Mid July, the aerodrome was abuzz as new design planes were reaching the front. Two Halberstadt DIIs were arriving in Namur for the squadron and everyone was wanting to be the first to try them out. Hartwig was hounded with requests all day. Rolf claimed to have seen similar planes while on leave so he should get to fly. Arnold Neumann said he deserved to fly a single seater while Reinhardt Richter suggested a pilot with more experience like himself should bring one home.
Orders from above told Obltn Hartwig Alder that he and his best pilot were to have the first sortie for evaluation. Alder and his chosen man were to go to Namur in the morning.
Alder didn’t get to choose his man. The orders stated Ltn Büttner would be the other pilot at the request of KvL. “Ah, something is up”, thought Hartwig.
When Alder and Büttner arrived at the airfield in Namur they were greeted by Karl vonLinder.
“Herr Büttner, in gratitude for your action in saving my airship I would like to offer you this”. He swept his left hand wide and backed out of the way so Peter could see the decorated plane in the hanger behind him.
Hartwig slapped Peter on the back and almost knocked him over. “Ah, another orange plane for our tiger. The enemy will all soon know you”.
Peter didn’t know what to say and stuttered out a thank you.
“Obltn Alder, you too deserve something more than the factory finish from what I hear. This one is for you”.
“Vielen dank Kapitanleutnant, it will be an honor to fly this beautiful craft”.
vonLinder had to leave for a meeting but told Büttner he would be contacting him. A friend of his was an engineer in the aircraft industry and he would be eager to hear about their plane’s performances.
Hartwig gave Peter the details of the day’s flight. They would get the feel of their new planes for an hour or two, refuel, arm their weapons and have a pass at to the front before returning to the aerodrome. If they got into a little tussle, what could be a better way to test the new planes?
After their exercise they were both feeling confident with their new planes. “So much more agile than the Eindekers, how did we even fly and fight with them”? thought Peter.
Off they went and before they knew it the front came into view.
Heading east 2Lts Frank Barlow and William Tuffield were putting their new Nieuport 17s through some tests of their own.
“A noticeable improvement on the 11s, I could actually like this French plane”, thought Tuffy.
Frank waggled his wings to get Tuffy’s attention. He pointed at two spots ahead just behind the lines and motioned to have at them.
At the same time Hartwig and Peter saw the same thing.
As they neared the trenches both lines opened up, straight up at their own planes! Hartwig cursed, “Damn infantry don’t even know who we are”!
Tuffy screamed at the troops below even though he knew they could not hear him. His new plane was hit in the engine and started to smoke.
Hartwig’s plane was hit and smoke sputtered from the engine as oil sprayed along the fuselage. “Better get over the British trenches quick, I’d rather be shot down by them than by my own countrymen”, mumbled Hartwig.
Soon they were in range of their foes and lead flew across the sky. The troops on the ground stopped firing as they didn’t know who to shoot at.
Peter took great aim but his small target didn’t seem bothered while his plane was ripped by Barlow’s Lewis.
Hartwig was not noticeably hit but his smoke turned into a burst of flame. He didn’t see if he hit his mark.
With their planes smoking and burning Tuffy and Hartwig lost sight of each other and nearly collided.
The troops on the ground were cheering on their pilots even though they didn’t recognize who their own were.
Frank Immeled and caught the German by surprise. Peter felt a sting in his right leg.
With no idea where the other was, Tuffy and Hartwig tap each other’s wings in a ball of smoke and fire.
Tuffy broke back towards his lines to try to clear his smoke while Hartwig did the same with his fire.
Peter let his plane make a long gentle turn while he tied his scarf around his leg.
Hartwig’s fire kept eating away at his plane while more ground fire set Frank on fire!
While turning to keep the flames away Frank and Hartwig met and exchanged telling blows. Frank’s engine responded badly to the fire.
As Hartwig dealt with a fire and jammed guns Tuffy returned to the attack once his engine stopped smoking. Trying to sneak around a cloud, Tuffy found Hartwig a bit busy but missed his mark. Hartwig never saw Tuffy but heard his bullets zipping by all around him.
Peter took aim at Frank and did little damage but added to the flame’s fuel by hitting an oil line.
Hartwig, with more than enough trouble, heads for a cloud to lose the Englishman.
Peter used his new plane’s agility to line up a close clean shot but the pain in his leg distracted him from taking it. Frank notices his dilemma thinking he was done for but the tiger isn’t firing? He slips under his hunter and avoids being a target.
“Crap, I remember Tuffy saying that this orange plane comes right up on you and doesn’t fire. Is he stupid or so good he likes to toy with us”?
With his engine sputtering and on fire Frank makes for home.
Hartwig also heads for home as the fire is relentlessly eating away his plane.
Tuffy spots him exit the cloud and makes for him but just can’t quite catch him.
Peter sees Hartwig’s situation and turns in to help leaving the burning Englander to his fire.
(ground fire was a 2/no special damage on Büttner, forgot to place the card)
Peter uses a cloud to sneak up on Tuffy as he had done to Hartwig. He takes an aimed shot but misses, alerting Tuffy to his predicament.
Frank praying his fire goes out before its too late.
Tuffy and Peter eye each other thinking quickly how to get the advantage on each other.
Peter acts first and Immels but again the pain causes him not to be able to fire.
Tuffy figures he will lure the tiger in and spring his move...too slow!
Peter follows Tuffy for a few seconds regaining composure and makes his move and rips into the Nieuport.
The tiger tries to pounce but Tuffy’s Immel brings bot fliers to arms length.
As they both turn towards each other, eyeing each other carefully, both pull away.
Both Immel with the same plan of attack. Tuffy gets the better angle but Peter avoids Tuffu’s guns by a wisker.
As they once again pass closely Tuffy again wonders about the untaken shots.
Peter salutes his foe and heads for home. The Englander has flown well and Peter’s wound is hampering him more than he had hoped, so time to head home while his new plane is still in good shape...
Just as Peter reached friendly lines one last British marksman fires from the trenches.
Catastrophe! The fuel tank is hit and explodes tearing the plane apart. Peter spirals down into the German trenches....
Tuffy hears the shouts and cheers from the British trench line. Looking back over his shoulder he sees his nemesis falling down. Mixed feelings fill his heart. Not an honorable way to go.... but better him than me! Time to head back and see how Barlow fared.
Butcher’s Bill
Obltn Hartwig Alder RTB
2Lt Frank Barlow RTB
2Lt William Tuffield RTB
Ltn Peter Büttner SD EXP WIA NML
Ok Dave, I’ll let you roll this one for Herr Büttner! Will Büttner be the first ace to die in the campaign?
On the Butcher's Bill I put the ground fire upside down to tell it easier from all other damage cards.
Bookmarks