"Air War on the Central Front D+10 (19 July, 1987)" Topic

"On D+10 2 ATAF (Allied Tactical Air Force) was almost entirely consumed with the land battle raging in the NORTHAG sectors. Maintaining air superiority over the battlefield and providing near-constant close air support for the NATO ground units engaged north and south of Hanover, especially those defending east of the Leine. This day saw a significant spike in aircraft, and crew losses for the whole of 2 ATAF. The majority of these were ground attack fighters and their pilots who fell victim to Soviet guns and mobile SAMs. Close air support was an expensive endeavor across West Germany in July, 1987 to be sure. However, on D+10 the price paid by 2 ATAF was extraordinarily high.

Luckily for 2 ATAF, air superiority over the battlefield held through the day. Soviet fighters did not make a serious effort to pierce the wall of NATO fighters. Some Soviet ground attack aircraft did support the tank and motor rifle divisions driving west for a short period of time, but suffered losses even worse than their NATO counterparts. This provided little comfort for 2 ATAF's commander Air Marshal Anthony Skingsley. As the day went on, his greatest worry shifted from the air situation over Northern Germany, to the heavy losses being endured, and then finally in the afternoon, Sir Anthony was presented with the prospect of a sustainability crisis looming for his command…"

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Amicalement
Armand

An interesting write-up, with lots of plausible, high level detail.

I've only read a few days so far, and there's a lot more to chew on.

Would like some tactical, or operational level, blow-by-blow details interspersed with the high-level narrative. Perhaps there is some, and I just haven't found it yet.

Glad you enjoyed it my friend! (smile)

Amicalement
Armand