Preamble
Major Triggers called Capt "Bon" King to the Squadron Office after lunch.
"Ah Bon, good man, come on in & sit. Your chaps did a top job on that Reccon this morning but now GHQ have asked for a Bombing mission to neutralise two main objectives your lads discovered. There is a Concentration of Troops & an Artillery position that could prove a stumbling block to the Canadian advance! Now unfortunately our weather chap has forecast a very nasty front coming in from the Northwest & it will bring heavy rain, so time is of the essence. Do you think your Bristol Crew are up for another flight because they will have a good idea of the terrain." Bon replied. "Sir I am sure they will be up for that & I will lead myself & take Tiny Large along for escort to keep any Huns off their tails!"
Bon called the Pilots to his favourite outdoor briefing table to give details of the mission & had the ground crews prepare the Bristol Fighter plus his own & Tiny's Camels
"Father" dropped in with the Weather report & said in his dry way, "Better wear your rain hats lads its going to come down in buckets so get in, drop your presents & get out quick!"
The three Aircraft took off & headed towards the German lines passing over the devastation of the battlefield.
The Mission
AAR Paschendale 2.jpg Views: 36 Size: 173.9 KB ID: 202777" class="thumbnail" style="float:CONFIG" />
Where there had been dense woods there was now only mud & stumps!
Meanwhile over at the Eagles Jasta Oblt Harry Von Bukard grumbled to Hans his orderly " Verdammit! look at that weather! Fit only for Ducks & waterfowl!"
"They expect me to fly in this? Well Orders are orders so roust out the rostered pilots & get each of us a mug of strong Coffee with a shot of Schnapps"
Von Bukard met Georg Steltzmier & Richard Schnieder, their newest pilot, at the line up of the Jastas new Albatross D.Va Fighters.
"Lets get this patrol going & hopefully we will see no Englanders & we can get back to our warm Chateau before that storm front arrives"
The two groups of aircraft took off into the lowering skies & made their ways towards the front lines.
AAR Bombing 1.jpg Views: 35 Size: 154.0 KB ID: 202766" class="thumbnail" style="float:CONFIG" />
AAR Bombing 2.jpg Views: 35 Size: 76.1 KB ID: 202767" class="thumbnail" style="float:CONFIG" />
As the British aircraft approached the enemy planes the Bristol turned towards the first objective in sight.
AAR Bombing 3.jpg Views: 36 Size: 147.7 KB ID: 202768" class="thumbnail" style="float:CONFIG" />
The German Aircraft dived towards the British aircraft & Schneider fired at the Bristol rightly thinking this was the most important target whilst both the Bristol pilot Ralph Medium & Bon King returned fire. Ralph Medium felt the control stick jump in his hands & he realised his rudder had been hit by the Germans bullets. Bon was amazed to see the German plane explode in a fireball & crash to earth behind the German Trenches. "Ye Gods" exclaimed Bon, "Must have hit his fuel tank!"
AAR Bombing 4.jpg Views: 36 Size: 145.7 KB ID: 202769" class="thumbnail" style="float:CONFIG" />
On the other side of the small cloud Tiny Large & Georg Steltzmier exchanged shots & to Tiny's dismay his guns jammed after the first burst.
AAR Bombing 5.jpg Views: 36 Size: 123.4 KB ID: 202770" class="thumbnail" style="float:CONFIG" />
The Biff now approached the first target & Observer Lionel Rare identified it as a Troop Concentration which was their Primary Objective so Ralph his pilot started lining up for their bombing run.
AAR Bombing 6.jpg Views: 37 Size: 96.6 KB ID: 202771" class="thumbnail" style="float:CONFIG" />
AAR Bombing 7.jpg Views: 35 Size: 58.4 KB ID: 202772" class="thumbnail" style="float:CONFIG" />
AAR Bombing 8.jpg Views: 37 Size: 103.9 KB ID: 202773" class="thumbnail" style="float:CONFIG" />
Unfortunately their aim was slightly off & their Bomb hit the far edge of the Troops.
AAR BOMBING 9.jpg Views: 37 Size: 128.4 KB ID: 202774" class="thumbnail" style="float:CONFIG" />
The four scouts had continued their "hide & seek" around the cloud & a well planned Immleman placed Steltzmier in a perfect position to give Tiny Large's Camel a good burst.
AAR Bombing 10.jpg Views: 37 Size: 129.2 KB ID: 202775" class="thumbnail" style="float:CONFIG" />
The Bristol had closed towards the next target but observation showed this was not the Artillery Gun they wanted so they continued on towards the next possible target which was near the incoming weather front.
