Details

Written by: Will Hyman

Category: Western European Theatre

Published: 24 October 2021

Hits: 20

After Operation Market Garden failed to secure a bridgehead over the Rhine River, the Western Allies' plan to break out into the industrial Ruhr Valley and end the war by Christmas was stifled.  As October turned to November and the weather began to close in, the Allied push to the Rhine was starting to bog down. 

In the Netherlands, 21st Army Group had captured Nijmegen and Eindhoven and secured the Scheldt Estuary. Just to the Southeast, the US First Army had finally captured the German city of Aachen in late October suffering heavy casualties, but was now bogged down in bloody fighting for the Hurtgen Forest. In the Lorraine area of France, General Patton and the US 3rd Army were fighting for the city of Metz.

During this time, the US Ninth Air Force, and the British 1st and 2nd Tactical Air Force were instrumental in providing Close Air Support to the Allied troops all along the Western Front. When they weren’t providing Close Air Support to the troops on the ground, they were running missions into Germany interdicting supply trucks, locomotives, and armored columns, destroying the enemy’s ability to resupply and reinforce. 

Despite the situation, the Luftwaffe still had some fight left in them and the fighter bombers of the 9th Air Force continued to find heavy engagements as well as sightings of the new German jet fighter, the Me 262. In this FSO, we set the stage for the 9th Air Forces tactical air war over France and Germany in late October and November 1944.

PLANE SET:

 22K ALT CAP FIGHTERS - ALL FIGHTERS

16K ALT CAP - ALL BOMBERS

SPECIAL RULES:

All Allied Fighters - 1,000lb Bombs Disabled 

AIRCRAFT SCORING:

OBJECT SCORING:

SETTINGS

- Germany terrain

- Icon Range – Friendly 3k, Enemy 3k.

- No Radar

- Fighter and Bomber Warning Range - 79200 (15 miles)

- Tower Range – 79,200 (for display to match the above Fighter and Bomber Warning)

- External view for bombers (F3) - On

- Friendly Collisions - Off

- Enemy Collisions - On

- Kill Shooter - Off

- Fuel - 1.0

- Ack - 0.3

- Formations - Enabled

- Bombsite calibration - Main Arena Standard

- Time:

   FRAME 1 - 0900

   FRAME 2 - 1200

   FRAME 3 - 1500

- Object Downtime – full (200)

- Winds - MAX Downdraft 22K

- Clouds - Med5KMed15K

Designed by Nefarious

Details

Written by: Spikes

Category: Western European Theatre

Published: 28 January 2021

Hits: 18

Introduction

Operation Jubilee brought about some of the fiercest aerial combat since the Battle of Britain raged over the shores, towns and countrysides of England back in 1940. The RAF employed 72 squadrons of aircraft; 48 squadrons of Spitfires, 8 squadrons of Hurricanes, 4 squadrons of Mustang Is, 3 squadrons of Typhoons, 6 squadrons of Bostons, 1 Blenheim squadron, and 2 squadrons of USAAF B-17s in addition to several other types of aircraft in support of operations. 

The RAF was opposed by two wings of Luftwaffe fighters from JG 2 and JG 26 comprising 190 aircraft. Attack support was provided from KG 2 and elements of anti-shipping support from KG 53, KG 40 and KG 77. The RAF paid a heavy price for their foray into France that day, August 19, 1942. The Luftwaffe held the keys to the clouds with its heavy deployments of the FW190A fighters and Jabos, which wrestled air superiority from the Allies over the beaches. The aerial combat was so heavy and continuous that the invasion fleet remained in peril from the beginning of the attack until the end even with the RAF aerial umbrella overhead. 

Country Percentage

Axis 50%

Allies 50%

Victory Conditions

This is a progressive attack and winner-takes-all event.

Each side will be tasked to work towards building security for the second hour.

The Allies will be tasked with closing Saint-Aubin Airfield (A116) and securing the Port of Dieppe (P195).  The first hour planning for the Allies will set up for the capture of (P195) in the second hour.

The Axis will attempt to create a condition for the Allies where capturing the Port of Dieppe is more difficult.

IF THEN ELSE (Conditions)...

Condition voided...

IF the Allies have ships remaining at the beginning of the second hour. (Then)

        The Allies will spawn vehicles from V67 to capture the base. Simulating closer landings to the port base for capture.

ELSE

        The Allies will receive a new fleet farther out, where vehicles will need to make their way ashore to make the capture.

END

IF the Port of Dieppe is captured by the Allies. (Then)

        The Axis will have an opportunity to recapture to port from vehicle spawns out of A121.

ELSE

         The Axis will defend the port until the end of the frame.

END

Note: The winner at the end of the frame will hold the Port of Dieppe (A195).

Special Event Rules

• This is a Multi-life event. Pilots may replane if shot down after the first 30 minutes into the second hour, aircraft only.
• Combatants may rearm at any friendly base.
• Ordnance for each aircraft will be set by the setup CM in the hangar.
• Hangars and ships will be given a destruction weight of 3200 lbs.
• The attackers will have up to T+30 to make their initial attack.
• The bombers and Jabos/FBs alt cap is 14K, and the fighter alt cap is 20K.
• Destroyed targets are down for the remainder of the frame.
• Each side may attack the other's bases near the target area with "NO" restrictions.
• The Allies may steer their shipping throughout the event. However, they must stay within the restricted area.
• A121 can not be attacked by the Allies at any point.
• There are 10 troops required to capture the base.

