Ionian Sea Ambush: 1-Aug-43

by Joe Ferrara

Background: Twelve B-24s of the 44th Bombardment Group returning from Operation Tidal Wave were ambushed by a squadron of Me-109s based on Kalamaki, Greece. Led by Leutnant Stahl, the Germans bet that the Liberators would follow the USAAF practice of flying the same path outbound from the target as inbound. Although the German gamble was rewarded with a successful interception, the bombers were alert and fought back. Four B-24s and two Me-109s fell in this fight.

Map: Blue Sky

Set Up:

• Set up the B-24s in hexes 2922, 3023, 2823, 3123, 3224, 3024, 2723, 2824, 2624, 3324, 3225 and 3425 at speed 4.0, level bank, altitude 15.0, heading west in level flight.
• Set up the Me109s in hexes 3916, 4017, 4117, 3915, 3914, and 3913 at altitude 16.0, speed 6.0, left bank, heading SSE in a shallow dive.

Game Length: 20 Turns.

Special Rules:

1. The B-24s are unloaded, having already bombed Ploesti.

2. Before the first turn, roll one die for each bomber. The result is the number of hits the bomber has already taken from the Ploesti defenses. Check for critical hits normally (the critical hit number is 3), but treat any hits that would destroy a B-24 or cause it to fall out of formation (such as reduced speed due to a hydraulic hit) as a Hollow area hit. All fires are out by this time. Any aircraft that could not stay in formation have already fallen out.

3. If needed, aircraft may be shifted to keep them on the playing surface for the full 20 turns. Shift all aircraft equally if you do.

Additional Rules: Pilot Quality - Training Standards:

• USAAF = average,
• Luftwaffe = good

Roll for Luftwaffe pilot characteristics on the Pilot Generation Tables.

ADC Availability: The B-24D is available at Uncle Ted’s.
The Me-109-6 was published in Over the Reich.

Sources: Dugan and Stewart, Ploesti, pp 209-214.