Merry Christmas and The Bluetails and 18 Mira update

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays! As stated previously I have much to be thankful for. I hope you do too.
Rich is shooting for a January release for Platoon Forward. Hopefully we all will be moving our platoons forward early next year!!

Played 2 BTH2 battles over the last week so thought I would post them. The scenarios for Squadron Forward are coming along. I have abandonded blinds. They are mainly there to see where the aircraft end up when the shooting starts. Instead I now roll for initial position. Think I am 75% there!

Yet another escort mission for Maj Evans and the P-51 D driving Bluetails. 6 fighters to move ahead of the B-17 stream and break up enemy fighters.
Characters
Maj Evans cunning Veteran
2Lt Pierce Mckennon Mercurical
1Lt Pudge Storch Coarse
2Lt Chase Blake Cocky West Point
1 Lt Chuck Weaver Slow Connected
2Lt John Turlock Cunning

3 elements of 2 pairs with Evans the only veteran. (new sq for me) The other 2 element leaders were Storch ( coarse texan but liked by the sq) and Weaver ( little natural ability but hard work compensated for this. Dad owned half of West Virginia including its senators)

Maj Evans thoughts were interupted by cannon fire hitting his plane!

A perfectly executed bounce!

4 FW 190D were behind them. The 4 mustangs started power dives. The 2 wingman shook off their pursers (who were rookies) while Evans and Storch were not as lucky. While Evans tried to figure out what to do next (he was tailed by an ace) he felt rather than heard a huge explosion and felt himself tumbling through the air. Training took over and he pulled the ripcord of his parachute. He would spend the next 5 months trying to figure out what happened while in a Stalag. Storch's mustang also was seen going down in flames but he managed to put out the fire with a power dive and make his way back to England.

Lt Weaver dove to avenge the chaos below losing his wingman in the process. He latched on to the tail of a Dora. Before he could pull the trigger cannon shells hit his mustang.

The hunter becomes the hunted

Thoughts of his first kill were replaced with survival. The ace that had got Maj Evans was on his tail!

Lt Weaver leaking fuel

(what other color should I use?)

Never a gifted pilot, Weaver barrel rolled and tucked into a tight turn and lost the Jerry. He managed to make it to an emergency field in France.

All in all a disaster for the Bluetails. 1 POW, 4 damaged and they only got 1 shot off.

My 18 Mira had a 3 on 3 clash with some more Falcons.

Characters

Yposminagos Camberous Lazy

Episminias Notaras Careful (Iron constitution)

Sminias Mexlexis Cocky Veteran

Lt Camberous leads the flight

random event led to ragged formation

3 Falcons are spotted 2 o'clock low.

Lt Camberous' first pass
The battle quickly turns into a dogfight with agile aircraft looking for an advantage. MSgt Notaras manages a kill! The Lt is damaged.

As a Falcon starts to hammer MSgt Notaras

Sgt Mexlexis shows up

Sgt Mexlexis shots a falcon off the tail of MSgt Notaras. Mexlexis, who was unpopular in the squadron, has just won over the senior NCO in a big way!! Both sides disengaged. The greeks claim one and have one damaged; a win!! MSgt Notaras has his skills upgraded to veteran.

Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night!

Joe