0820, 21 March, 1918. Amadeus Schubert had just lifted the Rumpler C.IV a couple of meters off of the misty wet field. The pre-morning fog had been too thick for flying but a now thinning of the soup was perceived so up they went. He couldn’t see to the far end of the field where it was lined by a row of beech trees, 30 meters tall. Not being able to see the line of oncoming trees was unnerving even though he had lifted off here dozens of times and never once came close to the tree line. Finally, when he was 40 meters up he could see a dark wall getting closer and well below him. With that worry over it was now time to think about the mission.
The Spring offensive was in motion and this might be the last chance to break through before the Americans arrive in force. Amadeus knew that the boys on the ground needed all the help he and Ludwig Immelkopf could give them.
Major Büttner lifted off next in his Fokker Triplane, leading the escort for Amadeus and Ludwig. (Büttner wasn’t happy at the state of his squadron’s aircraft. They were flying mostly worn Albatros DVas and Triplanes. The recent delivery of new Siemen-Schuckerts went badly with one destroyed and two badly damaged. More were on the way and the two that were damaged were still in the repair shop, so the older planes will have to soldier on some more.) Rudolf Schmitt followed Büttner up in a DVa. Rudolf would stay high above the Rumpler with Büttner with the goal of keeping any EA from interfering with the mission. The British were sure to be up if it was at all possible to fly over the front.
Wiping the accumulating mist off of his goggles, Charles Daley instinctively looked right and then left to check on Seymour and Stimpson. “Don’t want to lose them on the soup”, he thought to himself.
The flight of three Sopwith Camels went up as soon as deemed possible. The front was collapsing and knowledge of its whereabouts was extremely important to HQ. The Germans would be up supporting their advance and any resistance from above would also be invaluable.
For Ludwig Immelkopf, artillery direction would be a bit more difficult this time as it was to be directed upon a retreating enemy. That would be hard enough to do without having the shells drop on our own advancing boys in clear weather, but this fog made identification extremely difficult. Once the leading troops were identified then the calling of shells would be much easier on Ludwig’s soul.
Konrad Schroeder was last to escape the grasp of the soft wet grassy field. He would fly low with the task of spotting the enemy on the ground. He also had the honor of keeping any anti-aircraft fire engaged with him so Amadeus and Ludwig could do their work.
Konrad kept well below the flight above but being careful not to lose sight of them. As they neared the expected front the fog faded more and more. Soon the ground was seen and hundreds of soldiers were spotted moving west. They were scattered about, a few here and clumps there, all hurrying along. Ours or theirs? Occasionally Konrad could see the flare on the end of a rifle pointing up at him. Unfortunately, he knew this did not help identify who was doing the shooting.
He knew he would have to go down lower so that he could identify the men scurrying below. The thought of being shot by your own troops angered Konrad but he would not fire until he was sure they were the enemy. At least these men were moving so they would not have machine guns or cannon set up. Still, the occasional muzzle flash below reminded him how dangerous this game is.
At less than 200’ he finally could feel certain these were friendly boys. They were moving with purpose, not fleeing for their lives. The distinctive fieldgrau uniforms were good to see. Then the troops thinned out and then there were none. Several hundred yards ahead a few men again were seen heading west. They did not have the look of any organization, more of desperation…ahhh, the British! Konrad did not fire at the retreating infantry as he readied a flare, and the men below, busy running, did not fire at him.
He fired off a white flare hoping Amadeus and Ludwig would see that the enemy was now beneath them.
A second flare and then Konrad gained a little altitude as ground fire began as the fleeing enemy numbers grew.
Amadeus kept a watchful eye on Konrad below. He could also see activity on the ground but was not low enough to know if they were friend or foe. Then he saw a white flare in the air trailing behind Konrad, and then a second.
“Ah, time to get to work”! Amadeus yelled back to Ludwig. Ludwig quickly made contact with the artillery and gave them position coordinates. Soon the shells would be falling.
