Mike Lam's Aces Campaign Results
PACIFICON
Santa Clara, CA
Aug 29 to Sept 1, 2025
PACIFICON 2025 DIF AFTER ACTION REPORT
A total of 20 participants (with 7 first time rookies) took part in the 2025 Mike Lam's DIF Aces Campaign. For this event six campaigns were used : 1940 Battle of Britain, 1942 North Africa, 1942 Summer/Fall Guadalcanal, 1943 Invasion of Sicily, 1943/44 Eight Air Force Campaign/Defense of the Reich, and 1944 Battle of the Philippines. A total of 15 missions were flown, five on each of the three days the event ran.
On the European Fronts the German Luftwaffe and Italian Regia Aeronautica defeated the Royal Air Force and US Army Air Force 7 matches to 3, and 140 points to 83. The Axis forces shot down 23 Allied fighters (50%), while the Allied forces shot down 14 fighters (30%). There were no bomber missions flown at the convention. Total losses incurred were 37 fighters which was a 40% overall loss rate or an average per mission loss rate of 3.7 fighters per mission.
On the Pacific Front the Imperial Japanese Navy and the combined air resources of the US Marines, US Army Air Force and US Navy fought to a draw 2 matches apiece with 1 draw. The overall points were Allied 54 to IJN 50. The IJN dominated the 1942 Guadalcanal campaign 2-0-1 (31 to 17 points) while the Allied Air Forces dominated the 1944 Philippines Campaign 2-0-0 (37 to 19 points). The IJN forces shot down 5 fighters (21%), while the US combined forces shot down 9 fighters (38%). Again there were no bomber missions flown in the Pacific campaigns. Total losses were 14 fighters which was a 29% overall loss rate or an average per mission loss rate of 2.8 fighters per mission..
Breakdown of all the theaters:
- 1940 Battle of Britain - 3 missions with the RAF defeating the Luftwaffe 2-1, with combined mission scores of 39-32 respectively.
- 1942 North Africa - 3 missions with Luftwaffe/Regia Aeronautica combined forces defeating the RAF 3-0, with combined mission scores of 55-10 respectively.
- 1943 Sicily Campaign - 2 missions with the Luftwaffe defeating the USAAF 2-0, with combined mission scores of 25-12 respectively.
- 1943/44 Eight AF/Defense of the Reich Campaign - 2 missions with a split of 1-1, however the Luftwaffe outscored the USAAF 28-22.
- 1942 Guadalcanal - 3 missions with the IJN defeating the Cactus AF 2-0 with 1 tie, with combined mission scores of 31-17 respectively.
- 1944 Philippines - 2 missions with the combined US forces defeating the IJN 2-0, with combined mission scored of 37-19 respectively.
Spotlights (the good, the bad and the funny)
- Only one Ace pilot was created over the weekend. David Lanphear's 1940 German pilot Horst Paulson downed his 5th Spitfire in the Battle of Britain to earn his ace status. David rolled up the TightTurn/Maneuver ace ability.
- No existing aces were lost.
- Only one pilot persona scored the Hat Trick of kills. David Lanphear's 1940 British Ace Alistor Sanders notched his 6th, 7th and 8th victories on a Saturday morning fighter patrol over the channel.
- Three participants scored three victories in a mission, but they were combined Leader/Wingman victories: Terry Coleman in the 1942 North Africa campaign, Jay Shukert (rookie pilot) in the 1942 Guadalcanal campaign, and Mark Aasted in the 1944 Philippine campaign.
The Funnies:
- Tim Porter called me a "Dirty Bugger" after a run of cards as he jumped all over me. First he half-looped me, no worries I have a great starting hand and was looking forward to coming back at him. Then he played an IMS 1/1. Tim's a decent player and knows enough to hold back on his nasty cards and with four bursts available he could. I took the one, another IMS 1/1 followed. This one out of spite, I countered with a barrel roll. Tim had no response. But then the pause, he looks at his card and says "How about 2 for an engine hit?" I quickly play a Chop Throttle, Tim plays a Chop Throttle. Okay, time for the big card from me "Ace pilot" I declare smugly. Tim, just knowing he's got me, counters with a slow turn of a card and with his British accent slowly rolling out "Ace Pilot". I let him savor the moment and then play out my second ace card. Tim gives me a penetrating stare for a few seconds and then says "You dirty bugger!". Rounds of laughter follow: BTW my remaining two cards: Half loop, & half loop. What an opening hand!
- Mark Yoshikawa brings a certain flair to his game. In the 1940 Battle of Britain campaign on Sunday, I needed someone to fly the Bf110 to balance the scenario. I knew Mark would loved the fly the "bus", and he quickly latched onto it. Mark Aasted jumped all over Mark's Bf110, putting minor damage 1 hit,now, 1 more hit later. Mark Yoshikawa was able to shake Mark Aasted on his turn, but maybe he wished he hadn't. On his end of turn draw, he ended up with no defense cards, all red, or in his terms a "hand of hate." Our next pilot in order was John Rutski, a rookie pilot flying in only in his second mission. Showing no "respect" he promptly half-looped Mark's Bf110. "Ya know I got a rear gunner!" proclaimed Mark. John smiled and played IMS 1 for 1. Mark looked at his hand, and proclaimed "It's a bus" and took another hit to go to three, a follow up IMS 1/1 followed, to which Mark flipped his counter over to four. There was a pause on John's part, then came down the card IMS 2 for a fuel tank hit. Mark's cards explode out of his hand, he looked at me and burst into laughter as only Mark can, but it was infectious and most of the table laughed along. John Rutski, not sure what was happening asked "Did I do something good?" which brought forth a increased level in the laughter, especially from Mark.
Nothing bad to report, if you don't count the generosity I must have felt on Friday as I "graciously" let everyone shot me down (it seemed) and the sometimes long down times between runs of mission. Good chance to catch up on getting the "book work", as Mike Lam called it, done.
Prize Pool
I tried something new by setting up three categories for participants to try and place first on the list. 1) Most victories, 2) most games played, & 3) most team wins. The winners would get to pick a shrink wrapped game from my collection of GMT titles I brought with me (about 25 different games). Mark Aasted had the most victories with 10 and choose Normandy '44, Phil Bradley had the most games played at 8 and selected Red Dust Rebellion, Terry Coleman, had the second best win record, with Phil having the best at 5, but by virtue of the one prize per participant limit I had in place, Terry was able to select a copy of Wolf Pack. I hope all three of you enjoyed the DIF games at the convention and I hope you enjoy your new games you won!
2026 Pacificon:
I plan to be back next year. There was a comment on the lack of Eastern Front missions, so I plan to add one next year. Given that there was only 15 missions flown I plan to drop the campaigns to only four so hopefully we can get at least three missions in most of them. More missions in a campaign means more chances for a player to pursue victories for pilot skill promotions. I will do one RAF/Luftwaffe match (1940 WF or 1942 NA), one Eastern Front (1942 or 1943 summer), one USAAF match (1943 Sicily or the 1943/44 Eighth AF campaign) and only one Pacific (1942 Guadalcanal or 1944 Philippines). It will be determined by die rolls, probably during setup the first day.
That about sums it up. Thank you to all who participated. I hope you come back next year.
The tower is giving me the okay to turn into final, gears down, flaps down, approaching runway. See you soon!
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