OTTED Mission 13: The Hunter in the Skies! - Jan 15th 1917
Darkness had fallen on a crisp January day. The men were huddled over their beers in the mess, quietly contemplating the day. Several missions had been flown and one had not yet returned. The mood was always dark while waiting for all to return home.
Rolf chirped with a sad hope, “Egon most likely had landed at another aerodrome, he’s never kept good watch on his fuel and probably ran out”.
Silence was the reply.
Just before turning in Hermann looked out through his window pane and could make out the eerie shapes of the clouds in the dark cold night. The same clouds that had cheered his spirits as he had playfully flown around them earlier this afternoon.
In the morning a cold hard rain grounded the early patrols.
Egon had not come in during the night.
A rumble outside, the sound of a motorcycle, pulled up to the mess entrance. A dispatch rider brought word of a great battle between two dueling knights late yesterday
over Haraumont...”I saw it, it was incredible’” he went on telling the tale.
Egon was on his way back home after an eventless flight. He had only seen two presumably enemy planes too far away to engage. The sun was getting low in the west behind him.
In his rear view mirror he thought he saw a brief glint. A bright sparkle of light. Turning around he saw nothing. The hair on the back of his neck stood up and he felt that something was wrong. Turning around again he saw a plane closing in on his tail. Egon knew it wasn’t friendly as it had three wings. There were no German planes like that.
Egon carefully kept the plane in his mirror as he flew straight. He didn’t want to let on he knew... Now to get the timing just right... Egon did a reversal and caught the Englander by surprise! His bullets tore into the triplane with cold accuracy.
As they passed close by each other Egon did not see a panicked face, but one quite collected and focused looking back at him.
Both circled trying to gain an advantage. Egon had heard that this Drideker was very nimble so he put some distance between him and his foe before turning back.
“Better be careful with this one’” he thought.
The triplane also went wide and disappeared behind a cloud. The cagy Englander did a reversal when out of sight so to come back faster than expected.
When the triplane came in fast from the cloud Egon almost didn’t see him coming. A quick swerve and they both missed their marks.
Another close pass, this time the Englander didn’t look.
Egon did a quick Immelmann and got right on the Drideker’s tail but could not hit him as it darted around like a hummingbird.
Staying on his tail Egon was sure he could not have missed, but somehow the Drideker didn’t seem effected at all by a long burst into it. (lucky git!)
The triplane turned into a cloud and was gone. Egon knew what he could expect. Keep an eye on that cloud...
The triplane was a lot faster than Egon’s Albatros DI, it was on him too quickly for him to line up a shot. Neither of them got a shot off as they raced by each other.
Egon again quickly Immeled and caught the Englander in the tail, and once again the triplane was gone into a cloud.
Egon thought these Englanders must be able to see through the clouds since they live in them back in Briton.
This time he reversed immediately and caught Egon’s tail.
As bullets were ripping into the Albatros Egon Immeled right into the triplane’s face. Both scored serious hits and Egon’s guns jammed.
Time for Egon to use a cloud to hide while he unjammed his guns.
As he came from behind the cloud with guns ready, Egon didn’t expect to see the triplane and his hasty burst missed.
More circling and circling. To Egon’s surprise he got a quick solution and squeezed off a fast round, only to miss again.
The tricky Englander reversed and hurt the Albatros bad. Egon began to worry about this pilot. His long range accuracy was scary.
Cutting in too close Egon missed a collision by a whisker as both pilots yanked hard left on their sticks. The stress was almost too much on both planes as both were badly damaged by the duel. (both have 4 points left)
As the triplane cut behind Egon, Egon Immeled but could not get a clear view as the triplane was half covered by the cloud’s mist.
The triplane returned the favor and reversed only to see the Albatros fade into the cloud.
Egon aggressively turned back a again could not believe he missed? Is this plane bulletproof?
They both peel away from each other. Egon hopes the Englander is going home but in the distance he sees him reverse again.
Egon swipes some water from his windscreen so he can see the Englander better.
“This pass will count”, he tells himself.
And count it does as the Englander’s aim hits fully and the Albatros is shredded. The plane goes down fast and Egon cannot get it under control.
The triplane follows Egon down and watches as he slams straight into the earth.
The dispatch rider, seeing the close camaraderie in an air unit, didn’t know how to tell them that their friend had died in the crash. He handed the report to Obltn Büttner and with his head down quickly left.
Butcher’s Bill
RTB 1 kill
Ltn Egon Becker SD 0 kills
dr 3 - 1 = 2 = KIA
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Well what can I say?
Originally Posted by Flying Officer Kyte
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