diceslinger
08-16-2013, 15:30
This is the second part of the Epinoy Engagement dogfight resolution. The turn details can be found here:http://www.wingsofwar.org/forums/entry.php?190-Scenario-2-Turns-14-15
Because this engagement took place near the German Aerodrome at Epinoy, I thought I would add a bomber and make it a bombing mission. I added a third DR.I (Piefer) to balance the game figuring that the dogfight was right by the aerodrome, it seemed believable to have one more plane take off. Little did I know, Mach didn’t need much help, and Piefer was pretty ineffective.
Mach really enjoyed flying his Dr.I. He marveled at the fact that ten minutes ago he was sitting around playing card waiting for an alert. The alert came, and within six minutes, he was in his Dr.I with the motor humming. Another two minutes, and he and Bercken had reached four thousand feet of altitude and located an enemy flight. Two more minutes, and Piefer had joined them and they were about to make contact with the enemy.
http://www.wingsofwar.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=104570&d=1376691766
Hale was flying a Spad XIII, as opposed to the other members of his flight with Nieuport 24s. He and flight B had been patrolling towards the Cambrai area. They witnessed a dogfight, probably Flight A, Hale thought, and when they saw several British planes land, and activity above the German Epinoy Aeorodrome, Hale directed Flight B to interpose themselves between the ascending Germans and the descending British. Hale was astounded to then see a Caproni bomber approach from the south. The Caproni was on a collision course with the Epinoy Aerodrome, clearly beginning a bombing run. Hale motioned his flight to attack the Dr.I to provide the bomber with a distraction.
http://www.wingsofwar.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=104571&d=1376691767
Mach didn’t fancy the odds. Three on three, but the bomber outnumbered them by itself. However, Mach was also sure that the whole aerodrome below was watching, and he knew this was a chance to prove himself.
http://www.wingsofwar.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=104572&d=1376691769
Hale led the charge in his faster Spad, quickly putting himself between the approaching Fokkers and the lumbering Caproni.
http://www.wingsofwar.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=104573&d=1376691770
Bullets peppered the tail of Hale’s plane and he returned fire at Mach. He was too far away to be effective, but Hale hoped at least one of the Fokkers would turn away.
http://www.wingsofwar.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=104574&d=1376691770
Ignoring Hale and his speedy Spad as it blew by them, Mach and Bercken instead concentrated on the slower Nieuport 24. Bercken stitched the engine with bullets, causing a fire to break out, and Mach used the distraction to fire straight at the pilot. Instantly the plane fell from the sky, spinning wildly.
http://www.wingsofwar.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=104575&d=1376691771
Meanwhile the Caproni reached its target and released a stream of bombs tumbling down towards the Aerodrome. The Germans watching the dogfight from the ground ran for cover as the first bombs detonated with thunderous explosions!
http://www.wingsofwar.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=104576&d=1376691772
Mach was stunned to see the smoke and fire erupting from his aerodrome below. He was jerked back to reality as the rear gunner of the Caproni, free from his bombing task, unlimbered his gun and fired at Mach. A twisted ammo belt halted the withering fire momentarily, giving Mach a reprieve.
http://www.wingsofwar.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=104577&d=1376691773
Bercken however suffered in the front gunner’s sights as he reversed directions. Distracted by the explosions below, he did not anticipate the Caproni would turn so abruptly, and found himself without the airspeed to maneuver away from the beastly bomber.
http://www.wingsofwar.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=104578&d=1376691774
Bercken ducked down as far as he could as the Caproni bore down on him, guns blazing. The gunner couldn’t miss, and Bercken felt searing pain as a bullet went through his leg!
http://www.wingsofwar.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=104579&d=1376691775
Mach only took his eyes off the Caproni briefly to exchanged fire with Hale. His arm felt like a hot poker had been laid across it as a bullet tore through his flight coat. He ignored the pain and pulled his turn even tighter. He had to get behind that bomber!
http://www.wingsofwar.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=104580&d=1376691776
Mach was close enough to see the rear gunner clear the jam and again aim at him. Knowing he had precious few seconds to shoot the gunner, Mach laid on the triggers and poured lead at the Caproni. The stream of bullets pounded the giant plane until it bullet hit the fuel tank, and the bomber exploded in a giant fireball! Mach felt the heat wash over his face as the burning wreckage plummeted from the sky, trailing smoke and flaming canvas.
http://www.wingsofwar.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=104581&d=1376691777
Hale, alone and outnumbered turned back towards the line, diving away to escape. The wounded pilots let him go, and Jasta 12 turned back to the burning smoky airfield half elated with their aerial victory, and half solemnly praying their friends survived the torrent of explosions unleashed from the now destroyed bomber.
The Butchers Bill
British 60 Sqn
Sgt. Hale – undamaged.
http://www.wingsofwar.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=104582&d=1376691778
2Lt. Carter – Shot down by Mach, KIA
http://www.wingsofwar.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=104583&d=1376691779
Caproni Bomber – Shot down by Mach, crew KIA
http://www.wingsofwar.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=104584&d=1376691780
Germans Jasta 12
Piefer – undamaged
http://www.wingsofwar.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=104585&d=1376691781
Bercken – Wounded, Undamaged
http://www.wingsofwar.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=104586&d=1376691782
Mach – Wounded, Undamaged. 2 Victories.
http://www.wingsofwar.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=104587&d=1376691783
Because this engagement took place near the German Aerodrome at Epinoy, I thought I would add a bomber and make it a bombing mission. I added a third DR.I (Piefer) to balance the game figuring that the dogfight was right by the aerodrome, it seemed believable to have one more plane take off. Little did I know, Mach didn’t need much help, and Piefer was pretty ineffective.
