ORIGINAL: Canoerebel
2/15/45
Air Losses: Brutal air losses due to the ruinous 1EB missions over the contested hex. The points Erik harvested are real and meaningful, but the underlying numbers provide information critical to the air/ground battle for this hex.
The battle for this hex will be determined by which side runs out of air-worthy fighters first and by how long I can mount large bombing raids.
Today, the Japanese lost 116 fighters, the Allies 91 (and a healthy percentage of those were flying escort missions for the 1EB, which is disadvantageous).
Because Japanese fighters got tuckered out picking off the small guys, I lost one B-24J and no Superforts today (and next to none the preceding two days).
Erik's fighters have trouble competing during LRCAP missions. I think, but I'm not sure, that fatigue is or soon will be a major issue for his fighters.
Allied fighters and 4EB are in good shape to continue the fighting for days to come. The one thing I can do better is try to employ more sweeps and less 1EB sacrifices.
How have your pilots been faring in the recent encounters? WIA, KIA, MIA/recoveries... Are your replacements seasoned or green?