After Action Report May 13, 2008
Skies over Europe
My flight of two P-47D Thunderbolts got the jump on two FW190-D "Yellow Tails". I misjudged our pass and my wingman passed just beyond the windscreen of the lead Focke-Wulf. He had my wingman bore-sighted, pressed his trigger and destroyed my wingman's Jug. Point blank range, he couldn't miss. Unfortunately, for the German pilot, he was killed as he passed through the debris caused by his disintegrating target! I held my breath, and then let it go as I saw my wingman's parachute open below me.
The battle was down to me and the dead pilot's wingman. His inexperience showed as he failed to latch onto my six. I was able to reverse the tables on him and let loose with a burst from medium long range. I might have waited for a closer shot if I had been flying a different aircraft, but the Thunderbolt's eight .50's have a way of reaching out and touching someone. Only three hits struck my target, but the first one nailed the pilot dead in his cockpit!
This was the quickest combat I've experienced yet. Often times, my opponents and I circle around for 15 minutes trying to best each other. This action took only 90 seconds of real time to complete. This game was played using the solo rules and all the detail in the report was generated by the game. Getting in position for an attack is NOT generated by the game, die rolls or charts, but rather by the skill of each pilot in his turn.
ponders nirvana.
