Early Doors Mission 6: "Oh Canada"-- the Battle of Mount Sorrel -- 8th June 1916
Early Doors Mission 6: "Oh Canada"-- the Battle of Mount Sorrel -- 8th June 1916
“Karl I want you to escort Jacob and Feldwebel Maas in the Rumpler on a very important mission. Our observation balloons have noticed a lot of activity in this area”, Biettrutoffen pointed at a location near Ypres on the map. “Intelligence believes this to be a forward ammunition dump for their artillery. They also believe that with a dump this close to the front line the enemy must be preparing for a major offensive to counter ours that finished two weeks ago. Questions?”
“Why just two planes sir, surely the whole squadron would be more suited for this one?”
“We don’t want to attract to much attention that a large formation of aircraft would bring. We feel that two aircraft would have more success where more would fail.”
“Understood, sir. We’ll leave just before dawn tomorrow and catch the Tommies with their pants down, Ja?”
“Very good Karl, very good. Remember no heroics, just get in, bomb the target and get out. Protect the Rumpler. Now get a good nights rest and good luck for tomorrow.”
“Sir.” A swift salute and Leutnant Toffeleiter left the Co’s office.
Not too many miles away, two British pilots were discussing tactics in the officers mess of 52 Squadron. Look Harry I know it’s your first OP but the Co has given you this as it’s a doozie, nothing to worry about. We fly over the Canadian sector near Ypres, stoogey around a bit looking like we know what we are doing, then back home for a spot of late breakfast. What can go wrong? Eh? I ask you, what? Then you’ll have broken your duck and got a patrol under your belt. Well on your way, to being a flying veteran of the Bulldogs, what!” Percy slapped Harry on the back before shouting to the mess orderly for another two glasses of Old Tom.
Young Harry McKenzie was not feeling confident. He had only been in Belgium for 3 days and his stomach was doing cartwheels at the thought of flying a real combat mission never mind the endless stream of gin Percy was making him drink, even with a ‘combat veteran’ like Percy.
2lt Percy Burton waved to his wingman that he should peel off right. Young Harry carefully banked the N16, a plane he was not too familiar with, to the right as indicated by Percy. He failed to notice the approaching two dots in the distance.
Leutnant Strum tapped Maas on the shoulder and pointed to the target area. Maas gave him a thumbs up and prepared to sideslip right to line up for their run. Leutnant Toffeleiter was gauging his approach as he saw the two enemy planes split up.
Maas side slipped right and then adjusted again to line up for a run on the target. Toffeleiter had banked right then swung in left to take on the N11 approaching the Rumpler head on but miss timed his approach as the N11 suddenly filled his forward sight but too close to fire at. Maas had no such misgivings and let rip with the newly installed front machine gun. Smoke started to billow out of the N11’s engine. Percy hoped it was only smoke and that it wouldn’t turn into flames. Harry panicked as the Rumpler flew across his gun sight and he pressed the gun lever, hoping his bullets would find the intended target. Leutnant Strum calmly swung his parabellum fully left and took careful aim before finring off a short well aimed burst. He was rewarded by watching a line of bullet holes appear in theN16’s fuselage and wing.
Both German planes streaked passed the British pair. They attracted some ground fire from previously hidden AA machine guns but they were wide of their mark. The Rumpler pressed on to the target and Strum prepared the first of his bombs.
Percy cursed the smoke as it obscured his vision. He looped over and headed back towards the two German aircraft. As he completed his loop the smoke cleared and he saw to his dismay that Harry was directly in front of him. A collision was inevitable; Percy’s prop thudded into Harry’s tail section before both pilots could separate.
To his dismay Harry seemed to slow and turn to the left. Percy could not miss another collision. This time his prop hit the N16 hard; hard enough for the smoking engine to catch fire. To make matters worse a piece of prop broke off and struck him in the head. Harry had his own problems as he felt the impact and his controls weren’t responding as he wished. Fearing the N16 was about to fall out of the sky he decided to break off the combat and head for home.
Jacob was concentrating, not on firing but on dropping his bomb on the target. He let go of the heavy bomb and tapped Maas on the shoulder and indicated he should fly straight, loop back for a second run on the target. Jacob got another thumbs up. Although Maas was a Feldwebel he was a damn good pilot and put the plane wherever it needed to be.
Kurt was attracting fire from a second AA MG position. As the Rumpler slowly immelmanned back towards the target, now on fire. Percy had had enough he throttled forward throwing caution to the wind and sped headlong towards the Rumpler. Maas watching the enemy approach calmly waited for the right time to return fire as bullets thudded into the Rumplers sturdy airframe. He watched the fall of his long tracer shot and corrected his aim.
Percy, now on fire, let rip and saw the enemy pilot flinch. Hah he had hit him and he noticed small tendrils of flame shoot out of the engine cowling. His first kill he thought to himself. He was still thinking in those split seconds before Mass’ carefully aimed hail of bullets ripped through the N11.
Harry taking advantage of the ensuing fight between Percy and the Rumpler opened up but he had forgot to change drums and all he heard was click, click, click, click...click.
Karl was chancing his luck drawing ground fire away from the Rumpler as inevitably some bullets found their mark and started a small engine fire.
Strum ignored both the N16 and N11 as he prepared his last bomb. He tapped Maas on the shoulder and gave him a thumbs up and pointed east. Maas knew what that meant, head for home job done.
Strum looked behind as his second bomb hit the target and he watched the N11 succumb to the raging fire and spiral into the ground.
Harry nursed the stricken N16 back to the airfield. He was glad to have survived his first patrol but wondered where Percy was. After all he owed him a few drinks for looking after him on his first patrol. Harry would have a long wait.
The Butchers Bill:
Leutnant Karl Toffeleiter: Eindecker
8 damage/RTB (drew remaining fire damage)
Feldwebel Jurgen Maas: Rumpler: 11 damage/WND/RTB/1 kill (Drew remaining fire damage)
Leutnant Jacob Strum: Rumpler: Destroyed target/ RTB
2 Lt Percy Burton N11
10 damage/SD/FT/FLM/2 WNDS
2 Lt Harry McKenzie N16
9 damage/RTB
Ammunition Dump: 2 hits/Destroyed
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Well that was pretty brutal Neil. Lots of Fires & those two collisions really gave the Brits a pounding.
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