OTT Early Doors Mission 3 - Pricking the Sausage - 15th March 1916 by Tikkifriend
German Army HQ was furious, the British had an Observation Balloon in sector six and it was giving very precise artillery instructions. This will not be allowed to continue and an order was sent to destroy it, top priority.
Oberleutnant Fabian Moeller (Purple Eindecker) and Lt. Maximillian Biele (Blue Eindecker) were given the task to find and destroy the balloon at all costs.
The flight of Eindeckers crossed No-Man’s Land without incident and arrived in sector six. They had not been there long when Lt. Biele, who was flying above Obltn Moeller indicated he had found the balloon.
Lt Stanley Hamilton was patrolling the area and had just passed behind the balloon, he was just about to set course for the next sector when he glanced around and spotted the German planes approaching the balloon. Without hesitation he turned his Morane to engage.
At long range Lt. Hamilton open fired on the closest Eindecker. Unfortunately it was above him and the sun was in his eyes so his shots went wide.
Both Eindeckers either didn’t see him or ignored him, they both let rip at the balloon doing minor damage.
Both Eindeckers turned to avoid the balloon, that’s when they saw the Morane. Lt. Hamilton flew underneath Lt. Biele’s Eindecker and fired at Obltn Moeller’s Eindecker, which was slightly below him.
Obltn Moeller spotted the Morane and open fired. Suddenly his aircraft became uncontrollable, he hung on for dear life as his plane rapidly lost height. At the last moment he attempted to land it, but blacked out.
Lt. Hamilton found his plane had caught fire. As he tried to put out the flames he hadn’t realized his plane had turned towards the balloon.
The balloon observer saw the flaming Morane coming towards him and without a second thought he jumped.
Lt. Biele immelmanned and was puzzled, there was no sign of his wingman. He fired at the balloon but saw little damage.
Lt. Biele continued to strafe the balloon.
Suddenly Lt. Biele’s gun jammed.
Having successfully avoided a collision with the balloon Lt. Hamilton continued to fight the fire.
After clearing his guns and carrying out a split S, Lt. Biele saw the balloon was in his sights. He opened fire and was rewarded when he saw smoke start to appear at various points.
Lt. Hamilton finally got the fire under control.
Lt. Biele smiled as he saw the balloon fire start to spread.
He continued to fire at the balloon but his gun jammed again.
Having got the fire out, Lt. Hamilton dived on the Eindecker, releasing hot lead.
Suddenly and without warning, there was a tremendous explosion and what was left of the balloon fell to earth.
Lt. Biele was just pulling up into an immelmann when his plane was shredded and he heard a huge explosion behind him.
As Lt. Biele tried to gain control of his aircraft his world exploded. He had no chance as an artillery position opened up on him and the Morane poured hot lead into his beaten up plane.
The Butcher’s Bill
Obltn. Fabian Moeller / EXP / Severely Injured / Miss 4 scenarios
http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/4566748/
http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/4566784/
Escaping Enemy Territory - Landed almost home! - Skip 1 Scenario
http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/4566786/
Lt. Maximillian Biele / SD / Severely Injured / Miss 3 scenarios
http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/4566787/
http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/4566790/
Escaping Enemy Territory - In hiding! Miss 2 scenarios
http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/4566793/
http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/4566795/
British Balloon
Lt. Stanley Hamilton / RTB / 2 X Kills
Mission – Success (but costly).
A very interesting mission to fly, thanks Paul. A big thank you goes to John (JohnBiggles) who loaned me the British Sausage. I played using altitude and random starting positions. Well the mission was a success but at the cost of two of my Eindeckers and two good pilots severely injured. I hope German Army HQ are satisfied.
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