B-17 Queen of the Skies ---The Ameritrash War---Mission 1

Yes, this the defensive fire is considered simultaneous and you can't switch fire. But you should always be happy when you down an enemy fighter.

Good shooting and bombing on that last mission! Nice job.

Thanks. That is what I thought and that is how I have been playing!

This is one of the few times Ken has had a plane to shoot at from the radio room. Adreneline races through him as he lines up the shot, he has the plane in his sight.

He fires and misses!!!

Well, that fuckin' figures.

MISSION 5


The Crew:

Pilot: Captain Steve Weeks
Co-pilot: Lieut. Matt Thrower
Bombardier: Lieut. Michael "Hellfire" Barnes
Navigator: Lieut. Uba Rose
Engineer: Master Sgt. Malloc
Radio Operator: Sgt. Ken Bradford
Ball Turrent: Sgt. Derk Solko
Port Waist: Sgt. Tom Hancock
Tail Gunner: Sgt. Frank "Skeletor" LaTerra


"Cheers!!!", Captain Weeks holds up a big frosty mug of Pabst Blue Ribbon Beer

Morale was high in the bar after the CC Bitch's last mission, it was a great success.

Captain Weeks approaches Barnes as he drops a quarter in the jukebox to play a song by "The Fall"

"Think you can do better than 50% next time?"

Barnes smiles,

"Captain, there are two things I enjoy in this life, Boardgames and kicking the shit out of meeple lovers. You can bet the the percentage will go nowhere but UP!"

"I'm counting on that!", replied Captain Weeks

Skeletor busts in the bar as he is zipping up his leather jacket,

"Showtime gentlemen!"

General Petersen looks annoyed as Barnes is the last to make it to the briefing room.

"Now that we are all here!"

Barnes pauses then sits down.

"We are going to send you guys back to Cherbourg to get that Airfield. Now that you guys are on a roll, I hope you can do the same to that airfield as you did to that aircraft in Meaulte. GOOD LUCK"

The CC Bitch takes off flying in the middle position of the formation.

Uba seems annoyed at Barnes for singing that dreadful tune by "The Fall"

"Barnes, I liked it better when you were reading your comic books, at least you were quiet!" screamed Uba

Barnes ignored Uba as the CC Bitch flew into Zone 2 over the English Channel with no problems.

"Approaching target zone Captain"

As the CC Bitch entered Zone 3 the target zone she was greeted by two ME 110's, one at 6 level and another at 9 low.

The CC Bitch has good fighter cover and chases off the two planes.

The CC Bitch approaches the target. Barnes begins to dance around with extreme attitude. Luckily there is no flak but the weather is poor.

(Thunder)

"Who's your daddy? I am the KING!!!!!!!!!!"

The whole crew stares at Barnes like he has lost his mind. It seems the music of "The Fall " has a strange effect on him.

"Drop the fucking bombs Barnes!", screams Skeletor

"Your wish is my command", says Barnes as he drops the bombs without even looking!!

"What the fuck are you doing???" screams the Captain

"I am afraid to ask, but what is the damage assessment, Mr. Barnes."

Barnes was silent.

"Mr. Barnessssss...Damaage assesment?"

"0% sir..." replied Barnes sheepishly

Meanwhile...aboard another B-17 in the formation the Pilot spots something tossed out of the nose of the CC Bitch...

"Captain, what is that object that was thrown out of the CC Bitch?"

The Captain of the "Flaming Dice" looks through his binoculors and replies,

"Looks like a portable music player"

The CC Bitch turns around for the return trip and is greeted by a ME 109 at 3 low and a ME 110 at 1:30 low.

Good fighter cover drives off both of these fighters.

Another wave quickly envelops the CC Bitch. Two ME 109's one at 10:30 level and another at 12 level and a single ME 110 at 10:30 low.

Good figher cover drives off the ME 109's but the ME 110 must be dealt with by the CC Bitch.

Derk has the ME 110 in his sights, he adjusts his yellow goggles and swirls around in the ball turret and fires!!!

Derk misses!!!

Uba fires also and misses!!!

The ME 110 fires at the CC Bitch and hits her with 2 shells!!!

The first shell hits the nose with no effect and the second also hits the nose and Barnes Oxygen supply is hit!!!

Malloc quickly assists and gets the oxygen flowing again for Barnes.

Skeletor takes a pot shot as the ME 110 flies by but misses. The ME 110 tries to attack again but misses and then flies off.

The CC Bitch flies into Zone 2 over the English Channel with no problems.

Weather is good over the base and the CC Bitch lands safely.

The crew is silent as the head to the debriefing room.

