Preamble
The ferocity, speed & size of the German attack caught the Allied forces unprepared. Assisted by the fog & mist of the late afternoon the Germans made spectacular gains & the British defence was in tatters.
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Air reconnaissance was virtually impossible due to the weather conditions except for a small area around Lagnicourt.
At the Hearts of Oak RNAS Squadron aerodrome Major Richard "*icky" Triggers called Captain "Bon" King to his office.
"Bon!" said Triggers " Things are all in a right proper mess!" The Hun has broken through on a number of fronts & no one seems to know how far they have penetrated due to this damn fog. Now we have been briefed that things are fairly clear around Lagnicourt so I want to send out your RE 8 for an extended recon & to call in artillery shots on any German targets of opportunity. We will send two of your SE's as escorts & I want a Camel to look for Hun machine gun nests & strafe the blighters well. Now I need you here to assist me to get things organised once we know what is really happening so go now & arrange your roster" Saluting Triggers, Bon ran over to C Flights mess & quickly detailed the situation to the assembled officers.
"O.K. Tiny I want you to lead the escorts in SE "G" & Quick you take the Camo one.
Mick you seem to enjoy Trench Strafing so grab Camel No.4. Unfortunately our two most experienced 2 seater crew are enjoying the pleasures of Blighty so we will detail our two recent arrivals 2nd Lt. Morris Dance & Cpl Phillip McGlasson to take the RE 8. McGlasson apparently topped the gunnery training class so he might come in handy. Now make sure your kites are fully armed & fuelled & get to it ASAP as things are extremely dire!"
The Mission
The crews prepared for take off & flew towards the Lines.
Meanwhile behind the German sector Ltn Wilhelm Ulmer Staffel Fuhrer of the Eagles Jasta briefed the pilots who would accompany him on the morning Offensive Patrol in support of Operation Michael. Ltn Richard Schneider would fly the Black fuselage D.Va & LtnGustav Mahn would fly the Pfalz with the Red hatching. He of course would have his Albatross with the leaders White Chevrons on the top wing.
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Mick O'Leary flew his Camel off to the left hand side of the formation intending to make a circle around to the opposite side of the battlefield whilst the other three machines flew across towards the Trenches looking for German intrusions. The two groups of opponents closed as the German Pilots had observed the British aircraft heading towards them.
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McGlasson had radioed in co-ordinates of German Targets spotted but so far the British Artillery shots had landed wide of the Targets ( 4 + 3 + 4)
The German Aircraft closed rapidly but everyone was still out of range. Again the Artillery shot wide! (3+3+4)
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Quick March opened fire as he banked towards the Pfalz & saw the German Pilot jerk in his Cockpit. "Think I got the bugger!" thought Quick.
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Mick O'Leary now dived down to altitude 2 to be ready to commence any strafing opportunities & the black German Albatross also descended to level 4 ready to attack the British 2 seater
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The German Flack now took aim at the Harry Tate but fortunately fired too high. ( 2 + 6 (0) +2)
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Phil McGlasson took the opportunity while his pilot was avoiding the flack to take a shot at the Hun Albatross who was manoeuvring to try to get on their tail & his gunnery training paid off as he scored a damaging hit to the Germans Mercedes engine which now caused the German Pilot to head back to his base.
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As Mick O'Leary approached a German Machine gun nest he came under fire but only received minor damage to his wing covering & their following shot missed completely.
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McGlasson continued to radio co-ordinates to the Field Artillery & finally they scored a hit on a concentration of German Troops. (4 + 5 hit +3)
O'Leary now turned to make his bombing run & gave the gun nest a welcoming burst of .303 bullets to great effect. He followed up & dropped his first bomb for a partial hit (missing the red dot but finishing off the gun position)
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Whilst the Albatross made for home with its damaged engine the two SE's & the two remaining German Scouts manoeuvred for advantage.
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The Pfalz got a minor hit on Quick's SE who gave Ulmers' Albatross a bit of attention.
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The RE 8 was not having much success in trying to contact the Artillery (1+ 3+ 1)
But they then came under fire from the German Flak batteries who again misjudged their height & finally the Artillery scored a hit on a German Truck convoy bringing reinforcements & ammunition to the front lines. (1 + 6(0) + 5)
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The scouts continued to dogfight & Quick got on Ulmer's tail but immediately his guns jammed!
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The RE 8 continued to radio co-ordinates & now saw the Artillery had successfully targeted an ammunition dump deep in German territory. (5 +1 + 1)
The RE 8 had reached the limit of its outward leg & now turned for the return trip home.
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As it commenced the return trip the Flak again targeted them but their luck held & the shot missed. (2 +3+ 6 (0))
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Meanwhile Mick O'Leary had lined up another German machine gun position & this time scored a direct hit! (red dot covered)
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The tussle between the Scouts continued & the Pfalz got a good position on Tiny's SE but was just out of range.
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However the Pfalz followed up with a good shot at Quick's plane but suffered a gun jamb.
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The Harry Tate continued to transmit corrections to the Artillery & was finally rewarded with two direct hits on a Troop Concentration & an Artillery position.
(5 + 5 + 2)
German Flak again targeted the RE 8 but again they missed. (2 + 3 + 6 (0))
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The scouts continued their turning duel as beneath them O'Leary's Camel lined up on another machine gun position.
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Tiny Large had now managed to get a good firing solution on the German Pfalz & caused damage to its rudder.
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O'Leary attacked the gun pit with his Vickers & then dropped his last bomb to good effect!
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Disaster now struck the British Recon Aircraft as a German Flak round exploded directly beneath them & set the aircraft on fire. "*h*t & bloody hell" shouted Lt. Dance. "That's rather torn it! So damn close to home too. Just hope the old crate holds together long enough! (6 fire +3 +2)
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Tiny Large & the Pfalz had continued their aerial dance & now closed head on & exchanged close range fire.
The German pilot once again jerked in his harness & his plane fell out of control to the ground below.
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The fire on the RE 8 seemed to die down somewhat & McGlasson made one last successful radio call before they landed their burning plane on their home aerodrome. (5 + 1 ---Landed)
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As all aircraft were now running low on both fuel & ammunition, Ulmer & March made one final inconclusive pass & then headed for their home bases.
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Finally Night fell & the Kaiserschlacht Battlefield fell silent except for the weak calls of the wounded & dying left after one of the most savage actions of the War.
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Comments
Well that went rather quietly until the last couple of turns & then action aplenty.
The RE 8 was fortunate to be so close to home base when set on fire. I drew all 3 A damage for the fire & these will be shown in the Butchers Bill.
All Scouts started at Alt 6 & only the Black Albatross dived to Alt 4 to chase the RE 8. In retrospect not a good decision as he got a damaged engine for his trouble. The Camel started at Alt 4 but dived to Alt 2 before starting its Strafing. The RE 8 remained at Level 4 throughout.
All aircraft were AI controlled except for the RE 8 which flew straights until on Fire & then suitable cards & the Camel was flown by me for the Bomb runs.
I enjoyed that greatly although the Dice refused to roll a 4 for me on the return leg whilst there were 4's aplenty on the way out.
At least the Arty Boys did manage a few direct hits.
Points Overview
7 Direct Hits by Artillery = 7 points
3 ground Targets Destroyed = 15 points
1 German Aircraft Destroyed = 5 points
1 German Aircraft Forced home = 2 points
TOTAL POINTS = 29 POINTS
German Points NIL
BRITISH VICTORY!
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