herbiesan vs Cantona!!!

[1275psi]

Dec 6, 1941

A large , and somewhat dusty airfield, Canton.
Two men stand face to face - behind them a large body of men paraded
Maj Tojo Sakawaka puts his hand out for a final handshake
Col Kanbayashi, The hawk, to his friends, warmly takes it
"the squadron is your Colonel -good luck"
"Thankyou my friend - from little things big things grow -you have left me a fine unit"

the two men formally inspected the paraded men -the mechanics, the storesmen, the 1000 odd men required to keep this patch of Japan operating near Canton.
Col Kanbayashi was pleased. the men seemed fit, healthey- well supported, uniforms and bearing very good.
The reputation of this field seemed correct. Not that the Colonel would just asume this - there would, of course be much to be done to bring things to his standard.

Again he turned to the outgoing commander of the 47th fighter sentai.
"Thankyou again. I assume my pilots records are awaiting me? Good. dismiss the parade.
I will speak to the pilots in 15 minutes time "

Col Kanbayashi arrives Canton field to assume command 47thFTR sentai 6/12/41

[1275psi]

from the diary of COL Kanbayashi
6/12/41


47th fighter Sentai is an experimental unit -testing the new KI 44 intercepter fighter.
I hear that it is a fast plane - great climb.
I also hear that it is some what disliked by the men who fly it.
In my opinion, and its only my opinion, its the pilot that makes a successful fighter, not the fighter that makes a successful pilot.
My first task obviously is to meet the pilots, assess them and see exactly where I am at.
It should be an intersting experience..............

[1275psi]

from the personal files as written by Major Sakagawa as part of his hand over brief to Col Kanbayashi

1LT Hyakutake
Born Okiwana
Age 21
Hours 740

Put simply this pilot is a clown. he comes from simple peasant stock and is irrefutably irrepressable - you will never see a frown replace the smile upon his face.
He lives for flying, but i think his skills are somewhat less than he imagines them to be.
If he asks permission to take a plane stunting -refuse it -it will come back strained somewhere.
Has a father in the 2nd Imperial guards.
Also beware - he owns a cow.
yes -you read that right - he owns a cow somewhere of the field and seems to care more about it than his plane -if that was possible.
His discipline record is good

[1275psi]

1st Lt Juni V
2nd Lt Juni B

I have lumped these two together, as they are non identicle twins

Both born tokyo
age 22
820 hrs and 800 hrs respectively

Their father is in the Navy -commander of I-26 I beleve
Both these men are Military career men, both graduated in 1939.
You will find this pair both hard men - hard drinking, hard gambling, but also hard fighting men.
Both are aggressive and simply live to out kill the other.
Both I consider to be fine assetts

Juni V

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Juni B

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2LT Inoute

Born Shiuka
Age 27
Hours 860

Comes from Fishermen stock
Commissioned in June of this year
Has already seen some action here in China -seved prieviously with the 64th Sentai, and is here on recommendation.
Technically brilliant -alone amongst your command this man fanatically believes in the KI 44 - you will find him expounding the theory of heavy fighters every second day.
This has caused some friction amongst the group - all dogfight men to a D

Loyal to the emperor -but be warned -he will argue with you!!!

[1275psi]

Capt Iwaya
age 25
Born Tokyo
Hours 740

Note this mans age. he has contacts -father is rumoured to be the mysterious " Minister for production"
This man was dumped on me against my wishes.
he is lazy
he is abusive to the support crews
he flys sloppily

yet you will, despite all this find him likable -humourous generous -and he is very, very rich -which can be very, very useful

[1275psi]

Capt Izumida
Born Hiroshima
Age 27

Hours 810

You will find this man quiet, proffessional, and very efficient
Comes from the 33rd sentai -again on recommendation when we called for the best pilots.

Little else to know about him - been only here a week

[1275psi]

Maj Takenaka
born Siapan
age 27
hours 740

Joined the unit also only this week -but already i can tell you you have another heavy gambler on your hands
Does a strange thing -goes for a five mile run every night after the day is done -very wierd
Appears to be a fitness freak.
Also the rumour is that he is a Christian -so be on the look out
cannot tell you his flying ability -have seen nothing to prove -dis prove it yet.

[1275psi]

WO Kuroe
Born Tokyo
Age 37
Hours -2980

I believe this man is a tailors son
Do not be misled -this man is vital to the success of this unit
A fantastic pilot -meticlous and fanatical about detail to his flying - he is the vital link in this unit between the pilots and the ground organisation
If he comes to you with a problem -then fix it -or regret it.

You will think him shy -he speaks rarely -but this i know is because he suffers no fool.
If -when this sentai is expanded to a full 27 planes you must make him a leader.

