P-38 Headhunters; Squadron Forward and Boom and Zoom. Decisions decisions decisions

 Apologize I haven't been playing any land combat but I have been cranking on finishing my Boom and Zoom rules.  Now I am formatting and have sent them out for proofreading.  

To celebrate I decided to run a mission with P-38 squadron, the Headhunters.  

I run about 15 squadron with Squadron Forward and this squadron is the most hard luck squadron I have. They are based in New Guinea.  They shoot down aircraft but lose planes and fail to accomplish missions.  Over 9 missions they have shot down 12 planes including their CO Maj Johnny Lightning who claimed 5 and lost 5 of those 9 missions.  Col Birch, the Group/CC was going to sack Lightning on the mission he claimed his 5th kill which was a fighter sweep in which Johnny claimed 2 Tonys but his flight lost 2 P-38s!  How would a sacking look now!  Decisions!  I rolled it up on the AKOT and Birch and Gen Holland still felt Johnny had to go.  Sooo Johnny was promoted up to Holland's staff.  They also threatened a court-martial of Lt Howard who is in charge of the headhunters maintenance. 

That puts Capt Strong in temporary command of the squadron.  Strong has 3 kills, is well liked and is somewhat connected through blood relations politically though Birch isn't really sure how.  Lt Adkins moves up to XO.  He is an easy choice despite having only 1 kill.  He is a former enlisted pilot who is a student of air tactics and has flown wing for Birch on several  occasions.  

So for the headhunters first big mission Col Birch decides to fly with Strong and will bring his own staffer as a wingman. [ event from last mission.]  This way Birch can evaluate Strong and the headhunters in general.  I roll up Patrol from Squadron Forward. We don't have many choices of pilots so no real decisions here:

Col Birch         cunning       west point      Avg

           Nameless staffer                             Avg

Capt Strong       generous     connected     Vet     3 kills

          2LT "Hot" Summer                       Rookie

Lt   Adkins      Scholarly    mustang          Vet     1 kill

         2LT    Smally   obnoxious              Rookie    
 

Col Birch tells Strong that it is his mission.  He is just along for the ride.  

Switching gears for a second.  I have another decision to make regarding B&Z.  Right now I am going to list all the airplane stats in an excell spreadsheet.   I made myself cards.  

The Headhunter's plane for today.

I didn't bother to save the files as I made them because I didn't know I was going to publish B&Z.  Even though all the money goes to charity I would not want to use others artwork for the pictures on the cards.

I could use stuff like this photo.

So making cards would be a fair amount of work.  I could releases cards later if people would be interested but I don't know if people care about cards or just stats. 

Okay, back to our mission.  Over the radio the Headhunters are vectored towards some Vals coming towards shipping moving up the coast.  Bill Strong leads his P-38s towards an interception...

                                             Vals heavily escorted by Oscar IIs. 

It isn't a "bounce" but the P-38s do surprise the Japanese.  Decision time.  What should each element do?

Bill is surprised by the number of Oscars bussing around the Vals.  He decides he will attack the fighters while everyone else goes for the Vals.  Col Birch, after telling Strong it was his mission, tries to be magnanimous and says he will go for the fighters instead.  

                                             Headhunters get the jump on the Japanese!  Start 1 square away but with the initiative first turn. 

 Birch plows into the Oscars and kills a Japanese pilot with a high speed pass.  One down!  Maybe the headhunters luck is changing. 

Yet another decision... 

When Strong and Adkins attack the Vals, do you keep the element together for protection or break it up to attack more bombers?  Since "Hot" is brand new to the squadron and there are a ton of Oscars around, Bill tells "Hot" to stick with him through his pass.  He fires at the Val but sees no significant damage.  

Adkins' wingman is Max Smally.  An obnoxious SOB who has been around a while.  If Smally was half as good as he thinks he is he would be a double ace.  "Well, here's your chance." Adkins tells Smally.  Target the right Val and meet me on the other side.

                                              Adkins' shooting is very effective!  Smally's not so much.

 The Oscars respond.  One Jap latches on to Birch's tail but the 2 HMGs of the Oscar do no significant damage.  

