OTT BE Misson 4 - Santa's Little Helpers - 24th December 1917
Summoned to the top office on Christmas Eve morning 2Lt Claude Back and Sgt pilot Barry Cade, recently returned to the squadron from sick leave, made themselves comfortable.
Uncle cleared his throat and started the briefing. "This is a special job passed down from HQ"
Both pilots glanced at each other and winced. "and it's very important" continued Uncle having noticed the shared look between the pilots. "it's a matter of morale, some of the chaps at the front have pushed so far forward that the supply train is having great difficulty getting to them and it being Christmas, and all that, the brass wishes to reward their efforts with some festive rations."
"How does that involve us, sir?" queried Back
"I'm glad you asked" replied Uncle, " 95 Squadron is going to drop them their rations from their bombers"
"Strewth, they're going to bomb them with tucker?" exclaimed Cade before he could stop himself.
"Quite so sergeant" responded Uncle "though not with bombs but containers full of , er, tucker, as you put it, slowed by parachutes."
"So what do you need us to do, sir?" asked Back, getting back to the job in hand.
"Well" said Uncle, "its been a bit hot over that part of the front and HQ has asked if we can supply an escort to the bombers to keep off any stray Huns while they make their drop."
"I see sir, stop Fritz crashing the party so to speak" enjoined Cade
"Exactly so, " said Uncle "should be a milk run for you on your first mission back sergeant, I suggest that once you get the target in sight you push on an clear the way for the bombers - I understand it will be a couple of those Italian jobs". He continued the briefing detailing times and locations for the rendezvous.
All went well as the bombers line of approach was more or less directly over their airfield and the two SE5a's were ready and waiting, taking off immediately and very quickly overhauling their charges as the neared the front. The 95 sqn machines were in line astern formation and the scouts passed them on their left hand side,
Where there was once clear sky in front of them there were Eagles as they appeared from behind a big bank of cloud just off to the north
Fwbl Helmut Fichter in Pfalz D.IIIa (blue tail); Ltn Hans Niethammer in Albatros D.Va (2) led by Ltn Konrad Strünklenberg in Fokker Dr.1
Both sides were taken by surprise - the fast moving SE's flashing beneath the mixed bag of Huns before anyone could really react
Ltn Richard Pütz in Pfalz D.IIIa (red striped tail)
The first Caproni slid further to the right, its pilot glad to have the scouts between him and the Huns, he focused on his target ahead.
Cade sees a silver yellow nosed Pfalz in front and above closing fast, he chops his speed and noses up as the Pfalz drops his and unleashes hell - rounds crash through the SE5a , the engine coughs smoke and the stick jars in his hand but Cade can see the Hun is not getting it all his own way as splinters fly from the enemy machine.
An Albatros and the Dr.1 have far less success when they double team Back, their rounds patter through the fabric missing anything vital.
Cade rolls around hard and nosing up catches the Dr.1 as it passes in front of him, the triplane staggers under the onslaught of the Vickers/Lewis combo.
Back realising he was under threat split arses (stall, downward Immel followed by a climb) and swaps lead with a second Pfalz with a red striped tail as it noses down and turns to join the chase of the SE
The first Caproni motors on unmolested and has its target in sight.
The sky is full of whirling machines
The first Caproni readies to drop his first load as the Dr.1 & Albatros bear down on it.
Containers away ! Even as the parachutes blossom over the target position the Dr.1 & Albatros dive in and open up trading fire with the Caproni's alert gunners. The front Lewis gun and Dr.1's guns jam almost immediately; the Albatros bursts into flame...
This drop was spot on
The Albatros slips Cade's SE and presses home his attack but the rear gunner trades blow for blow, damaging the Hun's controls
The blue tailed Pfalz gets a bead on Back but his rounds patter harmlessly through the SE's fabric.
Cade latches onto the Dr.1 once more and his rounds wreak havoc on the small planes airframe, the Caproni's rear gunner keeps on the Albatros, raking its plywood fuselage as the bomber turns into run onto its next target
Cade cannot keep behind the slow moving tri-plane and as he overshoots his prey the red striped Pfalz brings his guns to bear in an effort to save his flight leader
As the Caproni lets go of his last containers the Dr.1's twin Spandaus stammer into life once again, its rounds ripping through the airframe and toppling the troublesome rear gunner but even as he falls his return fire has already done its damage, the Dr.1's controls go slack and it tumbles from the sky....
just covers the red dot so about 50% of the card
Cade can only watch in frustration as his target falls to the rear gunner of the bomber. Back gets a long range crack at the red striped Pfalz even as the blue tailed one gets a long range shot on him that damages his controls. In the background a second Caproni from 95 sqn has slipped in almost unnoticed and approaches his objectives.
