OTTED Mission 18 Mein Gotha !! - 13th June 1917

**tikkifriend** · 11-11-2015 10:25

The story so far....

RFC
Sgt Ray Stokes P Sgt Billy Marshal Ob F2B 'Q'
2nd Lt Paul Garnet P Sgt Sam Burton Ob F2B 'R'
Lt Jonty Gresham( DGC1) Ace Spad

Eagles
Fwbl Gustav Schumm P Ltn Oswald Schroeder Obs Rumpler
Vzfwbl Alfred Luer P Ltn Franz Werner Obs Roland.

The ground crew gathered round the 2 giant bombers.

Final checks were made before the crew climbed aboard to begin their long flight across the Channel to their target. London.

Engines fired up and the 2 leviathans lumbered down the grassy runway eventualy gaining enough lift ,allowing them to climb slowly towards the waiting fighter escort.
With dawn breaking the 4 planes turned towards the French coastline hoping that the low cloud would hide them. However they had not counted on the new listening device the Boffins at HQ had come up with.

They were detected some 60 miles from the port of Calais.

The Bulldogs , or at least 6 of them were at the RFC replacement depot airfield at Boulogne , having driven there in Jonty's new set of wheels. Ron Curtis had flown there in his replacement Spad . A couple of new 2 seaters fighters that someone had given the nickname of 'Biff's' had been allocated to them and they were keen to try them out.

Shouting from the Main office made Jonty put down his glass and slowly walk towards the wooden shack. He could clearly hear the Captain as he approached.

"Bombers you say, German passing over Bethune that's only 30 miles away. Are they heading for us?"

" Don't think so Sir", came the reply " Looks like Calais or even England " the Corporal's voice trailed off.
Jonty spun around and dashed back to his car and fellow pilots.

" Time to try out those new crates chaps, Couple of big bombers heading for Calais or Blighty but if we get a move on we can cut them off here." He pressed his finger on the map "Saint Omer, Easy to spot with all those railway lines and only 20 mins away.
The flight needed no further encouragement as they headed for their planes..........................

**Flying Officer Kyte** · 11-11-2015 12:38

Yes Paul. Yes...... what happens next!

Rob.

**Teaticket** · 11-11-2015 12:57

That big Gotha better land fast before it loses it's top wing.

**gully_raker** · 11-11-2015 14:10

You doing the "Teasing" thing too now Paul!

Looking forward to seeing how those "Biffs" fare.
I almost put one up myself but thought as Shawn suggested that as I was only flying one Gotha to only fly fighters.

**BB401** · 11-11-2015 18:37

OK. You have my attention. Continue, please!

**Stumptonian** · 11-11-2015 19:39

Great preamble, Paul.
Looking forward to the next installment.

**tikkifriend** · 11-12-2015 00:37

Originally Posted by Teaticket

That bottom Gotha better land fast before it loses it's top wing.

And thats beore we have a go at them

**gully_raker** · 11-15-2015 14:16

Where are you Paul?

Did you return from the Gotha mission or were you shot down

captured & now P.O.W.

**BB401** · 11-15-2015 14:40

Clearly, the results of the mission have been Classified.....

**tikkifriend** · 11-15-2015 15:22

sorry for the delay chaps. Real life took over and had to go back to UK via Paris on Saturday after the masacre Back by the end of the week so watch this space .

**tikkifriend** · 11-24-2015 05:43

Part 2 The RFC catch the Gothas

RFC
Sgt Ray Stokes P Sgt Billy Marshal Ob F2B Q
2nd Lt Paul Garnet P Sgt Sam Burton Ob F2B R
Lt Jonty Gresham DGC1 Spad F
Lt Ron Curtis Spad G
Lt Peter Hibbet D Aim Spad E

Eagles
Fwbl Gustav Schumm P Ltn Oswald Shroeder Obs Rumpler
VzFwbl Alfred Luer p Ltn Franz Werner Obs Roland.
.
As Gresham had predicted the Bulldogs spotted the Gothas as they approached Saint Omer.

Slipping in behind the enemy the trio of RFC planes dove down on the giants and their escort.
The Gothas began to weave left and right in a effort to throw off their attackers. It was the escorting planes that got the first rounds off.Shroeders bullets passed harmlessly by Stokes and Marshall (0) . Stokes saw the rudder splinter as his rounds struck home (2+LRD)

a further exchange saw both planes take damage.
Werner , the rear gunner in the Roland sprayed Jonty's Spad as it came within range, stitching the left wing fabric (3) before he slumped over his gun, blood gushing from his chest, silenced by Gresham's Lewis guns. (5+Pilot)
Garnet, his sights set on a Gotha, opened up the throttle in an effort to get within range.

