Is there anyway to save these guys?

[V22 Osprey]

Manila, Feb 1942


Leading air unit making valiant defense of Manila:


Leading pilots:

[Shellshock]

Certainly the pilots can be saved. Just click them into group reserve. Go to another air group stateside or somewhere safe. Request a veteran pilot, find their names, click and they spend a few days in transit and eventually arrive at their new squadron.

[wdolson]

Since the squadron is scheduled to be withdrawn, you'll probably have to fill it out with green pilots before putting the ones you want to save into the reserves.

[AcePylut]

Combine them all into one squad after dropping the pilots (if possible). Then, all those squads on the east coast that are p26's and stuff? the garbage? Withdraw those (putting the planes into the pool) and bring them back in 60 days. Then, when you have enough of those crud aircraft, downgrade (if poss)... and you only lose the crud planes

[Alfred]

ORIGINAL: AcePylut

Combine them all into one squad after dropping the pilots (if possible). Then, all those squads on the east coast that are p26's and stuff? the garbage? Withdraw those (putting the planes into the pool) and bring them back in 60 days. Then, when you have enough of those crud aircraft, downgrade (if poss)... and you only lose the crud planes

Not possible for the OP. He has already lost Clark Field which is the only airbase on Luzon which allows for air units to change air models.

What you propose is usually only a theoretical exercise. The downgrading to P-26 requires possession of Clark plus 20K supplies at Clark. So it is only possible very early in the war. Also doing so will deprive the Filipino fighter unit from any replacements as it can only use the P-26.

Leave the American fighters with their equipment. Without replacements, attrition will certainly take care of the planes long before the units have to be withdrawn or run out of real estate.

Alfred