Well, my brother, oldest son, and I have been running practice missions on a learn-as-you-go basis, adding additional rules and getting to know the system and our planes. Last night we kicked off with a 2 on 2 fighter sweep mission with a pair of AEF SPADs running down a pair of Albatros Dvs. We were using the Diceless solo decks to manage the maneuvers of the Allies to get a feel for that process. Net result was a 2-1 victory in facvor of the Central Powers with Ernst Udet claiming another victory, and Von Hippel claiming one before being downed in a fiery explosion; currently MIA.
The second mission was a more typical human v human, this time with a pair of DVs escorting a Halberstadt on a photo recon missions, being bounce by a trio of Nieuport 28s. It started badly for the Allies, with one Nieuport seemingly disengaging (the absent minded pilot selected a turn in the wrong direction) and two other running head on into the Jasta formation As soon as they were within firing range, all the Hun's fire focused on one Nieuport, riddling it with heavy damage but not dissuading its dedicated pilot. The 2 -seater plunged straight ahead while her escorts, misjudging their separation, turned in towards each other, colliding (to Zero damage as I later discovered!) while the two -28s chased the 2-seater. Meanwhile the third Nieuport had come around and was heading back into the fight at full throttle. A turning fight ensued between the Halberstadt and her pursuers as she gave and took hits. The DVs meanwhile had gotten untangled and were coming back around to re-engage.
The back seater got in a lucky burst on the already heavily damaged but persistent Nieuport and it disappeared in a bang and a flash. By this time the third Nieuport was back in range and circling for a tail firing solution. An exchange of fire between Nieuport 1 and the Haberstadt resulted in yet more damage to the Nieuport as the gunnery skills (aka luck of the B Deck draw) was phenomenal, with every hit doing major damage until the fragile scout could not maintain altitude and dropped out of sight.
The DVs were just getting back in range as the Halberstadt, still not able to set up for its photo run, was set afire by a burst from the last Nieuport. Focused on the 2-seater, the remaining Nieuport pilot couldn't see or flee the two Albatros' on his tail. Caught in the cross fire of the tail gunner of the seemingly invincible Halberstadt and two fighters on his tail, smoking, he lost altitude and dropped from the fight, but not before he saw the Halberstadt, burning fiercely, begin its final spiral.
A strategic victory for the AEF, but a tactically pyrrhic victory.
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