Mach really enjoyed flying his Dr.I. He marveled at the fact that ten minutes ago he was sitting around playing card waiting for an alert. The alert came, and within six minutes, he was in his Dr.I with the motor humming. Another two minutes, and he and Bercken had reached four thousand feet of altitude and located an enemy flight. Two more minutes, and Piefer had joined them and they were about to make contact with the enemy.
http://www.wingsofwar.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=104570&d=1376691766
Hale was flying a Spad XIII, as opposed to the other members of his flight with Nieuport 24s. He and flight B had been patrolling towards the Cambrai area. They witnessed a dogfight, probably Flight A, Hale thought, and when they saw several British planes land, and activity above the German Epinoy Aeorodrome, Hale directed Flight B to interpose themselves between the ascending Germans and the descending British. Hale was astounded to then see a Caproni bomber approach from the south. The Caproni was on a collision course with the Epinoy Aerodrome, clearly beginning a bombing run. Hale motioned his flight to attack the Dr.I to provide the bomber with a distraction.
http://www.wingsofwar.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=104571&d=1376691767
Mach didn’t fancy the odds. Three on three, but the bomber outnumbered them by itself. However, Mach was also sure that the whole aerodrome below was watching, and he knew this was a chance to prove himself.
http://www.wingsofwar.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=104572&d=1376691769
Hale led the charge in his faster Spad, quickly putting himself between the approaching Fokkers and the lumbering Caproni.
http://www.wingsofwar.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=104573&d=1376691770
Bullets peppered the tail of Hale’s plane and he returned fire at Mach. He was too far away to be effective, but Hale hoped at least one of the Fokkers would turn away.
http://www.wingsofwar.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=104574&d=1376691770
Ignoring Hale and his speedy Spad as it blew by them, Mach and Bercken instead concentrated on the slower Nieuport 24. Bercken stitched the engine with bullets, causing a fire to break out, and Mach used the distraction to fire straight at the pilot. Instantly the plane fell from the sky, spinning wildly.
http://www.wingsofwar.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=104575&d=1376691771
Meanwhile the Caproni reached its target and released a stream of bombs tumbling down towards the Aerodrome. The Germans watching the dogfight from the ground ran for cover as the first bombs detonated with thunderous explosions!
http://www.wingsofwar.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=104576&d=1376691772
Mach was stunned to see the smoke and fire erupting from his aerodrome below. He was jerked back to reality as the rear gunner of the Caproni, free from his bombing task, unlimbered his gun and fired at Mach. A twisted ammo belt halted the withering fire momentarily, giving Mach a reprieve.
http://www.wingsofwar.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=104577&d=1376691773
Bercken however suffered in the front gunner’s sights as he reversed directions. Distracted by the explosions below, he did not anticipate the Caproni would turn so abruptly, and found himself without the airspeed to maneuver away from the beastly bomber.
http://www.wingsofwar.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=104578&d=1376691774
Bercken ducked down as far as he could as the Caproni bore down on him, guns blazing. The gunner couldn’t miss, and Bercken felt searing pain as a bullet went through his leg!
http://www.wingsofwar.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=104579&d=1376691775
Mach only took his eyes off the Caproni briefly to exchanged fire with Hale. His arm felt like a hot poker had been laid across it as a bullet tore through his flight coat. He ignored the pain and pulled his turn even tighter. He had to get behind that bomber!
http://www.wingsofwar.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=104580&d=1376691776
Mach was close enough to see the rear gunner clear the jam and again aim at him. Knowing he had precious few seconds to shoot the gunner, Mach laid on the triggers and poured lead at the Caproni. The stream of bullets pounded the giant plane until it bullet hit the fuel tank, and the bomber exploded in a giant fireball! Mach felt the heat wash over his face as the burning wreckage plummeted from the sky, trailing smoke and flaming canvas.
http://www.wingsofwar.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=104581&d=1376691777
Hale, alone and outnumbered turned back towards the line, diving away to escape. The wounded pilots let him go, and Jasta 12 turned back to the burning smoky airfield half elated with their aerial victory, and half solemnly praying their friends survived the torrent of explosions unleashed from the now destroyed bomber.
The Butchers Bill
British 60 Sqn
Sgt. Hale – undamaged.
http://www.wingsofwar.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=104582&d=1376691778
2Lt. Carter – Shot down by Mach, KIA
http://www.wingsofwar.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=104583&d=1376691779
Caproni Bomber – Shot down by Mach, crew KIA
http://www.wingsofwar.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=104584&d=1376691780
Germans Jasta 12
Piefer – undamaged
http://www.wingsofwar.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=104585&d=1376691781
Bercken – Wounded, Undamaged
http://www.wingsofwar.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=104586&d=1376691782
Mach – Wounded, Undamaged. 2 Victories.
http://www.wingsofwar.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=104587&d=1376691783