Watchdog
04-26-2012, 15:37
The Balloon Challenge
Personal log of Leutnant Isztvan Laszlo, pilot of Flik 61J, now serving with the famous Jasta Kaiser's Adler on the western front:
Jasta 24 „Kaiser's Adler“ aerodrome near St. Caronne, France, November 1917: I am afraid that today we may have lost another friend. Balloon busting is a dangerous task and this was exactly what we had to do today. According to the intelligence available, the heavily defended observation balloons positioned to the west of St.Caronne were causing much concern to the General Staff. The Kaisers Adler were a natural choice for the task of busting one of those blimps.
Most of us would provide top cover and act as a decoy for the enemy airplanes guarding the observation balloon, while a single scout, armed with incendiary ammunition, would slip in and set the unguarded blimp afire. It sounds easy, doesn't it? Well, on paper, maybe it does...
Two of our Roland C.II's flew over the front at high altitude, escorted by an array of our scouts, one of them mine. Did I mention that I finally got a few buckets of green paint and, thanks to the painting skills of Wachtmeister Tlutschorsch, my Albatros D.III sports proper colours again? Anyway, as we flew high a lone yellow tailed Pfalz D.III, piloted by Vizefeldwebel Josef Worlitschek, one of our aces, flew behind us, staying low to avoid being spotted too soon.
http://www.wingsofwar.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=42817&d=1335471301
As we climbed even higher and started circling over the front to lure the enemy guards to us, I saw the Vizefeldwebel trying to sneak in along the southern edge of St. Caronne sector, keeping himself in the sun for the defenders. He is a skilled pilot, a very clever man, who knows several langauges. His orientation skills are legendary too.
http://www.wingsofwar.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=42818&d=1335471311
The enemy ground troops did not spot the ace before it was too late and he was well behind their lines, despite the erratic shooting from the trenches as he passed above.
http://www.wingsofwar.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=42819&d=1335471321
http://www.wingsofwar.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=42820&d=1335471331
http://www.wingsofwar.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=42821&d=1335471339
http://www.wingsofwar.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=42822&d=1335471348
http://www.wingsofwar.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=42823&d=1335471358
Vizefeldwebel Worlitschek then climbed a bit and strafed an enemy AA MG position to the south of the balloon. He was probably hit by a few rounds from the ground troops in the nearby trenches, but luckily, except for, perhaps, a few holes in its rudder, they did not damage the airplane.
http://www.wingsofwar.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=42824&d=1335471368
http://www.wingsofwar.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=42825&d=1335471377
http://www.wingsofwar.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=42826&d=1335471400
And then he was at the blimp. Two white flowers blossomed below the blimp. The enemy observers decided to take the risk of trusting the parachute to save their hides instead of waiting to be burnt alive in the balloon's basket. And they were right, just a few bursts from Vizefeldwebel Worlitschek's twin Schwarzlose machine guns later, that damned thing started to burn!
http://www.wingsofwar.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=42827&d=1335471417
http://www.wingsofwar.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=42828&d=1335471426
http://www.wingsofwar.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=42829&d=1335471435
http://www.wingsofwar.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=42830&d=1335471442
Vizefeldwebel Worlitschek turned to the right and strafed another British trench, but this time, some lucky Englander hit his engine and his Pfalz started pouring smoke. Damn.
http://www.wingsofwar.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=42831&d=1335471449
http://www.wingsofwar.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=42832&d=1335471466
http://www.wingsofwar.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=42833&d=1335471474
He turned around and went after the burning balloon again, now being followed by tracers from a lot of ground fire.
http://www.wingsofwar.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=42834&d=1335471482
http://www.wingsofwar.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=42835&d=1335471490
http://www.wingsofwar.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=42836&d=1335471498
Another strafing run and one of the enemy positions fell silent.
http://www.wingsofwar.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=42838&d=1335471515
http://www.wingsofwar.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=42837&d=1335471506
The blimp was still burning, but it did not go down yet, despite even more Vizefeldwebel Worlitschek's incendiary tracers punching through it.
