Official Free Historical Campaign "Wings Over Caen"

[BlackSix]

Wings Over Caen

Timeframe: June 27th – July 27th, 1944
Unit: No. 245 (Northern Rhodesia) Squadron RAF
Available aircraft: Typhoon Mk.Ib
Duration: 10 missions
Average playtime: 5 hours
Languages: English, German, French, Spanish, Simplified Chinese, and Russian
Author: Alexander =BlackSix= Timoshkov

This free campaign requires IL-2 Sturmovik: Battle of Normandy.

Historical Background
One of the primary objectives of the 3rd British Infantry Division, which was part of I Corps and landed at Sword Beach on D-Day, was to capture the city of Caen. However, they did not succeed in this either on June 6 or the following days. Gradually, the German command turned Caen into the cornerstone of its entire defense in Normandy, where the majority of reinforcements were thrown in. The battle for the city dragged on for more than a month and a half, seriously slowing down the advance of the Allied forces in the British sector.

The central role in close air support for British and Canadian forces was to be played by the four Typhoon-armed wings of the 2nd Tactical Air Force: Nos. 123, 124, 143, and 121. The latter included the 245th squadron which was engaged at the very tip of the advance.

  

No. 245 (Northern Rhodesia) Squadron, Royal Air Force
The squadron was originally formed in August 1918 and re-formed in October 1939. Using Hurricanes, it participated in the Dunkirk evacuation, served as an AA defence unit, and provided air cover for sea convoys. Since September 1941 it operated in the skies of northern France.

In January 1943 the squadron received Typhoons and in June has been assigned to the 2nd Tactical Air Force. During the invasion preparations, it continued the airstrikes against the enemy communications in northern France, rejecting the bombs in favor of the unguided rockets.

After two weeks of the Normandy landings the squadron has been ordered to move to the continent, but then all kinds of things went wrong. Our campaign starts right at this point and covers the most fierce fighting for Caen from June 27th to July 27th,1944.

Story
All the missions of the campaign were created using the real operation records of the 245th, the other squadrons of the 121st wing, and other units, allowing you to experience sufficiently authentic events.
No. 121 Wing Typhoons have been assigned four main tasks during this timeframe:
- Suppression of the AA, AT, and other artillery batteries;
- Destruction of enemy transport and armored vehicles both in road columns and on the battlefield;
- Airstrikes against the enemy strongpoints;
- Free hunt against the enemy road and railroad traffic not far behind the frontline.

During the campaign you’ll have the chance to try your hand at all of them, providing support for the main operations of the British High Command near Caen. The sorties will have different weather conditions, time of day, and battlefield smoke, recreating the real difficulties the Typhoon pilots had to overcome in addition to the fire from the ground and rare enemy fighters. 

  

With this work, we would like to pay respects to all RAF and U.S. Air Force veterans who were fighting in the Normandy skies and to Squadron Leader John Russell Collins in particular. He commanded the unit skillfully, made it a force to be reckoned with, and personally led it into combat on numerous especially dangerous occasions. Unfortunately, on August 11th, 1944, during the last mission in the operative cycle before the planned rest, his Typhoon was hit by enemy AAA and he was killed. In the campaign, you’ll be acting under his command and see his Typhoon designated MR+? in several missions.

  

P.S. We would like to thank Luke =LukeFF= Wallace for valuable input and help with research and all our beta-testers and translators who make the regular and timely campaign releases possible.

  

[BlackSix]

August 18, 1944, Normandy, Falaise Pocket, "The Shambles". I'm preparing a special image for decoration.
The current campaign, "Wings over Caen," didn't reach these events, but in the new Spitfire IXc campaign, you will take part in this massacre.

[AndreiTomescu]

This means that you are making a new Spitfire campaign ?? That would be AWESOME ! Thank you !

[BlackSix]

3 hours ago, AndreiTomescu said:

This means that you are making a new Spitfire campaign ?? That would be AWESOME ! Thank you !

I can tell you more, I finished it today))

[AndreiTomescu]

IMHO, there is nothing, but i mean NOTHING that can compare in details, the little things that actually create immersion, with a scripted campaign. Not even using a top notch campaign generator.

The fact that there are still some wonderful men willing to spent countless hours building and reviving this campaigns, somehow windows into the exploits of those pilots from long ago, brings me both hope and joy. 

Proof of this : "With this work, we would like to pay respects to all RAF and U.S. Air Force veterans who were fighting in the Normandy skies and to Squadron Leader John Russell Collins in particular."

Thhat is why i love this sim so much: it brings to life all those young boys, be them russian, german, italian, romanian, british, american, them all.

And keeps GB still the No 1 sim, at least for me.

Can't wait for this new campaign to be published.

Thank you, guys !

Edited November 30, 2025 by AndreiTomescu
add

[BlackSix]

12 hours ago, AndreiTomescu said:

Proof of this : "With this work, we would like to pay respects to all RAF and U.S. Air Force veterans who were fighting in the Normandy skies and to Squadron Leader John Russell Collins in particular."

Thhat is why i love this sim so much: it brings to life all those young boys, be them russian, german, italian, romanian, british, american, them all.

And keeps GB still the No 1 sim, at least for me.

Can't wait for this new campaign to be published.

Thank you!
In the new campaign, I've tried to pay even more attention to the historical figures around the player, such as squadron and wing commanders. The unit you'll be playing as lost three squadron leaders over the summer, and all of this will be detailed in the briefings.

[sandmarken]

Another one for the Normandy map? Perfect! 😄

[Aapje]

On 11/29/2025 at 9:44 PM, BlackSix said:

I can tell you more, I finished it today))

So we already know one thing that 1CGS is going to announce for GB 😛

[sevenless]

4 hours ago, BlackSix said:

In the new campaign, I've tried to pay even more attention to the historical figures around the player, such as squadron and wing commanders. The unit you'll be playing as lost three squadron leaders over the summer, and all of this will be detailed in the briefings.

Great! 👍

[Jaegermeister]

4 hours ago, sandmarken said:

Another one for the Normandy map? Perfect! 😄

Some people seem to forget about the time delay between when a new map is released and when other people will be able to get content for it completed. Depending on how much detail is involved, the campaigns can take 3 to 6 months to complete. Those that make them are well aware of course.

 

6 hours ago, BlackSix said:

Thank you!
In the new campaign, I've tried to pay even more attention to the historical figures around the player, such as squadron and wing commanders. The unit you'll be playing as lost three squadron leaders over the summer, and all of this will be detailed in the briefings.

Looking forward to seeing it @BlackSix!

[AndreiTomescu]

5 hours ago, Jaegermeister said:

Some people seem to forget about the time delay between when a new map is released and when other people will be able to get content for it completed. Depending on how much detail is involved, the campaigns can take 3 to 6 months to complete. Those that make them are well aware of course.

Indeed, and that's why i'm so desperate as for the older campaigns not to get lost. This work (scripted campaigns) are countless hours of work. But the result is , imho, the most accurate and entertaining virtual reenactment of aerial WW2 so far. Also new campaigns for older maps keep them (the maps) fresh and interesting still, even years after their release. Since i've became aware (with the Little brother campaign) of the huge amount of work and talent involved, my respect, gratitude and admiration for the campaign creators surged up hugely. And I am certain that there are many other silent people that feel the same.

Thank you, guys, keep up the fine work. You ARE truly appreciated.