Three or four years ago it was easy to get together group of friends and hop on an IL-2 server for some multiplayer fun. These days, with busy schedules and more limited flight time, its harder to do that. But sometimes we get the old gang back together and for this journal I wanted to document some P-38 fun that we had. It started off going according to plan but certainly didn’t end that way and I like to tell those stories too in the hopes of encouraging other people to hop on, have some fun, and recognize that even long time veterans of multiplayer siming can and will make mistakes especially if a bit rusty.

Our mission

This Combat Box multiplayer sortie started out like many before it. We decided, for old times sake, that we’d hop into a group of P-38J Lightnings and strike a target near the frontline. Our target would be a port facility located near Düsseldorf. Our weapon of choice for this mission was a pair of 2000lb GP bombs slung on the wing hardpoints. The P-38 holds the distinction, in-sim, of being able to carry the biggest bombs and this seemed like a fun way to fly this mission.

Heading out

We got our group of three P-38s ready to go in the southern sector of the map. Our Düsseldorf based target zone was only about 60 kilometers away from our base so this would be a quick hop and a jump to get there.

Once started up, the three of us plus a Spitfire that decided to tag along at the last minute, headed out for the target zone. I’ve taken to letting the team chat know that a strike group is headed out and given a rough ETA to everyone listening where we might be. Sometimes it means that fighters may vector to our location and while none immediately did, we did hear back that there was some fighting going on in a sector to the north – danger or opportunity? We were going to find out.

Flying and striking

After takeoff, the three of us settled into a loose formation and climbed our way to target.

This part of the journey was particularly nostalgic hearkening back to some old flights that we used to do on Tactical Air War with the same crew and same airplane.

As we climbed through 10,000 feet we began to level off around the cloud deck and get ready for our run in to the target zone which was rapidly appearing. No enemy aircraft in sight so far.

As we approached the target zone, our formation strung itself out and we delayed each attack run by 10 seconds giving the lead, middle and trail time to see impacts and avoid the blast radius of our rather large munitions. Timing was tight but we were just able to sneak in between each blast.

The high explosives worked well on all of the lightly protected parts of the target area. Towering smoke columns rose up where each of our drops landed.

Fights and fighters

Just as we were pulling off the target area, we spotted our first fighter. The first of many as a swirling dogfight began to break out in the area around the target zone. Unbeknownst to us, our tag along Sptifire got into a fight with a Bf109. Evading at first before succumbing to the guns of the 109 later. Meanwhile, I had a more direct problem as a Fw190D-9 ran into the target zone and picked me out from the group.

I was forewarned about the fighter but only had time for the quickest of evasive turns.

The tracers from his cannon and heavy machine gun fire went wide.

I tightened my turn and the Fw190 made an even tighter one at the top of his zoom climb and began coming back down. Knowing I had limited opportunities, I popped my combat flap position which on the P-38 can be quite effective for very short and tight turns. The twin engine fighter shuddered in the turn but the effect was a good one as the Fw190 again shot wide.

The fighter would make one more attempt before my tight turns had bled most of his speed advantage.

No doubt sensing the changing tide, the Fw190 made a diving turn away from me after missing on the last pass.

I torn on after him with my guns firing trying to get a shot in or two before he could get out of range. One or two .50cal shots landed on his port-side wing before I knew he was well out of range.

This came the next dangerous moment in the fight. While not able to keep up at low altitudes (especially with the bomb pylons on my wings) the P-38J enjoys a significant climb advantage so that’s what I did.

While the Fw190 gained separation, I gained altitude.

As the enemy fighter receded into the distance, I looked for a thick cloud and climbed up into it disappearing from the fight in my own way.

At this point I began looking for my fellow wingmates. They had also gotten into pitched battles of their own. One going down immediately while another called for help. Unfortunately, a miss communication meant that I was at one target and my wingmate was at another entirely unable to help.

Navigating and surviving

Now on my own, it was time to navigate back to base. Here I found myself a little turned around after my dogfight and it took me several minutes and a lot of head scratching to re-establish my position via landmarks. A real challenge at times!

After a lengthy time cruising around, I was able to make my final turn towards base and bring my P-38 in for a landing.

The final tally? One port facility seriously and significantly damaged, two P-38s lost (and one Spitfire), and me flying home as the sole survivor. A combination of luck, skill, and fate. No enemy fighters were shot down.

We were a bit rusty but it was an interesting flight on Combat Box!