http://www.wingsofwar.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=42839&d=1335471523
The Pfalz then flew past the blimp.
http://www.wingsofwar.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=42840&d=1335471533
http://www.wingsofwar.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=42841&d=1335471542
http://www.wingsofwar.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=42842&d=1335471550
As the Pfalz left the ballon behind, I saw that Vizefeldwebel Worlitschek's engine stopped pouring smoke, but at the same time, I saw one Englander did not buy our trick and he turned back to go back and after Vizefeldwebel Worlitschek. Damn, his Camel was too fast for any of us to intervene, and we had our hands full with the rest of them anyway. The Camel dived fast and went after the lone Pfalz. I saw its colour scheme and I recognized the pilot. It was 2nd Lieutenant Farmer of the No.54 Squadron. A Bulldog!
http://www.wingsofwar.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=42844&d=1335471577
http://www.wingsofwar.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=42843&d=1335471568
Vizefeldwebel Worlitschek tried to turn right and dodge the enemy airplane, but was probably hit. Some of the ground fire ceased, probably in fear of hitting their own airplane.
http://www.wingsofwar.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=42845&d=1335471585
http://www.wingsofwar.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=42846&d=1335471595
Vizefeldwebel Worlitschek attempted to chase 2nd Lieutenant Farmer away and he fired at the burning balloon again. He partially succeeded and the enemy airplane had to make a steep right turn that the Camel is so famous for to get him in his sights again. The burning balloon still stayed in the air, while Vizefeldwebel Worlitschek turned away from it, probably changing his ammunition belts.
http://www.wingsofwar.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=42847&d=1335471605
http://www.wingsofwar.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=42848&d=1335471614
http://www.wingsofwar.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=42850&d=1335471624
http://www.wingsofwar.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=42851&d=1335471632
To my surprise the ground fire did not cease. The infantrymen on the ground have apparently mistaken the Camel for one of ours! Suddenly I saw the Camel rise steeply as if the pilot lost control of his machine for a moment.
http://www.wingsofwar.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=42853&d=1335471643
http://www.wingsofwar.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=42854&d=1335471651
http://www.wingsofwar.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=42855&d=1335471661
However, some of the Engländer on the ground were not so confused and I think Vizefeldwebel Worlitschek's Pfalz's engine suffered some more hits. Its sound changed and the Pfalz lost some speed.
http://www.wingsofwar.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=42856&d=1335471670
Nevertheless, as the Camel, still not under the full control of 2nd Lieutenant Farmer turned towards the burning balloon, Vizefeldwebel Worlitschek performed an Immelmann's turn and went after the enemy.
http://www.wingsofwar.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=42857&d=1335471679
When an opportunity arised, despite being targetted by 2nd Lieutenant Farmer, he sent a burst in the way of the blimp and then, to my horror, it happened. As the blimp was being furiously dragged towards the ground, the resulting explosion painted a circle of burnt grass around its position.
http://www.wingsofwar.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=42860&d=1335471703
Problem was, Vizefeldwebel Worlitschek's Pfalz D.III was thrown up by the explosion's force and its engine probably finally gave way. When the smoke dissapeared, I saw a yellow tailed wreckage on the ground, not far behind the enemy trenches.
http://www.wingsofwar.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=42861&d=1335471712
But the demise of the Pfalz was not everything, far from that! I saw 2nd Lieutenant Farmer's red and white tailed Camel had gotten its own share of the dying drachen's fiery last breath and I saw its flaming remains crashing into the ground close to the position of the British ground crew of the late observation balloon.
http://www.wingsofwar.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=42858&d=1335471687
There was nothing more we could do and as we saw more enemy airplanes showing up on the horizon, the leading airplane's pilot fired a red flare and we all did our best to shake away the enemies, that were already swarming and buzzing all around us. Time to head for home. I was too high above to see if the pilot of the Pfalz got out of the wreckage in one piece. We can only hope that if Vizefeldwebel Worlitschek did get out of the wreckage he would be able to avoid any enemy units and perhaps greet us in French from the door of the officer's mess when he finds his way accross the frontline.
http://www.wingsofwar.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=42816&d=1335471282
We made it, the task had been completed, no matter the price paid. Just a moment ago the Jasta received a telegram from the General Staff congratulating all of us and stressing out the importance of that particular blimp having been busted. But still no word about the fate of one of our aces. I have to admit that I am getting a bit nervous, even if one should never lose hope...
