Eagles\Central Powers
Oblt Lange SS (LO)
S Smitt Pfaltz
J Just Alb (blue)
A Traenkner Alb
H Hartman SS (arrow)
Jasta23
A Blox DR1 (red)
S Schultz DR1
RFC \Bulldogs
2nd Lt Milne SE5A
Lt Richardson Camel
Glossip (p) McGinness(o) Biff (R)
Delaney (p) Palliser (o) Biff P
85th bomber squadron
DH4
Caproni
It was the worst kept secret of the War to date. German intelligence had intercepted the daily chatter between the RFC High Command and the squadrons involved in the forthcoming raid. The date and time were confirmed 2 days previously and detailed orders were passed down to the Adlers . Unable to muster a full compliment of planes 2 DR1s from Jasta 23 were drafted in to make up the numbers.
The plan was to intercept the raiders as they crossed the coast.
With good visibility and no clouds to hide in Lange had given orders to meet the bombers head on with his planes .Any escorting scouts were Jasta 23s targets.
Lange spotted the Biffs and an SE5 ahead of the slower bombers He signaled to his wingman to attack the scout while he took on the Biffs with the rest of the Adlers.
Unexpectedly the Biffs swung to the right catching Lange and Just in their crossfire
Langes rudder went slack (0,1+LRD). He fired a short burst at the RFC scout several rounds clipping its lower wing surface. Just remarkably survived unscathed through the hail of bullets As Delaneys Biff pasted Palliser opened up on Lange before his Lewis jammed (0,0+GJ)
now the second wave appeared
Lange slipped under Gossips Biff his shots igniting the ruptured fuel line (2+Fire)
Bloks rounds jam his gun, but those that hit Milnes SE5 ripped at its wings. (2+GJ)
Just came into range of the lumbering Capri but his shots went wide. He suddenly found himself uncomfortably close and beneath his target with Lang's rounds whizzing past him (1).
The Capri rear gunner took a chunk out of Lang's already damaged rudder (2+LRD)
Glossip could feel the heat of the fire beneath his feet but pressed on towards the targets.
The DR1s began to swarm around the 2 Biffs climbing as they gained on them. Palliser fire a short burst at Shultz before his gun jammed
Lange continued to punish the Capri (0,4),
but the rear gunner pounded the German in return (3, 2+RRD)
The duel continued , Lange feeling his plane shudder under the accurate fire of the Capri
Just saw the flames spurt from his engine. (2+Fire 0) but his rounds hit the Camels pilot square in the chest (5+pilot,0) Richardson slumped low in his cockpit
Milne had managed to creep upon Hartman and shred his rudder without return fire (2+ LRD) Richardson's Camel was stuck in a right turn Its pilot unconscious
Just could see the DH4 ahead of him, ignoring the fire he weaved towards the target
McGinness cleared his guns and looked around in horror 3 German scouts all within range. with the Biff on fire maneuvering was restricted
He saw the flash from Hartmans guns and felt a sharp pain in his shoulder . more rounds hit the biffs tail as the scouts picked at the twin seater. (3+pilot,2+RRD)
Despite Glossip throwing the Biff around Hartman scored again, further reducing the planes integral structure. (11)to the point where he could no longer control it
Kill Hartman
Lange side slipped to get a bead on the Capri and fired, the Capri shuddered as the port wing tore itself apart , the bomber pitched left and headed downward. (XP,1) kill Lang
Delaney watched as his wingman fell to the ground. he could see his target o the horizon as he left the enemy scouts behind.
Milne also came under fire from Traenkner ( 1+LRD,) pulling back on the throttle the Albatross flew over his SE5
With the remaining bombers well on their way to the targets and Richardson badly wounded and heading for home He found himself surrounded by the Adler scouts
Schultz turned his DR1 so he was above and in front of the SE5 a short burst tore into its topwing
Lange joined in(3)
but Traenkner coming out of his split S finished Milne off (5) kill traenk.
Richardson fared little better His reactions already slowed by his wounds he was an easy target for Smitt who came in on his port side his rounds raking the cockpit and hitting the pilot a second time (5+pilot)
Kill smitt
The Bombers tale.
