After a refractory pause, gearing up for the next load ~

Michael Eckenfels, 25 April 2018

INTERMISSION

PERSONAL DIARY ENTRY

AUGUST 13, 1940

A call from Berlin at near midnight on 12 August and suddenly I find sleep elusive. A drenching, sticky rain came in shortly after darkness fell, and my staff and I looked forward to a few miserable hours of sleep. Unfortunately, the call meant none would be had by me, except perhaps on one of the Fuhrer’s personal Ju-52 transport aircraft, which the call said would be arriving to fetch me in approximately 30 minutes, to take me to the Obersalzberg.

I’d rather be at a figher’s controls.

I hurriedly grabbed a few notes while my aide, Oberst Steinhoff, calmly packed a few items. True to form, the aircraft landed in the midst of the most drenching of rain, right when the phone said it would, and we boarded. No sooner had the ground crew topped off the tanks, and we were revving down the runway as water splotched on the fuselage like soft bullets. The interior was well appointed, the sound dampened somewhat by the extra work done inside, but it felt like a coffin. I’d rather be at a figher’s controls.

We arrived shortly before 0400 at the Obersalzberg field and were immediately met and driven to Hitler’s own home. He was well known for staying up until dawn, so I figured we’d be coming in at about the time when he was ready for bed. Hopefully, he was in a good mood.

Michael’s fired his first load on England, and time for more ~

Michael Eckenfels, 17 April 2018

WAR DIARY ENTRY 2

RAID DAY 2: AUGUST 12, 1940

The successful bombings of yesterday are tempered with the large number of airframe and pilot losses. As I mentioned in yesterday’s operations diary, we can absorb it…for now.

Indications from Berlin are they are happy with the bombing results but the Fuhrer is not at all happy with the aircraft and pilot losses.

For today, seven viable targets for today’s raids. Only one of them is in LF2’s area of operations, though, which will limit my choices

MINOR RAIDS – all LF3

• WORTH (Radar Net)

MAJOR RAIDS – all LF2

• KENLEY (Airfield)
• TANGMERE (Airfield)
• HORNCHURCH (Airfield) x2
• BIGGIN HILL (Airfield)
• BEACHY HEAD (Radar Net)

I definitely want to have a go at the Radar Net at Worth, since it’s the only target that LF2 can commit to this game turn. As for LF3, Airfields are my priority; my job is to reduce the RAF to nothing, but the Beachy Head radar target is tempting, too. Berlin really wants us to take on Hornchurch again, as you can see.

Michael’s Jerries drop a load on England ~

Michael Eckenfels, 10 April 2018

WAR DIARY ENTRY 1

RAID DAY 1: AUGUST 11, 1940

Unlike previous days, where our new airfields in the Low Countries and France were almost every one socked in with poor weather, the day before shone bright and early. The code word went out – Alder – and August 11 was set for the kick-off of this massive campaign, one that every person in the world would be watching.

No pressure.

The day itself dawned clear and bright; almost all the wetness had dried off the previous day so today proved to be an excellent one for operations against England. It took a few days to get acclimated, receive reports, and get plugged in to the network that is the Luftwaffe here in Western Europe, but the staff is good and made this transition much easier.

As I’m not bothering with Night Raids (I don’t think it has much of a significant impact on the campaign in return for more rules and tracking), we’ll skip those bits in the game.