Mission result:
Central Powers victory – the blimp was taken down
Central Powers:
Vizefeldwebel Josef Worlitschek in a Pfalz D.III – downed by the explosion of the balloon by drawing an explosion card himself (awaiting Joaquim's roll to determine consequences), 1 victory scored (balloon):
http://www.wingsofwar.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=42813&d=1335471248
Entente:
2nd Lieutenant Farmer in a Sopwith Camel – downed by the explosion of the balloon by drawing flame damage and then an explosion card himself (awaiting Joaquim's roll to determine consequences):
http://www.wingsofwar.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=42814&d=1335471258
Observation balloon – downed in flames by drawing an explosion for the last suffered machine gun burst:
http://www.wingsofwar.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=42812&d=1335471241
The southern AA MG was silenced, the central trench was damaged.
OOC Info:
Pfffft! You all and your explosions! I knew why I decided to keep them way from my damage decks. No, I couln't draw it for the balloon when at a safe distance, I had to draw it when I was close to that blimp. At least the Bulldog went down too.:p
I was very afraid by the end of the game. It was almost too late to shoot the balloon down, it was on fire with three tokens each turn, but the amount of 0's it managed to draw was awful. I knew there were the explosions somewhere there and some of the high numbers too and my Pfalz was down to the last couple of hit points left.
The last KA-BOOOM! was cataclysmic, epic and I had to laugh aloud when I saw the results, despite the fact that Vizefeldwebel Worlitschek might die, even if his ace skill should help him get out of the wreckage in one piece.
And yeah, yeah, it is my thumb over there on the photo, I have to play on the floor and I have to support myself when leaning over the gaming board.:embarass:
Personal log of Leutnant Isztvan Laszlo, pilot of Flik 61J, now serving with the famous Jasta Kaiser's Adler on the western front:
Jasta 24 „Kaiser's Adler“ aerodrome near St. Caronne, France, November 1917: I am afraid that today we may have lost another friend. Balloon busting is a dangerous task and this was exactly what we had to do today. According to the intelligence available, the heavily defended observation balloons positioned to the west of St.Caronne were causing much concern to the General Staff. The Kaisers Adler were a natural choice for the task of busting one of those blimps.
Most of us would provide top cover and act as a decoy for the enemy airplanes guarding the observation balloon, while a single scout, armed with incendiary ammunition, would slip in and set the unguarded blimp afire. It sounds easy, doesn't it? Well, on paper, maybe it does...
Two of our Roland C.II's flew over the front at high altitude, escorted by an array of our scouts, one of them mine. Did I mention that I finally got a few buckets of green paint and, thanks to the painting skills of Wachtmeister Tlutschorsch, my Albatros D.III sports proper colours again? Anyway, as we flew high a lone yellow tailed Pfalz D.III, piloted by Vizefeldwebel Josef Worlitschek, one of our aces, flew behind us, staying low to avoid being spotted too soon.
http://www.wingsofwar.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=42817&d=1335471301
As we climbed even higher and started circling over the front to lure the enemy guards to us, I saw the Vizefeldwebel trying to sneak in along the southern edge of St. Caronne sector, keeping himself in the sun for the defenders. He is a skilled pilot, a very clever man, who knows several langauges. His orientation skills are legendary too.
http://www.wingsofwar.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=42818&d=1335471311
The enemy ground troops did not spot the ace before it was too late and he was well behind their lines, despite the erratic shooting from the trenches as he passed above.
