קמפיין MARIANAS 1944 - משימה #3 - 13/2/2012 21:30 - הגנה

Objectives for each Squadron:

102nd and =VARP= Squadrons (max 12 aircraft):

Objective: Attack of enemy transport group in AJ23

4x F6F-5 Hellcat: Jabos armed with DT, bombs and rockets – this will be the main attack force.
2x TBM Avenger: Attack Bombers for 2nd wave attack and attack of the northern group if possible.
4x F6F-5 Hellcat: Close Escort armed with DT only (additional rockets loadout for this flight as per 102nd leader discretion)
2x FM-2 Wildcat: diversion / decoy flight (this flight must be synchronized carefully to fly deliberately into enemy radar to bait any CAP to run to them).

Special Instructions:
All aircraft from this group will be tasked to take off from the Saratoga and land on the Saratoga.
There is no doubt that the enemy has seen on radar that we over flew and performed a recon on their transport groups and CVs.
Make efforts to synchronize the diversion / decoy's flight appearance on enemy radar at the right place and at the right time for maximum impression on the enemy.
The most "convincing" route will be to fly a straight line across the Sothern tip of Guam (grid line 30), flying across the South tip of Guam without turning to attack. This will get them excited enought to be baited into leaving their assigned CAP stations.
In the meanwhile it will be very important for the Strike Group to remain at low altitude undetected for as long as possible.
Due to aircraft limitations we are forced to reduce to 2x TBFs.
Please place your excess pilots as TBF gunners.


64 Sentai ,LLv34 Squadrons and 242 Squadron (max 12 aircraft + 2 gunners):

Objective: CAP for US Navy ships bombardment of North Tinian, and Air Superiority over Saipan in general.

4x F6F-5 Hellcat from Marpi Point Airfield in Saipan
2x P-47D-22 from Marpi Point Airfield in Saipan
4x F6F-5 Hellcat from Intrepid (2 out of 4 will be shared with 242 Squadron, these will be planned to take off from Intrepid and land at Marpi Point Airfield in Saipan).
2x TBF planned by 242 Squadron

Special Instructions:
We currently have two Destroyers in place near Tinian North Field already Bombarding – protect these.
Two more warships will join them later on in the mission, protect these also.
Focus on using the P-47s to attack bombers.
Communicate with 242 Squadron for timing and escorting their attack of the enemy Destroyer on West coast of Tinain.
Due to limit of aircraft assignments please place your excess pilots as gunners on 242 Squadron TBFs.



EAF Squadron (max 8 aircraft + 4 gunners)

Objective: CAP over Northern Fleet, CAP over Intrepid Rescue Operations with 7 fighters (4x F6F Hellcat + 3x P-47 Thunderbolt), and provide 1x B-24 pilot and 3-4 gunners for diversion flight with IAF.
Due to aircraft limitations both the IAF and EAF will reduce their Fighter CAP to 7 aircraft (originaly was planned as 8 aircraft), and each will provide a B-24 (pilot + gunners) to augment the decoy / diversion effort of the 102nd.



IAF Squadron (max 8 aircraft + 4 gunners)

Objective: CAP over Southern Fleet with 7 fighters (3x F6F Hellcat + 4x F4U-1D Corsair), and provide 1x B-24 pilot and 3-4 gunners for diversion flight with EAF.
Due to aircraft limitations both the IAF and EAF will reduce their Fighter CAP to 7 aircraft (originaly was planned as 8 aircraft), and each will provide a B-24 (pilot + gunners) to augment the decoy / diversion effort of the 102nd.


Squadrons' Aircraft Flight Assignments



IAF
No. 42 Squadron RAAF (FB) Flt 2, Sect. 4 (1x B-24J-100 Liberator) - Airstart, Level Bomber Configuration.
Marine Fighter Squadron 212 - Cactus Airforce, USMC Flt 1, El. 3 (4x F4U-1D Corsair, naval) - Launching from Essex.
US Navy VF-1 "High Hatters", USS Yorktown CV-10 Flt 1, El. 3 (3x F6F5 Hellcat, naval)


EAF
US Navy VF-13 "Black Cats", USS Franklin CV-13 Flt 1, El. 1 (3x F6F3 Hellcat, naval) - Launching from Intrepid.
19th Fighter Squadron, 318th FG Flt 3, El. 3 (4x P-47D-22 Thunderbolt, naval) - Launching from Essex.
No. 42 Squadron RAAF (FB) Flt 2, Sect. 3 (1x B-24J-100 Liberator) - Airstart, Recon configuration.



242 Sqn / LLv34 / 64 Sentai
19th Fighter Squadron, 318th FG Flt 1, El. 1 (2x P-47D-22 Thunderbolt, naval) - Launching from Marpi Field.
US Navy VF-1 "High Hatters", USS Yorktown CV-10 Flt 1, El. 1 (4x F6F5 Hellcat, naval) - Launching from Marpi Field.
US Navy VF-2 "Rippers", USS Hornet CV-12 Flt 1, El. 2 (4x F6F5 Hellcat, naval) - Launching from Intrepid.
US Navy VT-2, USS Lexington CV-2 Flt 1, El. 2 (2x TBF-1C Avenger, naval) - Launching from Intrepid.


102nd Sqn / =VARP= Sqn
Marine Torpedo Bomber Squadron 231, USMC Flt 1, El. 1 (2x TBM-3 Avenger, naval) - Launching from Saratoga.
US Navy VF-10 "Grim Reapers", USS Intrepid CV-11 Flt 1, El. 3 (4x F6F3 Hellcat, naval) - Launching from Saratoga.
US Navy VF-10 "Grim Reapers", USS Intrepid CV-11 Flt 1, El. 4 (4x F6F3 Hellcat, naval) - Launching from Saratoga.
US Navy VF-15 "Fighting Aces", USS Essex CV-9 Flt 1, El. 4 (2x FM2 Wildcat, naval) - Launching from Saratoga.