OTT ED Mission 16 - Prelude to Arras

[johnbiggles]

Prologue
It was almost four in the afternoon. The weather had improved throughout the day; from sleet and high winds as the sun came up, through squalling winds and bursts of torrential rain as midday came and went, to a balmy, pleasant afternoon.
The Pilots of 52 Squadron RFC, known as the Bulldogs even in the highest circles, had secretly welcomed the foul weather while publicly declaiming their disappointment at being grounded. A leisurely breakfast followed by letter writing, reading or just sleeping had taken up most of the day until at three o’clock Sgt Roberts had been seen hurrying from Major Vaughn’s office to the offices of Captains Stark, Smith and Frederickson, the Flight Commanders of A, B and C flights respectively. A and C flights had been summoned to the squadron’s briefing room, but to the relief of 2Lt Duval and Sgt Ball, B flight had remained stood down.
Andrew Smith and Kurt Duval were in the Officers Mess comparing their respective childhoods in England and Canada whilst waiting for Tea to be announced when the sound of approaching aircraft began to be heard. The captain rose abruptly and moved to the door from the Mess to the Field, scanning the sky for a first sight of the incoming aircraft. As Duval moved to join him, he saw the tension in his CO lift then settle again in a different way.
“Visitors Sir?” he asked,
“Replacements I think, we are due some today. They should have been here half an hour ago.”
He smiled suddenly, “Ah, Pups. Good, I’ve been asking for them for ages. They may not be as fast as the SPADs, but they are a damn sight more manoeuvrable in skilled hands. I just hope they’ve sent skilled hands as well, more experience than just familiarisation.”
The two Sopwith Scout planes drifted onto the runway without incident, but without any sign of flair either. The new machines were directed to the hangers by a corporal mechanic, who then escorted the pilots towards the squadron offices.
Smith walked out to meet them, as the distance between them narrowed, the Captain could see that the newcomers appeared very young. The Corporal threw up a text book salute; one of the two 2nd Lieutenants managed a passable copy, the other, his helmet in his right hand started to lift first the helmet, then his left hand, then dropping his helmet, bent to pick it up while still trying to salute.
“At ease chaps, thank you Corporal Meadows, I will escort the gentlemen from here” said Smith as he returned the salutes.
As he ushered the two slightly flustered pilots towards the Major’s office, he asked their names,
“Cropper Sir”
“Bean Sir”
“ You landed those Pups cleanly, how many hours flying time do you have?
“Seven Sir” and “Eight and a half Sir” were the replies.
“Seven and more hours in Pups eh? That is excellent.”
Andrew began to hope that his first impressions were misguided.
“Er no Sir, we had a half hour to get the feel of them before we set out, then the half hour to here.”
Andrew’s heart dropped
“Never mind, hopefully I’ll have a chance to take you up for some training flights before you start on operations.”
“Here we are, this is Sgt Roberts who provides the most stewed tea in France, but otherwise keeps the squadron's clerks in order and this is Major Vaughn’s abode. Once you’ve reported in officially, come and see me in the Mess.”
As he turned to leave, and Cropper raised his hand to knock on the CO’s door, the door was flung open to reveal the Major himself.
“Smith, don’t go; Roberts, send for Mr Duval immediately. My Office will do.” and he spun round and shot back behind his desk.
Andrew chivvied the Lieutenants into the office, lined up with them and joined them in their salute.
No sooner had the new pilots introduced themselves, than there was a single sharp knock on the door, and 2nd Lt Duval walked in closing the door behind him.
“Make yourselves comfortable gentlemen” barked the Major. “I know you chaps have just got here, but your arrival brings B flight back up to operational strength.”
“Andrew, we were asked to put patrols into all sectors to our front, but without B flight we have no one covering the rail lines into Lens from Beaumont and Henin Liètard. I need you to put two patrols up immediately to see what’s moving in Fritz’s rear. Give your new chaps a chance to see what’s what at the same time.”
He picked up the phone on his desk
“Roberts! Send a runner to find Sgt Ball, and another to the hangers, B flight are to be made ready at once.”
He crashed the handset back onto its rest.
“Well, what are you waiting for? Off you go!” and with a sketchy return of salute he began to pour over the contents of a folder on his desk as the officers of B flight made their exit.

[johnbiggles]

Captain Smith surveyed the other four members of the flight as they stood next to his plane.
“Duval, Ball, as you have the SPADs, I want you to fly to Lens, then pick up the railway lines south east towards Drocourt and Beaumont. I will follow you to the junction, then lead Bean and Cropper here east towards Henin Liètard. You are looking for troop movements in particular, but anything is bound to be of interest to the intelligence people.”
Above all, keep your eyes peeled, as we found last month, the Huns are hunting in packs, and staying together in the melee. If in doubt, run for it”
As the Canadian and the Sergeant moved off to their aircraft, Andrew spoke again to the new pilots.
“Look you two, if we see the enemy, we will turn back immediately, Head for cloud if you see any near you, try and keep your height, and watch your right turns, these Pups turn really sharply to the right; don’t let them go too far too quickly or you’ll go into a spin.”
“Now, let’s get going” and with that they all made for their cockpits.

