This is my fourth (fifth - see below) practice mission of B-29 Superfortress. Gearing up to fly missions with the http://66th.greencountrygamers.com/ .

We received our orders to bomb an airfield in Okinawa. Our bomber "The "8" Ball" was to lead the mission. Fighter resistance was expected to be moderate and we were to have no fighter escort. We were on our own for this one. This was a Low Altitude Mission only 2 Zones into the Japanese mainland, so Auxiliary Fuel Tanks would not be needed. Even though this was a Day Mission, we would be taking off and landing at night.

Ready for take-off! I rolled two six sided dice to see if I could get this crate into the air. Snake eyes! I knew that this couldn't be good even before consulting the chart. I was right. We have a malfunction: Unusual Power Conditions and my take-off is aborted. Plane lands safely, but there is no mission credit. OK, so technically this was my 4th mission, but I didn't spend 10 minutes setting up this game to have it end so quickly. I'm going to give it another go with the same mission parameters.

This time we have a successful take-off. We use up extra fuel on take-off due to the amount of guns and crew on board. No concern, we have plenty of fuel left. This mission is Low Altitude, so we group into formation at Zone 3. At Zone 4, I order to raise our altitude to Medium due to that fact that at low altitude you are more likely to get attacked by enemy fighters. This move costs extra fuel (remember this for later).

The rest of the flight to our target is uneventful. We are the lead plane, so every turn I had to roll on 5 tables to check for Navigation. We stayed on course the whole way.

We reach our target, and we have clear skies. Good for our targeting, but also good for the enemies anti-aircraft batteries. They’ve got a beat on us and we’re experiencing Heavy Flak. All of the sudden, a shard rips through our Starboard Wing, tearing a hole in our Inboard Fuel Tank. Luckily, the hole was not too big and the tank is self sealing, so we’re OK.

Bombs away! Looks like good coverage of the airbase. A good 40% of our bombs hit their target, and that should keep the Japs from using the airbase for several weeks.

While trying to get this crate turned around, we are peppered with 6 shell bursts. Holes tear into our Waist, Starboard Wing and Utility Areas. We were lucky and only lost our Auxiliary Generator and our Right Gunner’s Gunsight.

While still trying to get out of the target Zone, a Zeke appears on our 10:30. My Forward Left Gunner hits, but the Zeke keeps coming. Getting hit must have shook the pilot up, because he completely misses us.

We’re almost over water now, but before we get clear, a Nick appears at 9:00 High. Our Aft Upper Turret operated by my left gunner makes a hit, but again there is no damage to the enemy. The Nick fires a burst and hits our Forward and Aft Bomb Bays, but the jokes on him because there is nobody home. Our bays are empty.

Now it’s time to concentrate on getting The “8” Ball home. Our fuel status is tight. In Zone 9 (just off of the Japanese mainland), we have exactly enough fuel to fly the 9 Zones that it will take to make it home. Any minor course correction and we will not have enough fuel to make it home. In Zone 7, our Navigator discovers that we are slightly off course. Our course is corrected by Zone 6, but we have used up too much fuel making the correction. As Pilot, I have to make a decision. We have enough fuel to go 5 Zones. We are in Zone 6. I can fly level and hope that my engineer can coax the engines into flying on fumes, or I can climb to High Altitude and hope the weather changes and pushes us home. Climbing to a high altitude will consume 4 Zones worth of fuel, so my decision is clear. Steady as she goes.

We are on approach to Tinian. Our eyes have been glued to the fuel gauge, hoping that it would stop dropping. We look for the mainland, but the weather has turned poor. If we ditch, our chances of survival just went down. The gauge reads zero now, the engines sputter. I give the order to brace for impact and try to bring her in on her belly. Our water landing fails, the plane flips. All souls lost.

One little mistake, and another crew dies!

Great story! Sad ending.

Agreed, great story -- and a tough break.



Is this allowed or is this an event that occurred? I thought that altitude was locked in once you were in formation.

Thanks again for a great writeup,
Ricky

Changing altitude is allowed each turn - you may either descend or climb one or 2 altitude levels - but must be done at the beginning of your turn prior to fighter determining fighter attacks.

Ah, ok. Thanks, Steve.

Ricky

Yes, but formation assembly and formation flying *must* be done at mission altitude. So once you join the formation, you have to remain at that altitude unless something forces you out of formation.

You are right. After looking at the rules again, I should not have changed altitude after formation. My crew should have had enough fuel to make it home. They still would have been landing in poor weather, but they would have had a much better chance.