With no rear guns to worry about Jonty concentrated on the Roland (2,0). The Gotha answered back (1)

Stokes watched the tracers hit the Rumplers engine (2+eng) Shroeders gun stuttered for a second (1+GJ)
Garnet fired, but the giant hardly felt it (0).

. Caught in the crossfire of 3 planes Garnet felt the rounds pound his plane (2,)+GJ,0,2) . Firing at the Roland in front of him he looked round to see Burton jerk as he was hit from the Rumplers guns (3+Pilot) Stokes could only watch in horror as the Gotha rear gunner pounded Garnets plane again (3)
Schumm, his engine slowly dying on him turned back and began to loose height.
Jonty turned away to chase down the escorts, leaving the better gunned Biffs to take on the Gothas, but not before getting in the the blind spot of the blue Gotha and hitting it with a short squirt(4)

Stokes closed in and a series of turns from Garnet brings him head to head with Luers Roland. A short accurate burst from the Biff and flames began to lick round the its fuselage. (2+Fire)

Passing close to the left Burton unleashed a deadly salvo into the Roland , which pitched violently and dropped like a stone. (4,2+GJ)

Checking the damage to the Biff Garnet decided to break off the persuit of the Gothas , Turning back towards Boulogne he spotted 2 Spads from the 52nd

The anxious citizens of Saint Omer had gathered to watch the passage of the German bombers as they flew over their picturesque town. They feared that they were the target but as the Hun planes passed over the centre of the town they realised that they were after a bigger target.

The Spad soon gained on the ailing Rumpler and within seconds it began its final decent to the ground assisted by some accurate fire from Gresham. Looking around Jonty saw the Gothas silhouette in the distance. .His chase of the Rumpler had drained his fuel to a dangerously low level ,but enough to get him to a friendly airfield.
Ron Curtis had watched from a distance. He and Hibbet had taken off later than the other 3 planes but had managed to catch them up.
Looking at the approaching bombers Ron signalled to attack them one at a time, hoping the concentration of fire would cripple these seemingly invincible giants of the sky.
Hibbet was first to fire, his rounds hitting the first Gotha before the Lewis jammed (2+GJ)

The Gotha front gunner was equally accurate, the gunner smiling as smoke belched from the Spad (1+Smoke)
Hibbet veered to the right to avoid a head on collision, only to be hit again (1,0)

Stokes guided his Biff towards the secod Gotha firing as he closed in (3) The Gotha reargunner fumbled to free his jammed gun. (0+GJ)

Stokes soon had a similar problem (1+GJ)
Hibbet Immelled while Curtis turned his plane in a long right bank.taking fire from the enemy rear gunner (1+LRD)

Putting the Biff into a steep climb Stokes Immelled . Curtis and Hibbet continued to hound their prey.

A brief exchange of fire between the Gotha and Curtis does little to slow either down But Ron gets under the gunners blind spot and maked good use of the advantage (4,0)

The coast came into view. The confidence of the German aircrew grew. Feathering back on the throttle Ron positioned himself for another straif of his target (1'0) Before his guns jammed (1+LRD 0+GJ) Seeing his chance the reargunner opened up on Ron, clipping a strut before he to fell victim of bad ammunition. (1,0+GJ)

Stokes saw his rounds hit the port engine and felt the Spandaus reply (2+ Eng) (3)

Another burst and the observer slumped over his gun. (3+Pilot)
Flicking the Biff in a right turn Stokes squeezed the trigger. Tracers laced their way up the fusilage and into the fuel tanks.The bombs erupted
and the giants wings folded sending the bomber down towards the beach. (XP)

Hibbet pressed his attack , his rounds tearing ito the wings (5)

The continual attacks of the RFC planes was taking its toll on the remaining bomber (23) and with no rear guns it was increasigly vunerable.
Curtis guns jam a second time , causing him to disengage from the action, but Hibbit has better luck (1,0) finally sending the German down (2)

Leveling out Curtis and Hibbet turned back towards Boulogne, Stokes leading the way .

Result.

RFC

Sgt Ray Stokes P Sgt Billy Marshal Ob F2B Q RTB /1 kill

2nd Lt Paul Garnet P Sgt Sam Burton Ob F2B R Obs Wounded /RTB/1 Kill

Lt Jonty Gresham DGC1 Spad F RTB/ 1 Kill
Lt Ron Curtis Spad G RTB
Lt Peter Hibbet D Aim Spad E RTB/1 Kill

Eagles

Fwbl Schumm P Ltn Schroeder Obs Rumpler SD/ET

Alfred Luer p Ltn Franz Werner Obs Roland. SD.ET /Obs wounded/

The bomber force.

