[Dixiecapt]

Greetings,

Currently I am working on the Templates for this Campaign, I am making one template on the 12/43 Slot Map, and two templates on the 7/43 Slot Map. It's a little slow going, but I have checklists of what needs to be done on each template, so its getting done.

I will entertain working with someone on the templates as I have a good deal of things going on right now. If your interested simply PM.

On to the Fun Part,

This is the intro for the campaign as it will been seen in the Campaign Selection screen in IL-2.

The Hell Hawks

This campaign was designed to strictly follow several historical mission of Marine Fighter Squadron VMF-213, "The Hell Hawks". In order to further the Historical accuracy of this Campaign the briefings are split into two segments. The first is called "The Chalkboard" which will contain your mission parameters. This segment is based of the Diary of Lieutenant Charles C. Winnia, USMC, A pilot for VMF-213. The second segment will be an exact copy of the official War Diary of VMF-213, as it applies to the date and mission you are about to fly. The following is the Official War Diary of VMF-213 leading up to the first mission in this Campaign.


WAR DIARY

Marine Fighting Squadron Two Thirteen

Attached to: Marine Aircraft Group 21, Fourth Marine Air Base Defense Wing.

Location: BUTTON.

OPERATIONS: Squadron 213 was organized in MAG-21, NAS, Ewa, Oahu, T.H. On July 1, 1942. The nucleus of the squadron at this time consisted of Capt. H.T. Merrill, C.O., Capt. W.C. Humberd, Executive Officer and Capt. M.R. Read.
During the months of July and August general organization took place, the squadron acquiring all possible material.
On September 1st, Major Endweiss joined the squadron relieving Capt. Merrill as C.O.

- October 6, 1942:

Major Wade H. Britt Jr., joined the squadron, relieving Major Endweiss as C.O., the latter being transferred elsewhere.

- October 8, 1942:

Eleven Officers and one NAP joined the squadron.

- November 10, 1942:

Two officers joined the squadron.

- December 1, 1942:

Lt. Ross crashed near Schofield killing himself and completely demolishing the plane.

- December 9, 1942:

Six Second Lieutenants joined the squadron

- December 18, 1942:

Major Gregory Weissenberger joined the squadron as Executive Officer. Five pilots were transferred to Palmyra Island.

- January 5, 1943:

2nd Lts. O.C. DeFabio, W.J. Thomas, W.S. Johnson, R.O. Shaw and Staff Sgt. G.V. Hodde joined the squadron.

- January 31, 1943:

Ten flying officers joined the squadron: Capt. Honfurd K. Payton, Capt. Byron V. Leary, 2nd. Lts. Theron H. Brown III, Leland L Eckart, Walter L. Hilton, Robert M. Jones, Wilton C. Peck, Donald H. Tate, Wilton N. Vedder, Robert W. Votaw and one ground officer 2nd. Lt. Stirling M. Harrison.
Daily training in combat flying, tactics, gunnery, navigation and familiarization was conducted during this period.
The strength of the squadron at this time was 213 enlisted men and 32 officers.

- February 12, 1943:

Captain Payton in command of 30 enlisted men sailed from Pearl Harbor aboard the U.S.S. Wright.

- Febuary 11, 1943:

Flying was secured and the following nine days were spent preparing to board ship.

- Febuary 20, 1943:

Twenty flying officers and two MAPs, under the command of Major Britt, boarded the carrier NASSAU and departed from Pearl Harbor, destination unknown.

- Febuary 24, 1943:

The remaining complement of the squadron sailed from Pearl Harbor aboard the USS President Tyler.

- March 3, 1943:

The squadron catapulted all the planes, F4Fs, from the carrier and flew them to Espiritu Santo, One plane was lost when being catapulted, the pilot, Stf.Sgt. Hodde, was uninjured.

- March 11, 1943:

The squadron received 11 F4U's.

- March 12, 1943:

First day of F4U familiarization flying - gunnery and other operational flying conducted until March 25, when the squadron left Espirito Santo for New Caledonia where they catapulted 39 F4Us from the aircraft carrier Copahee on March 31 and April 1, and flew them to Tontouta. Lt. Tate's motor failed when he was catapulted and his plane plunged into the sea. He luckily was rescued without permanent injury. This was the first time F4Us had been catapulted from a carrier.
Six pilots under the command of Major Britt flew six F4Us from Tontouta to Espiritu Santo. The other officers returned aboard a DC-3.
G.J. WEISSENBERGER
Major, USMC.
Commanding VMF-213

- April 1, 1943:

Catapulted 19 more planes. One lost off catapult with minor injury to pilot, Lieutenant TATE.

- April 2, 1943:

left for buttons in DC-3s and 6 F4Us. Upon arrival we were told to leave at 0330 next day for Cactus.

** This Campaign is Dedicated to the memory of Lieutenant Charles C. Winnia, USMC**