Both Büttner and Rudolf looked towards each other pointing a finger forward, enemy aircraft dead ahead. They knew what they had to do to keep the British busy so not to interfere with Amadeus and Ludwig or spot Konrad below.
Daley in the lead Camel saw what was coming. He spotted a 2 seater slightly below and it’s escort above. He didn’t notice the Albatros down near the ground as he signaled the others to attack the 2 seater.
As they closed in Büttner got in the first telling shot on the lead Camel.
Schmitt and Seymour exchange deadly blows with the Camel spewing thick black smoke as a result.
Rudolf has a fleeting moment that he notices his Albatros ever so slightly change direction.
Daley dives down on the Rumpler for an easy shot but to his frustration his guns jammed immediately.
Büttner and Stimpson squared off for a head on pass. Stimpson missed the nimble triplane and Büttner’s skilled marksmanship came through as he punished the Camel.
Amadeus, spotting the Camel diving at him pulled back hard on the stick nosing the clumsy Rumpler up. Ludwig had to hold on so missed an opportunity to correct the wide artillery salvo and watched it miss once again. Amadeus’ effort was well worth it as his accurate fire demolished the attacking Camel.
Stimpson dives down towards the Rumpler thinking he will have the 2 seater, but Büttner anticipates the Camel’s move and guides his triplane in for a dangerously close pass. Stimpson is distracted and misses a golden opportunity.
Ludwig ignores the enemy plane right above him as he sends new directions to the battery. Again the shot fails to hit the intended target.
Konrad spots a concentration of enemy troops and makes a pass at them. Infantry and machine gun fire both miss him and he does little damage to them in return.
Ludwig momentarily drops his microphone and takes a quick shot at the Camel 20 meters overhead but notices no damage.
Watching the Camel literally on top of the Rumpler, Büttner knew he had to do something. As quick as he could he got on the Camel’s tail as it maneuvered to get on the Rumpler’s tail. Firing a long-range burst Büttner was surprised and very glad to see the result. Whether it was his good aim or pure luck, he witnessed the Camel stall and then go into a dive straight down leaving debris fluttering behind in its dive towards the woods below.
Just to the east Rudolf keeps Seymour occupied and away from the Rumpler.
Konrad passes low over the infantry who fire skywards but their bullets fail to find him.
As he starts to turn for another pass he notices difficulty turning to the left and a few bullet holes in his ailerons.
Seymour in his agile Camel gets the jump on Rudolf. Büttner notices Rudolf struggling with his foe and stealthily approaches the fight.
Ludwig finally gets a direct hit for his troubles just before having to turn back.
As Konrad lines up to drop a bomb, the infantry below open up and wound him, grazing his right calf. His bomb drop is disrupted by the sudden pain and barely causes any damage.
The infantry below were crack shots and again found their mark, peppering Konrad’s engine. The Albatros immediately began to ride very rough as the engine misfires. Konrad knew he it could not get any better so he headed home.
The British infantry fire wildly at the Albatross as it heads east, but luckily for Konrad no more damage is done.
As Amadeus and Ludwig begin their homeward run along their section line an artillery shell bursts right beneath them and the Rumpler is shaken badly.
Immediately more AA guns open up but luckily have lost their range.
The AA assault continues firing, again finding the Rumpler’s altitude and score another damaging blow.
Keeping on the flight line they were ordered to, Amadeus can’t lose the gunners from below. Luckily the burst is not close this time and Ludwig has some success with an artillery drop of his own and silences a gun below.
Ludwig’s joy was short lived though as another AA gun opens up and scores a direct hit! Amadeus struggles to control the crippled Rumpler as it spins towards the ground.
With Seymour concentrating on the Albatros, Büttner cuts the distance and takes aim but misses a long shot.
Büttner continues his attack on Seymour, this time he does not miss.
Seymour quickly realizes he is in a bad position, caught between two enemy planes.
Rudolf, seeing Büttner attacking the Camel from behind feels confident that this Englander is going down. He steers straight at the Camel firing a hopeless long shot but intent on keeping his enemy’s attention. The enemy was in a bad way and Rudolf hoped he’d panic.