MISSION 6


The Crew:

Pilot: Captain Steve Weeks
Co-pilot: Lieut. Matt Thrower
Bombardier: Lieut. Michael "Hellfire" Barnes
Navigator: Lieut. Uba Rose
Engineer: Master Sgt. Malloc
Radio Operator: Sgt. Ken Bradford
Ball Turrent: Sgt. Derk Solko
Port Waist: Sgt. Tom Hancock
Starboard Waist: Sgt: Robert Martin
Tail Gunner: Sgt. Frank "Skeletor" LaTerra

Barnes is not well at all. After that last mission he has fallen into a deep depression. It didn't help that Uba tried to start a game of "Ticket to Ride" with him to cheer him up.

We got the word that we were do in the briefing room and Barnes shuffled in with his head hanging low.

General Petersen speaks in a stern voice,

"I am going to try to forget about that last mission because this one is potentially your most dangerous yet. I can't promise you the good fighter cover you guys have benefited from on your first 5 missions plus you guys will be flying a low squadron. This is where it gets tough. Your mission is in Rouen. There is a railyard there where Alan Moon runs a full scale "Ticket to Ride" game. Your mission is to destroy that railyard. Good Luck"

"Ready for takeoff Captain"

Captain Weeks notices that Matt Thrower is gripping the controls tightly and is on edge.

"You OK Matt?"

"Yes, I guess I drank a little too much tea. Matt puts down his tea cup adorned with the Thrower Family Coat of Arms which looks amazing like the piece from the game "TITAN"

Matt looks with a fixed gaze down the runway as the CC Bitch takes off.

The flight into Zone 2 over the English Channel is uneventful but as the plane enters Zone 3 she encounters enemy fighters.

Two ME 110's one at 6 level and the other at 9 low

Ken speaks,

"General Petersen wasn't bullshittin' this fighter cover we have is piss poor!"

Skeletor speaks,

"That's fine with me I got one trying to crawl up my ass and he is about to bite the dust!"

Skeletor cracks his knuckles and with extreme confidence fires and shoots down the ME 110 at 6 level!!!

Derk in an attempt to match Skeletor spins around in the ball turret and as he does his PDA drops to the floor which distracts him as he fires and misses!!!!

Tom Hancock fires at the ME 110 at 9 low also and misses!!!

The ME 110 fires and misses and then flies off.

The CC Bitch then flies into Zone 4 with no fighters.

Captain Weeks speaks,

"We have never been in this deep, it is too quiet, I don't like it"

Matt Thrower grips the controls tightly

"Entering target Zone Captain"

The CC Bitch enters Zone 5 the target Zone and encounters three ME 110's, one at 12 low, the other at 10:30 level and the third at 6 low.

No fighter cover at all in Zone 5. It is up to the crew to deal with the enemies.

Skeletor fires at the ME 110 at 6 low and hits the plane!

The crew watches with stunned amazement as the plane explodes and Skeletor racks up another kill!!

Uba , inspired by Skeltor's performance grits her teeth and fires, the gun shaking her whole body, she fires and destroys the plane at 10:30 level.

Skeletor speaks,

"Finally getting the hang of it eh, Uba??"

Barnes however is totally uninspired as he fires and misses.

Captain Weeks stares at Barnes with a concerned look.

The ME 110 at 12 low fires and hits the tail with 3 shells.

No damage to the tail

Skeletor speaks,

"No worries mate, just a few love bites!!!"

The ME 110 flies off

The weather over the target is good.

"Quite a bit of Flak sir"

Medium Flak over target, 3 bursts but luckily none connect with the CC Bitch.

Barnes drops the bombs and he is OFF target!!!

Barnes is silent and everyone realizes that damage assessment is 0%

The plane turns around and runs into a wave of German fighters.

ME 109 at 3 low and ME 110 at 1:30 low

No fighter cover so Derk and Uba fire and both miss the planes!!!

The ME 110 fires and hits the CC Bitch with 2 shells!! The first shell hits the tail with no effect and the second shell hits the Radio Room.

Ken's radio explodes as a shell destroys his radio!!!

"Now that's Rock n' Roll!!!", says Ken as he dives for cover

Successive attacks fail as the planes fly off

Another wave quickly envelopes the CC Bitch

Two FW 190's, one at 10:30 high and the other at 3 level.

Uba fires and sends one FW190 down in flames!!!

Malloc fires and takes one out as well!!! GREAT SHOT!!

The CC Bitch enters zone 4 and an ominous wave of fighters appears.

5 FW 190's!!!

Positions, 12 high, 10:30 level, 9 level, 6 high and one in a Vertical Dive!!

