kettbo
Senior Airman
Some background
1st, 92 degrees F here today in the Tacoma area....quite warm for us. Sitting under a ceiling fan, waiting for the breezes so I can possibly be cool and get to sleep.
LW vs 9th AF over Normandy
I have seen the OOBs, 9th AF has a lot of P47s, some P-38s, and B26 IIRC.
ok, so I know the LW plan was to move lots of the fighter strength to France to fight the invasion. The reality was far fewer fighter arrived then planned so the results were not enough to severely change the outcome of the battle. I read in Caldwell's JG26 that after a week or two and order went out to remove bomb racks (most were sent to bomb the invaders).
I'm looking at this part of the greater conflict to make a miniatures game. Something above skirmish so we can get away from the debating over Who turns tighter, top mph, etc.. Concentrate on crew, plans, tactics. Looking at a German Staffel at a remote field trying to do as good as it can.
The German player will have to juggle available planes, fuel, pilots etc....(some random events). The good news is that at low altitude, the P47s the American will commonly be flying are not at their best.
I'll ask a few questions, please help out
1. The Germans get Bf109G6. But not the G6 of 1943, some (not sure what percent) would have U2 GM1 or U3 MW50 or even the G6/AS and some of these planes would have U4 30mm Mk 108 in the nose. Weissenberger flew a G5/AS from what I recall 1/JG5. I know the Bf109G14 went into production around the time of the invasion so they can filter in later in the summer. So, the question, What would be a good breakdown on which Gustavs were flying? I understand some groups were 'heavy' with 20mm cannon pods
2. Could a single Staffel support its own operations from a forward strip? Or, would a Gruppe field be more common, or something like two staffels to a small dirt patch?
3. Pretty sure the ground crew mounted as many weapons as possible for strip AAA defense, but what about a detachment of Luftwaffe FLAK, 20s, quad 20s or 37mm. Cannot recall seeing this info anywhere.
4. When did the Americans start moving 9th AF aircraft across the channel to Normandy?
5. Early June, which P47D was the one standard model? Wiki says D-25s May of '44 deliveries delivery to combat units. I understand paddle blades and methanol water injection was spring of 44. So 9th AF P-47 squadrons, what were they flying on D-Day through Sept?
whew!
1st, 92 degrees F here today in the Tacoma area....quite warm for us. Sitting under a ceiling fan, waiting for the breezes so I can possibly be cool and get to sleep.
LW vs 9th AF over Normandy
I have seen the OOBs, 9th AF has a lot of P47s, some P-38s, and B26 IIRC.
ok, so I know the LW plan was to move lots of the fighter strength to France to fight the invasion. The reality was far fewer fighter arrived then planned so the results were not enough to severely change the outcome of the battle. I read in Caldwell's JG26 that after a week or two and order went out to remove bomb racks (most were sent to bomb the invaders).
I'm looking at this part of the greater conflict to make a miniatures game. Something above skirmish so we can get away from the debating over Who turns tighter, top mph, etc.. Concentrate on crew, plans, tactics. Looking at a German Staffel at a remote field trying to do as good as it can.
The German player will have to juggle available planes, fuel, pilots etc....(some random events). The good news is that at low altitude, the P47s the American will commonly be flying are not at their best.
I'll ask a few questions, please help out
1. The Germans get Bf109G6. But not the G6 of 1943, some (not sure what percent) would have U2 GM1 or U3 MW50 or even the G6/AS and some of these planes would have U4 30mm Mk 108 in the nose. Weissenberger flew a G5/AS from what I recall 1/JG5. I know the Bf109G14 went into production around the time of the invasion so they can filter in later in the summer. So, the question, What would be a good breakdown on which Gustavs were flying? I understand some groups were 'heavy' with 20mm cannon pods
2. Could a single Staffel support its own operations from a forward strip? Or, would a Gruppe field be more common, or something like two staffels to a small dirt patch?
3. Pretty sure the ground crew mounted as many weapons as possible for strip AAA defense, but what about a detachment of Luftwaffe FLAK, 20s, quad 20s or 37mm. Cannot recall seeing this info anywhere.
4. When did the Americans start moving 9th AF aircraft across the channel to Normandy?
5. Early June, which P47D was the one standard model? Wiki says D-25s May of '44 deliveries delivery to combat units. I understand paddle blades and methanol water injection was spring of 44. So 9th AF P-47 squadrons, what were they flying on D-Day through Sept?
whew!
