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View Full Version : AAR from upcoming Battle for Malta mission pack for TF Mod 4.01



heinkill
Dec-31-2013, 07:47
What is that drives a man to sacrifice his life for others? In that instant when he knows that what he is doing will stop the enemy, but he won't live through it, why doesn't he hold back? A man who has a wife, children, parents at home...

Is it bravery? Adrenaline? Does he believe that by some miracle he will survive?

And in that moment he is plummeting to his death, his enemy vanquished, but his chute strapped uselessly to his back, the ground rushing up, what is he thinking?

http://i715.photobucket.com/albums/ww152/whirlybirda2a/reduxlw/reduxlw003/maltaAAR084_zpsff2dcc47.jpg (http://s715.photobucket.com/user/whirlybirda2a/media/reduxlw/reduxlw003/maltaAAR084_zpsff2dcc47.jpg.html)

It has started as yet another scramble over Malta. There were only two Hurricanes flyable, and Lt Harris and myself drew the lucky tickets.

The hangars were still burning from a raid earlier in the morning.

http://i715.photobucket.com/albums/ww152/whirlybirda2a/reduxlw/reduxlw003/maltaAAR107_zps885de39a.jpg (http://s715.photobucket.com/user/whirlybirda2a/media/reduxlw/reduxlw003/maltaAAR107_zps885de39a.jpg.html)

There were so many it couldn't just be the Italians again. The Luftwaffe had arrived over Malta.

http://i715.photobucket.com/albums/ww152/whirlybirda2a/reduxlw/reduxlw003/maltaAAR017_zps6b22f552.jpg (http://s715.photobucket.com/user/whirlybirda2a/media/reduxlw/reduxlw003/maltaAAR017_zps6b22f552.jpg.html)

http://i715.photobucket.com/albums/ww152/whirlybirda2a/reduxlw/reduxlw003/maltaAAR018_zps23843953.jpg (http://s715.photobucket.com/user/whirlybirda2a/media/reduxlw/reduxlw003/maltaAAR018_zps23843953.jpg.html)

As we climbed out at full boost to intercept the next incoming raids, I could see fires not just at Hal Far, but also at Takali and Valetta.

http://i715.photobucket.com/albums/ww152/whirlybirda2a/reduxlw/reduxlw003/maltaAAR037_zpse3a75674.jpg (http://s715.photobucket.com/user/whirlybirda2a/media/reduxlw/reduxlw003/maltaAAR037_zpse3a75674.jpg.html)

http://i715.photobucket.com/albums/ww152/whirlybirda2a/reduxlw/reduxlw003/maltaAAR035_zps8f97b4e1.jpg (http://s715.photobucket.com/user/whirlybirda2a/media/reduxlw/reduxlw003/maltaAAR035_zps8f97b4e1.jpg.html)

The ground controller warned us it looked like another dive bomber raid, coming in at 10,000 feet.

http://i715.photobucket.com/albums/ww152/whirlybirda2a/reduxlw/reduxlw003/maltaAAR043_zpsf2362f4a.jpg (http://s715.photobucket.com/user/whirlybirda2a/media/reduxlw/reduxlw003/maltaAAR043_zpsf2362f4a.jpg.html)

In the huge wave of aircraft, the RDF didn't pick up the escort, and they fell on us like sparrowhawks.

http://i715.photobucket.com/albums/ww152/whirlybirda2a/reduxlw/reduxlw003/maltaAAR042_zps71ba6693.jpg (http://s715.photobucket.com/user/whirlybirda2a/media/reduxlw/reduxlw003/maltaAAR042_zps71ba6693.jpg.html)

The next few minutes were a kaleidoscope of images. A Stuka with its wing blown off by AAA, falling past me like an autumn leaf.

http://i715.photobucket.com/albums/ww152/whirlybirda2a/reduxlw/reduxlw003/maltaAAR050_zpsf31a277d.jpg (http://s715.photobucket.com/user/whirlybirda2a/media/reduxlw/reduxlw003/maltaAAR050_zpsf31a277d.jpg.html)

Flt Lt Harris ignoring the 109s, barrelling straight in on the Stukas

http://i715.photobucket.com/albums/ww152/whirlybirda2a/reduxlw/reduxlw003/maltaAAR057_zps36b52b63.jpg (http://s715.photobucket.com/user/whirlybirda2a/media/reduxlw/reduxlw003/maltaAAR057_zps36b52b63.jpg.html)

Bombs rippling across Takali field.

http://i715.photobucket.com/albums/ww152/whirlybirda2a/reduxlw/reduxlw003/maltaAAR055_zps17131e12.jpg (http://s715.photobucket.com/user/whirlybirda2a/media/reduxlw/reduxlw003/maltaAAR055_zps17131e12.jpg.html)

I took a long squirt at a Stuka when I wasn't dodging 109s, not sure if I hit anything. I fired again, a long and useless burst.

http://i715.photobucket.com/albums/ww152/whirlybirda2a/reduxlw/reduxlw003/maltaAAR058_zps7ef8be84.jpg (http://s715.photobucket.com/user/whirlybirda2a/media/reduxlw/reduxlw003/maltaAAR058_zps7ef8be84.jpg.html)