 End of turn 1.  Birch has an Oscar on his tail but also has 1 kill [ silver planes bottom left]

 Strong has an Oscar at 9 o'clock [ center top]  Adkins and Smally are free and clear but are not an element. [ upper right]  Squares marked with small black balls. 

Unfortunately an Oscar gains the initiative and decides to maneuver against Smally who doesn't have a wingman.  He quickly latches on his tail and shoots up his instruments.  [Decisions have consequences.  Had Smally gone first he could have joined up with Adkins to form an element] Smally dives to get away and does break the advantage.  Adkins now has to save Smally instead of attacking the Vals.  He does a...

diving attack on the Oscar which damages it and with his momentum regains his altitude.  A true Boom and Zoom!  Only to be met...
 

by yet another Oscar.  These guys are everywhere!  Fortunately, Adkins uses his skill to thwart the Oscars twists and turns.  

 Meanwhile, Capt Strong reports that he has had his gas tank puntured and is leaking gas. [ Petrol for my British friends]  He has time for maybe one more pass and then must leave.  

 End of turn 2.  Birch, lower left, skirmishing with an Oscar.  Strong, upper right, leaking fuel, has his hands full with 2 Oscars.  Adkins, with a height advantage, dogfighting an Oscar. [ left lower corner] Smally, left middle, trying to disengage from an Oscar.  

 Hot Summer manages to push the Oscar off Strong's tail. Strong climbs back up to the Vals and makes one more attack which accomplishes little.   Decision time.  Strong heads for home.  Tells Summer to find Adkins and join up with him.  

Col Birch, his airframe badly damaged during the fray, finally goes down.  A parachute is seen.

Adkins executes another Boom and Zoom on the damaged Oscar tormenting Smally...

 and this time is rewarded!  2 kills in one mission for Adkins.  

Apologize for the orientation of this photo.  End of turn 4.  Strong has disengaged.  Smally has disengaged.  Summer has joined up with Adkins [bottom right].  Nameless staffer has radioed Col Birch's position upper left.   1 more minute of play!

Nameless staffer climbs up to the Vals but can't get into a firing position.  To add insult to injury, an Oscar climbs up, gets on his tail and shoots him down!  [ I won't calculate the odds of all that happening but trust me, slim.] There is a parachute but I considered nameless staffer doing the honorable thing and staying with the plane. 

 Adkins, with his new wingman, decide to make one more pass through the bombers.  Adkins tells "Hot" to "stick close by me".  They damage a Val.  Yet another Oscar comes up to attack but Adkins is able to fend him off.  Out of ammo and low on fuel he sets a course for home.  

Yet another terrible mission!  But wait.  Three more drama's need to be played out.  

1.  I set the odds of Strong having enough fuel to get home as probable.  Back at the airfield the ground crews hear and then see a beat up and exhausted Capt Strong land his rugged fighter!   

2.  I set the odd of Smally making it back to base, wounded, instruments smashed, and inexperienced as possible.    Smally's plane is long overdue.  A message goes out to the dumbo mission sent for Col Birch to search for another missing pilot.  Nothing is ever found.  MIA

3.  I set the odds of finding Col Birch as very likely and he is picked up by a Catalina.  Birch has a mix of emotions.  He is happy for his kill.  Embarrassed by being shot down by a Japanese ace. [ actually a veteran] and unhappy by the results of the mission.  2 Oscars downed, 1 Val downed.  3 P-38s lost including 1 pilot.  

I roll for events after the mission and get that Bill Strong is transferred!  So....... decision time 

Privately Col Birch blames the mission on Strong.  Strong is connected so publicly it is decided that the headhunters are in disarray [ true] and need totally new leadership.  Strong has the makings of a great leader but needs seasoning.  He will be transferred to a new squadron to get a fresh start.   Maj Simmons, a 7 kill ace is brought in to bring the headhunters up to standards.  Lt Adkins, now up to 3 kills is kept as the XO and promoted to Capt.  

Wow that is a lot of stuff.

The air combat rules worked very well and show the strength of teamwork which is what I was after. The Headhunters continue to roll very very poorly except for Col Birch's lucky kill of that Oscar pilot. 

Can Maj Simmons break the curse and get the headhunters on track?   Stay tuned!!! 

 

 

Joe