Albert Ross
08-10-2011, 00:42
Two Sopwith Camels of Number 4 squadron were tasked to escort a pair or rocket armed Nieuport scouts on a sortie to bring down German observation balloons in the Ypres salient. Crossing the front line, we encountered a brace of Hun two seaters, shepherded by a Pfalz and an Albatross that were obviously up to no good. Obliged to leave the Nieuports and deal with the immediate threat, both camel pilots swung into the attack. 2006620066
A direct hit from a heavy AA shell caused the Pfalz to explode and plummet earthward in a pile of twisted wreckage while Lieutenant Hagen in the second camel jockeyed into a tailing position on the nearest two seater, a Roland CII. These two machines fought a running duel, exchanging fire for several minutes at a time until the Roland was seen to burst into flame. 2006720068
Gunners on the ground looked on in amazement as the burning machine made a broad sweeping turn and attacked our right hand balloon, putting several close range bursts in until it to began to burn.
20069
Meanwhile behind German lines, the Nieuports were closing in; the first machine managing to evade the pursuing Albatross and launch it's rockets which ignited a small fire on the target. Swinging in for a second firing pass though it was hit by an AA shell and a burst from the Albatross which blew it out of the sky.
20070
Next to fall was the Roland which finally succumbed to heavy fire from defending AA and machine fire from the ground as well as the guns of the camel, but not until a final burts had detonated the hydrogen in the damaged balloon.
Meanwhile the second Niueport had blasted the other Hun balloon, but was bracketed by heavy and accurate AA fire. The brave pilot, twice wounded, attempted to crash land his machine, but the damage was too great and a patrol from a Saxon infantry unit recovered his mangled body later.20071
This left the Rumpler bearing down on our remaining balloon; the Hun pilot manged to evade both camels long enough to to pour a stream of bullets into it's helpless victim and that too began to burn. Harried by AA and machine gun fire, the Rumpler flew off, but clearly damaged, was forced down on our side of the trenches; patrols have been sent to locate the wreckage. Low on ammunition and heavily damaged, Lt. Hagen was also obliged to return to the airfield, but landed safely.200722007320074
Leutnant von Coop steered his Albatross back into the fray, determined to bring down our last balloon but was driven off by the remaining camel and ground defenses, and presumed to have crash landed on our side of the lines.
A direct hit from a heavy AA shell caused the Pfalz to explode and plummet earthward in a pile of twisted wreckage while Lieutenant Hagen in the second camel jockeyed into a tailing position on the nearest two seater, a Roland CII. These two machines fought a running duel, exchanging fire for several minutes at a time until the Roland was seen to burst into flame. 2006720068
Gunners on the ground looked on in amazement as the burning machine made a broad sweeping turn and attacked our right hand balloon, putting several close range bursts in until it to began to burn.
20069
Meanwhile behind German lines, the Nieuports were closing in; the first machine managing to evade the pursuing Albatross and launch it's rockets which ignited a small fire on the target. Swinging in for a second firing pass though it was hit by an AA shell and a burst from the Albatross which blew it out of the sky.
20070
Next to fall was the Roland which finally succumbed to heavy fire from defending AA and machine fire from the ground as well as the guns of the camel, but not until a final burts had detonated the hydrogen in the damaged balloon.
Meanwhile the second Niueport had blasted the other Hun balloon, but was bracketed by heavy and accurate AA fire. The brave pilot, twice wounded, attempted to crash land his machine, but the damage was too great and a patrol from a Saxon infantry unit recovered his mangled body later.20071
This left the Rumpler bearing down on our remaining balloon; the Hun pilot manged to evade both camels long enough to to pour a stream of bullets into it's helpless victim and that too began to burn. Harried by AA and machine gun fire, the Rumpler flew off, but clearly damaged, was forced down on our side of the trenches; patrols have been sent to locate the wreckage. Low on ammunition and heavily damaged, Lt. Hagen was also obliged to return to the airfield, but landed safely.200722007320074
Leutnant von Coop steered his Albatross back into the fray, determined to bring down our last balloon but was driven off by the remaining camel and ground defenses, and presumed to have crash landed on our side of the lines.