from Brooke, CO, IJAF, and pilot in A3 Squadron
7 bomber aircraft dropped on target and plastered it.
7 bomber aircraft made it back and 6 were shot down.
2 allied squadrons lost more than 50% of their planes, and 2 IJAF squadrons lost more than 50% of their planes.
Estimated score:
-6 for 6 bombers shot down
+7 for 7 bombers dropping on target
-1 for 2 IJA squadrons decimated
+2 for 2 allied squadrons decimated
----
+2 = total for this mission
This is an excellent, well-fought result. Congratulations, pilots of the IJAF
We took off from Bangkok and formed up for our journey north. Bombers were in outstanding shape, all in tight formation. Our detached escorts deployed themselves, and our close escorts got over the bombers. For part of the journey north, some of the detached escort was too close in, but that got sorted out, and HQ flight took up station to help fill in on the left flank.
We only had one incident of someone up above 12k early on in the Bangkok sector, which didn't tip off the enemy on which direction we were headed, and it was quickly corrected. IJAF pilots did an admirable job and kept their altitude discipline. That was a critical element of our success.
About two sectors N of Bangkok, we got a field warning at Raheng, which is as it has been for the allies. In the past two missions, they have scouted Raheng and Tovay quickly. Our left-flank screen kept an eye out for any enemies coming in from that direction, and we held course. At one point, I got a report of a lone bogie W of the bomber formation, and I asked the spotter to stay heading N, not to engage, but to see if more show up or head for us. After a bit, the bogie moved off. A bit later, we got the field warning at Tovay, which was fine.
As we came closer to Phitsanulok, the Raheng field warning started to go on again and stay on this time. This could be enemies headed our way in force. I was hoping we'd squeeze by them as we flew north. We started to get reports of enemy bogies. Some detached escort at this stage might have gotten engaged, but most did not. I was over the bombers at 11k altitude, and I saw a lot of bogies up at 12k to our west, heading south seemingly. I figured they were enemy fighters, as I didn't think we'd have detached escort heading south (unless it was a detached escort group going after an enemy squadron, but I wasn't getting definite reports on that). So, I figured it was a large number of enemy fighters, and I dreaded them looking to their left, seeing lots of bogies and coming after us.
I kept the bombers heading north. I didn't want us to turn west right into a large group of enemy fighters. I kept the bombers flying north until all the bogies I saw to our west had flown south and out of visibility. Then I kept it going north for good measure, trying to do an end around the enemy formations if they happened to be racing east from Rangoon. We took it pretty far north, to sector 12,13 before finally turning west. So far, so good, though.
As we headed west, we got some reports of an A-20 headed toward the bombers. I ordered the LR Escorts (with their Me110c's) to go after it. The A-20 got in and spotted the bombers after a bit, then I think it was driven off or destroyed. Now I figured the allies would be assembling their fighters to come hit us. I called for detached escorts to make sure they were fanned out in front of the bombers, and I positioned a couple of groups by eye as I flew slightly ahead of the bombers to make sure the way ahead looked covered.
Now came the time of the running fight to target. Some of the allies were perhaps out of position, as our left flank was spotting enemies trying to come in from our south. The detached escort was able to keep a large number of enemies from ever getting into the bombers and did an excellent job. I don't remember seeing any Spits, Hurricanes, or F4F's, and I was with the bombers the whole time.
Some P-40's did here and there get through -- they are slippery devils. But not many of them got through, and the ones that did weren't able to hang around very long. Even with this reduced number and reduced time among the bombers, they were deadly and were able to kill 6 bomber aircraft. But each plane only got 1-2 passes, and then was dead or driven off -- that was an excellent job on the part of the close escort.
Once we were north NNW of Raheng, I ordered the bombers to head SW, then once even with the target, to turn straight west. We had changed our mission plan from two passes (one heading west, then turn around and come back for pass two) to one pass (hit the first town with external ordinance then the second town with the internal ordinance). We were now lined up perfectly to do that.
Still the enemy was getting a fighter in here and there, but while our bombers were in bombsight, the enemy didn't get a whole flight or squadron in on the bombers this time. The attacking fighters were mostly relegated to head-on or side passes, without much effect. I don't remember any being able to dive in at high speed and do a pass from the rear of the bomber formation. Again, the escorts limited them to 1-2 passes, then the enemy fighter was dead or too low.
I flew right above the bombers as they did their run on the targets. I saw poor Leigh, all lined up on target, immediately before drop, and with three fine aircraft, blow up with no enemy around, the victim of catastrophic in-bay ordinance failure (i.e., "disco"). I saw one of Anchorman's aircraft explode -- might have taken a AAA hit. I saw a couple enemy fighters dive in, firing at the bombers while our pilots were in bombsights doing their drops, but the escorts were on them solidly, and the enemy didn't get any more bombers.
Then I saw the most beautiful sight yet: a cluster of explosions in town 1, then another, then another, then an even larger cluster of explosions in town 2, then another, then another . . . and heard the "boom, boom, boom" of the detonations. Yes! I stayed over the bombers, and they did their left-hand turn back east and the run for home. As I flew back over the target, I saw the damage: nice neat rows of explosion craters, buildings down, massive damage everywhere. They plastered those towns!
Now it was time to get back safely. After the drop, in the turn east, LilDawg and Seeker did a faster turn than Anchorman and Snak and ended up farther ahead. Fortunately, we had fighters around each group. Fighters coalesced around the bombers and fended off some enemies here and there. The biggest threat was 3 reported A-20's in on the lead formation. I couldn't see the action, but I listened anxiously on the radio wondering if the A-20's would get those lead bombers, but our fighters were able to limit the exposure. One got in on the bombers, and I think Flossy (as a gunner now) or someone as a bomber gunner was able to destroy it. Well done!
Now our way home was clear. Our fighters kept any pursuing enemies well clear of the bombers, which were able to head back to Phitsanulok and land.
Good work, folks!
-- Brooke, CO, IJAF