As they passed over Lens, Andrew spotted two groups of aircraft heading their way several hundred feet above them.
P16.10

He immediately led his wing men into a steady left turn towards a nearby cloud
P16.11

As he and Harold Bean ducked into the cloud, the Huns dived to the attack. Hets dived for the leader and opened fire as Smith skirted the edge of the cloud. Hets’ new wingman Ltn Otto Kohlbach fired at the same time causing Cropper’s Pup to start smoking; even so he was better off than Smith
P16.12

P16.12a

Andrew finished his turn by diving hard, hoping to put out the flames started by Hets’ bullets while Erich, startled by how close he had come to his prey yanked the stick back climbing above the burning Pup.
Kohlbach meanwhile, dropped down to right behind the hapless Cropper and continued to pour bullets into the tail of his plane.
P16.13

The sudden dive seemed to be having the desired effect on Andrew’s fire
P16.20

But as Hets flew over Smith he was able to bring his guns to bear on Cropper.
His diving burst again brought flames from a Pup, shredding the top wings centre section into the bargain. Kohlbach’s third burst from behind provided the coups de gras.
Ltn Klaudat, kept unsighted by the cloud, finally got his chance and dived down behind 2Lt Bean, only for his guns to jam after a dozen rounds.
P16.21

P16.21a

Andrew Smith knew he was in serious trouble. The fire had ebbed slightly, but it wasn’t out. He kept the nose pointed down as steeply as he dared, the wind speeding through the struts around him began to howl.
P16.22

The Pup was shaking badly, Andrew knew he had to pull out carefully or rip the wings off.
Unfortunately his desperate overdive had not been enough
P16.23

As he levelled out, the flames came back with a vengeance
P16.30

The only luck Captain Smith had, was that the Pup was low enough that the crash was not fatal.
2nd Lt Bean was desperately trying to put the Captains advice into practice, keeping as much height as possible and searching for cloud. His inexperience would be his undoing, for now was the time to dive and turn, climb and loop and above all, pray.
P16.31

Ltn Reinhard Stutz had manoeuvred his trio of Albatri with well drilled precision, and with no other enemy to engage, decided to join the party.
P16.32

Bean struggled manfully to reach the cloud ahead still taking fire
P16.33

Sadly the base of the cloud was above the ceiling of Bean’s Pup, and although Stutz’s third burst went wide, Klaudatt swooped in from the side and finished him off
P16.41

The stream of bullets which destroyed his engine and instruments also grazed his arm. The shock had a galvanising effect on Bean, subjective time slowed down and as the stricken Pup slipped and half stalled its way down, he caught it, coaxed it and finally brought it to a rough landing close behind the German lines.


The Butchers Bill

Captain Smith SD ET/FLM/WIA

D13/12
2D6=9
FLM-2
WND-1
=6 injured

Esc=7
FLM-1
BEL-1
WND-1
=4
Rolled = miss 2 scenaria

2Lt Harold Bean SD ET/WIA

D16/12
2D6=12
SD-1
WND-1
=10

Esc=8
BEL-1
WND-1
=6
in hiding, miss 1 scenario

2Lt Sidney Cropper SD ET/FLM/EXP KIA

D13/12 + Bang Card

ObLtn Erich Hets RTB/1 KILL


Ltn Johann Kohlbach RTB/1 KILL


Ltn Otto Klaudat RTB/1 KILL


Ltn Reinhard Stutz RTB


Ltn Herman Dilthey RTB


Ltn Erich Marwede RTB

[johnbiggles]

Epilogue

OberLeutnant Erich Hets, recently promoted to lead the Eagles, looked around the mess.
Their ‘Guest of Honour’ looked grey and a little glassy eyed. Not surprising when one had jumped out of a burning aircraft moments before it crashed into the ground. He had rescued the Hauptmann from a very unpleasant young Feuerwerksleutnant who had all but ignored the pilot’s injuries which while mostly light, were quite extensive.
Now Hauptmann Smith had been given proper medical treatment, his uniform hastily repaired. He had been toasted as a gallant foe, feasted and in the morning he would be sent to the rear and into long term captivity.
The OberLeutnant did not envy him.
He stood and called for silence, then asked the mess to bid the ‘Guest’ good night. He personally escorted the Hauptmann to his own quarters, apologised that the door must be locked and left him for the night.
Andrew Smith looked around the room. It was larger and better furnished than his quarters at the farm, but that was to be expected, this was after all a small chateau. He looked longingly at the bed, but despite everything he had been through, he knew he could not rest yet.
He took stock of himself. The brunt of the fire had been taken by his leather flying coat, and the high altitude helmet he had recently acquired, which covered much more of his head and face than the standard issue helmet. His left foot was aching from the injury he had sustained when his plane was shot up by, of all people, the chap in charge of the Eagle squadron.
He looked down at his borrowed boots; a pretty good fit considering, a bit loose on his good foot, a bit tight on the other due to the dressings.
He could hear the party downstairs beginning to wind down, but he could also hear the footsteps of the sentry outside his door. No sneaking out of the chateau by the normal means then. He turned out the lamp by the bed, and cautiously tried the window. It opened smoothly. Next the shutters. He eased one leaf open enough to be able to look down. No handy trellis or ivy growing up it, damn! Sentry on the prowl. Still there was a flower bed or something at the foot of the wall.
He turned back to survey the room, closing the shutter again. No heavy furniture apart from the double bed, which was too heavy to move without attracting attention. He sat down on it leaning against the head board, his booted feet hanging uncomfortably. He contemplated removing his boots, but the thought of disturbing the dressings dissuaded him. Dash it all, they were clean enough, someone’s second best dress boots he’d been told. He swung his legs up and rested them on the counterpane.
He came to with a start. He hadn’t meant to sleep, but now something had awoken him. No! Someone! A hand was across his mouth while another shook him urgently, a voice whispering in French. He nodded to show he was awake and sat up, carefully swinging his legs off the bed. A shadowy figure beckoned him to follow toward an alcove the other side of the bed, there was a barely audible click and the back wall of the alcove swung open. He stepped through into a narrow passage inside the wall as the hidden door swung shut; his companion, taking a firm grasp of his hand, led him carefully through the darkness.

