Lewis Gun Campaign - Scenario 09 Scout with FE2 versus 3 C-types (from DOTF01)
We received a shipment of FE2s along with some greenies. The FEs were going to take over the duties that my little scout had so dutifully performed. I was somewhat resentful as I thought Huntress had performed admirably with 9 victories to date.
To get the new machines and the greenies up and running I was ordered to perform patrol duties with the rookies until they learned the ropes.
The first draw was lieutenants Auandee and Bradley. Both men were friendly enough and eager to prove themselves.
I flew my scout to starboard of the big FE; she was twice the size of Huntress. It wasn’t long before we encountered a trio of Huns; two Albatros and a faster Aviatik. I said a silent prayer that my charges would survive their baptism of fire and signaled them to go in. Side-by-side we engaged the nearest aircraft, an Albatros, and fired as soon as we were within range.
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The Albatros took evasive action shaking my rookie charges, but I stuck to them like glue.
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Having flown past the first Albatros Auandee and Bradley started after the Aiviatik instead. Flying a faster machine they soon caught up to their prey and were rewarded when the Aviatik burst into flames. Meanwhile, I closed on the Albatros.
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A final burst from my starboard gun and the Albatros was spiraling out of control.
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*******
It was most gratifying to see flames from the Hun – the pilot gun had done the trick when Jace’s gun jammed - and in a somewhat prideful moment I hoped that lieutenant Diamond had seen the fine work Jace and I were doing on the Aviatik. Once Jace cleared the jam he took over firing again only to have his gun seize up again.
“Bloody HELL!”
I still had some ammo and fired against only to have my pilot’s gun freeze up as well.
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Fortunately, by then the fire had done its work and the Aviatik was going down in flames.
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The remaining Hun machine, an Albatros, tried to shake us by ducking into the clouds, but we weren’t having any of that and reacquired him as he re-emerged.
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As we closed Diamond came on from the front and we were having Hun sandwich.
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Jace’s action soon told me his gun had jammed yet again
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It was then I decided to get ahead of the Hun to see if Jace would have better luck with the aft firing weapon.
*******
I slammed my fist down on the worthless piece of crap then heard.
“Man the other gun Jace!”
Turning, I grabbed the aft facing Lewis and cocked her in one fluid motion. Chills racing down my spine I trained the gun as Conlen dipped our FE to give me a better shot.
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Smoke poured from the Albatros.
Rat-tat-tat-tat!
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Rat-tat-tat-tat!
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I could feel it, she was going down. I kept firing, and…
BOOM!
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*******
Seeing the last Albatros erupt in a fireball and the elation of the rookies I determined to take no credit in the last victory though I had clearly hit the Hun aircraft. To say the least I was impressed by their performance; they’d shown perseverance in the face of adversity and prevailed.
It was a somewhat melancholy flight back to base for me. The FE looked to be a superior aircraft; faster and with the multiple firing arcs deadly. It wouldn’t be long before my little Scout would be retired from the field. Still, I held out hope that some breakthrough would breathe new life into the type’s performance.
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