M is for Mary

314 Squadron is a virtual squadron supporting play of the Lancaster Variant of Glen Frank's solitare game, B-17: Queen of the Skies, which is copyright 1983 by The Avalon Hill Game Company. Avalon Hill is now a brand name owned by Hasbro, and B-17: Queen of the Skies is out of print.This is just a game. Please take a moment, though, to remember all of those who were lost in the events portrayed. The squadron number 314 was selected to prevent confusion, as no real RFC or RAF squadron ever had that number

Mission 8 - Stuttgart - AAR

Our flight was without incident until we were about 50 miles from the target. A Me110 surprised us coming in from below and shot the ship up. Flight Officer Gardner was able to knock him out of the sky as he attempted a second go at us. A short time later another Me110 made another run at us shooting up both wings. We lost the #1 engine and started leaking fuel from the port outboard wing tank. Sgt DelGado managed to return the favor shooting (FBOA) Jerry up and he failed to return. When we started our bomb run a Me109 came at us and shot up the tail and waist. His attack disrupted our bombing run and the bombs fell wide of the target. The enemy fighter made another pass knocking out the oxygen and guns in the tail, before we lost him. After that we dropped to a lower altitude and started our run for home. Flight Officer Lane calculated with the rate of fuel loss we could not hope to make it to England. After discussing our options with the crew we decided to take our chaces in the Channel. As it turned out Sgt Haynes was able to contact Air Sea Rescue (ASR)and notify them of our situation. We had a good bit of luck, first we set the ship down without any problems. Next the ASR boys were right in the area to pick us all up. I didn't even get my boots wet. I'll miss the old crate. (Damage Points: 191)

Flight Officer Art DeFilippo
314 Squadron
M is for Mary

Mission 7 - Stuttgart - AAR

Just before reaching the target an Me110 surprised us and knocked out our #2 engine and the heat in the mid section of the ship. Sgt Dunn managed to return the favor and drove Jerry off. We elected to continue on to the target and dropped to 10,000 feet. Over the target we were hit by flak and our bombs fell wide of the target area. On our return home we managed to evade Jerry.

Flight Officer Art DeFilippo
314 Squadron
M is for Mary

Mission 6 - Berlin - AAR

Our mission was uneventful until we reached crossed into Germany. At that point an Me110 surprised us from below, he made three passes at us until Gardner shot him up and he exploded. We took a heck of a beating and lost our Number 1 engine. At this point we elected to attempt to reach the target. We continued on for another 30 minutes or so and came under attack one again by another Me110 in a vertical climb. We suffered additional damage to our flight controls and the Number 4 engine was hit. Sgt Haynes also lost the heat in the upper mid turret. Jerry made the mistake of attempting a run at us from 3 o'clock and Sgt Haynes scored repeated hits on the bugger. As he passed by the right wing of the aircraft exploded. With the additional damage to our Number 4 engine, I elected to abort the operation for tonight and return to base.

Damage: 224 points

Flight Officer DeFilippo
M is for Mary
314 Squadron

Mission 5 - Frankfurt - AAR

We lifted off on schedule and joined the bomber stream without any diffeculties. After crossing the coast a Me110 attempted to slip in from behind us, but Sgt Dunn spotted him. We took evasive action and he attempted to come back at us from the front and Flight Officer Gardner's aim was right on target and Jerry caught on fire and exploded. Later as we approched the German border another Me110 had a go at us, he managed to shoot up the port wing but, Sgt DelGado managed to hit him a couple of times and drove him off. As we approched Frankfurt we could see the glow from the fires. Over the target the flak was light and we drpooed 60% of our payload on the target. As we departed the target we encountered a Me109 and Sgt Dunn engaged the bugger, reporting the pilot appeared to bail out after his aircraft was repeatedly hit. The remainder of our journey home was uneventful.

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Enemy Aircraft Claimed:
Me109: (1) Destroyed
Me110: (1) Destroyed, (1)Damaged

Damage: Port Wing Aileron, Port Wing Root
Superficial Damage: Port Wing Flap (1)

Flight Officer Art DeFilippo
314 Squadron
M is for Mary

Mission 4 - Berlin - AAR

Our take off occurred without any difficulty and we joined the bomber stream. Just as we crossed over the coast of the Netherlands a malfunction occurred on the #4 turbocharger and we were forced to descend to low altitude (10,000 feet).

After crossing into Germany a Me110 slipped in low from behind the ship, peppering us full of holes. We lost the #2 engine, but I was able to feather the prop. On his second pass Sgt Dunn paid him back in kind, destroying the bugger. A short time later another Me110 surprised us again damaging the landing gear and brakes; which we later discovered upon landing. Sgt Dunn responded promptly once again claiming his second victim for the night. Upon reaching the target we were stuck by flak on the port wing, but it only caused some superficial damage. Flight Officer Gardner to his credit was able to place 30% of our bomb load on the target area. Jerry left us alone after that until we were crossing back into the Netherlands when another Me110 hit us in a vertical climb. He manage to knock out starboard wing aileron, our rubber raft and our port win outboard fuel tank started leaking, but self sealed. I am sorry to say the skipper was shot up badly. He suffered a serious wound to the lower abdomen. Sgt DelGado managed to return the favor, causing heavy damage (FBOA) and he quickly left the area. The skipper did a wonderful job getting us back to base considering his condition. The Chief Medical Officer told me he will be able to return to duty after he recovers.

