OTTBE Misson 12- Another day over the Somme - 21st April 1918 by Tikkifriend
RAF
A/Lt Betts Camel H
2nd Lt Sumpter SE5 G
2nd Lt Grinell-Milne SE5 L
2nd Lt Boddy Camel Rookie
Ace Camel B
Adlers
Hptn Lange Blue Alb
Hptn Smitt Red Alb
Ltn Kahle Yellow Alb
MvR DR1
The Adlers mess was in high spirits. Losses were low and victories were mounting. The Somme was a miserable quagmire for the PBI but for pilots it was a happy hunting ground, and a chance to fly against the Bulldogs.
Lange led his flight over NMl . On his 3rd pass he spotted the familiar silhouettes of RAF scouts.
swinging around he signaled Smitt and Kahle to meet them head on
Within seconds the sky was a swirl of turning planes
Betts planned his move to perfection, catching Kahle defenceless and at close range. The rounds laced up from the Albatrosses rudder cutting through the fuselage framing as they went. The tail sheared off and fell away from the plane (2+LRD, XP)
Smitt and Sumpter faced off, not for the first time,Sumpter scoring first (1) then they were gone.
Betts and Smitt found themselves head to head . Both fired, Smitt's rounds doing more damage before both sets of guns jammed. (0+GJ.4) (0, 2+GJ)
A long range snipe from Milne tore into Langes wing (4)
Below Boddy his guns jammed and a red Dr1 on his tail weaved desperately in an effort to shake him off but no sooner had he cleared his guns he felt his rudder go slack as the Baron opened up on him (1+LRD)
A second attack saw flames burst from under Boddy's cowl (0,2+fire)
Behind and above the DR1 Boddys guardian angel appeared .
The DR1 broke off is attack on the burning rookie and Immelled to meet the new threat. An exchange of shots saw the Barons tail rudder damaged (2+RRD)
Smitt and Lange concentrate on the Camel and SE5s. Smitt sought out Betts once more. The rounds struck the RAF pilot square in the chest, knocking him unconscious (0,5+pilot)
Lange could see an SE5 behind him and banked right to get round on the faster plane
Betts plane continued in aright hand turn,his feet unresponsive on the rudder pedals. Lange took advantage of his plight and riddled the Camel. a second plane lit up the sky (2+fire)
Smitt Immelled and fell on the happless RAF pilot and plane (1),
The flames licked through what remained of the frame and it flipped onto its back heading for terra firma
The fire on Boddy's plane seemed to be dying down but he was still forced to weave a crooked path to safety
Grinell-Milne Immelled in an attempt to outwit Smitt
The RAF ace was good . His accurate fire tore into the already damaged tail of the Baron (2+RRD,2+LRD)
before the planes touched briefly (0) (0)
Smitt's bullets cracked Grinell-Milne's engine casing as he came over on the roll from his Immell (3+engine) causing him to head back to base stuttering his way West as fast as he could
The Baron forced to fly straight uses his skills to avoid the attack from the RAF ace (ignores 3 damage )
Boddy took a long draft from his flask. With the fire out and only minutes from his lines he had survived
With the rookie safe all the RAF planes turned West.
It was now a race to the lines if the Adlers wanted to participate. Lange signalled pursuit
.
Sumpter slipped around above and behind Smitt a clever move which put him close to Smitt as the German Immelled . A bullet ricocheted off the engine , striking Smitt in the temple (3+pilot, 1)
Lange looked around . Smitt looked to be wounded and the Red Baron , his tail and rudder in dire need of repair had dived for home. This one was one they could not win, the return to base flare went up
Result
RAF
A/Lt Nicholas Betts: (Camel H) SD-FLM-FT / WIA 1 Kill
Rolled 8 -2FLM -1WIA = 5 Injured - Skip 1D3 Scenarios. Rolled 2 = Skip 1
2Lt Stanley Sumpter: (SE5a G) RTB / 0 kills
2Lt James Grinell-Milne: (SE5a L) RTB / 0 kills - Forced to retire
2Lt Simon Boddy: (Rookie Camel) RTB / 0 kills
Ace (Camel B) RTB
Lives to fight another day.
Adlers
Hptn Franz Lange: (Blue Alb) RTB / 0 kills
Hptn Sigfried Smitt: (Red Alb) RTB / WIA / 1 Kill
Wound - Rolled 7 +3RTB -1WIA = 9 All well when you land well.
Ltn Max Kahle: (Yellow Alb) SD-EXP-ET / 0 kills
Rolled 10 -3EXP = 7 Injured - Skip 1D2 Scenario. Rolled 6 = Skip 2
E&E: Rolled 11 -1EXP -1WIC -1BEL = 8 Landed almost home! - Skip 1 Scenario. Total Skip 2 (RW)
MvR DR1
Lives to fight another day
I make it a 5/6 score to the Bulldogs. So close but no cigar.
A cracking game Carl. On the surface simple but with the 2 aces it upped the stakes. The RAF ace shredded tthe DR1s tail and I was sure the fire would get the rookie , but there you go.
Dave the usual honours please.
Done
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Originally Posted by gully_raker
Good outcome for the Bulldogs but it really was a close run thing! REP inbound 
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