AAR Bombing 11.jpg Views: 35 Size: 116.3 KB ID: 202776" class="thumbnail" style="float:CONFIG" />
Steltzmier continued to chase Large's Camel but a snap shot missed.
AAR BOMBING 12.jpg Views: 34 Size: 134.3 KB ID: 202778" class="thumbnail" style="float:CONFIG" />
Bon very nearly collided with Von Bukard as they danced around the cloud & Ralph Medium looked aghast at the tumbling black cloud mass that was rolling in from the Northwest towards his next target.
AAR Bombing 13.jpg Views: 35 Size: 135.5 KB ID: 202779" class="thumbnail" style="float:CONFIG" />
As the Biff approached the crew saw a lorry mounted Field Gun & Lionel mused "No wonder they couldn't locate it, the damn thing just moved when the shells got too close!"
AAR Bombing 14.jpg Views: 35 Size: 139.6 KB ID: 202780" class="thumbnail" style="float:CONFIG" />
Georg Steltzmier now tried to cut off the Bristol but Ralph managed to get a quick shot at the Albatross which could not target the Biff.
AAR Bombing 15.jpg Views: 34 Size: 154.7 KB ID: 202781" class="thumbnail" style="float:CONFIG" />
This time Ralph made no mistake & Lionel unloaded a bomb right on top of the Lorry!
AAR Bombing 16.jpg Views: 35 Size: 118.3 KB ID: 202782" class="thumbnail" style="float:CONFIG" />
Von Bukard & King had continued their duel & Bon took a fine deflection shot at the German Jasta leader but the bullets passed by the tail of the Albatross.
AAR Bombing 17.jpg Views: 35 Size: 95.4 KB ID: 202784" class="thumbnail" style="float:CONFIG" />
Von Bukard now flew into the cloud whilst Bon cruised around the side of the mass.
AAR Bombing 18.jpg Views: 35 Size: 104.8 KB ID: 202783" class="thumbnail" style="float:CONFIG" />
As Von Bukard exited the cloud he presented Tiny Large with a perfect opportunity of a close burst & Tiny was rewarded to see the Germans plane errupt in flames & crash into No Mans Land just in front of the German Front Line.
AAR Bombing 21.jpg Views: 34 Size: 127.6 KB ID: 202785" class="thumbnail" style="float:CONFIG" />AAR Bombing 22.jpg Views: 34 Size: 114.9 KB ID: 202786" class="thumbnail" style="float:CONFIG" />
While the Scouts had been fighting the Bristol had flown back towards the Troop Concentration which they had damaged in their first effort.
Ralph flew towards the German Soldiers who dived to what ever cover they could find & although he did not score a direct hit his bombs together with the damage caused on the first run destroyed the effectiveness of the unit.
AAR Bombing 23.jpg Views: 34 Size: 131.8 KB ID: 202787" class="thumbnail" style="float:CONFIG" />
AAR Bombing 27.jpg Views: 34 Size: 92.5 KB ID: 202789" class="thumbnail" style="float:CONFIG" />
Meanwhile the Heavy Rain clouds now closed in & Georg Steltzmire having seen both his Staffel mates including the Jasta Leader go down decided discresion was the better plan & headed for home before he got caught in the Rain Squalls.
Bon King noting the success of the Bristol's last bomb run fired off the Red Flare to recall his pilots & head back to the Hearts of Oak Aerodrome with the weather front closing in rapidly. He could not have been more pleased with the days work. Both Targets destroyed & two Hun Aircraft destroyed as a bonus & apparently only minor damage to two of their own Aircraft!
AAR Bombing 27A.jpg Views: 35 Size: 113.4 KB ID: 202790" class="thumbnail" style="float:CONFIG" />AAR Bombing 28.jpg Views: 35 Size: 101.3 KB ID: 202791" class="thumbnail" style="float:CONFIG" />
Notes & Observations
I Flew all Allied Aircraft at Level 4 & the Albatross started at Level 5 as per the Mission Briefing.
They dived to Level 4 gaining the +1 Bonus for that.
I placed a "generic" Card over the Target Cards & lifted it when the Bristol came within the 2 Ruler distance to reveal what was hidden.
I must say I was really surprised at how easy a time my 3 Aircraft had. My "Card Karma" must have decided to pay me back for all my Fiery Demises at Wintercon!
Butchers Bill will be Posted Below.
Bookmarks