Bombing run over Naples. One B17 squadron flies escorted by P38 Lightning over the italian skies. Axis fighter planes scramble to bring a few down.

1/600 models from Vittorio’s collection.

Very simple rules found on the internet, with home made modifications after brainstorming over an hamburger. We may have found the right level of detail to fight a big bombing run air battle!

Order of Battle

US

• 18 B17 Flying fortresses
• 12 P38 Lightning

German

• 6 FW 190
• 4 BF109
• 2 Dewotines
• 2 G55
• 4 Macchi 202

The Battle

The first group of italo-german interceptors, coming to the front-left side of the american box.

They fly in tight formation, in pairs. Another group of six planes right behind, while the third group is attacking from behind of the bombers, on their left.

The port of Naples, target of the American Air Force.

A view of the bombers, six groups of three flying in box, all at same altitude.

A close view of a bomber.

The players. You may notice the escort fighters. Six pairs all around the formation.

The first encounter, Macchis against P38s, poor Macchis.

One Macchi is caught by crossing fire.

It is hit! First axis loss. We have decided that since losses will be very high with these rules, at the end of a game a toss of dice will decide the fate of each plane. A plane lost in the game may have just been hit and flown away (good idea Vittorio!).

The scramble continues against the escort.

One P38 is caught by well aimed shots. The Aermacchi was protected by his wingman and managed to aim well (rule addition). This is an italian ace, he will bring down a second P38 right after this feat!

Another italian plane going down…
Some Focke Wulfs are about to reach the bombers.

Here they come to the most external bombers!
One motor is hit and smoke comes out of the left wing of the B17! But it has three more motors..

In the mean time, the third all german group of fighter decides to keep engaging the Lightnings.

The German planes are hit from the heavy machigunes of the flying fortresses, many dive down for safety or to crash to the ground.

A lucky happening where four fighters try to fire at a bomber. Two planes will be shot down before firing! (We dediced to modify the turn order next time, so that the interceptors fire before the bombers. Bombers are anyway very sturdy, and we give slighly better chances to the intercerceptors).

The surviving fighters manage to put a critical hit on the B17! The left wing detaches from the rest of the plane. Some parachutes are seen opening right after.

The attack continues, but les and less interceptors are still willing to attack.

The pilots.

Most of the bombers are not even menaced by the axis sortie.

The interceptors left and still able to attack are just a handful, they decide to quit the fight. They may be able to rearm and refuel, and get the next attack wave!

The bombers have one loss, one hevily damaged plane and three planes with slight damege.

The P38 escort has been hit heavily, six out of 12 are still flying with the bombers. Out of the remaining six, one has been shot down, two have been heavily damaged and three have just decided to leave with slight damage, no ammo or for other reasons.

On the italo german side, two italian planes have crashed. Of the remaining 12 losses, four have been heavily damaged and the rest has left the fight for other reasons.

Final losses

One bomber and one P38 shot down against two Macchi shot down. Overall we might consider the fight to be a marginal axis victory. There was no hope to really stop the bombers!