions, most of which were unopposed. However, on August 17 a group of 4 B-32s flying over Tokyo were fired on by radar-directed flak and were attacked by Japanese fighters. The American aircraft escaped with only minor damage, claiming one confirmed fighter kill and two probables. During a reconnaissance mission over Tokyo on August 18, 42-108532 and 42-108578 were attacked by Japanese fighters. The American gunners claimed two kills and one probable, but -108578 was badly shot up and one of her crew was killed with two being injured. This was to prove to be the last combat action of World War 2.

The last Dominator mission of the war was flown by four B-32s on August 28 in a reconnaissance mission to Tokyo. The mission was a disaster, although not because of any enemy action. 42-108544 lost an engine on takeoff and skidded off the runway. All 13 men aboard perished when the aircraft exploded and burned. On the way back from the target, 42-108528 lost power on two of its four engines. The plane's pilot ordered the crew to bail out, but two men perished.

This was to prove to be the last combat action of World War 2.

The B-32 is more valid than several planes in the game OB now. At least it was operational in combat. Given another 8 months of war it would have mattered to some degree. I would add it if there was interest.

But be advised that it is very unlikely any of these late war planes will ever be in the game at all. Games are likely to be forced to end automatically at each year beginning date. The game has some issues of code which probably make it impossible for the war to actually last into 1945 - although in my dreams we will fix this. What I am saying is that it is much more likely to produce a "fun" thing to play with to add an early or mid-war plane than a late war plane. Testing some late war planes required I set up tests in 1945 - and while I got my planes to fly - it looks like Japan is not in the war air wise. I put a US fleet in Kure harbor without air cover - just so it would be a target. All the JAAF and JNAF air units in range engaged - and the vast majority of them died in the effort. They scored a single 250 kg bomb hit on USS New Jersey in something like a thousand sortees! [And, you understand, there would be no repeat because both air forces were virtually wiped out.] This is not even air air combat - it is just AAA combat! In 1945 Japan cannot compete in this system as it now is. AFTER I get it to work well through the changes in 1943 I will tackel the end of war issues. And IF we can fix them, it might be a better time to add more 1945 planes.

And, you understand, there would be no repeat because both air forces were virtually wiped out.] This is not even air air combat - it is just AAA combat! In 1945 Japan cannot compete in this system as it now is

Well..Actually, thanks to the proximity fuse, this is pretty much accurate.
By this period of the war, about the only hits were Kamikazes, and only 10 of 300 (or thereabouts) could be expected, according to some books I have read?

ORIGINAL: el cid again

Games are likely to be forced to end automatically at each year beginning date.

What happens is you get a menu box informing you of the score and the autovictory results. You are also given the choices:

- Quit
- View map and quit
- Play on

My wording is inaccurate, but these are the three options.

And, you understand, there would be no repeat because both air forces were virtually wiped out.] This is not even air air combat - it is just AAA combat! In 1945 Japan cannot compete in this system as it now is

Well..Actually, thanks to the proximity fuse, this is pretty much accurate.
By this period of the war, about the only hits were Kamikazes, and only 10 of 300 (or thereabouts) could be expected, according to some books I have read?

Actually, it isn't that easy. There are problems. There are limits to ready ammunition - after which you must stop shooting while it is replaced. There are severe limits on how many planes can be engaged effectively. These are imposed by the number of mounts which bear, the number of directors, the capacity to solve fire control problems, and the heading of the ship relative to a target (often more weapons bear in one direction than in a direction normal - 90 degrees - to that direction. This means you get "saturated" - you have more targets than you can even shoot at - and only the first few are shot down. The fuse does not go even halfway towards solving these issues. It only reduces the time it takes to destroy a target and move on to the next. If you are alone you don't have enought mountings. If you are in a group, many of the weapons cannot shoot because they are "masked" by friendly ships.