Dutch East Indies #17

All,

It's noon on 18 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 three Wildcats to meet the enemy.

Yesterday the Pelicans shot down one Helen and lost their only Wildcat engaged, with Lt Dapper being declared Missing In Action.  Two Japanese bombers bombed the munitions factory, causing moderate damage (11 more points, 19/32). 

Two days ago 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).

Three 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).

Four 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.

Five 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. 

The Yanks, from left to right:

Pelly 02, Ensign Gordon

Pelly 01, Lieutenant Collins, the Squadron Leader

Pelly 03, Ensign Radecek

The incoming Japanese of the 1st Air Fleet: three Ki-49 "Helens" escorted by one Ki-43 "Oscar".  Because I'm dumb, lazy, and cheap I am using G4M Bettys as the Helens and A6M Zeros as the Oscars.  I have since purchased some actual Ki-43 Oscars, working on getting them painted up.  The Japanese, from left to right: 

Oscar 01

Helen 02, 01, and 03 

Turns 1 through 3 bring us to the merge, air combat is about to break out!

The Americans are hot-blooded today, and Ens Radecek goes straight at Oscar 01, guns blazing, splashing him into the warm waters of the Savu Sea!!!

Ensign Radeck immediately wheels his Grumman left and dives onto the Japanese bomber formation, dodging tracers as he stands on the trigger his own machine guns roaring...

But as he passes Helen 01 (center), the machine guns from that aircraft and Helen 03 (bottom left) converge on his Wildcat, knocking it from the sky!!!

Though stunned by the loss of his comrade, Ens Gordon charges in from the opposite direction, guns blazing...

He misses, too, and flashes past, though he's luckier with enemy defensive fire.

Lt Collins, the squadron commander, loiters a bit (center right), looking to break up the formation.

The Japanese bombers come on, breaking formation just as he (Lt Collins, bottom center) was hoping.

He guns the throttle and roars in, tailing Helen 03 and sending .50-cal tracers its way.

He fails to score, but the Japanese gunners claim their second victory of the day!  Lt Collins' Wildcat explodes, killing him instantly, as Ens Gordon finds himself suddenly alone.  He cuts right, getting back into the fight...

As the bombers press east.

Ens Gordon jumps on Helen 03's tail, damaging it.

As the bombers continue east.

Unsure of where to go, Ens Gordon stalls a bit, allowing the Japanese to open the distance.

Ens Gordon pulls after the damaged Helen 03.

As they keep running.

He pulls up as two Japanese bombers make it to the target area...

Ens Gordon manages to pull in behind Helen 03, firing on the damaged bomber and knocking it from the sky.  But the damage is done, his two wingmen were shot down (by bombers!!!) and two bombers made it to the munitions factory, which they nearly destroyed (10 more damage points, 29/32).

The Americans shot down one Oscar and one Helen, while the Japanese bombers managed to use their defensive machine guns to shoot down TWO U.S. Navy F4F Wildcats.  Ensign Radecek was scooped up and returned to base without incident, but the squadron commander, Lt Collins, was killed when his aircraft exploded.  It is quite improbable, damn near impossible, that three Japanese bombers managed to shoot down two US fighters, when they hit only on a 6.  C'est la guerre...  

At this stage of the game, the Killer Pelicans can only put six of their original 18 F4F Wildcats into the air.  They've got 11 pilots that can fight (and another two that are wounded), but only six planes...

Total score:

Japanese fighters shot down: 7

Japanese bombers shot down: 12

US Navy fighters shot down: 12

Land Targets destroyed: 1

Last fight coming right up.

V/R,

Jack