Barnes, Uba, Malloc all miss!!! Derk whirls around in the ball turret and destroys the plane at 9 level!!!

He reaches for the PDA to record the kill but can't get to it!!!

The 190 at 12 high hits the CC Bitch in the nose.

Barnes is thrown to the floor, and he's not moving!!!

Matt Thower runs to his aid and shakes his head.

Barnes is killed in action!!!

As Matt sits down fire from the 190 at 10:30 level hits the Pilot compartment!!!

Matt is hit and not moving!!! Matt is killed in action!!!

The rest of the planes miss and successive attacks fail but the results of this battle were devastating as two crewmembers were lost!

The CC Bitch flies into Zone 3 and encounters a single FW190 at 10:30 High

Fighter cover is fair in this zone and the plane is driven off.

Another wave attacks the CC Bitch. Two ME 110's one at 6 level and one at 9 low.

Fighters fail to drive these planes off and Uba fires at the plane at 9 low and misses.

Skeletor fires at the plane at 6 level and destroys it!

Skeletor speaks,

"That one is for Matt and Barnes!!!"

The ME 110 at 9 low fires and hits the CC Bitch. 2 shells hit the port wing and put the #1 engine out!!!

Captain Weeks compensates as the plane jolts.

Successive attacks miss and the plane flies off.

The CC Bitch flies over the English Channel safely but runs into bad weather over the base. Engine #1 is out and with bad weather and no co-pilot this landing is going to be tricky.

Captain Weeks glances at the tea cup of Matt Thrower and regains his composure.

(Thunder)

(Thunder)

The plane begins to experience a lot of turbulence

Visibility is nil!!!

(Thunder)

Skeletor looks at Uba with a serious look as he is jolted in his seat.

The CC Bitch approaches the runway as General Petersen spots the plane breaking thru the clouds.

"She's got an engine out sir, looks pretty beat up!!!"

The CC Bitch lands safely.

As Matt and Barnes are carried off in stretchers, Skeletor tells the medics to wait.

Skeletor then puts the comic book in Barnes jacket.

"A pleasure serving with you mate."

Whoa, that's tough. Your first flight without fighter coverage and it's a complete disaster. At least you got home safe and Skeletor should be an ace by now.

Captain Weeks sits silently in General Petersen's office and the General pours Captain Weeks a drink.

"That was a tough one Steve. But we have to carry on. I am assigning you Lieut. Schweig, he's a good man and knows his job inside out.

As for a new bombadier, I am assiging you Lieut. Scott Nicholson"

Captain Weeks looks at the General and then downs his drink in one gulp.

A few moments later in the briefing room, General Petersen pulls down the map.

"Ok Gentlemen, I'm sure we will all miss Barnes and Matt but its time to carry on and do them justice. They believed in what they were fighting for , so don't let them down.

This time we are sending you to Antwerp to bomb another Euro Game factory. Fighter cover will be scarce so be careful and good luck!!"

Lieut. Schweig seems extremely efficient as he goes through the takeoff checklist like a pro.

"Ready for takeoff Captain"

The CC Bitch takes off and heads toward the target at Antwerp. The English channel is cleared with no problems. So far so good.

Captain Weeks looks out the window and rubs his eyes. He sees an image of Barnes on a broomstick, much like the scene from the "Wizard of Oz"

As the CC Bitch flies into Zone 3 with only Fair fighter cover she encounters enemy planes. Two ME 110's One at 6 level and the other at 9 low.

Despite only fair fighter cover they manage to chase away the ME 110 at 9 low.

Skeletor fires at the plane at 6 level and hits but only does light damage.

The ME 110 returns fire and misses, then flies off.

Skeletor shakes his fist at the plane,

"This was your lucky day mate!!!"

The CC Bitch then flies into the target zone and encounters another wave of fighters.

Four ME 109's at 12 high, 3 high 9 high and 9 level. Once again fair fighter cover drives off the fighters at 3 high and 9 high

Scott gets his first chance to fire, he closes his eyes and says,

"I hate guns!!!"

Scott fires at the plane at 12 high and misses.

Malloc yells at Scott,

"For Crying out loud Nicholson, open your eyes!!!"

Malloc fires at the plane at 12 high and misses

Derk spins in the ball turret and fires at the plane at 9 level and misses

Tom also fires at the plane at 9 level and misses

the ME 109 at 12 fires and hits the CC Bitch with 2 shells!!!