http://www.wingsofwar.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=42819&d=1335471321
http://www.wingsofwar.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=42820&d=1335471331
http://www.wingsofwar.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=42821&d=1335471339
http://www.wingsofwar.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=42822&d=1335471348
http://www.wingsofwar.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=42823&d=1335471358
Vizefeldwebel Worlitschek then climbed a bit and strafed an enemy AA MG position to the south of the balloon. He was probably hit by a few rounds from the ground troops in the nearby trenches, but luckily, except for, perhaps, a few holes in its rudder, they did not damage the airplane.
http://www.wingsofwar.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=42824&d=1335471368
http://www.wingsofwar.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=42825&d=1335471377
http://www.wingsofwar.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=42826&d=1335471400
And then he was at the blimp. Two white flowers blossomed below the blimp. The enemy observers decided to take the risk of trusting the parachute to save their hides instead of waiting to be burnt alive in the balloon's basket. And they were right, just a few bursts from Vizefeldwebel Worlitschek's twin Schwarzlose machine guns later, that damned thing started to burn!
http://www.wingsofwar.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=42827&d=1335471417
http://www.wingsofwar.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=42828&d=1335471426
http://www.wingsofwar.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=42829&d=1335471435
http://www.wingsofwar.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=42830&d=1335471442
Vizefeldwebel Worlitschek turned to the right and strafed another British trench, but this time, some lucky Englander hit his engine and his Pfalz started pouring smoke. Damn.
http://www.wingsofwar.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=42831&d=1335471449
http://www.wingsofwar.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=42832&d=1335471466
http://www.wingsofwar.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=42833&d=1335471474
He turned around and went after the burning balloon again, now being followed by tracers from a lot of ground fire.
http://www.wingsofwar.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=42834&d=1335471482
http://www.wingsofwar.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=42835&d=1335471490
http://www.wingsofwar.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=42836&d=1335471498
Another strafing run and one of the enemy positions fell silent.
http://www.wingsofwar.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=42838&d=1335471515
http://www.wingsofwar.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=42837&d=1335471506
The blimp was still burning, but it did not go down yet, despite even more Vizefeldwebel Worlitschek's incendiary tracers punching through it.
http://www.wingsofwar.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=42839&d=1335471523
The Pfalz then flew past the blimp.
http://www.wingsofwar.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=42840&d=1335471533
http://www.wingsofwar.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=42841&d=1335471542
http://www.wingsofwar.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=42842&d=1335471550
As the Pfalz left the ballon behind, I saw that Vizefeldwebel Worlitschek's engine stopped pouring smoke, but at the same time, I saw one Englander did not buy our trick and he turned back to go back and after Vizefeldwebel Worlitschek. Damn, his Camel was too fast for any of us to intervene, and we had our hands full with the rest of them anyway. The Camel dived fast and went after the lone Pfalz. I saw its colour scheme and I recognized the pilot. It was 2nd Lieutenant Farmer of the No.54 Squadron. A Bulldog!
http://www.wingsofwar.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=42844&d=1335471577
http://www.wingsofwar.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=42843&d=1335471568
Vizefeldwebel Worlitschek tried to turn right and dodge the enemy airplane, but was probably hit. Some of the ground fire ceased, probably in fear of hitting their own airplane.
http://www.wingsofwar.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=42845&d=1335471585
http://www.wingsofwar.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=42846&d=1335471595
Vizefeldwebel Worlitschek attempted to chase 2nd Lieutenant Farmer away and he fired at the burning balloon again. He partially succeeded and the enemy airplane had to make a steep right turn that the Camel is so famous for to get him in his sights again. The burning balloon still stayed in the air, while Vizefeldwebel Worlitschek turned away from it, probably changing his ammunition belts.
http://www.wingsofwar.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=42847&d=1335471605
http://www.wingsofwar.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=42848&d=1335471614
http://www.wingsofwar.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=42850&d=1335471624
http://www.wingsofwar.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=42851&d=1335471632
To my surprise the ground fire did not cease. The infantrymen on the ground have apparently mistaken the Camel for one of ours! Suddenly I saw the Camel rise steeply as if the pilot lost control of his machine for a moment.