Scoring

Aircraft and vehicles in this event have "NO" value. They are tools to complete each assigned task. Each side is invited to fly as many aircraft or drive as many vehicles required to complete the assigned objectives.

Arena Settings

• Terrain map: BOF44 (2020)

• Fuel burn rate: 1.0

• Anti-aircraft gun strength: 0.3

• Bombsight calibration: AUTOMATIC (MA standard)

• Icons: 3.0K yards (9,000 feet)

• Sector Radar ("bar dar"): OFF

• Dot Radar: OFF

• Fighter and Bomber warning range: 52,800 feet (10 miles)

• Tower range set to 79,200 feet (for display only, to match the above setting)

• Haze range: 12 miles

• Friendlycollisions: OFF

• Enemy collisions: ON

• Kill shooter: OFF

• Stall Limiter: Set ON (Players may disable)

• TownDownForCapturePer: 0.7500

-- Wind:

 Altitude    Speed      Direction

   00 - 02K      0         NO WIND

   02 - 10K      05        W -> E

   10 - 18K      13        W -> E

   18 - 20K      27        W -> E

   20K+          -199      DOWNDRAFT 75MPH

-- Arena Clock:

Frame 1        0715    (7:15 AM, Morning)

Frame 2        0900    (9:00 AM, Morning)

Frame 3        1200   (12:00 PM, Afternoon)

-- Weather:

Cumulus Clouds at 6 and 12 thousand over the target areas and up the French coast.

-- Historical Combat Skins:

Luftwaffe

BF109G-2

Stab II./JG 26 by Devil505

FW190A-5
9./JG 2 by Devil505 (Jabo)
10.(Jabo)/JG 2 by Devil505
III./JG 2 by Kweassa
III./JG 26 by Devil505
III./JG 26 by Kweassa
4./JG 2 by Devil505

JU88A-4
5./KG 77 by Greebo
Ku106 by Greebo

 RAF

 Spitfire IX
 401S RCAF by Greebo
 402S AE-B by Jocko417
 64S RAF by Greebo
 611S RAF by Greebo

 Typhoon IB
 609S by Greebo
 56S RAF by Greebo

 Boston III
 88FS by BH3841 (Default)

 Hurricane IIC
 174S/RAF by Greebo 
 87S/RAF by Greebo

Designer Notes:

Designed by AKWarHwk

Updated October 2025

Details

Written by: Spikes

Category: Western European Theatre

Published: 29 October 2020

Hits: 15

D-DAY “White Flag”

Introduction

Following the D-Day invasion and the great “Breakout” during Operation Cobra, the 9th USAAF was tasked to clear the way for the 3rd US Army to reach Paris. The 9th USAAF, which was the mobile tactical arm of the US Army Air Force in western Europe, moved to France on July 16, 1944. From western France, they began operations to clear the road of Wehrmacht artillery, panzers, and soldiers. As 3rd Army tank columns rolled towards Paris, 9th USAAF fighter-bombers would fly ahead and spot potential ambushes and roadblocks. These pilots communicated directly to the forward air controllers riding along with the tank columns. The FAC was a USAAF officer that received communications from the 9th USAAF Fighter-Bombers and gave instructions to these aircraft on what needed to be targeted.  

Level bombers got into the act by flying thousands of sorties to destroy troop movements, railroad junctions, railroad sidings, bridges, radar, and communications centers. By the time of this action, most of the 9th Air Force’s bombers were the Martin B-26B Marauder. Even though the aircraft was dubbed the widow maker because of the large number of training accidents that occurred in the aircraft, new modifications to the airframe and changes in flight training reduced training accidents almost completely. By the end of the war, the B-26 was the safest and most survivable bomber in the US Air Force inventory.

The Luftwaffe was beginning to see a serious reduction in strength due to constant combat from early 1943 through to D-Day, where only two Luftwaffe sorties were seen to have penetrated the massive fighter screen of the RAF and USAAF. Missions from Operation POINTBLANK, which targeted the German Aircraft Industry, pounded away at Luftwaffe aerodromes and fighters in the low countries and France until the bases that JG 26 and JG 2 were stationed on had to be moved farther inland towards Germany where Allied bombers and fighters faced greater risk to attack.

Event Challenge 

This Aces High FSO event will focus on lower altitude Allied attacks against German infrastructure; Towns, Vehicle hangars, and Troop Barracks, Ordnance bunkers, and Radars. The Allies will attack and the Axis will defend.

Side Split

Allies: 55%

Axis: 45%

Plane Set

Allied fighter pilots may choose their version of the aircraft assigned.

Victory Conditions

The Allies will be charged with clearing the way for Allied Armored columns racing to rendezvous in Paris.

