OTT-EYM Mission 11 - Whiteout - 22 Mar 1917 by Baz
An enemy observation plane was out on a reconnaissance mission with its tandem escort. An end of Winter storm has just hit this part of the Western front. Despite this, Onkel had wanted the Eagles to fly Defensive patrols. It was bitter and snow lay on the ground and sudden heavy snow storms and worse, blizzards, blew up without any notice. The pilots were wearing the maximum amount of clothing to just try to keep warm and their goggles kept misting up. Obltn Hans Tilkowski (Albatros D.II red tail) was out on patrol with Ltn Heinz Hornig (Roland D.II camo). It was only safe to have two scouts out, as the likelihood of collisions were high when the snow clouds and blizzard blew up. Even then, they had got separated and Tilkowski was just on his way back to find Hornig when he spots a pair of enemy planes (RE8 blue spot and green spot) crossing behind friendly lines. Luckily, Hornig is following close behind and they engage in the snow squall trying their best to thwart the determined enemy from their mission.
The snow is falling heavy and visibility is reduced as they close on each other.
Both Eagles dive to the tandem altitude, but so does 2Lt Smuts, Pilot of the RE8 (blue dot).
In the heavy conditions, Hornig and Smuts overlap at different altitudes, while Tilkowski and 2Lt Edwin Mackay, Pilot of the RE8 (green spot) cannot get close enough to each other.
With the snow lessening for a while, the Albatros turns towards Mackay’s RE8, who has now climbed also putting him out of range. The Roland has stalled and Smuts climbs as well and continues towards his target vector. The rear gunner, AM3 Alfred Duncan let’s go a long range shot at the Roland which damages the rudder controls.
Hornig performs a Split-S to give chase and Tilkowski is still out of range due to the altitude difference.
Hornig uses his Acrobatic Pilot skills to turn towards Smuts and Tilkowski closes on Mackay but still out of range despite the RE8’s stalling.
Just as they close on each other the weather changes for the worse and a blizzard blows in obscuring all vision and shooting opportunities.
All the pilots wipe their goggles frantically, hoping to avoid any collisions.
Mackay loses altitude due to the turbulence of the buffeting winds.
Finally the blizzard passes, leaving light snow flurries, with Tilkowski in short range of Mackay and sitting in the blind spot.
His glasses must still be fogged as he misses with both guns.
Hornig has better luck and hits Smuts’ cockpit at long range causing major damage and wounding Smuts in the thigh, in return rear gunner, AM1 William Eldon sets the Roland smoking
Tilkowski follows up his attack on Mackay but again hits “the double doughnut” and also jams his guns. Luckily he is still in the blind spot so does not attract any return fire.
Hornig has lost Smuts in a snow cloud bank so turns left to see if he can find Hornig, in the last position he saw him.
With the Albatros having a gun jam and still sitting in the blind spot, the other RE8 loses itself in the snow clouds too as the snow gets heavier again. Hornig and Tilkowski meet up again and head back to the last zonal area they saw the RE8’s. Tilkowski fixes his gun jam and the smoke on Hornig’s Roland peters out without any detriment to his machine.
The two Eagle scouts almost head straight into the RE8’s who have appeared in front of them again, heading for the lines but the snow has got heavier again.
They close on each other.
Tilkowski flies over Smuts who has been buffeted again to a lower altitude, but Hornig has a bead on Mackay through the cloud and pulls the trigger…………….BOOOOMMMM the sound is heightened by the heavy snow storm as the machine falls to the ground. The return shot misses altogether.
Both the Eagles Immelmann to chase after the remaining tandem of Smuts who is struggling with his wound.
The snow is still heavy so they must get close to have any chance of a shot, which doesn’t happen this turn as Smuts turns and climbs.
The snow is still heavy and still the scouts chase, but can’t close the distance enough.
With the heavy snow seemingly here to stay, finally Tilkowski gets in a long range shot (due to heavy snow) and stays in the blind spot but misses.
Tilkowski stays close and manages a consecutive shot that does more damage and starts the tandem smoking.
…a third consecutive shot does minor damage, but at least he is in the blind spot. Hornig is following but in this heavy snow cannot get close enough.
Tilkowski follows up again in the heavy snow and pours more damage into Smuts, Eldon unable to return fire without shooting off his own tail.
Finally, Smuts, suffering now from loss of blood, turns left allowing Eldon to get in a shot causing the Albatros to start smoking. The return fire however is enough for Tilkowski to claim a victory. Smuts last view as he blacks out is of the trenches and bomb craters of No-man’s land through the snow cloud sky as he crashes nose first, just a scant distance to the safety of his own lines. Perhaps they may be able to get back if they survive the crash.
Both Adlers return to their base in the worsening conditions, a kill apiece. Lying beside Smuts plane is a smashed camera from the pictures that Eldon had earlier taken, the frames now completely useless.
Victory to the Eagles for stopping the Reconnaissance mission (downing both tandems).
Butcher’s Tally
Eagles
Ltn Heinz Hornig: Roland D.II: RTB / 1 kill (Mackay/Duncan)
Obltn Hans Tilkowski: Albatros D.II: RTB / 1 kill (Smuts/Eldon)
Bulldogs
2Lt Gerald Smuts: (P2) RE8 (blue dot): SD-ET / WIA / 0 kills
C&W: Rolled 7 -1SD -1WIA = 5 - Injured, skip 1D3 scenarios, rolled 5 = Skip 3
E&E: Rolled 6 -1WIA -1WIC -1BEL = 3, Captured and escaped, skip 1D3 scenarios, rolled 4 = Skip 2
AM1 William Eldon: (O) RE8 (blue dot): SD-ET / 0 kills
C&W: Rolled 7 -1SD = 6 - Injured skip 1D3 scenarios, rolled 5 = Skip 3
E&E: Rolled 7-1WIC -1BEL = 5 - In hiding, skip 1D2 scenarios, rolled 3= Skip 1
2Lt Edwin Mackay: (P2) RE8 (green dot): SD-EXP-NML / 0 kills
C&W: Rolled 5 -3EXP -1NML = 1 - Dead !
AM3 Alfred Duncan: (O) RE8 (green dot): SD-EXP-NML / 0 kills
C&W: Rolled 10 -3EXP -1NML = 6 - Injured, skip 1D3 scenarios, rolled 6 = Skip 3
E&E: Rolled 7 -1EXP -1WIC +1NML = 6 - In hiding, skip 1D2 scenarios, rolled 2 = Skip 1
Not the ending I expected with very little damage in first half and heavy snow for the majority of the game.
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for his fifth victory for the Kaiser und Fatherland 
Originally Posted by mikeemagnus
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