The Adlers could see the AA guns flashes as they targeted the RFC bombers headed towards their targets Lange regrouped his planes sending the Dr1s high and the Albatri low , Thats if the gunners did not bring them down
Expecting some friendly planes to escort them home Delaney scanned the horizon All he saw was a gauntlet of enemy scouts
The bombers broke right and left the DH4 being the first to be hit
the rear gunner drilled Hartmans engine as he passed before his gun stopped. (o+GJ, 2+Eng) Palliser saw a few rounds hit Justs plane
Turning tightly Lange takes advantage of the disabled rear gun clipping the DH4s tail (1+LRD, 0) Pallisers gun jams , its barrel too hot to touch.
Smitt arced the Pfaltz over to get behind the Biff firing as he went. The Biff engine (3+Eng)spluttered
Lange continued to reshape the DH4s rudder
Delaney could see the coast ahead. but with 6 German scouts and a dodgy engine the odds of getting home seemed long
Lange crept in behind the biff hitting it rudder (2+LRD)
Another burst saw the fabric shred and his guns jam but Smitt again finished off a RFc Plane (5) Kill smitt
With fuel low the German scouts turned back to base as the lone DH4 headed out to sea. had they stayed a while longer they would have seen the bomber slowly glide towards the choppy waves of the Channel its pilot trying to keep its nose up as it crashed into the cold murky sea.
Butchers Tally:
Eagles\Central Powers
Oblt Lange: SS (LO) RTB 1 Kill
Oblt S Smitt Pfaltz: RTB 2 Kills
Ltn J Just: Alb (blue) RTB 0 kills
Ltn A Traenkner: Alb RTB 1Kill
Ltn H Hartman: SS (arrow) RTB 1 KIll
Jasta23
A Blox DR1 (red) RTB
S Schultz DR1 RTB
RFC \Bulldogs
2Lt James Grinell-Milne: SE5A. SD-ET / 0 kills
Rolled 7 -1SD = 6 Injured - Skip 1D3 Scenarios. Rolled 5 = Skip 3
E&E: Rolled 7 -1WIC -1BEL = 5 In hiding! - Skip 1D2 Scenarios. Rolled 6 = Skip 2. TOTAL Skips 3 (RRW)
Lt George Richardson: Camel KIA
Biff:
2Lt Philip Glossip: (p) SD/ET 0 kills
Rolled 6 -1SD = 5 Injured - Skip 1D3 Scenarios. Rolled 1 = Skip 1.
E&E: Rolled 4 -1WIC -1BEL = 2 Captured ! The war is over for this pilot...
Cpl Walter McGinness (o) Biff (R) SD/ET/WIA 0 kills
Rolled 7 -1SD -1WIA = 5 Injured - Skip 1D3 Scenarios. Rolled 4 = Skip 2
E&E: Rolled 3 -1WIA -1WIC -1BEL = 0 Captured ! The war is over for this airman...
Biff
2Lt Richard Delaney: (p) SD ET / 0 kills
Rolled 9 -1SD = 8 Injured - Skip 1D2 Scenario. Rolled 5 = Skip 2
E&E: Rolled 6 -1WIC -1BEL = 4 Captured and escaped! - Skip 1D3 Scenarios. Rolled 6 = Skip 3. Total Skips 3(WWR)
Sgt Paul Palliser: (o) SD-ET / 0 kills
Rolled 6 -1SD = 5 Injured - Skip 1D3 Scenario. Rolled 5 = Skip 3
E&E: Rolled 4 -1WIC -1BEL = 2 Captured - the war is over for this airman.
85th bomber squadron
DH4 SD - Ditched in sea.
Caproni SD-XP / 0 kills
As none of the attacking force survived British Intelligence has no idea whether the raid was successful or not. Further investigation of the attack sites may be required as there are no planes available to fly a recon mission at this time.
Dave if you could roll those little cubes for me please.
A great mission which I should have completed some weeks ago .Worthy of many Rep points.
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