Each frame will be a victory for the Allies provided the following conditions exist at frames end;

1. The target base must have its town “white flagged” by the close of the frame.
2. The Vehicle Hangar on the target base must be destroyed.
3. There must be three barracks objects destroyed on the target base.
4. The ordnance bunkers on the target base must be destroyed.
5. The Radar tower on the target base must be destroyed.

The absence of these conditions by the frame’s end will cause a victory for the Luftwaffe.

Special Event Rules and Restrictions

• This is a single-life event. Pilots may not re-plane for another flight if they are shot down, killed, ditch, or otherwise cannot rearm on a friendly rearm pad.
• Combatants may rearm at any friendly base.
• Ordnance for each aircraft will be set by the setup CM in the hangar.
• All targeted objects will retain their normal MA destruction weight.
• The attackers will have up to T+75 to make their initial attack.
• The bomber alt cap is 14K and the fighter alt cap is 24K.
• Destroyed targets are down for the remainder of the frame.
• The Axis will have access to manned ground guns at the targeted base(s).
• Allied fighters MAY attack all applicable targets.
• Recovering to a friendly base by the end of the frame will not be necessary.
• Only Town objects, the VH, Barracks, Ordnance bunkers, and the Radar tower are live targets for this event. Any other ground target will not count towards the victory conditions.

Terrain

Active Bases

Axis 

A118

A120

A137 (Bf109G-6 Only)

Allies 

A169 (Bombers Only)

A133 (Fighters Only)

Ordnance Distribution

Allied aircraft except for the P-51 may carry bombs. Luftwaffe aircraft will have no ordnance available.

Allied aircraft will only have the 500 lb. bomb available as an ordnance choice.

The Axis will have the 30 mm canon choice removed for the FW190A-8 only.

Targets and Scoring

White flagged town + VH destroyed + Three destroyed barracks objects + All ordnance bunkers + Radar tower = Frame Victory

Arena Settings

• Terrain map: BOF44
• Fuel burn rate: 1.0
• Anti-aircraft gun strength: 0.3
• Bombsight calibration: AUTOMATIC (MA standard)
• Icons: 3.0K yards (9,000 feet)
• Sector Radar ("bar dar"): OFF
• Dot Radar: OFF
• Fighter and Bomber warning range: 52,8000 feet (10 miles)
• Tower range set to 52,800 feet (for display only, to match the above setting)
• Haze range: 18 miles
• Friendlycollisions: OFF
• Enemy collisions: ON
• Kill shooter: OFF
• Stall Limiter: Set ON (Players may disable)

Wind

Altitude    Speed      Direction

    00 - 02K      0         NO WIND

    02 - 10K      05        SW -> NE

    10 - 18K      13        SW -> NE

    18 - 24K      27        SW -> NE

    24K -  DOWNDRAFT + 90 Knots

Clouds

Mostly Cloudy at 24K

Scattered Clouds from 13k to 14k in a 12-mile radius around the target.

Frame Clock

Frame 1        9:00    (9:00 AM, Morning)

Frame 2        11:00    (11:00 AM, Morning)

Frame 3        15:00    (3:00 PM, Afternoon)

Designer Notes:

  Designed by AKWarHwk

  There are no points associated with scoring the event.

Details

Written by: Spikes

Category: Western European Theatre

Published: 15 July 2020

Hits: 16

Case Red: France 1940

Fall Rot (Case Red) was the plan for the second phase of the conquest of France by Germany that started in early June of 1940. By this point, Dunkirk was captured by the advancing German Army. Germany continued to push south towards Paris, and the Luftwaffe did much of the heavy lifting during this push.

While the initial goal of the Luftwaffe was air superiority, it quickly became air supremacy with the French Air Force on the verge of collapse. The RAF tried to assist by flying sorties over Dunkirk in hopes to divert attention from France, but suffered heavy losses.

This FSO is designed to depict the air war of the Fall Rot campaign as the Luftwaffe squares off against the French Air Force and Royal Air Force over the skies of France.

Order of Battle:

Notes:

Bomber ALT cap 14K.

Fighter ALT cap 18K.

Fighters may not take ordnance or drop tanks.

Ju 88A-4 may not take formations.

*CIC may assign all He 111s, all single Ju 88s, or a mix so long as the total number of assigned pilots equals a minimum of 16.

Scoring:

Fighters - 1

He 111 - 2

Ju 88 - 3

Hangars - 8

Arena Settings:

- Terrain: bof44

- Clouds: med5kmed15k

- Fuel Burn: .90

- Icons: 3K Friendly/Enemy

- Ack: .3

- Fighter and Bomber warning range: 63360 (about 12 miles)

- Tower range set to 63360 (for display only to match the above setting)

- Haze/Fog: 15 miles

- Radar: Off

- Enemy collisions: on

- Friendly collisions: off

- Killshooter: off

- Time: 1000 (10AM) Game Clock

- Formations: On

- Formation Autopilot: On

- Bomber calibration: Automatic

- Wind: 0K-2K NO WIND

2K-10K: W TO E - Speed 5

10K-18K: NW TO SE - Speed 10

18K+: 45MPH Downdraft

Area of Operations: