[Eldon45]

Fly with VC-27, the highest air-to-air scoring FM-2 unit in the Pacific, from the deck of the USS Savo Island CVE.

The Savo Island had a remarkable and busy career in the last two years of the war, supporting the U.S. invasions of Peleliu, the Philippines, and Okinawa.

"Part 1" of this historical campaign (26 missions) takes you through VC-27's tour of duty with the Savo Island, from Peleliu through the invasion of Luzon in January of 1945. Among other battles, you will fight as part of "Taffy 2" off Samar on October 25, 1944, where the Japanese gave the U.S. a big scare when some of their battleships and cruisers threatened the Leyte invasion beaches. Later that same day, American sailors and pilots were subjected to some of the first organized Kamikaze strikes of the war.

The download includes the campaign, four VC-27 FM-2 skins by WarWolfe, and alternative FM-2/F4F (Wright Cyclone) engine sounds.

You'll be all set if you're using the Unified Installer version 1.1 or later, along with LaLRone's Hangar mod from AAA.

Links and instructions on how to install all components of the campaign are included in the readme.

Maps Used: Palau and dlvpier's Philippines map.

Player Aircraft: FM-2 Wildcat

Get it here:

http://mission4today.com/index.php?name ... ils&id=235

Enjoy!

-Eldon45

[Dudok22]

great campaing! I played few missons I liked mission where you must take down Ki-46.

[FlyingShark]

Downloaded, great to see an FM2 campaign, been waiting for ages for this. Will write a review on Mission4today when I finnished the campaign. I see it's part I, so how many parts will there be?
Thank you for making this. :o

[F22-Raptor-2006]

combustible? it can be like squashed with a piston in a chamber etc..? i think you mean customisable lol

[Nocturnum]

Or perhaps he means "able to burn".

[Eldon45]

combustible? it can be like squashed with a piston in a chamber etc..? i think you mean customisable lol

CVEs were jokingly referred to as "Combustible, Vulnerable, and Expendable" by U.S. Navy sailors and pilots.

[F22-Raptor-2006]

combustible? it can be like squashed with a piston in a chamber etc..? i think you mean customisable lol

CVEs were jokingly referred to as "Combustible, Vulnerable, and Expendable" by U.S. Navy sailors and pilots.

ah ok my bad lol

[shakthamac]

combustible? it can be like squashed with a piston in a chamber etc..? i think you mean customisable lol

CVEs were jokingly referred to as "Combustible, Vulnerable, and Expendable" by U.S. Navy sailors and pilots.

Also they were known as Two Torpedo ships. The second torpedo, so it was said, went over the flight deck.


hock:

[VC-81_BOLTER]

The USS Natoma Bay (CVE-62) participated in most all of these battles with VC-81 aboard and later at Okinawa with VC-9. So the I guess the question is; have you included this ship in your campaign?

[Eldon45]

Hi VC-81 Bolter:

Yes the Natoma Bay played an important role in many of the battles represented in this campaign, including the battle off Samar as part of Taffy 2.

However, limitations in the sim (for example having to use far fewer mobile ships in particular battles in order to avoid crippling the average computer) forced me to focus on some details at the expense of others for the sake of the big picture. I just didn't have too much incentive to focus on the Natoma Bay and her air group in particular.

However, your carrier is almost always working in conjunction with other CVEs in this campaign, just like in real life, so it would be easy to imagine that one of those other CVEs next to you is the Natoma Bay!

Looking at your screen name--do you have a particular attachment to VC-81?

[VC-81_BOLTER]

I do indeed. I have attended the reunion of the crew of the Natoma Bay and VC-81 pilots in Las Vegas. There aren't a whole lot of them left. A great bunch of guys. And the stories you hear... A few years back there was a virtual squadron of us simpilots here in IL2 called VC-81 also. Unfortunately now its just me.

Here's the Natoma Bay in the simulator. The skin for the vessel is one I made. As accurate as I could get her from the photos I had got at the reunion.

[Eldon45]

Very nice ship skin! As far as the reunion--I would love to have a chance to hear those guys' stories when they're all together like that.

[VC-81_BOLTER]

You need lots of patience and understanding as the remaining men are very old. But if you can sit through it the stories you eventually get are great. They do warm up to us young fools after a while. Most don't really get what we do but a few are impressed. I used to have a web site dedicated to these sailors and airmen but finances being what they are lately...

Thanks for the compliments on the skins. I have a whole skin set for the planes of VC-81 that I did. All historically accurate TBM3C and FM2 aircraft. I also did a set of P-47D-10 skins for the 19th Fighter Squadron which flew from the Natoma Bay into combat at Tinian island during the Marianas campaign.

[DoktorWho]

Mate, please check your PM


DW