http://www.wingsofwar.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=42853&d=1335471643
http://www.wingsofwar.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=42854&d=1335471651
http://www.wingsofwar.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=42855&d=1335471661
However, some of the Engländer on the ground were not so confused and I think Vizefeldwebel Worlitschek's Pfalz's engine suffered some more hits. Its sound changed and the Pfalz lost some speed.
http://www.wingsofwar.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=42856&d=1335471670
Nevertheless, as the Camel, still not under the full control of 2nd Lieutenant Farmer turned towards the burning balloon, Vizefeldwebel Worlitschek performed an Immelmann's turn and went after the enemy.
http://www.wingsofwar.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=42857&d=1335471679
When an opportunity arised, despite being targetted by 2nd Lieutenant Farmer, he sent a burst in the way of the blimp and then, to my horror, it happened. As the blimp was being furiously dragged towards the ground, the resulting explosion painted a circle of burnt grass around its position.
http://www.wingsofwar.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=42860&d=1335471703
Problem was, Vizefeldwebel Worlitschek's Pfalz D.III was thrown up by the explosion's force and its engine probably finally gave way. When the smoke dissapeared, I saw a yellow tailed wreckage on the ground, not far behind the enemy trenches.
http://www.wingsofwar.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=42861&d=1335471712
But the demise of the Pfalz was not everything, far from that! I saw 2nd Lieutenant Farmer's red and white tailed Camel had gotten its own share of the dying drachen's fiery last breath and I saw its flaming remains crashing into the ground close to the position of the British ground crew of the late observation balloon.
http://www.wingsofwar.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=42858&d=1335471687
There was nothing more we could do and as we saw more enemy airplanes showing up on the horizon, the leading airplane's pilot fired a red flare and we all did our best to shake away the enemies, that were already swarming and buzzing all around us. Time to head for home. I was too high above to see if the pilot of the Pfalz got out of the wreckage in one piece. We can only hope that if Vizefeldwebel Worlitschek did get out of the wreckage he would be able to avoid any enemy units and perhaps greet us in French from the door of the officer's mess when he finds his way accross the frontline.
http://www.wingsofwar.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=42816&d=1335471282
We made it, the task had been completed, no matter the price paid. Just a moment ago the Jasta received a telegram from the General Staff congratulating all of us and stressing out the importance of that particular blimp having been busted. But still no word about the fate of one of our aces. I have to admit that I am getting a bit nervous, even if one should never lose hope...
Mission result:
Central Powers victory – the blimp was taken down
Central Powers:
Vizefeldwebel Josef Worlitschek in a Pfalz D.III – downed by the explosion of the balloon by drawing an explosion card himself (awaiting Joaquim's roll to determine consequences), 1 victory scored (balloon):
http://www.wingsofwar.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=42813&d=1335471248
Entente:
2nd Lieutenant Farmer in a Sopwith Camel – downed by the explosion of the balloon by drawing flame damage and then an explosion card himself (awaiting Joaquim's roll to determine consequences):
http://www.wingsofwar.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=42814&d=1335471258
Observation balloon – downed in flames by drawing an explosion for the last suffered machine gun burst:
http://www.wingsofwar.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=42812&d=1335471241
The southern AA MG was silenced, the central trench was damaged.
OOC Info:
Pfffft! You all and your explosions! I knew why I decided to keep them way from my damage decks. No, I couln't draw it for the balloon when at a safe distance, I had to draw it when I was close to that blimp. At least the Bulldog went down too.:p
I was very afraid by the end of the game. It was almost too late to shoot the balloon down, it was on fire with three tokens each turn, but the amount of 0's it managed to draw was awful. I knew there were the explosions somewhere there and some of the high numbers too and my Pfalz was down to the last couple of hit points left.
The last KA-BOOOM! was cataclysmic, epic and I had to laugh aloud when I saw the results, despite the fact that Vizefeldwebel Worlitschek might die, even if his ace skill should help him get out of the wreckage in one piece.
And yeah, yeah, it is my thumb over there on the photo, I have to play on the floor and I have to support myself when leaning over the gaming board.:embarass: