Blooding The Bombers
Having converted a couple of 1˝ Strutters into single seat bombers I thought it was about time to blood them with a little solo action and up against them would be some machines captured by the Germans, amongst others.
So here we go - the bombers no's 23 & 24 are fore and aft, their escorts, a pair of standard Strutters are abeam.
instructions were to fly to the port town and turn right
I diced for when and where the enemy would appear and within a couple of turns I got three scouts appearing between the bombers and their target - a factory complex used for distributing ammunition.
The first Hun to make contact was piloting a Halberstadt D.III and he went head to head with bomber #23 - he caused a little damage before his gun jammed.
His colleague in a captured Nieuport 11 had better luck attacking bomber #24 - his first burst badly wounding the pilot
The gunner of one escort had a pop at the Halberstadt but no damage caused
Another captured type, a rather well known Nieuport 17, swarmed into the battle area taking on the other escort head to head. The damage he took was stiff but that he handed out was devastating !
The other escort's gunner got in a shot on the N.11 and caused it some significant damage
The N.11 bravely pressed home his attack but neither machine took any more damage
A new player enters the scene in the form of a German marked Spad VII, he takes on bomber #23 and causes some minor damage.
But 23 is not to be denied, his target is in sight and moments later four 65lb bombs are on the way to destroy it.
Bullseye !
Another late comer to the party in the shape of another Halberstadt gets in on the action by clobbering an escort and setting it on fire whilst the gunner was distracted by the N.11. It's probably what caused him to miss again !
The #24 bomber with its wounded pilot had circled, the wound proved so bad that the pilot was forced to head for home. The first Halberstadt manages to cut off the escaping Strutter and another accurate burst into the cockpit area puts the matter beyond dispute & gives the Hun formation its second kill of the day.
The surviving & flaming escort has turned for home, he avoids the Brightly painted N.17 but takes a nasty knock from the Spad that has circled back to attack him.
Bomber #23 has turned for home and must now weather the storm of vengeful German pilots - he is cut off by a Halberstadt D.II & a D.III. The D.II wades in first and sets him on fire.
The D.III catches him at short range and tatters his control surfaces
The chase is on ! the N.17, N.11 & Spad have reversed after the escort, the Halberstadts swing around behind the bomber
The Spad soon closes on the stricken Strutter ahead of him - the guns rattle - the gunner sees glass fly, he's on target and holds the trigger down to be sure - the pilot slumps in his cockpit and his machine spins toward earth
The first Halberstadt cuts off the retreating bomber but in an exchange of fire both guns jam and no damage is done
The second D.III get a brief snap shot on target before the enemy manages to pull away
Butchers Bill:
Target destroyed but two Strutters downed - one bomber, one escort, one German downed.
(Forgot the damage for flying straight when on fire on #23 but when I went back and checked he would have made it anyway)
One Germans downed, target was destroyed but two kills achieved
A fun little game for an afternoon or twos entertainment, pulling wounded pilot twice in a row, twice, was a bit disturbing but that's the nature of the game sometimes - each side had its own double B deck !
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