OTT FYM Mission 1 First outing- 5th April 1917
RFC
2ndLt Charles Wagner (P
Toby Cannon ( O) Strutter 7
Lt Paul Rhodes (P)
Harry Jones (O) Strutter 8
2ndLt John Smith (P). Flight Leader
Gordon Houseman (O) French Strutter
Central Powers
Obt Lt H Barnekow Alb II Red .Flight Leader
Lt Werner Thomas Alb III Green
Lt Ludwig Klein Alb III Blue
It was the first time Smith could remember taking 3 tandems up at once without scout cover. But GHQ had this theory that if they flew in a set formation the arc of the guns would give the Hun a frightfull bashing if they attacked .
Today was the day to test the theory out.
Alb III lurked menecingly over the German lines. As the RFC planes approached they turned towards them . A faint crackcle of gunfire could be heard as they tested their guns.
Klein was the closest to the Strutter formation
Drawing a bead on the RFC roundel of Wagner's plane he peppered the left wing with gusto, and a bit of lead. (4)
Smith kept the flight in formation .
Raising his right hand he signalled the next set of manoeuvres a slight left slip allowing at least 2 of the rear gunners to target an oncoming Hun.
Houseman's gun jammed on the first round. (0+GJ). Cannon was more productive clipping Klein in the arm and tearing into the fuselage. (1+pilot, 3)
Despite his wound Klein pounded Wagner's plane a second time (4)
Jones in the far right of the formation caught the flight leader Barnekow with a few well aimed rounds (2).
Time to draw the Hun over the lines to NML.
Smith turned his flight into the attacking planes of Barnekow and Thomas .
If HQ had planned and studied the close formation tactic this was the perfect move.
Klein appeared to be circling in a non aggressive way and the 2 other Albs were trying to get behind the flight. It had to work !!!!!
Toby kept up the rounds on Klein's plane, cutting an oil pipe (0 ,2+smoke) to add to his misery.
Thomas had a perfect shot , but for a gun jam, (0+GJ)
Jones got a short burst (0,1) as a warning of things to come.
It was hard to to keep the designated formation, even for experienced pilots of the 57th.
Planes were getting perilously close and the line of sight from each plane was compromised.
."Firing could bring down one of your own flight" mused Smith.
Cannon fired but without a viable result at Thomas (0.0)
Barnekow was luckier , hitting both Cannon and his plane (3+pilot)
Now it looked like GHQ had got the tactics right. The target was Thomas !!
But fate took over. Houseman jammed his guns (0.0+GJ), Jones in contrast ripped into the Albs rudder (1+LRJ.2)
Barnekow turned carefully behind Smiths Strutter trying to keep in the rear gunners blind spot.
Timing his shot the lead shattered the fuselage , and a red mist burst from Houseman's tunic (5+ Pilot) as the observer tried to unjam his gun
. Cannon and Jones were at maximum range and did little to impede the red Albatross and its pursuit of the flight leaders plane. (0.1)
Klein regained his senses and found himself to the starboard and slightly ahead of the RFC planes .
As he turned into them he exchange shots with Wagner, neither were on target (0) (0)
Barnekow continued to target Smiths plane and its hapless observer , clipping the rudder this time.
(2+RRD)
Jones tried to draw the Germans attention away from his flight leader , but his gun immediately jammed (0+GJ)
With 2 tail guns out of action the defensive formation was beginning to break down.
Barnekow dropped off his primary target and took the opportunity to inflict first damage on Rhodes tandem (4)
Narrowly avoiding a mid air collision with Wagner's kite Klein now found himself head to head with 2 Stutters 50yds away
In the maelstrom that followed Rhodes and Jones went down fighting (1+GJ) (2+Fire).
But A critical hit in the fuel tank saw the Strutter fall from the sky in NML. (XP) kill Klein.
But not before the Albatross began to burn from the rounds of Smith's gun (0) (3)
The formation broken each individual Strutter chose its target.
Guns free but wounded Houseman tracked the sky around him.
Smith could see that Wagner's plane was pretty well shot up, and he to had a wounded crewman on board.
Today was not the day to be heroes. He signalled a return to base .
Klein turned right in an effort to stop the flames reaching the cockpit. This eventually took him into the LOS of Houseman who at close range emptied his drum into the Hun (3+Pilot,0).
The Albatross spiralled down into NML Kill Houseman
The remaining Hun circled and headed back to their lines not wishing to follow the fate of their comrade. There was always a next time.
Butcher's Taly:
RFC
2Lt Charles Wagner: (P2) Strutter 7: RTB / 0 kills
AM2 Toby Cannon: ( O) Strutter 7: RTB / WIA / Skip 2 scenarios
Lt Paul Rhodes: (P2) Strutter 8: SD-EXP-NML / 0 kills
(didnt even see me /Inj Skip 3 Scenarios)
Harry Jones:(O) Strutter 8: SD-EXP-NML / 0 kills
Didnt even see me
2ndLt John Smith: (P2) French Strutter (Flight Leader): RTB 0 kills
Gordon Houseman: (O) French Strutter: RTB / WIA / 1 kill
Skip 2 scenarios
Central Powers
Obt Lt H Barnekow: Alb D.III (Red - Flight Leader): RTB / 0 kills
Lt Werner Thomas: Alb D.III (Green): RTB / 0 kills
Lt Ludwig Klein: Alb D.III (Blue) SD-NML / 2WIA / 1 kill
Rolled 4 -1SD -2WIA -1NML = 0 - Dead ! KIA
Scores on the doors. 1 kill each so a draw ,except for the wounded and KIA.
Strutters are fun , but Bristols are better! Must get a few more
Thankyou and good night.
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and a draw's better'n' nowt, innit?
Drugs or no drugs that was a splendid outing and the Strutters did very well. I'm not sure the early version Bristols would have done any better, given the way the cards fell.
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