WWIflyingace
09-05-2014, 13:18
It was oh-dark 30 when we were roused from our bunks. A zeppelin raid against England had occurred just prior midnight and we were to prevent them from returning home.
Finn was to fly escort while my plane was armed with 24 Ranken darts; it was to be my pleasure to drop them on the first zeppelin we encountered. Altitude was the key; we had to be above the zeppelin for the darts to work.
With that in mind at first light we took off. Climbing and climbing skyward we made our way towards the coast hoping to intercept the zeppelins before they reached enemy lines.
After a while with no sighting I grew fearful that we were too late, but then I saw it; a lone zeppelin limping inland! The great beast was wounded. Its nose hung down and it leaned slightly to port. We were well above the monstrosity and dove towards it.
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Finn flew to my left and slightly ahead. His job was to keep any escort off me while I dropped the darts, but there was no escort to be seen.
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Making our run I dropped a little lower so the darts had a greater chance for success. Finn, now above me, moved to the right as started my run. The first dozen darts were away and I was rewarded with a whoosh and explosion as the darts penetrated the skin and exploded. The zeppelin shifted to port as I released my second batch of darts, but they still managed to hit the aft section near the rudder and another whoosh boom greeted me.
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My plane shuddered with the second explosion and I noted smoke trailing from underneath. As I cleared the zeppelin I looked back upon it. Flames erupted from the aft quarter; the beast was mortally wounded. With no more darts and trailing smoke I vectored towards home. Finn drew close signally me. Once he knew he had my attention he pointed.
142670
Looking where indicated I noted a column of smoke rising near Boesinghe. Nearby was a lone Fokker D-type heading towards German lines. My guess was the Belgians had taken down his friend and with the zeppelin definitely going down the surviving Hun plane decided discretion was the better part of valor.
I knew Finn was itching to go after him, but he had enough discipline to stay with me and escort me back home. I pointed down and he nodded understanding. He then dipped under me to get a look at the damage to my aeroplane.
When he came up on the other side of me he gave me a “thumbs up.” That meant I could still fly Huntress home.
As we flew towards base the wounded zeppelin came into range of the Belgian guns. As they opened up I knew they would claim the victory. I couldn’t begrudge them that. Their little county had suffered much at the hands of the Hun. It was only fitting that they should win this one small victory…
Finn was to fly escort while my plane was armed with 24 Ranken darts; it was to be my pleasure to drop them on the first zeppelin we encountered. Altitude was the key; we had to be above the zeppelin for the darts to work.
With that in mind at first light we took off. Climbing and climbing skyward we made our way towards the coast hoping to intercept the zeppelins before they reached enemy lines.
After a while with no sighting I grew fearful that we were too late, but then I saw it; a lone zeppelin limping inland! The great beast was wounded. Its nose hung down and it leaned slightly to port. We were well above the monstrosity and dove towards it.
142668
Finn flew to my left and slightly ahead. His job was to keep any escort off me while I dropped the darts, but there was no escort to be seen.
142669
Making our run I dropped a little lower so the darts had a greater chance for success. Finn, now above me, moved to the right as started my run. The first dozen darts were away and I was rewarded with a whoosh and explosion as the darts penetrated the skin and exploded. The zeppelin shifted to port as I released my second batch of darts, but they still managed to hit the aft section near the rudder and another whoosh boom greeted me.
142665
142666
142667
142663
My plane shuddered with the second explosion and I noted smoke trailing from underneath. As I cleared the zeppelin I looked back upon it. Flames erupted from the aft quarter; the beast was mortally wounded. With no more darts and trailing smoke I vectored towards home. Finn drew close signally me. Once he knew he had my attention he pointed.
142670
Looking where indicated I noted a column of smoke rising near Boesinghe. Nearby was a lone Fokker D-type heading towards German lines. My guess was the Belgians had taken down his friend and with the zeppelin definitely going down the surviving Hun plane decided discretion was the better part of valor.
I knew Finn was itching to go after him, but he had enough discipline to stay with me and escort me back home. I pointed down and he nodded understanding. He then dipped under me to get a look at the damage to my aeroplane.
When he came up on the other side of me he gave me a “thumbs up.” That meant I could still fly Huntress home.
As we flew towards base the wounded zeppelin came into range of the Belgian guns. As they opened up I knew they would claim the victory. I couldn’t begrudge them that. Their little county had suffered much at the hands of the Hun. It was only fitting that they should win this one small victory…