AAR Mission 16: Flight of the Giants (Marechallannes - Entente)

[Marechallannes]

After a telegramm message, the Bulldogs send out a patrol of four Sopwith Camels to intercept a flight of German heavy bombers that returned from a raid near Verdun.
With a quick start and full speed the formation spots ten minutes later two Gotha G.V bombers heading for the near no-man’s land and safe air space.

http://www.wingsofwar.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=76204&d=1360943672

FO Mannecken & FO Bushmill fly a frontal attack versus the nearest bomber and the very first burst from Manneckens twin Vickers hit the right bomber engine. With a loud burst sound the damaged engine rip off a main part of the lower wing. The bomber pilot loose control and the bomber falls to the grond.

http://www.wingsofwar.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=76205&d=1360943672

Everyone is suprised by this quick first victory and it was no question how the remaining bomber crew feels at the moment. Mannecken himself doesn’t realize, that he’s wounded by the Gotha’s front gunner MG.

http://www.wingsofwar.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=76207&d=1360943672

Like angry hornets, the Sopwith Camels surrond the Gotha.

http://www.wingsofwar.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=76208&d=1360943672

But the remaining bomber fights well and a bullet from the rear gunner wounds the attacking v. Brunswick.

http://www.wingsofwar.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=76200&d=1360943374

As if this isn’t enough, his Vickers jam at this moment. My god!

http://www.wingsofwar.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=76201&d=1360943374

Lt. Norwich comes in shooting position and gets fire in return. His Vikkers jam like v. Brunswik’s MGs but now the German rear gunner has problems too, because of his continuous defense fire.

http://www.wingsofwar.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=76202&d=1360943374

The Gotha’s rear gunner isn’t able to shot at v. Brunswik:

http://www.wingsofwar.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=76203&d=1360943374

Two Eagle Reservestaffel pilots arrive at the scene.

http://www.wingsofwar.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=77068&d=1361010743

The Bulldogs have an atvantage at the moment but they can’t use it.

http://www.wingsofwar.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=76197&d=1360942899

Now, with an escort, the Gotha begins to maneuver.
Lt. Norwich damages the black Alabtros D.Va

http://www.wingsofwar.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=76198&d=1360942899

…but Lt. Norwich gets a nasty paypack, when Feldwelebl Kleins flies an Immelmann, damaging his plane and wounding his pilot.

http://www.wingsofwar.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=76199&d=1360942899

Next one on Kleins’s list is FO Bushmill. A well placed burst ripps parts out of the Bulldogs fuselage.

http://www.wingsofwar.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=76192&d=1360942574

Brave v. Brunswik silences the Gotha’s rear gunner but paid a high price when he received a critical hit in return and his Camel falls like a stone to the ground.

http://www.wingsofwar.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=76193&d=1360942574

The crew damage tokens with result:

http://www.wingsofwar.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=76194&d=1360942574

The bomber tries to escape…

http://www.wingsofwar.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=76195&d=1360942574

…but a close distance salvo from Bushmill’s Vickers seals his fate.

http://www.wingsofwar.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=76188&d=1360942354

Closeup:

http://www.wingsofwar.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=76189&d=1360942354

The Gotha tumbles to the ground and the pilot crash lands it on friendly territory.

http://www.wingsofwar.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=76190&d=1360942354

The next few dogfight maneuvers don’t bring a decision or an imbalance between the pilots of both sides.

http://www.wingsofwar.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=77069&d=1361010911

So they brake off the fight and return to their airfields.

http://www.wingsofwar.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=76191&d=1360942354

[Marechallannes]

MISSION SUCCESFUL!

When I draw the first damage card, I wasn't shure if I should ignore it, or not.

At last I thought: That'S not my problem - it's the problem of this German Gotha bomber... :slysmile:

But what seems to be an easy victory turned into a hard fight and it was so close that the remaining bomber escaped.

A tough mission, with a dangerous Eagle pilot (Kleins).

My casualties were high enough: Three pilots wounded, one of them exploded in the air and for shure dead meat. But I'm shure I had lost the mission, when the first bomber didn't draw the explosion card.

Rolled the dices: Mannecken 3 scenarios in the hospital, Norwich 1 scenario and v. Brunswik is dead... :dazed:

http://www.wingsofwar.org/forums/showthread.php?10090-The-Infirmary&p=200215#post200215

Bulldogs:

http://www.wingsofwar.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=76185&d=1360942120

Gothas:

http://www.wingsofwar.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=76187&d=1360942120

Reservestaffel:

http://www.wingsofwar.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=77067&d=1361010743

[flash]

Blimey Sven, your boys took a beating but got the job done, what a great AAR and what a great mission too :salute:
Kleins earned his spurs !!
Do you want to put your entente boys up as replacements in the up-coming Final Months campaign ??! Shame if they didn't finish the whole show !

[MoonSylver]

I regret that I have but 1 Rep to give this AAR. :cheezy: The quality of the Photo editing really enhances a great session. :salute:

[Marechallannes]

Thank you, guys. :)


Do you want to put your entente boys up as replacements in the up-coming Final Months campaign ??! Shame if they didn't finish the whole show !

Shure, Dave. You can use them to refill the late war roster. ;)

By the way:

I have a typo in the thread headline: PFLIGHT :smack:

Are you able to correct such stuff, Dave??

[HTRAINo]

This puts my aar's to shame. Excellent work, and you can see the love you have for this game.

Be proud of this one, you deserve some rep too!

[tikkifriend]

Another notch in the props of the 52nd. Great AAR Sven bring those heros on to the next missions
Paul

[Nightbomber]

A stunning report of a very entertaining scenario, dear Wingman! You were lucky with the XP card, but it happens! Congrats! I spent 3 hours playing this mission and had a great time fighting. However my new mobile camera drove me almost mad trying to upload the pictures, I finally made it and hope to post it soon. Tonight I am enjoying some Rheinland Pfalz products in my glass;)

[flash]

Thank you, guys. :)



Shure, Dave. You can use them to refill the late war roster. ;)

By the way:

I have a typo in the thread headline: PFLIGHT :smack:

Are you able to correct such stuff, Dave??

I thought it as Pflight as in Pfalz ! All done ! ;)

[Marechallannes]

Thank you, Dave.


Another notch in the props of the 52nd. Great AAR Sven bring those heros on to the next missions
Paul

I change sides for the late war campaing, do you remeber?

;)

...so it's time to say goodbye to the Bulldogs and join my wingman at the Central Power side.

[Flying Officer Kyte]

I like it.
Kyte.