Action Over the Channel

     We got together in Dale City, Virginia, last Saturday for a game of "Check Your Six" in 1/144 scale set in 1940 over the English Channel.  Our two German players -- Ron and Brian; commanded two Heinkel He 111 medium bombers escorted by four Messerschmidt 109s.  Our two British players -- Ray and Dave, commanded two flights of three Spitfires each.

     Fighter aircraft models -- by 21st Century Toys (sadly, now out of production); bombers, and table from the collection of our host, Ron P.

August 1940 -- British Spitfires patrol the English Channel

The Luftwaffe is up early today -- Target:  England!

Me 109 providing fighter escort to the German bombers

Squadron Leader Ray Flashman, RAF, orders the attack!

Hauptmann Rolland Prill gives the alarm, "Achtung, SPITFIRE!"

German bombers -- He 111s -- bore in with their bomb loads

The Luftwaffe pilots are determined professionals

German fighters prepare to engage the Englishmen

The Spitfires flash by, guns blazing, but the bombers hit their target

Me 109s beat off the British attack

The bombers close up as the Spitfires close in

A Spitfire makes a desperate pass as the bombers turn and head for France

Leutnant Bruno Wittman's bomber under attack

Flying Officer David Smythe's Spitfire hammered by Me-109 cannon fire

The Spitfires exact their revenge on the enemy bombers

A wild aerial melee over The Channel

Belching smoke, this Messerschmidt heads for France

     We played the game in two phases.  Phase I -- the approach, was a German victory as the bombers reached and attacked their target for the loss of one escorting Me 109, while downing one Spitfire.

     Phase II saw the German players' attempt to return to France, pursued by the Spitfires.  Both bombers were lost on the return flight for the loss of a second Spitfire.