OTT ED Mission 12 - French Assault at Verdun 15th Dec 1916 (Entente - Archidamus)
The cold pre-dawn air of the Bulldogs' aerodrome was shattered by the roar of Le Rhône, Clerget and V12 engines as Captain Frank Palmer led a flight of two new Sopwith Pups, a Strutter and one of the new RE8's into the air on a heading for the German lines at Verdun.
The C.O. had briefed them all an hour earlier. "Right-ho chaps. Our French allies have been pounding the Hun positions at Verdun for the last week, and their observation aircraft have taken a fearful pasting from these new Albatros types. An assault by four French divisions is scheduled for 10am this morning, and your task is to get the French artillery zeroed in on two key strong-points so they can be silenced before that. Two words of caution - your old friends the Eagles are active over enemy lines, and there are reports of a new Albatros type."
The sun had just come up as the Bulldogs reached the target area. Frank and John Horton took their Pup's over the German lines, alert for enemy aircraft, whilst the two spotters commenced circling their respective objectives and made contact with the French artillery batteries.
Mark Thyme, just back from sick leave, had taken Tom Baker as his new observer following Norman Knight's tragic demise. He started circling the RE8 over the southern strongpoint, and Tom immediately began directing the French batteries
Algy Lacey and Bert Cockburn circled the northern strongpoint, and Bert also began directing the batteries assigned to this target.
Suddenly Frank's Pup rocked it's wings and both he and John crossed the lines to intercept the four Eagles coming towards them.
Horton found himself facing two D.II's, piloted by Karl Fleischer and Julius Gilly. John exchanged long-range fire with Fleischer, but was unable to prevent Gilly sliding past him towards the Strutter.
Frank found himself in a close range pass with Erich Jensen, and felt his Pup shudder as bullets shredded his tail - but was gratified to see the Albatros stagger as his own fire ripped through it's fuselage. Hübner was unable to get Frank in his sights, and headed towards the RE8.
Frank made use of the Le Rhône's rotary nature to make a tight right-hand turn onto Jensen's tail, and fired a punishing close-range burst into the D.II
Jensen made a frantic turn, trying to lose the Pup on his tail, but before he could slip out of Frank's sights his Albatros was riddled by another accurate burst. As he finally shook Frank off his tail, he realised that the D.II was crippled, and turned for home and safety.
Meanwhile, Hübner closed on the RE8 - his first burst of fire went wide
Over the northern strongpoint Algy saw Gilly's D.II in his sights, and snapped off a burst - but Fleischer had the Strutter in his sights, and his burst of fire damaged it's rudder.
A few seconds later Gilly's plane flashed across the RE8's nose, narrowly avoiding a collision - but Algy's evasive manoeuvres were enough distract Bert, who failed to observe the latest fall of shot below
Over the southern strongpoint Mark Thyme saw Jensen's D.II as he turned for safety, and managed a long-ranged burst of fire that caused more damage, even as Tom Baker continued to direct the French batteries on to the target below.
Frank Immelmanned, and immediately saw Jensen in his sights. His accurate attack set the D.II ablaze, and it fell to earth just behind the German lines. Frank watched as Jensen managed to pull the Albatros out of it's dive and make a controlled crash landing in a field - it looked as though he had survived!
Hübner had not been idle. He closed on the RE8, and his next burst of fire damaged it's rudder.
The two planes continued to close, and despite both pilot's attempts to avoid it the D.III and RE8 collided! Whilst Hübner's undercart suffered slight damage, the RE8's exhaust stacks were badly damaged and the engine began to misfire!
Bert abandoned his observing and grabbed his Lewis gun to shoot at Fleischer's D.II. After a few rounds the Lewis jammed - but not before the enemy plane began to trail smoke.
As the RE8 broke for home Tom Baker took a shot at Hübner's D.III, which found itself caught in a cross-fire from Frank - who was speeding back towards him. Frank's long-ranged burst started Hübner's plane trailing smoke.
Frank continued to close on the D.III, and his next burst of fire hammered the Albatros - which suddenly jerked as Hübner was wounded. Reeling from the blow, "Houdini" turned towards home
Over the northern strongpoint John Horton and Gilly make a head-on pass - both are damaged, but the Pup takes the worst of it. Meanwhile Bert abandoned his jammed Lewis and concentrated on directing artillery fire
Hübner once again managed to escape to safety as Frank headed for the Strutter in an attempt to ensure that at least one target strongpoint was neutralised. Before he could intervene Fleischer re-engaged the Sopwith, and caused it some minor damage
But this didn't stop Bert's continued effort's directing the French batteries, and their fire crept ever closer to their target
Suddenly John Horton's Pup and the Strutter nearly collided, a fate only avoided as he dived below Algy's plane. Both Algy and Frank managed to get Gilly in their sights, and his D.II took damage to the rudder
Algy kept firing, but his gun jammed before he could do more damage. Then the tables were turned - Gilly outmanoeuvred John Horton, and his accurate fire tore the Pup from the sky over the German lines. Fleischer got on to Frank's tail, and only some superb piloting on Palmer's behalf saved his Pup from severe damage.
He could not shake Fleischer off his tail, and the German's continued fire jammed the Pup's rudder
As it juddered in response, Frank had a last chance to bring down Gilly as his plane crossed in front of the Pup - but his aim was off and the D.II escaped undamaged
He was surprised to see the Albatros turn in front of him, and took advantage of Gilly's mistake to pound the D.II, causing it's engine to begin misfiring. As he did so, Bert finally managed to zero in the batteries on to the strongpoint.
Unable to turn due to rudder damage, Frank was unable to prevent Gilly's escape, and with the Strutter diving for home all the remaining combatants called it a day and headed for home.
The Bulldog's learned later that day that the remaining strongpoint caused the French assault to stall in this sector.
THE BUTCHER'S BILL
Capt. Frank PALMER: RTB / - / 1 Kill (Jensen)
2Lt. John HORTN: SD ET / - / 0 Kills
Crash Roll 7, -1 = 6 Injured Miss 3 Scenarios
E&E Roll 8, -1WND -1BEL = 6 In Hiding Miss 2 Scenarios [Miss 5 in total]
Lt. Mark THYME & Cpl Thomas BAKER: RTB / - / 0 Kill Mission Failure
2Lt. Algernon LACEY & Cpl Albert COCKBURN: RTB / - / 0 Kill Mission Success
Obltn. Hans "Houdini" HUBNER: RTB / 1 WND / 0 Kills
Crash Roll 6, +3RTB -1WND = 8 Bruised Skip 1 Scenario
Ltn. Erich JENSEN: SD FLM FT / - / 0 Kills
Crash Roll 12, -2FLM = 10 All's Well
Ltn. Karl FLEISCHER: RTB / - / 0 Kills
Ltn. Julius GILLY: RTB / - / 1 Kill (Horton)
Northern Strongpoint: Destroyed
Southern Strongpoint: Survived
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More plane survived than in most of my test runs. Wily "Houdini" escapes again, and I was pleased that Jensen managed to walk away from his burning plane.
Originally Posted by spindoc
That was a good effort against the odds Brian.
Beware the Eagles on the Wing! (& on your 6! 
)
You have quite the flock of German pilots, Hubner, Hahn, Jensen and now Gilly! Hope to see Hahn and Hubner teaming up again soon.
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