30 Attachment(s)
OTTED Mission 22 - Flashes Last Waltz - 17th October 1917.
The sound of the bellowing Mercedes engine had barely faded when it was replaced by that of the Don R as it bounced across to the middle of the field where the canister and streamer lay. Just as quickly it was brought to the Top Office where it was soon opened by Uncle.
"Some good news Ben, looks like Cross made it after all, a bit banged up by the sound of it but he's alive and in hospital for a while before he goes to a POW camp."
"That is good news, sir. I really thought we'd lost him. He saved my bacon I reckon".
"Yes, you were about to tell me all about it when Fritz turned up - do carry on."
"Well, as you know sir, after the dawn patrol I got refuelled and went straight back out for a poke about over the front. I'd no sooner crossed he lines when I saw an RE8 seemingly having a hard time of it with a Hun not far off so I decided to stick my oar in and see if I couldn't help the chaps out."
Attachment 194072
"Everything seemed tickety-boo so I made a bee line straight for them, more or less, then went after the Hun. Well, I over cooked it and he slipped past without either of us getting a shot but when I looked over my shoulder to see where he'd got to there were two more of the blighters coming at me and the Harry Tate was heading for Hunland having dropped whatever was smoking as he did so."
Attachment 194073
"The beggars" murmured Uncle "it was a trap !"
"Exactly so, sir, and I'd waltzed right into the middle of it like a damned rookie. It was that smoke that sold me on it I swear ! Anyway, I was in a bind and no mistake but I managed to wrong foot them; as they came roaring in I reefed her hard right then tried to roll round behind them; thought I was going to get on the leader who'd drawn me in to this mess but misread his next move completely and ended up out on my own,"
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"That gave me a chance to gather my wits, I saw the two ambushers were trying to follow me round so I corkscrewed her up and caught one of them as they came past - didn't cause much damage but must've frightened him a bit !"
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"About that moment Cross turned up with the new chap Morrow - came out of the clouds where the Hun had been, they were on a familiarisation flight or some such."
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"The Hun lead gave Morrow a long range squirt almost straight away as he was ideally placed when they arrived to have a go but Don't think it did any damage , other than cheese him off a bit "
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"Cheesed him off ?" queried Uncle
"Not half sir, got his blood up anyway - Next thing you know Morrow was on the Lead Albatrii's tail knocking lumps out of his ply !"
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"Really ? Good show !" said Uncle
"He wasn't the only one sir, Cross had moved in to cover my tail as I cut the other pair off at the pass so to speak, I latched onto one - had number four on its nose - and gave it a couple of good bursts before my guns jammed"
Attachment 194079
Attachment 194080 (forgot he had DGC1 !! :smack:))
"I broke away left to get clear of the Huns and sort my guns out whilst Cross carried on the chase around the mulberry bush. Morrow got in another long range effort on the Lead Hun."
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"The other Hun had come after me - he had number two on his nose - but I saw him coming so I whipped her round real tight and met him head on. Took quite a wallop but he got some back too. "
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"My rudder was a bit iffy after that but as I sorted it out Cross floated past my nose with the Hun lead crossing his beam pumping in the hate at close range - so I pumped some back !"
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"Then blow me if Morrow doesn't wade in again and have another crack at the Hun Lead !"
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"Didn't seem to put the Hun off though - he peppered Cross again but then I think his guns jammed as he stopped shooting abruptly"
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"I hauled it round tight again and stalled her to let the Hun pass me - hosed him pretty good that time as I saw a gout of flame and smoke erupt from him"
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"I saw Cross had a bit of luck then as he caught the number four Hun at the top of his Immelmann turn as he made to come after me - hit him pretty hard I think"
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And talking of getting hit pretty hard I got caught by the number two as he tried to bat me off his leaders' tail - tore me up pretty bad"
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"That number four then had a go at me but it was too little too late for their lead - I must have hit the engine or something, it was too much for his kite and down she went !"
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"Oh, bravo Ben, well done"
"Thankyou sir. it was then Cross got onto him as he tried to have a go at me again - even as the number two lined him up as well"
Attachment 194090
"Very brave" said Uncle
"That's what I mean sir, saved my bacon he did, I'm sure of it. Still the distraction was all that Morrow needed. That number two never saw it coming.. up from below and BAM ! He was gone"
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"Oh my, saw his chance and took it. Good lad !" enthused Uncle
"That he did sir; that allowed Cross to stay on the other one and set him smoking as I tried to get out of his bloody way right quick ! "
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"And that, in turn, allowed me to roll in on him again myself and feather his tail a little before he Immelled away from me "
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"He rolled out of that Immel and caught Cross head to head at close range as he spun it round on him.. Bang and he was gone too"
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"Damn !" Snorted Uncle
"Morrow was in the perfect place to cut the Hun off - he was badly shot up by now sir and looking to slip away from us - in he roared and took a long range pot shot and that was enough to send the Hun down..."
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"Good lord - two kills on his first outing ? Remarkable !" said Uncle " Time for us to join the party and celebrate I think"
Butchers Tally:
Ltn Gustav Klaiber: SD FLM FT / 0 Kills
Rolled 4 -2FLM = 2 - KIA :salute:
Attachment 194097
Fwbl Helmut Fichter: SD EXP FT / 0 kills
Rolled 6 -3EXP = 3 Severely Injured Miss D6 scenario. Rolled 1 Skip 1 (Lucky bugger)
Attachment 194098
Ltn Richard Pütz: SD FT / 1 kill
Rolled 5 -1SD = 4 Severely Injured Miss D6 scenario. Rolled 2 = Skip 2
Attachment 194099
2Lt Chris Cross: SD EXP ET / 0 kills
Rolled 7 -3EXP = 4 Severely Injured Miss D6 scenario. Rolled 6
E&E: rolled 6 -2EXP -1WIC -1BEL = 2 Captured, the war is over for this pilot.
Attachment 194096
Lt Ben Downe: RTB 1 kill
2Lt Tom Morrow:RTB 2 Kills
Attachment 194095
Well, that was fun, if slightly bloody, and a fitting way to finish the Early Doors campaign, Thanks Rob :hatsoff:
(Just for info of those not in the know, I did my usual - Used my D8 charts, altitude rules & shooting is post to post)
