Background: Twelve B-24s of the 44th Bombardment Group returning
from Operation Tidal Wave were ambushed by a squadron of Me-109s based on
Kalamaki, Greece. Led by Leutnant Stahl, the Germans bet that the Liberators
would follow the USAAF practice of flying the same path outbound from the
target as inbound. Although the German gamble was rewarded with a successful
interception, the bombers were alert and fought back. Four B-24s and two
Me-109s fell in this fight.
Map: Blue Sky
Aircraft
USAAF
=
Twelve B-24D
Luftwaffe
=
Six Bf109G-6
Set Up:
Set up the B-24s in hexes 2922, 3023, 2823, 3123, 3224, 3024, 2723,
2824, 2624, 3324, 3225 and 3425 at speed 4.0, level bank, altitude 15.0,
heading west in level flight.
Set up the Me109s in hexes 3916, 4017, 4117, 3915, 3914, and 3913 at
altitude 16.0, speed 6.0, left bank, heading SSE in a shallow dive.
Game Length: 20 Turns.
Special Rules:
The B-24s are unloaded, having already bombed Ploesti.
Before the first turn, roll one die for each bomber. The result is
the number of hits the bomber has already taken from the Ploesti defenses.
Check for critical hits normally (the critical hit number is 3), but treat any
hits that would destroy a B-24 or cause it to fall out of formation (such as
reduced speed due to a hydraulic hit) as a Hollow area hit. All fires are out
by this time. Any aircraft that could not stay in formation have already fallen
out.
If needed, aircraft may be shifted to keep them on the playing
surface for the full 20 turns. Shift all aircraft equally if you do.
Additional Rules: Pilot Quality - Training Standards:
USAAF = average
Luftwaffe = good
Roll for Luftwaffe pilot characteristics on the Pilot Generation
Tables.
ADC Availability: The B-24D is
available at Uncle Ted’s. The Me-109-6 was published in Over
the Reich.