Final Phase The Hardest Day 18th August 1940 for CFS-1
SCENARIO FACT.
Refer to 'Final Phase-18thAug-Map.JPG' for pictorial overview of the raids.
LUFTLOTTE 2 Plan
A second major attack by Luftlotte 2 . This time the targets were to be two Fighter Command airfields north of London, North Weald and Hornchurch.
58 Dornier 17s from KG2 tasked to attack Hornchurch from 12,000ft+. With escorts of 140 Bf109s on Frei Jagd from JGs 3-26-51-52&54.
51 Heinkel 111s from KG53 to attack North Weald from 12,000ft+. With 25 Bf110 close escorts from ZG26.
TOTAL STRENGTH Bombers = 109 Fighters = 165 TOTAL 274
R.A.F. Aircraft Defences
47 Spitfires and 96 Hurricanes were committed to meet both of the attacks.
a TOTAL of 143 fighters.
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THE ACTION
By 17:00 radar plots were noted over the Pas-de-Calais, Luftlotte 2 was about to move off.
First contact was 56 Sqd.(12 Hurricanes) off the Essex coast with KG53 & ZG26 at around 17:30.
Climbing up through cloud they were joined by 54 Sqd.(11 Spitfires) from which a big dog fight ensued with the escorts. But KG53 continues on course for North Weald undeterred.
In the south, KG2's Dorniers proceeded unmolested until they came near Sheerness where they came in range of the anti-aircraft batteries defending the naval dockyard at Chatham.
By now it was 17:30 and the perfidious British summer weather was moving down from the north west in the form of low cloud and drizzle. The cloud base fell to 3,500ft. over Hornchurch and North Weald.
There was no way that the Luftwaffe at 12,000ft.+ could deliver their attacks, so they aborted the missions and turned for home, by this time 56 and 54 Sqds were out of ammunition and had returned to their bases at Hornchurch and North Weald.
Defenders from No's 151-257-46 and 85 Squadrons storming eastwards to meet the Heinkels of KG53 were elated when they saw the Raiders turn away, and thought wrongly that they were running away from them. However this did not stop them from attacking, and harassing the bombers on their way home.
As KG53 passed over Shoeburyness they dumped their bombs hoping to hit the Railways and Army Barracks in the town.
Overall Losses
Luftwaffe = Fighters = 10 destroyed, 1 Damaged - Pilots = 1 killed
Bombers = 4 destroyed, 2 Damaged - Aircrew = 11 killed
RAF Fighter Command = Fighters = 9 destroyed, 5 Damaged - Pilots = 3 killed - 3 wounded
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OVERALL RAID ASSESSMENT
Considering the Luftwaffe's objective on the 18th August was to hit Fighter Command airfields and facilities this final phase must also be classed as a failure. The weather intervening to provide the most effective defence for the RAF.
The RAF's and the anti-aircraft gunners (They thought the Dornier's target was the naval dockyard at Chatham.) morale was lifted at the thought that they had both in their own ways turned back the Luftwaffe from attaining it's objectives. History however was to prove that the weather was the real deterrent and victor.
OVERALL AIRCRAFT & AIRCREW LOSSES
For the 24 hours of operations on 18th August 1940 for the three major actions covered by the three raids.
Luftwaffe Losses, Aircraft = 69 Destroyed or Damaged beyond repair.
Aircrew = 94 Killed - 40 Taken Prisoner - 25 Returned Wounded.
RAF Losses, Fighters = 31 Destroyed (26 Hurricanes - 5 Spitfires)
Pilots = 11 Killed - 19 Wounded
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SCENARIO FICTION
Staying as near as feasibley possible to the actual occurences within the constraints of CFS I I have concentrated on the aborted North Weald attack by KG53, and defence by 54 and 56 Sqd's with 54's Spitfires being the players Squadron.
To keep frame rates to sensible proportions, the aircraft in the missions have been reduced by approximately 50%. The actions of No's 151-257-46 and 85 Squadrons have been included but with reduced numbers to cover the withdrawal of KG53.
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PLAYING
Under 'Single Missions' in the RAF section, 1 mission should appear as 'The Evening Raids'.
Under 'Single Missions' in the Luftwaffe section, 2 missions should appear as 'ZG26's Luftwaffe Lullaby' and 'KG53's Luftwaffe Lullaby'.
The three missions are historically correct except for the number of aircraft employed, and only involve the direct attack and defence of North Weald in an attempt to simulate the exact action of the involved units.
The aircrew names are authentic, as are the targets, aircraft routes, and timing at the start of the action.
Play these three missions in 'Rookie' mode only, as there is no variation in difficulty.
The outcome is down to the player's expertise. Compare your results to the actual historical outcome. The end scores are really academic.
