OTT The Early Doors Mission 4 - Verdun - 21st April 1916 - by rkwright
The Eagles Aerodrome just before Dawn
A group of pilots sat in the squadron planning room yawning, it was very early. A log burned in the large fireplace and brought some welcome warmth on this cold morning. Just to the left of the fireplace was a large map pinned to a board and the planning officer was just coming to the end of the morning briefing.
“So that’s it, get in and get out before the big push starts, believe me you don’t want to be over there when all our shells arrive” The planning officer laughed. There was no response from the floor just tired determination.
The squadron had been tasked with locating the enemy HQ and Arty positions prior to a massive push in the Verdun area. Fwbl Jonas Dopfer was to fly the spotter with Lt. Fredi Feazel as his Observer, they were to be escorted by Lt.s Alexander Wessel and Daniel Hagen.
It was a quiet transit for the three aircraft, dawn was breaking and a thick layer of fog was covering the ground.
Around the target area a flight of two British planes patrolled flown by 2nd Lt.s Stanley Hamilton and Eric Walkerdine.
As Jonas approach he saw what lay ahead just above the fog, three enemy balloons.
Unknown to the Eagles one of the new Halberstadt DII was shooting up the enemy balloons.
It wasn’t long before the British scouts found him. There was a brief exchange of fire and Stanley jerked as a German bullet entered his shoulder.
Once passed the enemy scouts the unknown pilot continued to harass the enemy balloons.
Alexander approached the centre balloon and fired…… damn it was a perfect shot….well it would have been had his gun fired….. he looked frantically for the problem.
Alexander was even more bemused when he saw smoke coming from the enemy balloon.
Unseen by the Eagles the unknown pilot continued pouring lead into the balloons.
The Eagles concentrated on the centre balloon but to no avail. Daniel cursed as his gun jammed. The fog was slowly turning to mist.
Jonas finally managed to sting the centre balloon, that was when he noticed one of their new Halberstadts shooting the South balloon, he pointed it out to Fredi. They had not been briefed that another aircraft was in the area.
Jonas flew close to the South balloon and opened up just as the mysterious Halb did the same. They were both rewarded as smoke appeared around the balloon.
Fredi smiles as he saw both balloons catching fire.
Fredi’s smile was short lived as a bullet fired from below entered his leg. The mist had cleared.
Suddenly Daniel came face to face with Stanley and an angry exchange of shots followed.
Alexander exchanged fire with Eric and got the better deal.
Jonas spotted the enemy HQ and flew towards it. As he flew close he shouted “Did you get it? Did you get it Fredi?” There was no reply, he looked round and was shocked to see Fredi slumped over the camera. That was when a hot poker entered Jonas’s shoulder and he nearly lost control of the plane.
Unseen by anyone the mysterious Halb pilot left the battle.
The Balloons continued to burn. There was a huge explosion and the South balloon plummeted to earth.
Jonas turned for home, with his shoulder only grazed he managed to fire on the North balloon.
Jonas continued to pour lead into the balloon and didn’t see the enemy aircraft which almost collided with him.
Daniel took careful aim and fired at the British scout that was very close to their spotter.
The infantry looked up and saw a British plane that appeared to be in trouble, it was jerking left and right, they hoped the pilot was ok and would get home safely. Little did they know that the crew of the plane were the notorious ‘Northern Nutters’. The pilot Sgt Neil Narkson and his Observer 2nd Lt. Bud Bayly were returning from a successful spotting mission and as always were celebrating with a few bottles of brown stuff. As always they chucked their empties over the enemy trenches. This time they had found a full one and both had a hand on it. A tug of war ensued both claiming it was theirs. Neil’s grip slipped and Bud fell back, his elbow smashed into the camera and dislodged it, he made a grab for it and cursed as both camera and bottle fell to earth.
Jonas continued home taking fire from enemy trenches.
Alexander out-maneuvered the enemy scout, then opened fire ripping the enemy apart. Eric hung on as his planed spiralled into the ground.
Daniel poured fire into the burning balloon and tried not to get too close in case it exploded.
Jonas’s shoulder was hurting now and he struggled as his plane was hit once again by rifle fire. A few shots must have hit the engine and it started to cough and misfire.
After a lot of shouting and swearing the ‘Northern Nutters’ had decided to land and look for the camera. Having gone in different directions they finally arrived back at their plane.
“Did ya find it” Bud asked
“No, did you?” Neil replied
“No, what’s that behind your back?” Bud said sharply
“Oh this, it’s a bottle of French plonk, I think the farmer left it for me” Neil said innocent like.
“Damn, how are we going to get out of this one?” Bud said.
Neil, always the practical one, took out his revolver and emptied the magazine into the camera mounting.
“There now we can say the bloody Germans shot it off” Neil said with a grin on his face.
Bud grinned and they got back into their plane.
Jonas’s plane had lost some altitude and this was giving the trenches a great target, more lead came up and Jonas was dismayed to see flames start to appear.
Daniel strafed the trenches, trying to take the heat off Jonas.
Alexander seeing the other two making for home did likewise. Suddenly his world exploded as artillery shells pounded his aircraft.
Alexander now felt the wrath of the trenches as leaking oil caught fire.
Both German pilots hoped that burning balloon didn’t explode now.
Jonas fought the fire as more bullets came up from the trenches.
Daniel exchanged fire as he crossed the trench system.
As Alexander was approaching the last trench he was surprised to see an enemy two seater approaching, without hesitation he fired but failed to hit it.
Almost home, Jonas and Daniel thought as bullets came up from the ground but failed to find their mark.
As the ‘Nutters’ passed Alexander’s plane Bud let loose a full magazine and watched as the Eindecker spiralled towards the ground followed by an empty wine bottle.
Daniel shouted encouragement to Jonas who was finally getting his fire under control.
The Butcher’s Bill
Fwbl Jonas Dopfer / RTB / WIA / All well when you land well!
http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/4631133/
Lt. Fredi Feazel / RTB / WIA / Injured - Skip 2 Scenarios
http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/4631134/
http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/4631137/
Lt. Alexander Wessel / FLM ET / 1 Kill / Injured - Skip 1 Scenarios
http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/4631151/
http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/4631153/
Captured! The war ended for this pilot...
http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/4631156/
Lt. Daniel Hagen / RTB
Unknown German Pilot / RTB
2nd Lt. Eric Walkerdine / EXP / Bruised - Skip 1 Scenario
http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/4631162/
2nd Lt. Stanley Hamilton / RTB / WIA / Severely Injured - Skip 4 Scenarios
http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/4631165/
http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/4631166/
Sgt Neil Narkson / RTB
2nd Lt. Bud Bayly / RTB / 1 Kill
North Balloon
Centre Balloon
South Balloon / EXP
Mission Result – Failed
Well what a ding dong, can’t believe the trenches took out my Observer and caused me to fail, they are a nasty bunch. As for Arty, one shot and massive damage. This was a really enjoyable scenario, thanks for creating it and sorry for the lateness.
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