The Day Of Battle

Several photos sent by Chuck S. vanished. I put them in again and after awhile they vanished again. I have no idea why. 
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Date: 28 January 2017 (Summer 1940)
Location: South Coast of Britain
Situation: 3rd BIG Battle of Britain Game
Pilots: RAF 6 and Luftwaffe 6 = 12
Scale: 1/285 and 1/300 (About 75 aircraft)
Terrain: Imagineered
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Thank You Father and
Thank You Everyone Who Prayed For Moderate Weather For Us
Using General Patton's Third Army December 1944 Prayer.
We Did Have Moderate Winter Weather
The prayer appears again in Closing Remarks
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Click on photos for larger viewing.

BEFORE THE GAME BEGAN

Main Table (6'x28')

The cumulus cloud and fog bank arrived before the game as a surprise for all pilots.
France is off image to the right. (2'x20')

Our imagineered Port of Dover and The White Cliffs too.

British Back Table (6'x20')

A different area of Britain. It's a little foggy there too. The tentish looking things in the background are player name cards.

Here are the same name cards rearranged so you can see how RAF pilots can pick up their box of aircraft and then go to their airfields. Assignments were not made when this photo was taken.

Another look at the RAF carrying boxes with D4 dice, action cards, movement templates, smoke trails, aircraft charts, Bogey Chips and more. Two players have not placed aircraft they are bringing.

 Commands for Nick and Chuck S. were similarly organized at Calais, France.

Ditto for Rob and Chuck L's Stukas and ME 109s in the red box lid.

For Bob and Morgan their commands were hidden from spies and spotter aircraft.

MY "FLIGHT" OF HURRICANES

Fighter Command ordered my six Hurricanes scrambled on a southeast heading to intercept Bogeys coming north over The White Cliffs of Dover.

My flight was held farthest north from the coast given our inexperience; two veterans (blue markers) and four sprogs (green markers). My chaps needed to brace up today learning from two experienced leaders whilst summoning the utmost from their personal skills.

Aircraft are GHQ 1/285 models on Check Your 6 flight stands. We are not using speed and altitude pointers. Altitude dynamics would make a big game like this unplayable.

Close up of Green Heath with four ME 110s coming in. (Courtesy of Chuck S.)
The White Cliffs of Dover are in the upper right of the photo.


JU88s oncoming too. (Photo courtesy of Chuck S.)

"Brown Deer Leader to Flight. --- Form two Vics."
(Two "V" formations)
"Follow me --- an' stay close!"

It did not take long for eight Ju88s to appear to our front northeast of Green Heath. The bombers are GHQ 1/285 aircraft on CY6 flight stands. The latter are double sticky taped to 3" wide Litko clear acrylic hexagons.

Section 4 headed in obliquely whilst Section 5 flew at 'em broadside. Luckily one JU88 had been downed by ACK ACK or a Flight of Spitfires off image in the upper right.

Nick K's JU88s had three Top Ace (red markers) and five Veteran (black markers) pilots.

As we flew in, the JU88s began to split their formation.

Aerial combat soon became chaotic as ME110s commanded by Chuck S. intervened. Another JU88 crashed as did an ME110. White smoke indicates an aircraft is sufficiently damaged requiring it to return home. Two of my Sprogs and one ME110 will be doing so on their next movement card.

We use Bag The Hun (Too Fat Lardies) movement cards to activate aircraft and many other entertaining circumstances.

Not far to our southeast, a Section of three 1/300 Spitfires commanded by Dan E. took heavy damage from another four ME 110s (not shown) commanded by Chuck S. Dan still had three more Spits which would intervene with the JU88s already seen. (Photo courtesy of Chuck S.)

The white marker designates a Junior Ace. The latter successfully bailed out to fly another day.

Five of my Hurricanes dangerously low on fuel pass through the foe. 

"Brown Deer Leader to Flight. Land at Hornby Aerodrome." 

"Roger Brown Deer Leader."

So we headed for the airfield seen a few photos back spending our very last gallons of petrol. All my pilots lived to fly another day.

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CLOSING REMARKS

1) Here we are....

Seated left to right: Morgan E., Dan E., Chuck S., Jim H. (beard), Nick K. in a cloud! and John B. Standing left to right: Lewis S., Bob B., Matt L. and yours truly Brown Deer Flight Leader Bill P.

Not pictured: Rob O. and Chuck L who had to leave. On sick call: Bill K.

2) Ten pilots flew in three sectors; East where I was, Center and West. Each Sector had their own deck of activation cards playing at their own speed. I did not record prodigious actions occurring outside my own sector. My duties as Host, Rules Officiator, Mover of Clouds and Fogs and Music Disk Jockey precluded me from doing so. I can say that there were combats a plenty from 5pm to 10:30pm everywhere.

3) On the 29th I wrote to our pilots as follows:

Thank You very much Pilots,

For making yesterday's 3rd BIG BoB Game entertaining, visually appealing and playable. You chaps are terrific! I also appreciated chow and beverages provided by you. 

Additionally, John and Lewis supplied a lot of terrain to make the whole come alive. Plus, Matt, John, Chuck S. and Chuck L. had a lot of their aircraft in the game. 

I am very grateful for your interest and enthusiasm.

Respectfully,

Bill

Chuck S. wrote back saying....

Hey, Bill!

Last night was a blast. I think the game moved right along. 

Thanx again for last night. 

Chuck

Matt said....

It was lots of fun Bill thanks!

Matt

Nick wrote....

Hi Bill and All,

     I had a ball playing last nite. Everyone seems to have a good handle on the rules and cards, so play went smoothly last nite.  I hope to make the Big Battle of Britain IV game later this year. And hopefully at least one game before then also.

Talk soon,

Nick

4) Here is just one example of how our lads came together to make this a visual treat.

 After the game I consolidated John's 6mm structures and vegetation. Thank you my dear fellow.  Lewis provided another three dozen. We need more! Rob and Lewis also brought shipping.

5) Here is the stuff clouds and fogs are made of.

From a Michael's craft store. (USA)

6) Our prayer for moderate weather (and we got it) --- was adapted from....

GENERAL PATTON'S DECEMBER 1944 PRAYER
Our 3rd BIG Battle of Britain game on 28 January 2017 is in the winter. I hope for good weather by a modified version of: General Patton’s Third Army Prayer written by Chaplain O’Neil on 14 December 1944.

 “Almighty and most merciful Father, we humbly beseech Thee, of Thy great goodness, to restrain [this] immoderate [winter] with which we have had to contend. Grant us fair weather…. Graciously hearken to us as [your children] who call upon Thee that, armed with Thy power, we may [arrive and return home safely after our activity].”

Feel free to privately pray this, if you please - anyone - reading this on the planet.

7) What rules did we use? Please scroll down through a couple of postings to find out. Lots of details there to give you the basics.

8) Can you do what our group did? Sure you can. Get cracking!

9) Your remarks are very welcome below at Comments.
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