USS Essex CV-9 campaign released by Shadow Wolf 07!

[Shadow Wolf 07]

Yes Wolfi... your plane has no problem with the pilot. He shows up fine.

Ship attack at Kwajelein:

[Shadow Wolf 07]

Truk fighter sweep :

[Shadow Wolf 07]

[strings]
"title_string"=Essex_BU-Truk Divebomber Strike_3BW3
"summary_string"=Cutie-1 will lead the flight on this mission. Take off, form up and fly on a 269 heading for 91 miles to RP ABLE. From there you and your flight will lead the first wave of bombers in to smash enemy shipping and installations on Truk. Your squadron will attack shipping in the Moen anchorage. Study recon photo 4. Your flight will damage or sink one of the light cruisers there. Other strikes will follow up shortly after. Good luck!
"objective_string"=Our fighter sweep this morning was a "sweeping" success. Enemy fighter defenses have been eliminated and the base is open to heavy bombing attack. We will launch at 0900 - the first of many raids throughout the day. Our objective is to destroy the larger IJN warships before they can escape and to finish off whatever aircraft they may have still on the ground.
"intelligence_string"=Japanese forces are estimated to be somewhere around 50 -100 grounded aircraft on the various airfields. There are 2-3 cruisers and supporting escorts with large numbers of transports in the 3 anchorages off Moen, Param and Eten. Expect heavy flak, light fighter opposition and clear weather with light winds - 12 knots out of 187 degrees - over the target area and at take off.
"player_aircraft_name_string"=FDG2 SBD-5 Dauntless VMSB-231
"airfield_string"="Essex CV-9"

[Shadow Wolf 07]

Making a successful torpedo run on one of Stuart277's new ships:

Hey Wolfi: I still don't see the panel gauges in the 2-D cockpit view. I will re-download the plane and replace the Panel folder and see if that helps.

PS: I think I found the error - I believe when I initially installed the acft, I forgot to install the Gauges pack. I'll giver her a try now.

[Shadow Wolf 07]

18

"title_string"=Essex_BY-Marianas CAP_1B3
"summary_string"=Raven, you are to launch immediately, form up (warp) and patrol to the NW at a distance of 50 miles at 12000 feet until relieved or recalled. Be on the alert for intruding enemy attack or reconaisance aircraft.
"objective_string"=We have advanced into the waters of the Northern Marianas to conduct strikes on the Japanese bases there. Hopefully we will bait out their carrier force and inflict a telling blow on them. We will be launching a fighter sweep later this afternoon and at the very least, we will smash his land-based aircraft based here, preparatory to invasion.
"intelligence_string"=The enemy has significant air assets on Guam and the other islands. Our destroyer screen reports that TG-58 has already been spotted by a Japanese submarine. We can expect prolonged air attacks at any time now. Be on the alert! Radar and the CIC will vector you to incoming bandits.
"player_aircraft_name_string"=FDG2 F6F-5 Hellcat VF-12
"airfield_string"="Essex CV-9"

19

"title_string"=Essex_BZ-Guam Fighter Sweep_1A3
"summary_string"=Cockfight: take off and fly on a 296 heading for 220 miles to RP X-RAY. From there, your flight will proceed north and intercept and destroy any enemy aircraft that come up to meet you. Clear the skies and expend any remaining ammo on parked aircraft on the ground. Watch your fuel... you will be at maximum range. Maintain 190 knots until contact is made.
"objective_string"=We have endured attacks from Guam all day. Now it's our turn. Two squadrons from Essex will fly to Guam and destroy all the aircraft they can find in the air or on the ground. A strike group from Yorktown will follow up to finish the job, attacking the ground support facilities.
"intelligence_string"=Because of their day-long attacks on us, the enemy planes should be on the ground, refueling and rearming with fatigued pilots. Their squadrons were decimated by our CAP earlier today, so their numbers are greatly reduced. Weather is mostly clear with light clouds. You can expect moderate FLAK over the island and airbase.
"player_aircraft_name_string"=FDG2 F6F-5 Hellcat VF-12
"airfield_string"="Essex CV-9"

[Shadow Wolf 07]

Taking off enroute to bomb and strafe Tinian:

[Shadow Wolf 07]

I had to fly the Guam_Strike mission 3 times to survive the FLA and meet my mission requirements. It was tough! I also found it was the Pilot Log folder file that needs to be adjusted for wingman losses, so you don't get sent home in disgrace, halfway through this long campaign. Damned collisions!

Also, I fixed a .cmg error which sends you to the Guam_Strike mission again in a different plane. So, on to the Marianas Convoy Strike mission... Mission 23.

[Shadow Wolf 07]

Combat over Peleliu:

[Shadow Wolf 07]

Flying as a wingman in the Helldiver over Surigao. Does this make you happy Highpockets?

[Shadow Wolf 07]

Thank you for this and the Avenger Wolfi!

[highpockets]

I think I see Buz Sawyer in the cockpit and Sweeney at the gun in the rear!

[Shadow Wolf 07]

Night CAP: It was hard to see, even with "radar," but we got them all. My wingmen got more than I did, It took most of my ammo,but I got 4 of the beggars.

[Shadow Wolf 07]

Mission 30 is a furball over Manila.

