Relax soldier, Paris has fallen. You deserve a rest!
Force Grubber versus Hades Rangers in an aerial engagement
Axis Forces:
Captain Bryan Talbot, leading Force Grubberfought an aerial engagement against...
Allies Forces:
Private Daniel Talbot, leading Hades RangersResult: Axis victory!
Snap Happy. This scenario was played out involving the RAF 603 Squadron seeking to take photo recon of the Axis armoured formations moving towards Caen, in response the Luftwaffe JG26 under the direction of Pips Priller scrambled two aircraft to intercept the lone RAF recon plane. The pilots of Uffz. Heinz Gehrke in #2 and Uffz. Erhard Tippe in #5 of JG26’s 11th Staffel was soon airborne and dashing for height advantage.
The Recon RAF spitfire XIV with its superior speed soon closed towards the armoured formation, the Axis tankers were pleased to see not one but two Luftwaffe planes fly past at great speed as they were diving for max speed then together turned off to the right towards the approaching RAF plane. In response the Spitfire completed a sharp turn right in front of the Fw190s and dive towards to the Panthers below to get the best possible recon photos. Noting such Uffz. Gehrke also manoeuvred in a tight turn and tried to tail the Spitfire but didn’t quite make correct approach angle. Meanwhile Uffz. Tippe being the more experienced pilot completed such and also outmanoeuvred the Spitfire causing it to be disadvantaged.
With eyes on the mission objective the Spitfire continued to dive towards the armour easily dodging the flak fire from the vehicle mounted MGs. Uffz. Gehrke followed the Spitfire but didn’t commit to the dive, instead awaited for the Spitfire to approach his target angle and fired but failed to score any definite hits. Uffz. Tippe completed his turn and arrived exactly behind the Spitfire in a classic tailing manoeuvre and also fired but failed to score any hits.
With the Spitfire disadvantage in the dive to photo the Panthers, Uffz Gehrke let rip with a short range passing shot before moving past and luckily scored a significant hit. The Spitfire already disadvantaged and committed to the dive was unable to pull up, without height and at a high speed the pilot was unable to undo the canopy before the plane slammed into the ground fairly close to the Panthers of Das Reich. Flying over the Axis armour the Luftwaffe pilots were treated to the rare spectacle of being cheered by the ground forces for a job well done. However Uffz. Tippe will be having a chat in the bar with his wingman about stealing ‘his’ kill...
