Date:
7 February 2017
Place:
Belgium
Speaker:
Four score and Nineteen years ago our Fathers brought forth on this continent, a battle, the likes of which had yet to be seen.
At that time we were engaged in a Great War, testing whether any nation can long endure. We are met below a great aerial battleground of that war. We have come to dedicate a portion of this field as a final resting place for those who gave their lives defending the land.
Fade out 2017
Fade in 1918
7 February 1918
France
Entente and Central Powers briefing
Lt. Richard Forbes:
Gentlemen we have been asked to provide air cover for a bombing mission and to use our two seaters to assist in the bombing.
Ltn. Paul Beckman:
Gentlemen, FIFI has sent us another report. This time we are being told that a group of large bombers, HP 0/400s, Capronis, and some two seaters as well as escorts are crossing the channel and headed our way.
Lt. Forbes:
We are to meet the bombers North of Dunkirk and follow a circuitious route that will have us attacking the Zeppelin Staaken field near Ghent, Belgium. If any of you escorts have to do any fighting along the he way, you won't have the fuel to make it back home.
Ltn. Beckman:
I have been informed we will have help from other Jastas and even a couple of experimental planes. The experimental planes will have a black and red streamer on the outer strut of each wing. Do not shoot them down. If the force is as large as FIFI indicates we don't want to be hit by friendly fire.
Do what you have to do.
Do not let them get through.
Lt. Forbes:
Sgt. Rhodes, do you think you can handle the MG in the observers seat behind Lt. Getz? I'm an observer short.
Sgt. Rhodes:
I'll do my best.
Lt. Forbes:
Ok. Gentlemen we expect the Huns to spot us and put up as many planes as they can. Plus the airfield will be heavily defended.
The Hun will throw anything and everything at us.
Don't let them get through!
Suit up Gentlemen, we leave in 30 minutes and Good Luck.
AAR:
Lt. Richard Forbes:
It was a good day for flying. We had just met up with the bombers and had assumed our position in the formation.
The Mutts were to take positions on the left side of the formation, while the Redbone Coonhounds took positions on the right. 2Lt. Callahan and his wingman 2Lt. Kilpatrick took gthe extreme left positions while I and 2Lt. Winklebleck took the left center positions. Our two seaters lined up about a mile behind 2Lt. Callahan. We had preloaded our two seaters, crewed by Lt. Etienne Getz (P)and Sgt. Dustin Rhodes (O), DH4 #5, and 2Lt. William Finch (P) and Sgt. Xavier Misere (O), DH4 light brown.
I had asked Sgt. Rhodes, one of our armorers to fly due to being an observer short.
Attachment 216198
Lt. Forbes:
As we crossed over to dry land you could see at least a dozen kites headed our way. Our old nemesis, the Eagles, were coming in from our left with three scouts followed by a pair of two seaters. About 10 miles behind them and attacking the center were a couple of two seaters followed by three Fokker Dr.1s. And on the right was a mixed group of 4 scouts.
Attachment 216199
As we came together on both flanks we took shots as they became available. 2Lt. Callahan took a shot at an Eagle, an Albatross DVA piloted by Ltn. Aloys Creutzmann, causing it to explode and drawing first blood of the day. He also took some fire from one of the two seaters receiving minimal damage (1GJ) and having their gun to jam.
Kill-2Lt. Callahan
Attachment 216200
Bullets were flying on the right flank as well as both sides dealt out significant damage.
Ltn. Heidecker--Phonix D.1 (4,3ENG)
Ltn. Apfelbaum--Aviatik D.1 (5P,0)
Ltn. Rasch--Aviatik D.1 (2)
2Lt. Finnegan--SPAD XIII #1 (1FLM)
2Lt. Schick--Hanriot HD1 (0)
Attachment 216201
The center formation finally met us and in an exchange of fire things got a little messy.
Lt. Forbes--Sopwith Camel Red Hearts(4)
2Lt. Winklebleck--Sopwith Camel blue dot (1,0)(3,3)
Ltn. Osterwich--Fokker DR.1 green dot (3P)
Ltn. Andersen (P)--Halberstadt (1,0GJ)
Attachment 216202
As we flew into the heart of the opposition 2Lt. Callahan(1NL,2NL) was hit by Ltn. Kampe doing considerable damage to his rudder. 2Lt. Kilpatrick (1,1) exchanged shots with Fwbl Kiekhaefer (P) (0,1) doing little damage. The Eagles Ltn. Leffers took a shot at Lt. Getz (0) but missed.
Attachment 216203
The guys on the right flank were doing their best not to run into each other so firing was at a minimum.
Ltn. Apfelbaum couldn't do anything due to his wound and was trying to head home. (1)
Ltn. Rasch took a heavy hit from close range (3,1).
Attachment 216204
The Germans decided to go after the two Capronis.
Vzfwbl Bohny's plane took damage from the observers on both our two seaters (2NL)(1,0). The Halberstadt of Ltn. Andersen was missed by the front gunner of a Caproni (0GJ, 0GJ).
The purple and black Roland exchanged fire with the yellow/green Caproni while also getting hit by the RE8.
Ltn. Loutenstock (P)--LFG Roland (2)(2,2)
Caproni--(2)(1GJ,1SMK)
Ltn. Achziger--(3,4SMK) took damage from the DH4 while Ltn. Rasch (0,4SMK) got hit from behind by 2Lt. Griese.
Attachment 216205
As both ends of our flight circled to get the Huns in a crossfire, 2Lt. Finnegan tried to hit the yellow tailed DR.1 (0) but missed and jammed his guns.
Attachment 216206
2Lt. Kilpatrick did a quick reverse then had to take evasive action to keep from running into 2Lt. Finch and his DH4.
Sgt. Misere shot at a UFAG with yellow dots on its wings (1,0) while getting hit by the one flown by Fwbl Kiekhaefer and Ltn. Runge, until the Ltn. guns fell silent.
The yellow UFAG took damage as Sgt. Rhodes added his 2 cents to the fight (2NL).
Attachment 216207
To be continued...
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