OTTED Mission 7 - skafloc - New Wings Over The Trenches - July 7th 1916
“I see we are down for the dawn patrol tomorrow Harry”. Young Robert Rigby said nervously.
“Don’t worry Robert, just stay on my wing. We’re patrolling along the front line for about 20 minutes then we turn for home. Just get used to flying the new planes. These new Nieuport 17’s are the tops when you consider what we used to fly”.
“You’re quite an old hand at this now Harry. Bet it was a bit rough in the 11’s and 16’s”?
“Well Robert, that as they say is another story, now to the mess. A few snifters of Old Tom and we’ll be set up for tomorrow eh” With that he gave the newly arrived pilot a pat on the back as they walked over to the mess chatting about Oxfords chances in the university cricket match against their rivals Cambridge.
Across the lines a similar conversation was taking place in the Eagles Mess.
“You have one patrol under your belt Adolf. Tomorrow we are finished our training on the new Halberstads. The squadron will take off in pairs and begin our first combat patrols after weeks of orientation flights. You being the newest pilot are paired with me as my wingman.” Oberleutnant Biettrutoffen finished his schnapps. “Get a good night’s rest, and perhaps we’ll catch Tommie asleep, eh?”
“Yes Herr Oberleutnant.” With a curt nod Adolf followed his Co’s directions and headed for bed. Biettrutoffen frowned on pilots binging the night before a patrol so he too bade the Mess a good night and was glad that all of his pilots downed their schnapps and they too headed for a good night’s rest. He was happy the way training had progressed and he was happy about the way the air war was going and was about to go. During the training weeks he had been summoned to a conference at headquarters where a young, but brilliantly minded tactician pilot, had devised a new concept for air warfare. Some of the squadron commanders were un-impressed but Ludwig had been. After the conference he had asked the pilot, Oswald Boelcke, to consider his group when he wanted to put his new ideas into action. Oswald had told him he still had a few ideas to iron out before rolling out his ‘grand plan’, but would keep Ludwig’s group in mind.
Roberts head hurt, he had drunk too much last night and had just been sick behind the hangar. He was dismayed that his stomach was now empty and what a waste of good bacon and eggs. But now he stood by his N17 waiting for Harry and his first patrol. Harry strolled across to his plane clapped him on the back and told him to get in and follow him.
It was not long after that Robert wondered why Harry was flying towards the front line trenches and not flying parallel to them. Their new aircraft received unwarranted greetings from their own trench line as bullets started whinging their way through the aircraft. Bad shots thought Robert just as a bullet smashed into his right foot. Damn, damn and double damn he thought.
A similar scene was happening opposite as Ludwig banked his aircraft and Adolf followed the German front line trenches erupted in small arms fire all directed upward at the unidentified, new aircraft flying above them.
Robert was scared as the firing intensified. He could see smoke pouring from Harry’s engine. He leaned over the cockpit and shook his fist to the ground below. ‘Don’t you know where on your side?’ he yelled into the biting wind.
The Halberstads were having the better time as the German ground fire , although hitting the planes was doing no dangerous damage. Harry had spotted the German aircraft, which he thought were Rumper 2 seaters and crossed the lines to engage. Robert not knowing any better and the pain in his foot ignored for now followed.
It was Adolf who got the first shots off and blasted Harry’s N11 as it flashed past, smoke streaming from the engine. Robert seeing the enemy aircraft loosed off a quick burst but missed.
The British trenches now realising their mistake switched their fire to Adolfs Halberstadt. The Germans likewise switched their fire to Roberts N17.
The air was full of bullets, ground fire and lewis gun fire from the N17’s. Ludwig’s aircraft was pouring smoke from the engine, Adolf was having difficulty with his rudder controls. Ludwigs close ranged burst thudded into the front of Roberts N17 and he felt a hard punch to his left shoulder as one of the Spandau bullets found it’s mark. Robert’s N17 spiralled earthward.
Adolf was in trouble. Harry had closed and one of his bullets had slammed into his right shoulder. Ground fire was intensifying.
Ludwig fired off a log range burst at a N17 and was rewarded with flames shooting out of the engine. Harry was now on fire and to make matters worse he pulled his gun lever blinded by smoke only to have the smoke clear and the enemy plane had banked right and he had missed.
Harry’s N17 succumbed to the extensive fire damage and plummeted to the ground.
Ludwig gave Adolf the let’s go home signal and both Halberstadts crossed the front line without attracting anymore unwanted attention.
Butcher Bill:
2Lt harry McKenzie N17
12 Damage/SD/FLM/FT (a British trench claims to have shot down a silver German plane)
2Lt Robert Rigby
6 damage/crashed/2WND/NML
Lt Adolf Richter
RTB/5 damage/WND
Oberleutnant Biettrutoffen
RTB/5 damage/2 kills
SUMMARY:
1. Another cracker to fly.
2. Trench fire was the British downfall.
3. A few mistakes but 3rd game in one day.
4. Halberstad's.....ooohhhh.
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Still after playing 3 games so close together I should forgive you 
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- we really must stop the ground-pounders shooting at us!
Originally Posted by gully_raker
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