Misssion 15-Belleau Woods-Semper Fi 6 June 1918

[Setarius]

0530 Mutts Compound

Lt. Forbes: Yes sir, will do. Cpl. Wringer! Tell Sgt. Scott to prep 2 DH4s with 2 bombs each, and then get me these pilots. They should be finishing their breakfast. Tell them briefing in 15 minutes.

Lt. Forbes: Gentlemen at 0345 our forces launched an attack along a line from Triangle Farm to Hill 142 just Southwest of Torcy. The fighting has been heavy especially around Belleau Woods.
We've been asked to provide air cover and close ground support. We are to drop bombs on Belleau Woods to hopefully knock out some MG positions. You guys dropping bombs be careful, as our troops will be close enough to the enemy that if you miss our side has a chance of being hit. Especially if you are short of the target.
Sgt. Scott is prepping your planes now, get your gear and meet at the planes in 10 minutes.
Good luck.

Sgt. Scott: Lt. we are having a problem with one of the DH4s, the bomb rack isn't working properly and we are repairing it now. It should be ready in 30 minutes. I have one of the RE8s ready to go in its place.

Lt. Forbes: Ok, the others can go ahead and take off the rest will follow shortly. Lt. Kilpatrick, you take 2Lt. Hamlett and Lt. Getz in the RE8 and see what you can do.

Lt. Kilpatrick: We approached Belleau Woods from the Southwest along the Paris-Metz Rd. until we spotted Lucy then we turned North. As we got close to Lucy we spotted 3 dark shapes headed South near Belleau. It seems we were to have some opposition to our mission.
Attachment 232385

Attachment 232386

Attachment 232387

I signalled the others to commence the attack. Lt. Getz slipped in behind 2Lt. Hamlett and we proceeded to the woods.
The CP pilots beat us to the woods but we were ready for them.
Attachment 232388

I hooked in over the tops of our troops to take on the newer Fokker DVII, while 2Lt. Hamlett went for the Albatross DVA. Lt. Getz was lined up for his bomb run.
Shots were fired by both sides. The Albatross of Ltn. Henkel hit 2Lt. Hamlett (2NL) damaging his rudder, while I exchanged shots with the Fokker of Obltn. von Boddien. We both missed as his guns went silent.
Attachment 232389

Attachment 232390

Von Boddien and Henkel both headedfor Lt. Getz, but were to high to get a shot.
I shot at the Fokker DR.1 of Ltn. Muller (EXP) causing it to come apart as he was diving to meet Lt. Getz.
Kill--Lt. Kilpatrick
Attachment 232391

With the path cleared Lt. Getz dropped his first egg on target.
1st target destroyed
Attachment 232392

Good thing he got it on the first try because just then 3 bogeys appeared in the distance.
Attachment 232393

As we were turning around Ltn. Henkel shot 2Lt. Hamlett (0,3).
Attachment 232394

The ground fire was heavy as a lucky shot hit Lt. Getz (3P) causing him to temporarily black out as the plane flew straight.
Attachment 232395

[Setarius]

While Lt. Getz was regaining his bearings from being shot Cpl. LaClaire (3P) also gets hit by ground fire.
Attachment 232396

We got turned around and tried making runs at the Enemy Aircraft. 2Lt. Hamlett (1,4) misjudged his timing and is shot by Ltn. Henkel and I shoot at Obltn. von Boddien (0) and missed.
Attachment 232397

With both himself and Cpl. LaClaire wounded, Lt. Getz decides to bug out. The approaching EA are too high to matter.
Attachment 232398

The Obltn. took advantage of a miscue on my part to take a close shot. Unlucky him, his Guns jammed again.
Lt. Kilpatrick (2GJ,2GJ).
Here comes your group.
Attachment 232399

Attachment 232400

2Lt. Hamlett shoots Ltn. Henkel (0), as the Ltn. shoots me (1).
Attachment 232401

As the enemy reinforcements spread out and attack hitting 2Lt. Hamlett (1NL)(0) as the 2Lt. hits the black tailed Albatross (1NR)
Ground fire from our side missed the Fokker.
Attachment 232402

Attachment 232403

Lt. Forbes: As we got close an Albatross broke off and headed our way. I slipped behind the DH4, but missed a shot at it. We both missed a chance to shoot.
Attachment 232404
Attachment 232405

[Setarius]

Sgt. Vanderbeogh got a shot in that ignited a fire on Ltn. Henkel plane (2FLM).

Attachment 232407

Lt. Forbes: 2Lt. Winklebleck (2NR, 0GJ) exchanges shots with Ltn. Hüttenrauch (1,2GJ)
While I do heavy damage to the DVII (0,5).
Attachment 232408

Attachment 232409

As they head across the woods Sgt. Vanderbeogh hits the DVII of Ltn. Creutzman (2NR).
Ltn. Henkel's DVII explodes as the fire ignites the fuel tank.
Kill--Sgt. Vanderbeogh
Attachment 232410

Attachment 232411

I got turned around and went after the White DVII. I got in close and did light damage to it.
Obltn. von Boddien (0,2NL)
Attachment 232412

Attachment 232413

Lt. Smythe-Browning brings the DH4 around and bears down on the target.
Attachment 232414

2Lt. Winklebleck hits Ltn. Hüttenrauch
Sgt. Vanderbeogh (3) exchanged fire with Ltn. Creutzman (1ENG) hitting his engine and causing significant damage.
Attachment 232415

Attachment 232416

[Setarius]