Then Harris swept in over the top of me to finish him off.

http://i715.photobucket.com/albums/ww152/whirlybirda2a/reduxlw/reduxlw003/maltaAAR061_zps1b130891.jpg (http://s715.photobucket.com/user/whirlybirda2a/media/reduxlw/reduxlw003/maltaAAR061_zps1b130891.jpg.html)

I heard his guns hammering, then they fell suddenly silent. A jam?

http://i715.photobucket.com/albums/ww152/whirlybirda2a/reduxlw/reduxlw003/maltaAAR060_zps04013325.jpg (http://s715.photobucket.com/user/whirlybirda2a/media/reduxlw/reduxlw003/maltaAAR060_zps04013325.jpg.html)

Behind us, an even more frightening sight. 110s, laden with bombs, diving on Hal Far.

http://i715.photobucket.com/albums/ww152/whirlybirda2a/reduxlw/reduxlw003/maltaAAR062_zpscb1136c3.jpg (http://s715.photobucket.com/user/whirlybirda2a/media/reduxlw/reduxlw003/maltaAAR062_zpscb1136c3.jpg.html)

Harris called me to cover him. Had he fixed his jam? We spun in behind the 110s, dodging our own flak as we closed.

http://i715.photobucket.com/albums/ww152/whirlybirda2a/reduxlw/reduxlw003/maltaAAR064_zpsd675a62f.jpg (http://s715.photobucket.com/user/whirlybirda2a/media/reduxlw/reduxlw003/maltaAAR064_zpsd675a62f.jpg.html)

http://i715.photobucket.com/albums/ww152/whirlybirda2a/reduxlw/reduxlw003/maltaAAR066_zpsd9450c53.jpg (http://s715.photobucket.com/user/whirlybirda2a/media/reduxlw/reduxlw003/maltaAAR066_zpsd9450c53.jpg.html)

http://i715.photobucket.com/albums/ww152/whirlybirda2a/reduxlw/reduxlw003/maltaAAR063_zps725c8af2.jpg (http://s715.photobucket.com/user/whirlybirda2a/media/reduxlw/reduxlw003/maltaAAR063_zps725c8af2.jpg.html)

He broke left, I broke right, and got a clean shot at one of the heavy fighters.

http://i715.photobucket.com/albums/ww152/whirlybirda2a/reduxlw/reduxlw003/maltaAAR068_zps2453ed6d.jpg (http://s715.photobucket.com/user/whirlybirda2a/media/reduxlw/reduxlw003/maltaAAR068_zps2453ed6d.jpg.html)

Then my own guns went dry.

http://i715.photobucket.com/albums/ww152/whirlybirda2a/reduxlw/reduxlw003/maltaAAR070_zpsecb74a67.jpg (http://s715.photobucket.com/user/whirlybirda2a/media/reduxlw/reduxlw003/maltaAAR070_zpsecb74a67.jpg.html)

That's when I saw him. I was looking desperately around the sky, trying to find a quick way through the whirling fighters so I could get down and rearm. Harris...boring through the sky, straight toward a 110 like he meant to ram it.

http://i715.photobucket.com/albums/ww152/whirlybirda2a/reduxlw/reduxlw003/maltaAAR073_zps273c0f09.jpg (http://s715.photobucket.com/user/whirlybirda2a/media/reduxlw/reduxlw003/maltaAAR073_zps273c0f09.jpg.html)

What must it have looked like through his sights? Didn't he see it? He must have.

http://i715.photobucket.com/albums/ww152/whirlybirda2a/reduxlw/reduxlw003/maltaAAR072_zpsedd40821.jpg (http://s715.photobucket.com/user/whirlybirda2a/media/reduxlw/reduxlw003/maltaAAR072_zpsedd40821.jpg.html)

I saw his cockpit cover flung back, like he was preparing to bail.

http://i715.photobucket.com/albums/ww152/whirlybirda2a/reduxlw/reduxlw003/maltaAAR075_zpsc7ea5772.jpg (http://s715.photobucket.com/user/whirlybirda2a/media/reduxlw/reduxlw003/maltaAAR075_zpsc7ea5772.jpg.html)

But he stayed in his machine until the last moment.

http://i715.photobucket.com/albums/ww152/whirlybirda2a/reduxlw/reduxlw003/maltaAAR076_zpseac6ec6f.jpg (http://s715.photobucket.com/user/whirlybirda2a/media/reduxlw/reduxlw003/maltaAAR076_zpseac6ec6f.jpg.html)

As the two aircraft collided, he fell free. Was he flung, or did he jump? Will never know.

http://i715.photobucket.com/albums/ww152/whirlybirda2a/reduxlw/reduxlw003/maltaAAR079_zps0347bb15.jpg (http://s715.photobucket.com/user/whirlybirda2a/media/reduxlw/reduxlw003/maltaAAR079_zps0347bb15.jpg.html)

http://i715.photobucket.com/albums/ww152/whirlybirda2a/reduxlw/reduxlw003/maltaAAR080_zps027af379.jpg (http://s715.photobucket.com/user/whirlybirda2a/media/reduxlw/reduxlw003/maltaAAR080_zps027af379.jpg.html)

