AVG Fighter Sweep

Sorry for the long quiet spell.  Spent the last few weeks in the US on bussiness.
Sorry Squadron Forward is not out yet; Richard is finishing up the  Gotterdam supplement for IABSM. SF is next.  He is a good guy and I am sure he will keep his word. 

Am reading a great book: " Flying Tigers-- Claire Chennault and the American Volunteer Group"  by Daniel Ford.  It debunks some of the myths while still giving them their due.   One of the things that has changed my gaming is that though Chennault preached the wingman concept, the pilots did not appear to use it.  They did learn not to turn with the Japanese though and to do "boom and zoom". 

So back to my AVG.  This is their fourth mission and they are doing well.  Wingman Davis is lead scorer with 2 kills. Also they have to fight Oscars until I get my Nates painted up!  I rolled up "patrol" which is a fun mission as anything can happen.  Their last 2 missions were straffing runs which were dangerous.

"   Bill, I want you to take 6 planes and run a patrol over the border tomorrow at dawn and see what the Japs are up to." said Squadron Leader Niece.  Niece had left the Army to join the AVG and, while a good pilot, was obnoxious and disliked by the squadron.

Pilots

Flight Leader   Bill Drummer    Pleasant            Vet
Wingman         Josh Schroeder    Glum             Vet
Wingman         Kelly Thompson    Optomistic        military

Wingman   Jake Davis    Scholarly       Vet      military
Wingman   Vic Davilla    Coarse          Sure Shot     military
Wingman    Moose MaGuillicudy     Generous        leadership


Shortly after takeoff Kelly Thompson's engine started sputtering so he turned around and just made it back to the field.   5 planes left. 

The weather is good and after crossing the Burma border bandits are spotted out on the horizon.

Bandits!!

Drummer decides to sneak up on the Oscars.  For the first time ever it works!!   [ In Squadron Forward you can have a bounce.  Normally you start somewhere else.  This is the first time I have achieved a "bounce" by actually sneaking up on the enemy while they continually fail their spotting rolls on the AKOT table.] 

Bounce achieved!!

Drummer can't believe it is not even Christmas day yet and the Oscar crumbles rapidly under the mixture of 303 and 50 cal rounds.  This sets off a one sided battle with the Japanese only getting 3 shots off total.  Jake Davis takes his score up to three by adding one and Vic Davilla scores as well thanks to the sure shot trait.

Fun battle.  Glad it was solitaire since I am not sure the Japanese player would have enjoyed it.  For those of you that want to try the Tomahawks set up on the Oscars 8 o clock at 3/4 max visual range.
7 Oscars with the following skill levels:  Ace/ 3 Vets/ 2 Avg/ 1 Green

Post battle the AVG add one cool point to their totals after the battle.  This makes 6 total kills for the squadron vice one loss.   Chennault is impressed with Davis.  Schroeder has met Miss Rennison, a daughter of one of the colonial officials in town.  We can only hope his motives are honorable. The mechanics fixed another plane giving us 7 on the ramp but Jake House is still in the hospital.   So ends another day for the AVG!!

Enjoy

Joe