2Lt. Winklebleck hits the black&white tailed Albatross (3,1NL)
As 2Lt. Hamlett hits the yellow fuselage Albatross (0,5) hard as it does an Immelman. As Lt. Smythe-Browning (0GJ,3) drops a bomb on target, shots stop coming from the DVII
Attachment 232417

Attachment 232418

2Lt. Winklebleck (4SMK, 3) inadvertently ends up in front of Ltn. Dietlen much to his dismay.
Attachment 232419

As Lt. Smythe-Browning turns for home Lt. Kilpatrick overshoots Ltn. Creutzman missing his chance at a shot. Everyone else has a partner for this dance of death, but can't decide who will lead.
Sgt. Vanderbeogh snaps a quick shot at Ltn. Creutzman (2NR).
And hits him again (2FLM, 0GJ) setting him on fire before his guns goes silent.
Attachment 232420

Attachment 232421

Attachment 232422

Lt. Kilpatrick gets a shot at Ltn. Creutzman (3ENG) causing the Ltn. engine to die sending the red&white striped plane fall to the ground in a blaze of glory.
2nd Engine hit.
Kill--Lt. Kilpatrick #2 today
Attachment 232423

Obltn. von Boddien has 2Lt. Hamlett (5P) in his sights and sends him crashing to the ground.
2Lt. Winklebleck hits Ltn. Hüttenrauch (2,2GJ) before his guns go silent.
Attachment 232424

Attachment 232425

Everyone out of position to take a shot and several guns jammed, our fearless pilots head for their respective airfields. Lt. Forbes takes a parting shot at Obltn. von Boddien and misses.
Attachment 232426

[Setarius]

Butcher's Bill

Central Powers: Left to Right

Obltn. Gustav von Boddien RTB 8 DMG 1 KILL
2LT. Hamlett

Ltn. Hans Hüttenrauch RTB 8 DMG 0 KILL

Ltn. Konrad Dietlin RTB 10 DMG 0 KILL
Attachment 232427

Ltn. Aloys Creutzmann SD FLM NML 2ENG 14 DMG 0 KILL
C&W Rolled 7-2FLM-1NML=4 Skip 1
E&E Rolled 6-1FLM-1WIC+1NML=5 IN HIDING Skip 2 SKIP 2

Ltn. Eberhard Muller SD EXP NML
C&W Rolled 7-3EXP-1NML=3 Skip 2
E&E Rolled 4-1EXP-1WIC+1NML=3 CAPTURED AND ESCAPED Skip 3 SKIP 3

Ltn. Hans Henkel SD EXP NML 2 DMG 0 KILL
C&W Rolled 5-3EXP-1NML=1 KIA
E&E Nevermind
Attachment 232428

Entente:

2Lt. Rodger Hamlett SD WIA NML
C&W Rolled 10-1SD-1WIA-1NML=7 Skip 1
E&E Rolled 8-1WIA-1WIC+1NML=7 Skip 1 SKIP 1
Attachment 232429

Lt. Richard Smythe-Browning (P) DH4 RTB 6 DMG

Sgt. Rene Vanderboegh (O) DH4 RTB 1 Kill
Ltn. Henkel

Lt. James Kilpatrick RTB 5 DMG 2 KILLS
Ltn. Eberhard Muller and Ltn. Aloys Creutzmann

Lt. Richard Forbes RTB 0 DMG 0 Kill

2Lt. Erasmus Winklebleck RTB 9 DMG SMK 0 Kill

Lt. Etienne Getz (P) RE8 RTB WIA 0 DMG
C&W Rolled 6-1WIA+3RTB=8 SKIP 2

Cpl. Jean-Paul LaClaire (O) RTB WIA
C&W Rolled 5-1WIA+3RTB=7 SKIP 1
Attachment 232430

Belleau Woods
MG positions 2 destroyed
Attachment 232431

Victory Points

Entente
MG destroyed 2 = 10 pts
Scouts SD 3 = 6 pts
Total 16 points

Central Powers
Scouts SD 1 = 2 pts
Early exit 1 = 1 pt
Total 3 points

Entente Victory

Semper Fi

[flash]

A well fought battle Dale, I see now where I went wrong with the instructions but it didn't detract from an interesting scenario. A well earned victory for your Bulldogs.
Uncle will be along in a moment ...

Uncle says:

Well done chaps, top notch effort by all, mission accomplished with minimal losses and you bagged a few Huns along the way too ! Great work by Kilpatrick picking up a brace & Von Boddien is successful again, just a smidge from becoming an ace, one to keep an eye on.
Sgt Rene Vanderboegh: is awarded the Military Medal for his combined service & victories Very well done.

[Carl_Brisgamer]

Well fought Dale, your Bulldogs certainly had the measure of the Boche over Belleau Wood.

REP inbound

[Stumptonian]

Well played, Dale. A resounding victory for your boys.
The 3D trees really added to the visuals.

[gully_raker]

Just got around to reading this one Dale as I had family visiting from Sydney over the weekend.

Great result for Forbes's Mutts mate.
That gave the jolly old Hun a bloody nose Well Done & Rep inbound.

[mikeemagnus]

Nicely done Dale. A good fight and another good result for the Bulldogs - hey ho Sorry I've been so late , again, to reply but its been a busy last couple of months. Thanks for a great mission. Rep inbound if permitted. Cheers
Mike

[Teaticket]

Well done Dale. I guess two of the Germans were named Patrick and James shot them both down. Interesting mat, has the look of a destroyed no-mans-land.