As I said about the first strike, the two mistakes we made then were:
1. to turn after the target, slowing our exit;
2. enabling the enemy to cut the corner.
We learnt... on the second strike we kept going straight as fast as we
could, but they still caught us.
What we didn't know was that two 190s were patrolling 8km SW of the
target (the likeliest entry and exit route for unsophisticated
attackers). But we did choose an unexpected approach direction and they
were at 16,000 ft and didn't see us until after we dropped bombs.
However, we did choose our exit route in the most obvious direction (it
coincided with the target line-up). Given the need to line up with the
target, either our entry or exit would have been under the 190s. Bad
luck for this target.
On closing on Cina, the lead 190 was doing 450 mph TAS, while Cina was
doing 310 mph TAS. I think the only improvement here would have been if
the 190s were on the wrong side of the target and we'd equalised energy
during our exit. Cina was shot down as he zoomed up with the 190s following.
As a matter of course, after the bomb drop we should try and assess
whether we're being followed.
The 190s never lost touch with the P-38s and remaining Tempest. The 190s
were doing ~370 mph TAS and 56 had reduced throttle and speed to ~300
mph TAS.
/We should be less cautious about using combat power to escape and
always assume we're being tracked./
/We should always consider a significant course change or battle climb
(in P-38s) once well clear of the target - and maybe always after one of
our number has been bounced./
Once the 190s engaged Talisman, I turned back and attacked a 190,
gaining some minor hits. Talisman advised me to leave, so I climbed away
and RTBed.
With hindsight, I might have done better to have stayed.
It was always going to be hard to escape from determined 190s/Doras, but
we might have got better chances if we'd optimised our actions.
56RAF_phoenix
