Valentine's Day Air Mail*
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Date: February 14, 1942*
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Battle Type: Japanese Assault vs Dutch Defend*
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Design: Ed Mortimer*
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This assault/defend scenario is playable from either side.  Be aware that the pre-turn 1 bombardment phase lasts a long time.*
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At 8.00am on 14 February the Netherlands observer corps warned of "a large hostile formation of enemy aircraft" approaching. Unfortunately for the Dutch forces, all available Hurricanes were on escort duty for a bombing run and were out of range for radiotelephone communications. The Japanese bombers hit Palembang Airport, then the large escort of fighters swept the aerodrome with machine-gun fire and almost immediately airborne carriers dropped two groups of parachutists.*
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The paratroopers were from 1st Airborne Division with the first wave originating from Kahang for the assault on the airport, at the same time the second echelon from Kluang were dropped at 600feet and descended over the refinery. After engaging in small fire fights and setting up a road block with over turned vehicles the enemy paratroopers persistently attacked the aerodrome defenders until they withdrew from the town and airfield. At the
refinery the enemy paratroopers used air raid shelters for entrenched resistance.*
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The next day another 100 paratroopers were dropped, and the Japanese moved to occupy the entire area -- capturing the most important oil refinery in south Asia.*
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