Lt Ben Downe was rightly nervous - in spite of a recent good showing by the Bulldogs other squadrons had not fared nearly so well in the recent weeks - Albatrii were becoming common place and although they were not overly manoeuvrable they were solid and boasted twin Spandaus which was enough to give anybody a bad day. In order to bring newcomers on quickly, once they had had a short period of orientation, it was decided that the old hands amongst the Bulldogs would take a couple under their wing and take them on their first patrols over the lines. Ben had serious doubts that this was going to help but orders were orders and so it was that he led two newcomers over the lines this day. On his left was Chris Cross and on his right was Doug Graves, two brand new pilots not long from Blighty.
Ben smiled ruefully as he mulled their names over in his head, Cross and Graves ... Now that can't be a good omen.
He'd warned them both before takeoff "Stick to me like glue and if we bump into anything that looks like trouble then run like fun for the lines"
Shortly after crossing the lines Downes' worst nightmare came true - high above them a huge formation of Albatrii appeared and as half a dozen of them made a move for them he turned his charges for home
Downe was only halfway through his turn when the first bullets came crashing through his airframe from the lead Hun -
The chap to his left didn't do much damage but the chap on his right had a better eye and the Nieuport staggered under the onslaught from his Spadaus
As Downe completed his turn the lead Hun and his accurate wingman dived behind him - the other chap must have been a little higher...Spandaus chattered once more, a dull woomf from the engine and a flash of fire and smoke signalled all was not well with the Nieuport
As Ben Downes' Nieuport is consumed by flame and subsides toward the ground Pütz lets fly at Graves and damages his controls
Downes' tattered, flaming Nieuport falls away
Having slipped by the D.II's Graves gets a hot welcome from the closing D.III's - Strünklenberg's first rounds smashing into the Pup's rotary engine causing it to splutter and emit a thin white smoke
Graves misjudges his sharp right turn and collides with one of the onrushing D.III, in spite of the loud crack he heard he appears to be undamaged - Gustav Klaiber is not so lucky and a vibration from his lower right wing is slightly worrying..
Graves' luck runs out almost immediately as the next D.III opens fire - its devastating fire ripping through the Pup and sending it plunging toward the ground. Strünklenberg's claim will be ratified by the Oberleutnant on his tail
Cross meantime adds to the chaos in front of him - his first long range shot ripping splinters and fabric from Klaiber's D.III as it deflects from the collision with the Pup.
(I missed a shot from Klaiber here but he had his hands full staying in the air ! It wouldn't have changed the outcome)
Cross sees his comrade fall and resolves to escape no matter what - as he charges through the German formation Strünklenberg makes an effort to claim a second with a snap shot but no serious damage is done.
Cross's luck holds as he scythes though the D.II's - the D.III's have all made reverses but all are too low and cannot get their noses up for a shot at him as he crosses their front
As a dark cloud passes Cross breaks free and clear of the Huns - they won't catch him now and he dives for the lines anxiously glancing behind him
Butchers Tally:
Left to Right:
Ltn Gustav Klaiber RTB / 0 Kills 8 damage
Obltn Paul Kunz (rear), RTB 0 Kills
Ltn Konrad Strünklenberg RTB / 1 kill (Graves' Pup)
Ltn Helmut Fichter (rear) RTB / 0 Kills
Ltn Johann Raesh RTB / 1 Kill (Downe' N.17)
Ltn Richard Pütz RTB / 0 Kills
Left to right:
2Lt Chris Cross (Green) RTB / 0 Kills
Lt Ben Downe SD FLM ET / 0 Kills
Rolled: 9 -2FLM = 7 Bruised - Skip 1 Scenario
E&E Rolled 9 -1BEL -1WIA -1FLM = 6 In hiding! - Skip 1D2 Scenarios - Rolled 1 = Skip 1 Scenario. Total Skips 2
2lt Doug Graves (Yellow) SD EXP ET / 0 Kills
Rolled 6 - 3EXP = 3 Severely Injured - Skip 1D6 Scenarios. Rolled 6. E&E Rolled 2 -1WIA -1 BEL = 0 Captured! The war ended for this pilot...
Well there it is - a near massacre but a tale worth telling !
I used my altitude rules, shot peg to peg as usual - I rolled for slight differences in altitude for all the aircraft and for which way the Brits turned in the first turn.
The decision process for the Rookies was resolved with a D8:
1-2: Obey orders and run for home
3-4: "I didn't come all this way without having a shot at Jerry" Pilot will make a successful shot (ie causes damage) and then run !
5-6: "I say, that's not sporting" Will run once he has sustained some damage !
7-8: "Orders be damned I'm here to fight!"
-1 or +1 to the second pilots roll depending on outcome.
Cross rolled 3 - squirt and run
Graves rolled 8 (+1) - go for it !
I have played this without the Brits turning in the first turn and that makes for a whole different game which was not Johns intent !
Enjoy it, embrace it and pray for zeroes !
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