Harry couldn’t believe it. He was still alive! He was sitting in the cockpit, bruised, bleeding from his right arm, but alive. He clambered stiffly out of the wreck and tried to get his bearings. He saw some people heading his way, one of them turned sideways to shout orders, and the coal scuttle profile of his helmet gave away his nationality. Harry crouched low and ran as fast as he could for small copse. He spent the rest of the afternoon dodging German patrols. Around 6 o’clock he heard aircraft in the distance, and saw a pair of planes drifting overhead, possibly the Canadian officer and the Sergeant returning home.
After a couple of days dodging patrols, Harry began to work his way back towards the front line. He hoped he would be able to find gaps in the German frontline to let him slip through unobserved. As he made his way toward the German reserve trench areas his luck held and he soon found himself crawling between the support and main defence trenches. A flare went up from the German trench and he dropped flat. When nothing else happened, he risked raising his head enough to see if he could make out any detail of the next line of trenches he needed to get through. They stretched from side to side as far as he could see in front of him. A sudden burst of fire pinpointed a machine gun post off to the left. A gap in the wire over on the right caught his attention; below in the trench was sudden movement, shouting and shots broke out followed by a loud explosion as the machine gun post disintegrated. There came several smaller explosions either side of the gap in the wire, and shapes dashing for the gap. As the flare died out Harry leapt to his feet and ran as fast as he could. He desperately tried to catch up with the returning raiding party; the trench was too wide to jump across but he hit the far wall and dragging himself over the top, he scrambled to his feet once more and hunched as low as possible he continued to run. He bounced off a post, realised the gap doglegged and slowed his pace a little lest he get caught on the wire. He could hear the raiders in front of him but they were still too far in front to risk shouting out to.
As he cleared the German wire a series of flares went up behind him and he dropped again. Bullets went whizzing over head hunting across the centre of no man’s land. The flares died down and Harry was about to move when an MG stuttered into life again, a couple of bullets passing close enough to hear the whine of their passing. There was another lull and he crawled further out into the wasteland between the lines, finding a shell hole he rolled into it and lay there looking at the surprised faces of half a dozen Tommies and a barely conscious Hun.
“I say chaps, may I join you?”

[gully_raker]

Really great Prelude John.
Are you giving Mr Kyte a "run for his money"

[flash]

New chaps on the roster JB - I'll pick up their first names from the AAR.

[tikkifriend]

Ah John , Thought you had dropped off the Radar (not that they had it in WWI )

Nice to see you are back and in the fray with a very nice preamble.

[Flying Officer Kyte]

In at the very deep end then John!
Poor lambs.
Rob.

[Teaticket]

You and Rob are upping the game with more glamorous intros. Nice tease. Hope the newbies survive.

[flash]

Just realised that I hadn't caught up with this one John ! Properly brutal match up, your chaps that got back were lucky to survive...

Capt Andrew Smith: SD ET/FLM/WIA/0 Kills
Rolled 9 -2FLM -1WIA = 6 Injured - Skip 1D3 Scenarios. I Rolled 6 = Skip 3
E&E Rolled 7 -1FLM -1WIA -1WIC -1BEL = 3 Captured and escaped! - Skip 1D3 Scenarios. Rolled 4 = Skip 2. Total skipped 5.
He should be back in time for the final game but will enjoy the rest while he can.

Obltn Erich Hets, claims his fifth kill and becomes an ace Awarded Iron Cross 1st Class Promotion to Obltn confirmed.
Ace skill rolled for = Marksman I

He was furious when he found that the Englishman had escaped his command but found he had a grudging respect for his opponent. He wished him luck and hoped to meet him over the trenches once again.

[Stumptonian]

I don't know how I missed seeing this one last month, John

You are an excellent storyteller and would be receiving rep, but, alas, I just gave you some for your Jumpin' Jack Flash tale of the next mission.