Battle of Britain: Sunday 14th July 15:00

 "Gold section scrambled at 14:45. Stukas were attacking the convoy Booty off Eastbourne. Chaps arrived just as the Junkers started to dive on the convoy but were bounced by their escort as they closed."

This is based loosely on an actual attack made famous by a radio commentary by the BBC's Charles Garner who stood witness on the cliffs at Dover. A recording of the broadcast can be found on YouTube.

For this battle 327 sent in Gold Section; Reed (flying Y), Blaiden (X) and Buckley (H). Facing them were four 109s, and three Ju87s that were about to dive on the convoy.

Starting Positions

Turn 1

As ever with first turns in BRS this was a quick one. All but one of the 109s ended it advantaged. Gold Section split with Buckley heading for the bombers and Reed and Blaiden bracing themselves for a head on pass with the escort.

End of Turn 1

Turn 2

Battle is joined! The Luftwaffe leader closes on Reed guns blazing, causing a critical hit. Reed fails the save but gets to shoot back as the attack is head on - misses. A boom chit to the RAF.

Critical hit for Reed!

The other three 109s close but are just out of range - luckily for Reed. On his turn Reed manages to fly through the 109 barrier without further incident, Blaiden, however, may be in a lot of trouble.

Buckley gets in amongst the Stukas and out manoeuvres one of them. However, he can't prevent them attacking convoy Booty. The bombers have a mighty fourteen attacks but only one hit! A lucky escape for the merchantmen.

Boom chits: RAF:1    109s:0    Ju87s:0

Blaiden in trouble!

Turn 3

Turn 3 starts with the German 109 leader performing a 180 turn and coming up on Reed's tail. With no wingman Reed is immediately disadvantaged but the Luftwaffe pilot fires wide!

German leader tucks in behind Reed

The other 109s gang up on Blaiden following the same maneuver, a 180 to bring them onto Blaiden's tail. The first one shoots and misses! The second has a deflection shot that results in a boom chit for the RAF. Because it is a deflection shot Blaiden has nine dice to avoid being shot down.

The Luftwaffe gangs up on Blaiden

He fails and his plane explodes.

That's the RAF with more boom chits than engines so the game will end this turn.

Buckley gets a chance to shoot at a Stuka and gets a hit but its saved. He then moves behind a second Stuka and fires this time shooting it down. This means the Stukas would also retreat at the end of this turn but, given they had already dropped their bombs, this was their plan anyway.

Buckley tries to extract some revenge

This left the 109s controlling the skies over this little piece of the Channel at least.

Boom chits: RAF:3    109s:0    Ju87s:3

Finishing positions

"Reed had seen Blaiden's plane explode. The C.O. gave him a grilling at dispersal but Reed was adamant - must have hit the petrol tank, big flash, no parachute."