"title_string"=Essex_DV-Manila Fighter Sweep_

"summary_string"=Viper: You and your flight will take off, form up and rendezvous with the rest of your squadron at RP DOG, 187 miles out on a 264 heading. From there you will fly to engage enemy aircraft over Manila. Concentrate on the area of Nielson. Lex's strike group will follow behind you and sweep the skies over Nichols. Shoot down everything in the air that's Japanese. If you clear the skies and have any ammo left, hit parked aircraft on the ground before returning to base.

"objective_string"=After refueling and rearming we are about to strike Manila. First in will be a fighter sweep to reduce or eliminate the enemy's air cover. There are 3 major airfields there. We will concentrate on aircraft at Nielson Field. Ticonderoga will hit Clark and Lex will strike at both Clark and Nichols.

"intelligence_string"=There are more than 500 IJAAF aircraft in the area. We hope to catch many by surprise and on the ground, Flak over the city is expected to be light but heavy over the harbor. Enemy fighter pilots' training is reported at low level, but pilot morale is high. Expect good weather with moderate cloud cover and winds out of 353 degrees at 12 knots.
"player_aircraft_name_string"=FDG2 F6F-5 Hellcat VF-12

[Shadow Wolf 07]

Bombed and rocket attacked and destroyed 6 ground targets - 2 Oscars (parked), 3 SG Bettys (parked) and a barracks. Then we aided the escorts and I shot down 2 Zeros. I lost 3 wingmen, 1 to FLAK and 2 to unknown foolishness.

Next we are off to raid Okinawa. The next mission is a fighter sweep at Naha. Sixty eight aircraft in this one...

Thus far I have corrected 6 mission errors and 5 .cmg errors. The Campaign itself seems okay with 17 missions to go and some of them are tough.

[Shadow Wolf 07]

Mission 34: It turned into a real furball once the planes from other fields showed up...

"title_string"=Essex_EG-Takao Fighter Sweep_1A3
"summary_string"=Argo: You will take off, form up and fly 155 miles on a 284 heading to RP Easy, where you will link up with the rest of your squadron. Continue 20 miles due west, maintaining a speed of 200 until contact to the city and airbase of Takao. Intercept and destroy as many enemy aircraft as you can in the air and strafe them on the ground. You will be reinforced by a fighter squadron from Lexington's airgroup.
"objective_string"=Our task group has moved south from Okinawa and is now poised to strike Japanese facilities at and near Takao Formosa. Our first mission is to clear the skies in the area so our bombers can strike the airfield and port with relative impunity.
"intelligence_string"=Japanese aircraft from Takao strip and neighboring airfielsa wil, more than likely, come up to oppose you. The enemy is short on fuel and his pilots are short on trainig and experience. He may have radar controlled antiaircraft guns but FLAK is expected to be light to moderate just the same. Expect light cloud cover and winds at 12-14 knots out of 204 degrees
"player_aircraft_name_string"=FDG2 F6F-5 Hellcat VF-12
"airfield_string"="Essex CV-9"

[ElsnerMarkus]

beta test Pictures

Concrete Group don't release Bomb during dive Attack on haruna. In This Mission my Wingman starting Torpedo Attacks from behind the Musashi, half of the Torpedos Don;t Detonate on its hull

[Shadow Wolf 07]

Thank you Markus. It is good to get some feedback. I am currently flying 2 Takao, Formosa strike missions tonight. Those Sibuyan Sea missions come up after them. I will pay attention to how those AI behave and double check armament and assignment in Mission Builder.

[No Dice]

What an Artist you are Shadow Wolf,
What great work and time spent on your project........


Dave

[Shadow Wolf 07]

Dave: I enjoy doing it and the work helps me keep sane. Thanks for the compliments!

Clearing the air after the strike on Takao field. Takao harbor strike is next:

[Shadow Wolf 07]

I drew a fighter-bomber for this mission. In all I flew a good mission... I sank a transport and destroyed some fuel tanks. My wingmen sank another IJA transport and and a Stuart277 freighter but one got shot down by FLAK. I managed to shoot down an enemy plane despite damage from AAA, then I collided with another flight's plane. Oh well... I'll have to fly it again. Darn it!

[Shadow Wolf 07]

"title_string"=Essex_ES-Philippines Sibuyan Sea CAP_1A3
"summary_string"=Viper: Take off and fly on a 280 heading for 30 miles to your patrol station and orbit there at 12,000 feet. Await further orders. You will be directed to targets by the CIC. Stay on patrol until relieved.
"objective_string"=Our forces have landed in the Philippines at Leyte. The enemy has considerable land based air assets here in the Philippines and we can expect an attack at any time and in great strength.
"intelligence_string"=Coast watchers have sent messages that large groups of enemy light bombers have taken off from the bases near Manila and are heading this way. Radar has not spotted them yet but we are going to general quarters. Wnds are 10 knots out of 128 degrees with light cloud cover. Good hunting!

Gotcha! Actually I got 4 on this mission. It would have been 5, but one of my wingmen got a shot off first.

Next: Sibuyan Sea strike - going after the Musashi.

[Rami]

Greg,

Very nice work, your attention to detail is spectacular!

[Shadow Wolf 07]

Greg,

Very nice work, your attention to detail is spectacular!

Thank you sir>

Dive bombing?? With a Hellcat?? Yup, just throttle back, drop flaps and go for it.

[Shadow Wolf 07]

Mission 40, ten to go. Escorting the bombers over Manila Bay. The FLAK was heavy and there were plenty of enemy planes.

[The B24 Guy]

Looks great SW. Quite a project

Regards,
B24Guy