White Lighting #16 Alert

[_AH_DarkWolf]

For the next White Lightning mission we're going to be doing a formation bomb drop from altitude. We'll have P-38 Droop Snoots leading us and doing the aiming. So all you level bomber skilled pilots might want to start practicing and everyone should try and get some formation work in. Details of the op are still being worked out, details will be posted here as they come in.

DW

[_AH_Autorotate]

i was reading about this just the other day. they were put to good use when german air power was weakened.
they were faster than the light bombers, their payload was just as much, and could fight back better if need be!

[_AH_DarkWolf]

Ok, I've been debating how to configure the squadron for this. Larger formations will probobly be harder for us to form up into, smaller formations require more level bomber skilled people and not everyone can do it. I think the later will be the best option. So that means we need to make sure we have a level bomber skilled pilot available for each flight.

BBQ and SKAT have made every mission and I'm pretty certain can level bomb, so that should be A and D taken care of.

C Flight I'm not 100% on, I know Bear is a big bomberhead but he's not made much of the campaign. Olds and Jack can level bomb too right?

I'm really not sure about B Flight, can any of the B-bodies level bomb?

I'm thinking me and Hogan will just tack on to whatever flight has the least numbers, but I could fill a level bombing slot if need be.

DW

[_AH_Olds]

I'll have to work on the level bombing. Tried some with the Droop Snoot tonight...need some work. I noticed that there is no key for bombsight automation anymore. Is that correct?

[_AH_DarkWolf]

Hmm, I never used automation. I see a key for Toggle Bombsight Mode (Auto), is that is?

DW

[_AH_Autorotate]

did somebody call my name?

a quick google for "level bombing in HSFX guide" yields lots of information.

[_AH_Olds]

Yes, that's it. It does work...you just have to have everything where it should be. Now if I can just figure that out...

[_AH_DarkWolf]

Here is some preliminary info :

These are the main waypoints (I cut off about a grid and half to the left, but that's just right near the base), the target will be industry in northern Bitburg.



It will be an airstart at 12,000 feet and the bombing will be at no less than 12,000. You could go higher if you wish but 12,000 puts us at the tops of the scattered cloulds in the area. Any lower and you'll be flying through them A Flight style.

Bombs will use an instant fuze with the maximum delay possible which is .24 seconds. Why use a delay on an instant fuze? Because if you use a 0.0 delay the bombs will detonate the moment they hit the roofs of the factory buildings. It is more desirable for the bombs to hit the roof/walls and penetrate, exploding inside the buildings and doing more damage to what's inside.

Recon photos of the target area and the approach will be posted here in the coming days.

DW

[_AH_taldrg]

~S~ DW
     I may have missed a briefing somewhere but are we bombing from 12000' with P-38s?

[_AH_Col._Hogan]

Cool huhh?,

http://www.historyofwar.org/articles/weapons_P-38_droop_snoot.html

S!

[_AH_DarkWolf]

Yuppers TD. Each flight will have one Droop Snoot 38 that will be piloted by a level bombing skilled pilot. The rest of the flight will be flying the regular gun nosed model of 38 we've been using, they will form up on the droop snoot and drop bombs together on his command.

DW

[_AH_taldrg]

~S~ DW
                       Copy that.

[_AH_DarkWolf]

Ok, here are the remaining briefing materials:

SKAT was wondering about timing on the bomb run.  At 80% throttle and 90% pitch with radiator 4 the run between waypoints 1 and 2 is about 6 minutes. From the IP (WP 2) to the target is another 5 minutes. That is for the lead droop snoot, the other flights will be following so will have more time between WPs 1 and 2.

The approach to Bitburg is as follows, the target is the northern industrial district and thus will be to the left on the approach.



This is the city of Bitburg as a whole.



Click on the photos to make them bigger, or right click on the following links and choose "Open in new window" to see them full size in their own windows.

http://imageshack.us/a/img825/7028/approachi.png

http://imageshack.us/a/img607/3928/recon.png

The target is fairly large but of course the first flights in will have greater chance of hitting stuff. That being said all that is left is to assign the order in which the flights will slot in. I'll leave that one and any specific aiming points up to Mission Commander Col. Hogan. HQ Flight will slot in with whatever flights are short.

DW

[_AH_DarkWolf]

Oh, and if any flight is short a level bomber I'm available!



DW

[_AH_Archie]

Oh my owwn


LOL