WWII Air War over New Guinea…
Last night at Waterloo Minis we played Warbirds in Miniature (WBiM). It was the 2d game in our Pacific Campaign. We started this campaign a few weeks ago with the Air War over New Guinea Spring 1942, 4 Wildcats vs 4 Zekes.
Last night we played 4 Zekes (Rob and JD) vs 2 Wildcats (Malcolm) and 2 Dauntless Dive Bombers. (Ron) Since it was Rob's first time flying he was the only "green" pilot. One of JD's pilots carried over two kills from the last game.
This New Guinea scenario called for the two dauntless to attack and bomb one of the two bunkers protecting the two river crossings on the map. The Japanese also had one 37m AA gin protecting each river crossing.
The Dauntless flew on the board at Level 5 with Malcolm flying above providing air support at level 12. The Japanese plane called for Rob to attack the dive bombers and JD to tackle the Wildcats.
Rob struck first and on his first hit caused a wound check (which I passed) and a fuel leak on one of my Dauntless's. The Jap AA also fired each and every turn but required a 11 or 12 to hit and missed every turn. The next turn Rob's zero swung around and struck the 2nd Dive bomber (Malcolm where are you) this time cause a another fuel leak and knocking out 1/2 my forward MG fire power! But my rear gunner was able to cause a light hit on the other Zero. Both my gunners did an excellent job through out the air battle.
By turn 4 Malcolm and JD were locked in combat both flying circles and unable to et very good shots. While Rob and I too kept "pecking" at each other and one of my planes now having control problems.
On turn 7 my Diver Bombers made their attack, one plane hit the target the other with controls out missed. The large bomb took out the bunker and AA gun. Success and I radio to Malcolm to head for home.
As I made my turn (one hex at a time due to the slow plane) Rob kept at me and cause two more light hits, this time both of my planes rolled for "Abort" mission on the morale table…good thing they already dropped their loads?
On turn 12 Rob caused one of the Dauntless's to smoke which I put out the next turn but not until it cause 4 points of damage to my fuselage. In the mean time one of my gunners gave Rob a good light hit and caused one of his planes to Abort.
Above me JD and Malcolm were thick into the fight and on turn 12 JD shot the engine out of one of the Wildcats, the pilot successfully bailed but died when his chute tangles on the tall New Guinea jungle trees. On Turn 14 Malcolm 's surviving F4F-3 shot and caused a nasty hit on one of JD's zekes and my rear gunner took a very long shot and hit the plane too. Between the two hits the zero went crashing into the jungle, the pilot failing to jump out!
By turn 16 my two Dive Bombers made it off the table followed by the Wildcat but eh Dauntless with control problems never made it back to the carrier and was MIA in the sea.
The final score was JD = 1 kill,
Malcolm = 1 Kill
Ron = 1 successful Dive Bombing mission and a 1/2 kill for my surviving gunner
Rob = 1 pilot survived the battle
JD Japanese pilot now has 3 kills and has a special pilot skill of +1 shooting
Malcolm's Navy Pilot as I kill and a "no deflection when shooting" Special pilot Skill
Rob remain Japanese Pilot has moved up from Green to Experienced!
See ya soon over the skies of New Guinea, intelligence says 4ea Jap Vals have been spotted on a bombing mission!
Talley Ho…
LTJG Bing
Classification: UNCLASSIFIED
Caveats: NONE
