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[Wing Walker]

Just looking for historical operational info when the U.S. was first flying out of Port Moresby...

... specifically P-39's attacking Lae out of 7 Mile airdrome.  The first A6M encounter by P-39's.

Building a mission around this and I can't find too much that is in depth about it just searching it.  I have the basic numbers and take off and on target times.

I don't know why its driving me nuts not knowing the course they took over or around the Owen Stanley Range.

I have it maybe 80% accurate now.   

I spend more time building a mission than actually flying.

[WxTech]

Might this be of use?

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Port_Moresby_Airfield_Complex

[Dimlee]

Probably you know, this forum is a good source:
https://ww2aircraft.net/forum/topics/aviation.13/

[genXgamer]

I find obtaining information (American) for this period very frustrating, luckily I have my own "Researcher on Demand" at M4T.
Definitely a mission I would like to play as I don't recall any P-39 missions to Lae, probably because a map didn't exist.
You'll find the fuel very tight depending on the route taken, that's from my experience with P-40s flying to Lae from Moresby.
If you can provide dates I may be able to help.

P.S.    Starting point should always be Pacific Wrecks, Allied missions against Lae.

[aercastro82]

I have the historical records for the 35th Fighter Squadron and the 36th Fighter Squadron in their first flight to Port Moresby and their first mission.
I tried providing a link but this forum does not allow me to post external links. Unfortunately. Let me know if interested and where to post.

[genXgamer]

G'day mate

Can you send me a private message with the links and I'll post them.

[Wing Walker]

Probably you know, this forum is a good source:
https://ww2aircraft.net/forum/topics/aviation.13/

Thanks, I forgot about that treasure trove, and it doesn't seem to come up when I search on engines anymore.

Just poking around there I found something about P-39's returning home at 10,000ft over Kokoda, being chased by Zeros slightly outrunning them, going 350mph in a slight dive and the zeros possibly at 340mph.

I have the take off time and the on target time, so I'm trying to work the route out that way, was not sure though if they flew over the Owen Stanley Range (shorter but higher), or more South to the lower region (further but lower). 

Definitely a mission I would like to play as I don't recall any P-39 missions to Lae, probably because a map didn't exist.

The mission I am modelling is the first P-39 vs Zero encounter of April 30 1942 based on what Boyd Wagner reported.

It is interesting because its not only the P-39D's (or possibly they were P-39F's) first encounter of Zeros, the Zeros were the newer A6M3's reported as a "bigger cowling", not the A6M2's normally encountered.

Its actually a pretty even fight.



I used the PNG 1942 map first, then I found the Green Hell 1943 map that is so much nicer I used it instead and rebuild the whole thing.  Wish there was a image file of all the maps.

You'll find the fuel very tight depending on the route taken, that's from my experience with P-40s flying to Lae from Moresby.

Yes, they used tanks, but also the 37mm.  In BAT you can only have tanks with 20mm. 

When I used the load out with the M4 and no tanks I would finally land with under 10% fuel, and if you set the 4 topcover P-39's to "escort" (not just coordinate to fly with you) all the waving back and forth made them all run out of fuel still in enemy territory.

However...FL2070 on here was nice enough to mod the load out so I could actually use the M4 with 75gal tanks!

The thread: https://www.sas1946.com/main/index.php/topic,72127.msg785996.html#msg785996

THANKS!
 

[vonofterdingen]

I found this useful while doing a Guadalcanal campaign long ago: Wings at War Series, No. 3: Pacific Counterblow , The 11th Bombardment Group
And The 67th Fighter Squadron In The Battle For Guadalcanal,

https://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/AAF/WW-3.html

[Dimlee]

Hyper War at Biblio.org... Thanks for reminding about this source. It's fantastic.