Verdun, Been-dun more like it AAR to follow!
Mission 12: French assault at Verdun
Verdun, Been-dun more like it AAR to follow!
See you on the Dark Side......
Bad day for the Hun was it Neil?
Pyrrhic victory for both sides. AAR to follow shortly.
See you on the Dark Side......
Sounds like a bit of a blood-bath then Neil
They think it's all over
I'm learning to fly, but I ain't got wings
Coming down is the hardest thing
I hope not Paul.Originally Posted by tikkifriend
They think it's all over
Rob.
"Courage is the art of being the only one who knows you're scared to death."
Nearly but not quite, AAR tomorrow.
See you on the Dark Side......
OTT ED Mission 12 - French assault at Verdun 15th December 1916
Six days ago over 800 French artillery pieces began a massive bombardment and have already fired nearly one million shells, directed by observation aircraft of the Aéronautique Militaire. They have suffered heavy losses to enemy aircraft, and there are too few aircraft left to provide observation for all the batteries on this final morning.
The Bulldogs have been tasked to support the final, massive, artillery bombardment scheduled to start at dawn (approximately 8.30am). This must silence the priority targets of enemy redoubts and underground bunker entrances before the assault by four French divisions, which will commence at 10am.
Two observation aircraft are to spot for the batteries tasked with destroying two key German redoubts, and two scouts are to provide escort to ensure that they can complete their mission.
Von Biettrutoffen looked around at the gathered pilots. He hid his thoughts well but his shoulders slumped as reality started to kick in, ‘Mein Gott, how am I supposed to lead these into combat again? Since the French push started My Eagles are overstretched. Only Fettlemeir and myself are veterans, Rikard Wagner has 1 sortie under his belt. Pah, sortie, it was a massacre! 3 of myexperienced pilots in hospital, now I have a new pilot to worry about, Jacob Strauss, 6 hours flying experience in an Albatros and none in combat!’. The CO straightened his shoulders and again pointed to the map before continuing.
“OK, the French have observation aircraft all along the front. Our two observation aircraft are at this moment directing counter battery fire here. The French are concentrating their efforts here, against Brunhilde and Sigfried, the two strongpoints in this sector. I now have intelligence that the Royal Flying Corps are taking over this sector and we are going to give them a welcome they won’t forget. Rikard you will fly wing support for Fettlemeir and Jacob you stick to me like glue. Ok, take off in 10 minutes, get ready.”
Not a million miles away a similar briefing was taking place in the Bulldog’s command hut. “Right chaps, seems the Frogs have taken a pasting and want our help directing their artillery against these two German strongpoints, here and here. We’ll have our battery liaison working on the ground so everything should be tickety boo. Now the dastardly hun might put in an appearance but we’ll have them. Captain Boneface and Lieutenant Rigby will be joining you in their brand new VII’s. Faster and more agile than the Albatros and they will keep the Hun off your back so you can concentrate on calling in the artillery on those positions. Now, Martin and Johnston, sorry about the Fee but the other Harry is out of commission since George pranged the under carriage with his hopscotch routine! Irvine and Hamilton you’re flying the other Harry. Now don’t prang that one it’s our last serviceable one. Right off you jolly well go and remember the Bulldog spirit, stiff upper lip and all that Tommy Rot.”
That said the 6 aircrew trouped outside to their respective aircraft and took off into the early gloom of dawn.
"Sgt Irvine are we taking that bloody dog with us again?" Asked Lt Hamilton as they went through their regular routine again, "He can sniff out a Hun scout, he's our lucky mascot Sir". "Alright but this is definitely the last time. "Of course Sir", replied Irvine with a wink.
The FE was the first to lumber into the air.
An hour after the British took off the German quartet, posing for a picture beforehand, took off to rendezvous with the RFC.
Boniface (5) signalled and both He and Rigby banked together.
Hamilton could see the 2 Albatros approaching but told Sgt Irvine to keep on plotting and recording for the artillery.
Meanwhile Fettlemeir and Rikard were closing on their prey the FE2b, piloted by Martin.
Biettrutoffen and Strauss bit off more than they could chew as Hamilton and Irvine in the rear opened their account.
Boniface and Rigby split to cover the 2 seaters.
As Biettrutoffen miss timed his dive the RE8 slowed but Strauss took advantage and fired just past his Co’s nose and into the RE8. Boniface closed in for a kill!
Sgt Irvine lined up on the Albatros of Biettrutoffen. Bietrutoffen was not to be lured into a hail of bullets and dived. Irvine cursed as his bullets missed the Albatros of Biettrutoffen but thudded into Strauss’s instead. Jacob was stunned the engine of his Albatros just blew up, blew up! The Albatros began to spin as the inexperienced pilot froze! 2 minutes later the Albatros slammed into the ground behind the German rear trench line.
Coming out of his dive von Biettrutoffen realised he was too close to the RE8 and his plane was riddled by the rear ,as he hammered rounds into the nose of the RE smoke started to pour out of his engine.
Young Rigby was in the thick of it keeping the 2 Hun’s off the FE. Martin kept turning the FE and Johnston kept calling the fire in on the strongpoint. Rigby lined up on the closing DIII and fired a burst into the diving Hun. Rikard saw the incoming Spad but couldn’t divert away as the round thudded into the fuselage and into the cockpit. Luckily nothing vital was hit, then he noticed blood running down his leg. Damnation he got me.