Rudolf missed and felt a few pecks to his Albatros from return fire.
Büttner having an excellent tailing position fired a continuing stream of bullets into the Camel.
To Seymour’s horror his Camel begins to burn.
Knowing his tailing enemy has a great advantage over him, Seymour turns to face the triplane while successfully avoiding the Albatros.
Büttner watches the Camel Immelmann. At the moment it is most vulnerable, he takes his best shot and the Camel falls to bits.
Seeing Konrad heading east with blue puffs sporadically following his Albatros, Büttner and Rudolf signal each other to take over Konrad’s duty of attacking the ground targets.
Rudolf swings in behind a machine gun position and wreaks havoc on the ground. The return infantry fire does nothing.
Rudolf’s dive brings him in too fast and he overshoots the target. Now that he is tens of meters above the infantry can’t help but hit the German plane. Rudolf feels an excruciating pain in his groin. He instinctively reaches down and can’t tell for sure if all of his bits are still there as it hurts so bad.
He knows his day in the air is over and without even looking for Büttner heads for home. As a parting shot the infantry shoot up his rudder to bid him on his way.
Büttner begins his own attack on a gun position. He tears into the gaggle of men on the ground flying through their spray of rifle fire.
As he turns to set up for a reversal Büttner jerks involuntarily as rifle rounds strike his left arm.
(I missed a couple of photos…the triplane set up an Immelmann for another run at the target. While turning away from the target the infantry fire drew a 5 wound!)
Coming out of an Immelmann Büttner can’t help but line up on the troopers that just shot him. He finished them off with his last rounds. He can’t tell if it is his weakened arm or damage to his Dr.I as it is a bit more difficult to control.
He looks around and can’t see Rudolf. He finally spots a plane in the distance heading east and hopes it’s Rudolf. With no other planes in the sky and a bleeding arm he turns east and slowly starts to climb….
Butcher’s Bill
Entente
2Lt Charles Daley SD EXP NML 0 Kills
C 6 -3(exp) -1(nml) = 2 KIA
2Lt Edwin Stimpson SD EXP NML 0 Kills
C 10 – 3(exp) -1(nml) = 6 Injured, 4 = -2 missions
E 9 -1(exp) -1(wic) +1(nml) = 8 crash landed, almost home -1 mission Total – 2 Missions
2Lt Bentley Seymour SD FLM EXP NML 0 Kills
C 6 -3(exp) -1(nml) = 2 KIA
Central Powers
Ltn Konrad Schroeder RTB WIA 0 Kills
C 9 -1(wia) +3(rtb) = 11 OK
Ltn Rudolf Schmitt RTB WIA 0 Kills
C 5 -1(wia) +3(rtb) = 7 Injured, 3 = -1 mission Total -1 Mission
Maj Peter Büttner RTB WIA 2 Kills
C 7 -1(wia) +3(rtb) +1(ace) +1(fa) = 11 OK
Ltn Amadeus Schubert SD NML 1 Kill
C 6 -1(sd) -1(nml) = 4 injured, 3 = -2 mission
E 6 -1(wic) +1(nml) = 6 in hiding, 3 = -1 mission Total -2 Missions
Ltn Ludwig Immelkopf SD 0 Kills
C 7 -1(sd) -1(nml) = 5 injured, 5 = -5 missions
E 10 -1(wic) +1(nml) = 10 they didn’t even see him in the confusion Total -5 Missions
Scenario victory totals
Entente points 5 plane shot down
6 - 3 planes forced to break off
total 11
German points 15 – 3 planes shot down
5 - 1 ground target destroyed
3 - 3 successful artillery shoots
total 23
minus 11
Final Total 12 German loss
I wasn’t sure about points for the ground targets. The way I read it you only get points for ground targets if they had been hit by a bomb. I only took the score for the destroyed target, not the two that were only strafed.
I had a horrible time with the artillery shoots, only scoring 3. The AA against me on the other hand did quite well and downed the Rumpler.
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