R.A.F. Mission
'The Evening Raid'
Flying as Sqd/Ldr Leathart leading 54 Sqd (Spitfires). You start at 4,000ft over the Essex coast climbing to get at the Heinkel 111s, 56 Sqd will assist you.
Keep at them until you run out of ammo, or luck, or at least until they bomb Shoeburyness unless you down them all before!! Then warp home.
GERMAN Missions
'ZG26's Luftwaffe Lullaby'
Fly as Lt.Joachim Koepsell ZG26 (Bf110) close escort to KG53. Stay with the Heinkels and fend off the attacking RAF fighters until they are all eliminated, or you succumb to their attentions. Only warp home when all enemy are off your 'Target Indicator'.
Experience the frustrating performance of the Bf110 when in combat with Spitfires and Hurricanes,
Uncharacteristically as your Bf110 is of night fighter origin it is fitted with 'Schragge Musik' guns. These can be fired by operating the 'Cannon' button. but I find they are not much use in fighter to fighter combat.
'KG53's Luftwaffe Lullaby'
Fly as Lt.Walter Leber KG53 (He111) staying with the other bombers for protection and using the cloud cover. See how the Bf110's protect you from the RAF fighters initially. Complete your bombing run and warp home when all enemy are off your 'Target Indicator'.
For a different scenario, warp to the 2nd waypoint then complete the mission. Again complete your bombing run and warp home when all enemy are off your 'Target Indicator'.
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INSTALLATION
1. Unzip the '18AUG-P3.zip' file to your favourite Temporary folder.
2. Copy the three '.mis' files to the 'missions' folder in the Combat Flight Simulator folder.
3.Copy the files 'H-church-2.bgl', 'Tree-b-hch.bgl', and 'Tree-a-hch.bgl' to the main 'scenery' folder in the Combat Flight Simulator folder.
(To avoid conflicts from existing .bgl's in your CFS/scenery folder; anything relating to Hornchurch, ex.H-church.bgl used in Italian Attack for example and Cherbourg should be removed whilst running these missions to ensure the desired scenery effects. The two Hornchurch 'Tree-a-hch and Tree-b-hch.bgl's can remain if already in place.)
4.Copy the tBf110 folder to the 'aircraft' folder in CFS.
5.Flyers that have 'CFS-1 18th August 1940' installed will already have the axisbombpac.
For those who haven't, download the '18-AUG.zip' folder, extract and install the
'axisbombpac.zip' as per included instructions. to enable the He111 to be flown.
6. To tidy up, move the original '18AUG-P3.zip' file to a folder of your choice for safe keeping and for future reference. I keep all mine in a folder named 'Downloaded Missions'.
Delete all the dross that is left in the temporary folder.
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CREDITS
The mission was created with CFS Mission Editor Version 3.0.1 by: Cor Dikland, with vital guidance from Michael Brookshire's {Franz_von_Baron] superb tutorial, which eventually enabled me to get my head around the basics of using the Editor and writing missions.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Information to enable the construction of these missions was sourced from:--
1.Alfred Price's superb book 'Battle of Britain - The Hardest Day' (isbn 0 354 01 219 3)
covering all the actions on 18th August 1940.
2.Derek Wood and Derek Dempster's in depth account in 'The Narrow Margin'(isbn 09 002160 6)
AIRCRAFT
The original Bf110g4 is from 'Nachtjadg Aircraft.zip' The author of which I cannot determine. However his 'readme' is included. It is a superb aircraft in which to experience the deficiencies of the Bf110 when compared to the Spitfire or Hurricane or for that matter the Bf109. I found it was not necessary to modify any of the flying characteristics.
Unfortunately I could not contact him to consult him over the minor modification, due to an obsolete e-mail address. I just hope he approves of my use of his aircraft if he sees it.
The aircraft has been renamed 'tBf110' as I have modified the sound folder. If you recognise it as yours I hope you will approve.
Flyable Luftwaffe bomber modification 'axisbombpac.zip' by Steve McClelland.
SCENERY
The items contained in the .bgl files were produced using :-
The Built-in CFS Editor with the guidance of Nuno Mendes aka EURO_GCSMgaz.
The Static Objects Generator STACFS12 from Chuck Dome.
The Ground Units editor in the CFS Mission Editor Version 3.0.1 by: Cor Dikland; enabled me to modify the standard CFS Luftwaffe airfield at Cherbourg.
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DISCLAIMER
The missions work OK on my computer and has not caused me any problems. I've swept the file for viruses. So if your computer conks out, it's not down to me.
Any comments, whinges, abuse, or suggestions [constructive or not] can all be sent to; terry@b953.freeserve.co.uk
Cheers - Terry M. Baldwin