Boniface flipped the agile Spad over to follow Biettrutoffen as he laboured the Albatros, smoke streaming from the engine, into its own Immelman. Sgt Irvine tapped Lt Hamilton on the shoulder and shouted what was up as the RE turned for home job incomplete. Then he noticed the flapping canvas on the wings and the Harry Tait was juddering along instead of its normal steady and level platform. Irvine gave him the thumbs up. Home it was and hopefully a safe landing.
Fettlemeir and Rikard both turned to keep the FE in their sights as the Spad flipped over .
Attachment 172645
Attachment 172645
Rikard was not doing too well as the front gunner on the FE stood up and fired over the top wing. Bullets slammed into his engine and smoke began to pour from the engine.
As Rikard flipped over the tighter turning FE was already passed him and the observer was pouring more bullets into
his DIII. Smoke turned to fire he looked in horror but put the DII into a steep dive.
Rigby was shepherding his FE, Rikard was diving on fire, Fettlemeir was circling back towards the FE as Boniface turned to intercept. Biettrutoffen’s DII was battered, bruised and not flying well as he decided to head back for base. Hamilton and Irvine relaxed, they were in the clear now all they had to do was land the badly damaged RE.
Fettlemeir, alone and facing the FE and Spad, launched a final foray at the FE. Rigby saw the move too late and too far to intervene effectively. Rigby watched the Hun pilot take aim and fire a long sustained burst into the FE as he fired a long range shot at the Hun. The FE’s engine stopped and Martin glided the FE down just behind the British front line trenches.
Biettrutoffen caught Boniface napping as he came out of a turn but he knew he had to get his damaged Albatros home.
Fettlemeir realised he was alone and facing 2 enemy Spad’s. He deftly flipped the Albatros by instinct between the Spad’s and tried to make his escape.
Boniface turned the Spad on a sixpence lined up and fired, Fettlemier was hit in the sholder as his out of control Albatros spun earthward.
Rikard was fighting against time as his burning Albatros refused to lose height. Blinded by smoke and flame he was unaware as his plane hit the ground and he was catapulted out of the cockpit.
Biettrutoffen saw the field and prepared to land his badly damaged albatross. For the 2nd time the Bulldogs had hammered his fledglings into the ground.
Butchers Bill
Lt Sidweg Fettlemeir SD/FT/WIA/1 kill
Oblt Biettrutoffen RTB
Lt Jacob Strauss SD/EXP/KIA
Lt Rikard Wagner SD/FLM/FT/WIA (2nd wound is a fire dam card)
Strongpoints
North: 5 points
South: no damage
Captain Boniface Liberace RTB/1 kill
Lt Rigby RTB
Lt Martin/Lt Johnston SD/FT/Johnston 1 kill
Lt Hamilton/Sgt Irvine RTB/Sgt Irvine 1 kill
SUMMARY
1. I got hammered...again!
2. Dave I have a raft of pilot names which I will send to you or post into the spreadsheet.
3. All I need are the rolls now Dave.
4. Oh, and a brilliant scenario to fly.
5. French push stopped before it began.
6. Pyrrhus would be proud!
Last edited by Lt. S.Kafloc; 08-05-2015 at 01:06.
See you on the Dark Side......
Nooooooo !or post into the spreadsheet
Saw it Neil - tidied up and annotated - man those gunners gave your boys a hard time again, what a set to ! Your boys took a beating but they got the job done and saved the day - Well done
Scores on the doors:
Ltn Sidweg Fettlemeir SD/FT/WIA/1 kill: Rolled 8 -1WIA -1SD = 6 Injured - Skip 1D3 Scenarios: Rolled 1 = skip 1
Ltn Rikard Wagner SD/FLM/FT/WIA: Rolled 8 -1WIA -2FLM = 5 Injured - Skip 1D3 Scenarios: Rolled 5 = Skip 3
Strauss' family get his Wound Badge in black.
Looks like The Tommi had a rough landing !
P.O. 2Lt Herbert Martin SD/FT/ 0 kills: Rolled 5 -1SD = 4 Severely Injured - Skip 1D6 Scenarios: Rolled 5 = Skip 5
F.O. 2Lt George Johnston SD/FT/1 kill: Rolled 8 -1SD = 7 Bruised - Skip 1 Scenario
Last edited by flash; 08-05-2015 at 04:39.
Sapiens qui vigilat... "He is wise who watches"
Just flew 14, good job I didn't lose Fettlemeir and Wagner! Somehow I have misplaced 13!
See you on the Dark Side......
Well that certainly was a hammer and tongs action Neil.
The chaps on both sided gave a good account, but you certainly stopped their little game.
Well done.
Rob,
"Courage is the art of being the only one who knows you're scared to death."
Well that was certainly full of Flames, Fire & Shot Neil.
I think you were lucky to loose only one Pilot but at least your Eagles did their job.
Some great pics in that AAR. Loved the "fiery" FE.
Great AAR, Neil. I too liked the Fiery Fee.
Also liked the other photos you inserted - makes the story all the more interesting.
Al I have to add is "at least you didn't JAM"
Quite a costly do all round really.
The extra pics you put in really add to the story as the others have said.
still on the up side, all the jolly Tommys made it home
ah, not an up side for you is it
comiserations then
Quite a costly do all round really.
The extra pics you put in really add to the story as the others have said.
still on the up side, all the jolly Tommys made it home
ah, not an up side for you is it
comiserations then
Oh there were plenty of jams, on both sides, just missed out a lot of the mundane action took over 70 pics too.
Neil
Great AAR, Neil. I too liked the Fiery Fee.
Also liked the other photos you inserted - makes the story all the more interesting.
Al I have to add is "at least you didn't JAM"
See you on the Dark Side......
A costly victory for the Eagles! What a battle.
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