Dutch East Indies #16

All,

It's noon on 17 February 1942, at an Allied airbase at Koepang, Dutch Timor, on the eastern edge of the Dutch East Indies (DEI).  The VF-63 Killer Pelicans, led by Lieutenant Shawn Collins and sporting brand new F4F Wildcats, were on the way to Philippines when the decision was made two days ago to cancel that trip and instead divert them to the DEI, so the USS Langley made a quick detour to Timor, dropped them off, and headed to Australia.  The Naval aviators had just enough time to get settled in and check their aircraft out before incoming bogeys of the Japanese 1st Air Fleet, operating out of Kendari, Celebes (captured 24 Jan 1942), were spotted.  The Killer Pelicans immediately scrambled a single Wildcat to meet the enemy.

Yesterday the Pelicans shot down one Oscar and three Helens, at the cost of three of their own precious Wildcats (Lt Case made it back to base, shot, Ensign Green made it back safely, and Ensign Davis was KIA), and the radar station at Koepang was destroyed while a nearby munitions factory was lightly damaged (8/32).

Two days ago the Pelicans shot down one Oscar and one Helen, at the cost of two of their own precious Wildcats (Lt French made it back to base, burned badly, Ensign Bordagaray was KIA), and the radar station at Koepang was lightly hit (another ten damage points, 23/32).

Three days ago the Pelicans shot down one Oscar and four Helens, at the cost of one of their own precious Wildcats (and the pilot, Ens Bruce, is missing), and the radar station at Koepang was not hit (still 13/32), and one of their pilots (Lt Case) won the Medal of Honor, scoring five kills to become the Pelicans' first ace.

Four days ago the Pelicans shot down three Oscars and two Helens, at the cost of three of their own precious Wildcats, and the radar station at Koepang suffered moderate damage (13/32), though one of their pilots (Fitzsimmons) won the Navy Cross, scoring three kills before getting shot down.

My new setup.  Yes, it's homegrown and ugly, and I'll get it fixed, but bear with me, this and the following five fights are all on some posterboard that I gridded myself and my daughter colored.  Hey, it works...

I'm using some amazing, but teeny-tiny aircraft from "Thomaston," whom I met over on The Wargames Website when he posted some pics of what he calls "Tiny Air Combat" (https://www.thewargameswebsite.com/forums/topic/tiny-air-combat/page/3/), and I'm using some simple rules posted by "Tango" over on The Miniatures Page (http://theminiaturespage.com/boards/msg.mv?id=489811). 

Part of the cool thing with the rules is the campaign set up: the campaign starts with the Japanese having six sets of two fighters and six sets of three bombers, while the Americans have six sets of three fighters.  Each game you roll 2D6 per set to determine which 'flights' will be present in the fight, and if that 'flight' previously fought and suffered casualties, that is reflected in the current fight.  For example, the Americans have one fighter on the table; this is because they have one three-plane 'flight' that has fought previously and suffered two kills, and another three-plane flight has fought previously and had all three aircraft destroyed.  

This is it, Pelly 13, Lt (jg) Dapper on his third intercept mission.

And the Japanese: no fighters available due to casualties, and only one flight of three Helens.

Turns 1 through 3 bring us to the merge.  Time to go get'em, Spanky!

As usual, Lt Dapper's maneuvers in the face of the enemy are less than impressive, his indecisiveness leaving him too far out to execute an attack.

The Japanese bombers move east, though they do have to break formation in order to avoid Lt Dapper's charge.

Realizing his mistake, Lt Dapper begins a lazy turn to port, subjecting himself to defensive fire from Helen 03...

It misses, but Lt Dapper (bottom left) finds the bombers becoming mere specks on the horizon.  He's no Dave McCampbell…

Lt Dapper comes around as the bombers keep running.

He's catching up...

No he's not...

Then he does!  His Wildcat's six .50-cal machine guns hammer away...

Knocking Helen 03 out of the sky!  BUT, Lt Dapper's aircraft is struck by defensive fire from the enemy bomber and damaged.

The remaining two bombers keep moving east.

Lt Dapper makes his second attack, machine guns blazing as he engages Helen 01...

But the enemy bomber's machine guns send Lt Dapper's Wildcat plunging into the sea.  The two remaining Helens enter the target area and bomb the munitions factory, causing moderate damage (11 points, 19/32).

The Americans shot down one Helen, while the Japanese bombers managed to use their defensive machine guns to shoot down Lt Dapper.  His 'Mayday' was heard back in Koepang, but he was listed as Missing In Action as he was never seen or heard from again.   

Total score:
Japanese fighters shot down: 6
Japanese bombers shot down: 11

US Navy fighters shot down: 10
Land Targets destroyed: 1

Next fight coming right up.

V/R,
Jack