Captain Weeks speaks,

"This is not good"

Captain Weeks hears the voice of Barnes speaking in his head,

"Use the force Weeks"

Captain Weeks was right! The shells were walking hits to the fuselage which hit the Nose, Pilot Compartment, Bomb Bay, Radio Room, Waist and Tail!!!

The hit to the nose jolted Scott and he is hit bad, seriously wounded!!!

Scott screams, "AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH"

The hit to the bomb bay was only superficial damage

The hit to the radio room hit a control cable with no effect luckily.

The Waist suffered only superficial damage.

The tail was hit and the result being the autopilot mechamism is out.

Lieut. Schweig speaks,

"That's just great!! Out bombadier hit, no autopilot should we abort Captain?"

Captain???

Captain Weeks gazes out the window and he sees the image of Barnes and Matt Thrower.

Captain???

The shot to the pilot compartment hit Captain Weeks and he is not moving!!!

Lieut Schweig begins to shake and then gains his composure and screams,

"Uba take the bomb controls"

The enemy planes miss and fly off.

Weather over the target is good. The bomb run is off target with 0%

The CC Bitch turns around and heads for home but runs into a wave of enemy fighters again.

A single ME 110 in a vertical climb. Fair fighter cover drives the plane off.

The CC Bitch enters Zone 3 and encounters three ME 109's at 12 level, 12 high and 1:30 level

This time the fair fighter cover doesn't chase any enemies off and the job is left to the crew of the CC Bitch.

Malloc fires and kills the ME 109 at 12 high!!!

Uba fires and kills the ME 109 at 1:30

The ME 109 at 12 level fires and only does superficial damage to the port wing.

Skeletor fires and misses!

The plane comes around again and Malloc misses and so does the ME 109. He then flies off.

The CC Bitch flies over the English Channel with no problems and then has good weather for landing and lands safely

The CC Bitch is grounded for a few days while a new Captain is recruited.

Meanwhile Lieut. Schweig visits Scott Nicholson in the hospital. Scott's room is filled with Tulips.

Lieut. Schweig speaks,

"That's a shame I hear you won't be able to fly again, what are you gonna do?"

Scott sings,

"Tip toe thru the tulips, thru the tulips, thru the tulips...."

Ouch, that's heavy. Two disastrous flights in a row. Are you gonna start the game over?

So is this it? No more missions? Damn these were good reads.

More missions are coming, the plane was grounded for the 4th of July!

I vote for DWTripp as new Captain.

Ken Bradford paces back and forth in General Peterson's office,


"General, I KNOW I can pilot the CC Bitch, crew morale is down you gotta let us get back in the war!"

"Ken, I hear you. But frankly I don't feel you have enough 4 engine time to pilot that plane."

"Sir, with all due respect, you gotta give me a shot!"

General Peterson thinks for awhile in silence and then speaks,

"Ok Ken, make us proud."

Upon hearing of Ken's promotion to Captain, Derk manages to convince Ken to bring on his buddy Aldie as new radio man. Aldie was thrilled at the chance and even patched in a small compressor into the radio chain that he used from his podcast.

There was real excitement in the crew of the CC Bitch once again. After being grounded for so long it was good to get back in the war. General Peterson felt the buzz in the room. It was similar to the buzz at Essen when a new game was being discovered.

The General pulled down the map and began to speak.

"Today Gentlemen, you target will be the shipyard at Rotterdam. Our Dutch operatives led by Jur have reported a large shipment of Eurogames aboard these ships and your job will be to blow them up. Good Luck!"

The CC Bitch takes off with no problem. The only complaints were that Aldie was fiddling with the radio equipment too much and feedback blasted into everybody's earphones.

"BLOODY HELL!!!, that sounds like the music of The Fall", screamed Skeletor

Everyone laughed but then got strangely quiet as they remembered their fallen crew member , Barnes.

Ken was hoping for quiet skies at least till they got to the target but it seems the CC Bitch ran into trouble almost immediately with enemies in Zone 2 over the English Channel.

One ME 109 at 3 low and a ME 110 at 1:30 low

Uba fires at the ME 110 at 1:30 and misses!

Derk spins around in the ball turret wearing his lucky chicken hat and fires at the ME 109 at 3:00 and hits it!!! The plane is looks damaged but it is still coming.

Robert Martin tries to finish the job but misses!!!

Both the German planes fire and miss and then break off the attack.

Derk speaks,

"My lucky chicken hat won't let us down boys!!!"

Skeletor replies,

"I hear it didn't work so hot last night in the bar!!!"

The crew laughs

The CC Bitch flies into Zone 3 and once again is met with enemies. Four FW 190's at 12 level, 1:30 level, 3 low and 9 high

The CC Bitch has poor fighter cover in this Zone and none of the enemy is driven off. Jeb fires and misses the FW at 12, Uba fires and misses the FW at 1:30.