[1275psi]

WO Inoue
Age 40
hours 730

born kagoshima

The father figure of the unit - firm yet frank with the men
Does tend to bend the rules somewhat -as most men of his experience in the military seem to do
if he "tests flights" for longer than the KI 44's endurance -do not be surprised -he has a son in a para regiment at Samah - he visits him
Steady pilot -fearless and aggressive.Along with Kuroe - he gets things done for you.

[1275psi]

The interviews went well - the usual -I will wiegh you up as you wiegh me up type stuff.

My opinion of the unit?
Although the unit is small -it will expand
It seems to be proffessional, and tight.
Already i have been warned -the AVG is about to the North -good -I hope to clean their clock shortly.
Tomorrow I will take the unit on a aggressor mission North -and see for myself what they are made of.
The field here is big -we share it with 45 sentai, 82nd sentai.

Now for this KI 44 - time to get aquainted I think

[1275psi]

Operations diary
47th Sentai

Dec 6 1941
Weather -cold, clear -snow predicted for evening

Change of command
Maj Sakagawa relieved by Col Kanbayashi

A/C available 9 (100%)
Sorties
3 - Maj Kuroe - recon flights over Hong Kong

[1275psi]

from the diary of Col Kanbayashi
Dec7 1941

Well -talk about being thrown into the deep end!
Been here less than 24hrs and the thunderbolt arrives - we are at war with the british and the dutch! Some confusion abot the americans - until we hit clarke field today -so i must assume that we are against them as well.

Fortunately -or unfortunately the field was fogged in badly today -and this gave me a good chance to see how the operations flowed.
it worked well - orders came in from HQ very promptly at 10 - usually we get them at or around 7pm the day before -not surprisingly today was very delayed.
47th sentai to escort 45th sentai and 82nd sentai -a mixture of KI 30's and 32's on anti shipping duties
Played it conservative today -I must have the AVG's location! -and sent just 4 planes on escort
No opposition today -and the bombers sank one carge ship south of hong kong - and I kept the rest here -on 5 minutes standby
Bloody cold work -but i got to talk properly with many of the section heads - most are in shock -as i am -that it has come to this -but confident in our planes and pilots

felt very different giving the flight briefing -and including the words - good hunting!
A million things to do - and tomorrows orders are coming in

the first briefing

[1275psi]

47th sentai has but one radio "aquired" whilst settling into the base

It is large, heavy, and bulky -but sits in a fine walnut case
it is frequently tuned to the BBC -but with a new Commander posted -today it is prudently re tuned to the Tokyo broadcast
Today the news is incredible - and the room is crowded with many men

" and the Imperial navy today reports the sinking of the british Battleships Prince of wales and the battle cruiser Repulse , and numerous other vessels during its carrier strikes gainst the port of Singapore.
Our troops landed successfully in malaya -and are establishing a beach head in northern malaya.

In the phillipines the criminal Mc Aurther was surprised -and our Navy and Army Bombers successfully crushed the field at Clarke -thus removing the threat of bomber action against the lands of Jpan.....

[1275psi]

Operation diary
47th sentai

Dec 7 1941
Weather - field fogged in in AM -clear -snow on field in afternoon

Unit flew escort to navy interdiction -one enemy merchant ship sunk
Pilots involved
1lt Hyakutake
2nd Lt Juni B
Capt Iwaya
Maj takenaka
A/C availability 9
sorties flown 4 -total 4
damage nil

[1275psi]

letter from
1lt Hyakutake

Father!
salute to you on this great day for the empire
i know that even as i write this you will be marching forcefully into Burma - and that nothing will stand against you!
I have been honoured to undertake the first combat mission of the war -although the enemy did not appear -we certaintly were looking for them!
We have a new commander -he already has let us know that he seeks the enemy -especially the American bandits here in China.
We are all well -and our planes are more than ready.
may the empire bring the imperialists yoke to heel quickly

Your son
Sam

[Nemo121]

Which mod is this with? Or is it stock.

[1275psi]

CHS 157c plus nikmod
normal house rules -one exception -airgroups on a field equals field size
I think we will have a pretty "tame" and reasonable game.

game taken on since gen hoepner vanished -i hope he did not have an accident or something -just vanished a month ago.

[1275psi]

Operations diary
47th sentai

Dec 8 1941
Weather - Light snow showers, and heavy cloud- field again closed in AM

Unit flew combat air patrol canton
Pilots flew - Juni V
Juni B
Izumida
Col Kanbayashi -test flight
A/C availability 9
Sorties flown 4 -total 8
damage nil
Nil contact