Shot down /ET

SD/ET/XP/Obs wounded.

A cracking game Shawn

one which I thought the Eagles were sure to win, but the rolling terrain allowed the RFC time enough to pick at the bombers. Plenty of gun jams and zeros racked up the tension but it was Hibbet with his deadly aim that finally won the day.

Also meant I got a late birthday present of a Gotha from my daughter.

**Flying Officer Kyte** · 11-24-2015 06:19

Another very exciting mission Peter.
I expected the Gothas to get through with little trouble and here we go again!
The pendulum swings to and fro right up to the last moment of the action.
The Germans can't take this attrition for long before taking to night actions only, surely?
Rob.

**tikkifriend** · 11-24-2015 09:12

Oh Dave could you be so kind as to dice for the Germans and old Burton

**tikkifriend** · 11-24-2015 09:17

Originally Posted by Flying Officer Kyte

Another very exciting mission Peter.
I expected the Gothas to get through with little trouble and here we go again!
The pendulum swings to and fro right up to the last moment of the action.
The Germans can't take this attrition for long before taking to night actions only, surely?
Rob.

Quite agree Rob, but it might have been good fun for them to get through to the Home Defence Squadrons so they could finish them off

**tikkifriend** · 11-24-2015 09:21

Just a little background to the towns in the scenario.

St Omer former RFC airfield https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint-Omer

**flash** · 11-24-2015 09:35

Blimey Paul, what an outing, four enemy planes splashed, the bombers stopped dead in their tracks - I think the Mess will suffer some damage tonight !

Sgt Sam Burton: RTB / WIA / 1 kill
Rolled: 5 +3RTB -1 WIA = 7 Bruised - Skip 1 Scenario.

Fwbl Schumm: SD-ET / 0 kills
Rolled: 8 -1SD = 7 Bruised - Skip 1 Scenario.
E&E: Rolled 9 -1WIC -1BEL = 7 Landed almost home! - Skip 1 Scenario. Total Skipped = 2

Ltn Oswald Schroeder: SD-ET / 0 kills
Rolled: 8 -1SD = 7 Bruised - Skip 1 Scenario.
E&E: Rolled 8 -1WIC -1BEL = 6 In hiding! - Skip 1D2 Scenarios. Rolled 4 = skip 2. Total Skipped = 3

Vzfwbl Alfred Luer: SD-ET / 0 kills
Rolled: 8 -1SD = 7 Bruised - Skip 1 Scenario.
E&E: Rolled 7 -1WIC -1BEL = 5 In hiding! - Skip 1D2 Scenarios. Rolled 4 = skip 2. Total Skipped = 3
His fifth mission so he has picked up Iron Crosses !

Ltn Franz Werner: SD-ET / WIA / 0 kills
Rolled: 4 -1SD -1WIA = 2 KIA

New observer despatched to join the Eagles Ltn Georg Hohly.

Threads merged just to keep all tidy

**tikkifriend** · 11-24-2015 10:14

Thanks Dave .

**gully_raker** · 11-24-2015 18:15

Great result Paul.
Very well flown by your chaps! Have a few on "C" Flight in the Mess tonight.

You game was fairly smilar to mine in that it looked like the Gothas were going to escape & then at the 11th Hour Boom & Crash.

**Teaticket** · 11-24-2015 19:57

Well done Paul. Those new F2Bs look like keepers. Our Eagles will be very hard pressed when the Bulldogs fill out their flights with them.

**Stumptonian** · 11-24-2015 21:23

Well played and documented, Paul.
Tough to see our Eagles ripped to shreds, though ...

**tikkifriend** · 11-25-2015 05:36

Originally Posted by Teaticket

Well done Paul. Those new F2Bs look like keepers. Our Eagles will be very hard pressed when the Bulldogs fill out their flights with them.

They are nice. But Chris (Hederby) has the deadly AA/A version which he flies around the battlefields with total impunity.

**Teaticket** · 11-25-2015 05:40

Originally Posted by tikkifriend

They are nice. But Chris (Hederby) has the deadly AA/A version which he flies around the battlefields with total impunity.

Yes, there are those among us that don't like to play fair.

**tikkifriend** · 11-25-2015 06:14

Originally Posted by Teaticket

Yes, there are those among us that don't like to play fair.

**diceslinger** · 11-25-2015 12:23

Wonderful game Paul! I was glad to see the fight end right at the coast, what suspense! It seems you knew when to break off and land far better than I could.