The Dr.1, piloted by Konrad Strünklenberg, spins away from the fight as the Caproni turns for home.
The front gunner of the first Caproni opens up on the Albatros below it as it runs in on the second and damages its already flaming engine.
Cade can't believe his eyes as the Caproni's subsequent burst puts the Albatros down before he can get in on the action !
The second Caproni arrives on target unmolested and he makes a successful drop even as a shadow falls over the machine as a Halberstadt two-seater passes overhead...
just covers the red dot so about 50% of the card
The Halberstadt pilot drops the nose and has a go at the first Caproni damaging its controls.
The blue tailed Pfalz having already missed a chance on Back's SE, reverses and latches onto him. His long range burst damages his controls again
The second Caproni drops his second load as the red striped Pfalz roars in, guns chattering. His shots are accurate and they tear through the front gunner and a pilot.
Just a little off the red dot so under 50%
Cade steps in and tries to swat off the Pfalz but his Lewis gun jams and no serious damage is done.
The blue tailed has another go at Back as the SE accelerates away but no appreciable damage is done
The Halberstadt pilot and the rear gunner of the second Caproni trade fire for little effect as the bomber breaks for home.
Unlikely now to catch the Bombers as they slide behind their lines the Germans call it a day and break off.
Butchers Tally:
On the left Sgt Barry Cade in the Cammo SE5a: RTB 0 Kills
on the right 2Lt Claude Back in SE5a Z for Zebra: RTB / 0 Kills
Ca.3 Bombers of 95 Sqn
#1: RTB / 2 Kills rear gunner down.
Cpl Bayley Leaves: Rolled 11 +3RTB -1WIA = 13 Lucky for some !
#2: RTB / 0 kills Pilot & Front gunner down.
Pilot: Lt Mark Thyme: Rolled 3 +3RTB -1WIA = 5 injured - Skip 1D3 Scenarios. Rolled 3 = Skip 2
Gunner: Sgt Rustin Steele: Rolled 4 +3RTB -1WIA = 6 injured - Skip 1D3 Scenarios. Rolled 6 = Skip 3
Ltn Konrad Strünklenberg in Fokker Dr.1: SD-NML / 0 kills
Rolled 6 -1SD -1NML = 4 Injured roll D6. Rolled 6 = Skip 6
E&E: Rolled 3 -1WIC +1NML = 3 Captured and escaped! - Skip 1D3 Scenarios. Rolled 4 = Skip 2 (RRWWWW)
Ltn Hans Niethammer in Albatros D.Va (2): SD-FLM-ET / 0 kills
Rolled 7 -2FLM = 5 Injured - Skip 1D3 Scenarios. Rolled 1 = Skip 1
E&E: Rolled 6 -1 FLM -1WIC -1BEL = 3 Captured and escaped! - Skip 1D3 Scenarios. Rolled 4 = Skip 2 (WR)
Vzfwbl Josef Bauers & Ltn Ludwig Lenz in Halberstadt CL.II. RTB 0 Kills
Fwbl Helmut Fichter in Pfalz D.IIIa (blue tail); RTB 0 Kills
Ltn Richard Pütz in Pfalz D.IIIa (red striped tail): RTB 0 Kills
I flew Barry Cade, everything else was AI controlled and I used my Alt rules, D8 charts & flash moves.
I moved the targets in field a little by 1/2 a ruler, even then it was a tight fit !
Bulldog starting positions were decided by die roll, as of course, were the Germans. This resulted in the first bomber having the scouts between him and the enemy, and the second came in free and clear. The bombers did well with the D8 chart only a couple of changes necessary to bring them on target and that was simply changing the order the cards were played.
All in all a nice little game. Thanks Paul, I will let you adjudicate the bombing results.
75%+ of target 1 = 4MP
50%+ of target 2 & 3 = 6MP
25%+ of target 4 = 2MP
2 x enemy scout shot down = 2MP
For every Santa that makes it back to the start point = 8MP
But I make that a resounding Santa/Bulldog success !
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Great effort Dave from your lads in that one.
Originally Posted by Carl_Brisgamer
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