Flight-Lieutenant Clayton Lane
Navigator, M is for Mary
September 2, 1943

Enemy Aircraft Claimed:
Me110: (2) Destroyed, (1)Damaged

Damage: Bomb controls inoperable, Waist Equipment - Starboard ammo box inoperable, Port Wing Aileron, Port Wing Root, Port Wing #2 Engine - Runaway; engine shut off and prop feathered, Port Wing Outboard Fuel Tank hit (self-sealed), Starboard Wing Rubber rafts holed, Starboard Wing Landing Gear Brakes shot out, Starboard Wing Root hit, Starboard Wing Aileron Shot out.

Superficial Damage: Port Wing (3), Port Wing Flap (1), Port Wing Landing Gear (1), Waist (3).

Mission 3 - Berlin - AAR

We encountered no problems on take and entered the bomber stream. Our flight was uneventful until about 65 miles west of Brunswick, when a Me110 coming in from 6 o’clock low surprised us. The bugger shot up our ship and slipped away without us ever sighting him. Most of the damage was superficial and we continued on to the target area. As we approached the target we came under attack once again by another Me110 in a vertical climb. His first attack started an oxygen fire in Mid Upper gun turret. Which Sgt DelGado was able to extinguish. On his next pass he shot up the nose turret knocking the guns out. We had to descend due to the loss of oxygen for Sgt DelGado and elected to continue to the target area. The target we lit up and just prior to bombing we were picked up by searchlights and were struck flak, suffering four hits The flak through off Flight Officer Gardner’s aim and our bombs were off target with only 5% landing in the target area. As we were exiting the target area a Me109, Wild Boar made a run at us and Sgt DelGado plastered him good (FBOA) disrupting his attack. Another Me110 attempted to sneak in from 6 o’clock low and Sgt Dunn let him pull in real close before he engaged the bugger. He busted into flames and the explosion rock the ship. The remainder of the flight home was uneventful and we landed just after sunrise.

Flight Officer Art DeFilippo
314 Squadron
M is for Mary

Mission 2 - Stuttgart - AAR

We joined the bomber stream and headed for the target without any encounters. Flak over the target was ineffective and we place 30% of our load in the target area. Heading out of the target area we came under attack by a Me110, which shot some holes in our port wing. As luck would have it our rear turret jammed as he passed by. The crew searched the sky, but it appears we lost him. The remainder of the flight home was uneventful with the exception of the loss of our intercom just before leaving the enemy coast. Jolly good luck on this mission. [Damage 6 pts]

Flight Officer Art DeFilippo
314 Squadron
M is for Mary

Mission 2 - September 3, 1943 - Stuttgart

September 3, 1943

Tonight's target is the industry at Stuttgart. Clear weather is expected, and the moon sets at ten o'clock. Primary target indicators are GREEN. Watch for scarecrows!

Mission #1 - Augsburg - Sept 1, 1943

Mission #1 - Augsburg - Sept 1, 1943

Our flight was uneventful until we were about 80 miles north west of Ludwigshaven, then a Me110 attacked us without warning. The Jerry shot the stuffing’s out of us on the first pass; we suffered superficial damage to the Flight Deck, Bomb Bay (2), Port and Starboard Wings. The ship took additional hits to the port wing root, rubber raft and the number three-engine ran away and I was forced to feather it. Sgt DelGado reported that his oxygen supply was inoperative. The bugger came around for another attack and scored a hit on the port wing root and he also hit us on the starboard wing root and shot out the starboard aileron. Sgt Dunn fired back but the ammunition feeds jammed to his guns. At that point we were corkscrewing all over the sky in an attempt to lose Fritz. After entering a cloud bank Fritz was no longer with us. After conferring with the crew we chose to press on to the target. We were alone until about 50 miles from the target area when we came under attack again by another Me110. Danny Dunn traded a couple of burst at him and he broke off his attack (FAC) after causing some minor damage to flight deck and knocking out the starboard ammo box. Over the target the flak was fairly accurate and we were hit immediately prior to bomb release. The ship took some superficial damage to both wing, but the flak knocked out the port aileron. Officer Gardner was still able to put approximately 20% of our bomb load in the target area Shortly after our bomb run we encountered an Me109 coming in from 3 o’clock level. After a brief exchange of fire he left us alone. The remainder of our journey home we failed to encounter any other night fighters. Just after crossing the border of Belgium Sgt DelGado reported a fire coming for the number three engine, it appears the oil supply caught fire and with a little luck I was able to extinguish it. Even with the damage to the control systems we managed a safe landing at the station.

Flight Officer Art DeFilippo
314 Squadron
M is for Mary

September 1, 1943 - Augsburg

Four years ago Germany started this war.
Now is your chance to make them regret it.

Our target is the concentration of aircraft plants at Augsburg.
Primary target indicators are RED.
The moon sets at 8:30.