МИССИЯ 46 - второй вариант

Date: October 7 1941

Time: 08.16 hrs.

Weather: Clear

"Maus", welcome to II./Jagdgeschwader 51. I'm your Gruppenkommandeur Hauptmann Hartmann Grasser.
Your Staffelkapitan, Leutnant Strelow, is currently assigning a ground crew to be placed under
your command.
Operation Typhoon, or, Army Group Centre's offensive against Moscow,
pits (1,500,000) Wehrmacht troops and (1,100) panzers against (800,000) Soviet troops
and (770) tanks. For once we outnumber the enemy on the ground, a direct result
of the encirclement battles of Minsk, Smolensk, and Kiev. The Soviet Union has had (4,000,000)
of its troops killed, (2,500,000) captured, (19,000) tanks destroyed, along with
(30,000) artillery pieces.

Unfortunately, we enter this phase of the campaign
without ample air support. There are many reasons for this, but, the fact remains that the
Luftwaffe has lost (1,600) aircraft and had another (1,000) damaged.
This is a loss of (200) more machines than what was sustained against the British.
Many of our higher-ranking officers in the Luftwaffe cannot understand how,
after the Soviet Union lost (14,500) aircraft, that the Red Air Force can still remain
a factor in the campaign. The answer is simple. The Russians have far more resources
and an almost immeasurable industrial capacity that grants them replacements.
The fact that they managed to move a majority of their industries to the east spells only
a temporary lull in their war effort. Though the Luftwaffe has downed (5,000) aircraft it is,
comparably-speaking, losing the war in the air. All we can hope for is a quick victory,
a decision before winter sets in, and, though the snow has already melted from last night,
we have very little time remaining.

The departure of the Zerstorergruppen; ZG 26,
and the Bf-110's of SKG 210 due to combat losses equates into a crucial loss with regards
to close air support for our ground forces. ZG 26 destroyed (1,000) Soviet aircraft
both on the ground and in the air, (300) vehicles, and (250) tanks. The Bf-110's of SkG 210,
on the other hand, destroyed (519) aircraft, (1,700) vehicles, and (83) tanks.
This is one of the reasons you were placed as the deputy Staffelkapitan of 5./JG 51.
The pilots here have shown a particular disdain for strafing enemy ground units.
Not only do they exhibit poor skills but simply feel jabo missions are beneath them.
They are excellent in air to air engagements, have shown unrivalled courage against
the new Petylakov bombers, but when it comes to attacking ground units they shirk
from the line of duty. Leutnant Strelow, being the only officer, can only accompany
them on so many flights and I have (3) other staffels with a similar attitude.
Besides, Strelow, though one of our highest scorers, is a mere nineteen years of age,
far too young to effectively command their respect.

You are from the ranks, are older,
have an impressive victory score, and from what I've heard, can "take care of things"
within the unit. They're good lads and I don't want to have to involve Major Beckh in the matter.
Knowing our Geschwaderkommodore he'd probably have them up on charges of treason.

The staffel consists of (7) Feldwebels, (3) Unteroffiziers, and (1) Gefrieter.
We are equipped with the Bf-109F-2, or, as our pilots call it, the "Friedrich".
Upon flying it you will instantly notice it is lighter, faster, and far
more manueverable than the Emil. Its (40km/h) advantage in speed as well as a turn time
of (19.5-20.5) seconds at (1,000m) altitude are more than adequate to thrive here in Russia.
The reduction in armament to (2x7.92mm) machine guns and a single (1x15mm) cannon, however,
will force you to become a far more precise pilot. Unfortunatly, against
the newer Russian bombers, the Friedrich is quite ineffective. This fact must be drilled
into the pilots. They see bombers and they start rubbing their necks for a Knight's Cross.
You must teach them patience and discipline. We have no aircraft to spare for aviators
trying to get themselves on the cinema screens back in Berlin. Expend all cannon ammunition
from a safe distance, or, from the proper angle of attack, and return to base.

As for now I want you and Leutnant Strelow to take the staffel up in a schwarm formation.
The Stukas of I./StG 2 "Immelmann" need an escort for a dive bombing attack in support
of 2nd Panzer Division. Red Air Force activity has been heavy with the 180 IAP, 170 IAP,
and Kapitan Titenkov's 11 IAP all present in the sector. Titenkov was awarded the Order
of Lenin and the Golden Star as a Hero of the Soviet Union for his (4) victories
in the first four nights of the air Battle of Moscow during the summer.
Do not attempt to cross the western side of the Ugra River as flak has been reported
to be rather extensive but feel free to have the schwarm engage enemy ground units should you fail
to encounter any antagonistic aircraft. Fuel will be at 50% capacity.

"Maus", I want Feldwebel Rauch and Unteroffizier Leber to accompany you and the Leutnant.
If Strelow orders them to attack ground targets and they don't appear to make a reasonable
attempt to eliminate enemy unit rectify the problem once you return to base.
As for now introduce yourself and convey that you have been brought here to modify their views
on being a jagdflieger in the Luftwaffe.

Dismissed.