[FA_Cheech]

Have been researching completion date/operational date for all airfields in the Solomons combat area, so that we can determine the proper configuration of map versions to be released.

Have just about everything we need except the operational/completion dates for Tenekau (Tenekow), and whether or not the Japanese used Ballale after the invasion at Cape Torikina. One source I found stated that the Allies bypassed Ballale and allowed it to "wither on the vine", so I am making the assumption that it should appear as an abandoned, Japanese controlled airstrip after November 1st 1943.

Spud is researching this also, but would like to see if any of you other folks here might be have some info.

We are actively working on determining the best configurations for release versions now; as soon as that it done, will get a status update out to the community. We are still shooting for a March release date, just in case you were wondering. 8)

[spud]

Important air activity over Ballale:


February 15, 1944
(USN) Ens George Keller, flying a single TBF flying from Guadalcanal
over flies Ballale area and is hit by heavy antiaircraft fire, damaging the
plane, and the supply of beer and liquor it's carrying back to Piva strip
for men of VF-17. Hydraulic system was shot out, requiring him to fly with
the gear down by successfully landed at Torokina, but all the alcohol had been
destroyed in the bomb bay. Ballale was dubbed 'Ballale Postgraduate School
for Frustrated Anti-Aircraft gunners.'



Oh, the humanity!

tater

[spud]

BTW, any units for campaigns that would have flown from Guadalcanal can always be a-historically staged via an intermediate base like Munda.

[Dixiecapt]

BTW, any units for campaigns that would have flown from Guadalcanal can always be a-historically staged via an intermediate base like Munda.

Hopefully not being silly by asking, but what do ya mean by a-historically staged via an inter. base like Munda? *Simply Curious is all*

[VT-51_Razor]

I believe that he means that, if you don't want to fly all the way up the slot, you can base yourself at Munda, which is about half way up.

[spud]

Yeah, later on we had so many planes in that area some were based at guadalcanal, others up the slot. The guys at guadalcanal would have to fly all the way to bouganville to bomb it from there, where you'd have a shorter trip if you happened to be based farther up the Slot.

Having the planes start at a closer base might not be what they did in RL, but it makes for a shorter flight for the player.

[VFS-214_Hawk]

If I recall correctly Ballale was never abandon. It was bypassed by the allies and many Japaneese solders were abandon, but the field was not. Ballale was a "hot" field till then end of WWII.


I will try to find that info.

[VFS-214_Hawk]

From Pacific Wrecks.

Neutralization
The island was neutralized by the middle of October 1943. Accurate anti-aircraft batteries were still a threat, any flyable aircraft were withdrawn. Some of the Japanese fled, by attempting to swimming on empty fuel drums to Bougainville to join Japanese forces. At the end of the war, 480 Japanese remained on the island, survivors from the 6th Kure (321) and 7th Yokosuka (159) defenders.

So no Flyable Aircraft from Oct 43 on, but the field was "hot" till the end of the war.

[spud]

Remove palm trees, and add craters

Too bad you cannot apply damaged objects in the map editor FMB

[badaboom]

Spud,I'm going through"Slot Screenshot withdraw"can you help me out?

[FltLt HardBall]

BTW, any units for campaigns that would have flown from Guadalcanal can always be a-historically staged via an intermediate base like Munda.

Fighters often stopped somewhere to re-fuel on the way to a distant area, so it would be historically correct to start your mission at a forward strip, simply assuming that you've topped-up your tanks and are ready to "continue".

[FltLt HardBall]

References I have for Ballale show RNZAF P-40s strafing AA positions on November 16th. AA fire from the island was heavy and accurate. Several positions were silenced, but one P-40 was lost with its pilot. The flight had previously strafed the harbours at Kieta and Tonolei on the same mission.

[FA_Cheech]

Will try to post some more scrren shots and some additional info on maps, as soon as I get a chance to meet with Skunk.

[FA_Cheech]

Good info on Ballale folks. Anyone find any additional info on Tenekau (Tenekow)?

[Thrud]

i got some nice overlay tips from another post. it should make building fields quicker and easier