Derk adjusts his chicken hat and fires at the plane at 3 low, he hits it but once again doesn't do enough damage for a kill!!!

Skeletor screams,

"What the fuck you got in your gun Derk, BB's????"

Robert Martin fires and misses the FW at 3 low

Malloc fires at the FW at 9 high and hits but once again doesnt make the kill!

Tom Hancock fires at the plane at 9 high and misses.

The FW at 12 fires and hits the CC Bitch with 2 shells!!! Both hits to the nose of the plane, both hits only cause superficial damage.

The FW at 1:30 fires and hits the CC Bitch with 2 shells!!!
Both hits to the port wing!!!

The first hit had no effect but the second hit connected with the #1 engine.

Ken speaks,

"Looks like engine #1 is a runaway engine!!!"

The prop feathered and the engine is out.

Ken wipes his forehead.

The FW at 3 low fires and hits the CC Bitch with 3 shells!!!

The first shell hits the starboard wing and Engine #3 but has no effect. The 2nd shell hits the port wing causing only superficial damage, and the 3rd shell hits the waist with no effect.

The FW at 9 fires and misses. The FW's at 12 and 1:30 fly by and into the deadly range of Skeletor the tail gunner who fires at the one at 12 and bags it.

Skeletor is an Ace Gunner.

"I don't need no chicken hat mate!"

Aldie speaks over the radio,

"That is a double negative mate!"

The enemies fly off as the CC Bitch enters the Target Zone, Zone 4 with fair fighter cover.

Two ME 109's appear , one at 1:30 high and the other at 9 level

Both Uba and Derk fire at the planes and miss!!!

The Me 109 at 1:30 fires and hits the radio room of the CC Bitch with 1 shell!!

The ME 109 at 9 level fires and hits the pilot compartment!!!

The hit to the Radio room destroys the radio and Aldie screams!!!

"My compressor, how will I do any more Podcasts????"

The shell seems to come towards the pilot compartment in slow motion. Ken can't move and seems frozen, as the shell wizzes past his face to smack into the instrument panel of the plane!!!

Ken was spared but the plane is in trouble.

The electrical system is out and the crew must bailout!!!

Ken gets up and adjusts his parachute, sorry guys we gotta bail out , we got no electrical system on this plane!!!

Skeletor screams,

"Are you daft!!! We are over water, our radio is out we will get eaten by sharks!!"

"This is a controlled bailout and we are close enough to the Netherlands to make this work!!! Hopefully our agent there, Jur will spot us and pick us up."

Meanwhile on the coast of the Netherlands , the At Agent Jur spots the CC Bitch approaching.

"She looks like she is in trouble, my God they are bailing out!"

Derk jumps and his chicken hat flies off,

"Shit, my hat!!!"

Skeletor jumps,

"Move out of my way you wanker!!!!"

The crew of the CC Bitch bails out over the Netherlands and is picked up by the Dutch resistance commanded by Jur.

"What happened guys?, asked Jur as he loads the crew into a Tulip truck.

Ken shakes his head,

"Just bad luck I guess, the meeple won out today."

Robert Martin shakes his head as he enters the tulip truck,

"Scott Nicholson should have been here, he would have loved this."

Skeletor unbuckles his pack and is the last to enter the tulip truck. Before he does he looks to the sky to see the CC Bitch crash in the water.

Then Skeletor sees an image of Weeks, Matt Thrower and Barnes in the sky much like the scene from the "Return of the Jedi."

Skeletor wipes a tear from his eye as he enters the tulip truck and the truck drives off.

Skeletor screams,

"Get this tulip bulb out of my ass!!!"

(Sousa Music plays as the truck drives off)

Meanwhile a little Dutch girl is playing by the coast when a chicken hat washes up on the shore.

"Mommy look what I found!"

She puts it on and skips off...

I hope you enjoyed the adventures of the B-17 the CC Bitch

The game B-17 as you can see is very detailed. I agree with the reviewers of this game that it really does give you a sense of paranoia. Sometimes you are scared to roll the dice!. It is not a game for everyone but I think it is a must for anyone who loves WWII aircraft.

CAMPAIGN PERFORMANCE REVIEW for the B-17 CC BITCH

Missions completed: 6 (Mission #2 Aborted) Rating: Fair

Overall Bombing percentage: 10% Rating: Fair


Mission Crew Highlights:

Skeletor: Ace Gunner

An awesome read - I hope to see more. Either from this game or another!