The nose and wing ripped off his Hurricane, the tail section ripped off the 110, the two machines and Harris fell through the sky together.

http://i715.photobucket.com/albums/ww152/whirlybirda2a/reduxlw/reduxlw003/maltaAAR083_zpsd184c412.jpg (http://s715.photobucket.com/user/whirlybirda2a/media/reduxlw/reduxlw003/maltaAAR083_zpsd184c412.jpg.html)

He must have seen his enemy as he tumbled through the sky, seen it whirling like a top, its crew dead, or unable to escape. Did it give him some satisfaction?

http://i715.photobucket.com/albums/ww152/whirlybirda2a/reduxlw/reduxlw003/maltaAAR085_zpse473aed0.jpg (http://s715.photobucket.com/user/whirlybirda2a/media/reduxlw/reduxlw003/maltaAAR085_zpse473aed0.jpg.html)

But it was a long way down, and I saw him clawing at his chute the whole way.

http://i715.photobucket.com/albums/ww152/whirlybirda2a/reduxlw/reduxlw003/maltaAAR086_zpsc705d950.jpg (http://s715.photobucket.com/user/whirlybirda2a/media/reduxlw/reduxlw003/maltaAAR086_zpsc705d950.jpg.html)

Ironically, the 110 fell right beside its bombs, at the end of the field at Takali.

http://i715.photobucket.com/albums/ww152/whirlybirda2a/reduxlw/reduxlw003/maltaAAR095_zps03ac0356.jpg (http://s715.photobucket.com/user/whirlybirda2a/media/reduxlw/reduxlw003/maltaAAR095_zps03ac0356.jpg.html)

http://i715.photobucket.com/albums/ww152/whirlybirda2a/reduxlw/reduxlw003/maltaAAR090_zps99c3b64a.jpg (http://s715.photobucket.com/user/whirlybirda2a/media/reduxlw/reduxlw003/maltaAAR090_zps99c3b64a.jpg.html)

http://i715.photobucket.com/albums/ww152/whirlybirda2a/reduxlw/reduxlw003/maltaAAR093_zps52428034.jpg (http://s715.photobucket.com/user/whirlybirda2a/media/reduxlw/reduxlw003/maltaAAR093_zps52428034.jpg.html)

It looked like the landing strip was still clear, so I began a quick descent, the sky still full of enemy machines.

http://i715.photobucket.com/albums/ww152/whirlybirda2a/reduxlw/reduxlw003/maltaAAR096_zpscb933b3f.jpg (http://s715.photobucket.com/user/whirlybirda2a/media/reduxlw/reduxlw003/maltaAAR096_zpscb933b3f.jpg.html)

http://i715.photobucket.com/albums/ww152/whirlybirda2a/reduxlw/reduxlw003/maltaAAR097_zpse4abf7c5.jpg (http://s715.photobucket.com/user/whirlybirda2a/media/reduxlw/reduxlw003/maltaAAR097_zpse4abf7c5.jpg.html)

I dropped it in right next to the officer's quarters. The wing of the crashed 110 sticking out of the ground on the other side, like a spear.

http://i715.photobucket.com/albums/ww152/whirlybirda2a/reduxlw/reduxlw003/maltaAAR100_zps7511ee5c.jpg (http://s715.photobucket.com/user/whirlybirda2a/media/reduxlw/reduxlw003/maltaAAR100_zps7511ee5c.jpg.html)

http://i715.photobucket.com/albums/ww152/whirlybirda2a/reduxlw/reduxlw003/maltaAAR099_zps9ab87a36.jpg (http://s715.photobucket.com/user/whirlybirda2a/media/reduxlw/reduxlw003/maltaAAR099_zps9ab87a36.jpg.html)

I had to steer my machine between bomb craters and the burning pyres of wrecked vehicles and buildings.

http://i715.photobucket.com/albums/ww152/whirlybirda2a/reduxlw/reduxlw003/maltaAAR102_zps850217ca.jpg (http://s715.photobucket.com/user/whirlybirda2a/media/reduxlw/reduxlw003/maltaAAR102_zps850217ca.jpg.html)

As I pulled off my cap, the horizon was ablaze with smoke.

And now there was only 1 flyable Hurricane left on Malta.

ATAG_EvangelusE
Dec-31-2013, 14:25
Great screenshots, looking forward to this TF 4.01 compatible campaign pack. The battle for Malta was one of my favourite IL1946 campaigns that I downloaded from Mission4today.

Thanks.

DUI
Dec-31-2013, 22:34
What a nice read combined with very immersive pictures.

I am not into SP but if I were just a bit I would have installed the Malta Mod and your mission pack right away! :salute:

heinkill
Jan-07-2014, 15:58
Yes I think the Med is the one theatre that people have really been waiting for, either online or single player, for many years. IL2 ultrapack med map filled the gap a little but it will be fantastic to get a med map and objects in a modern sim like CoD when TF is finished with it...

But for now, I'll just be happy to get 4.01!