93 Attachment(s)
OTT-DYM Mission 11: Hoisted With His Own Petard - 19th March 1916 {Stumptonian}
March 19th 1916.
Adler airfield, Briefing tent.
Attachment 277836
Oberleutnant Bernhard Wienand addresses a select group of pilots.
“Meine Herren, wir haben eine Herausforderung erhalten.“
< Gentlemen, we have been handed a challenge.>
“Ein Notsignal wurde abgefangen und wir müssen darauf reagieren.“
< An emergency signal has been intercepted and we must act upon it.>
“Die Briten haben mit einer neuen Art von Mine in den Gewässern vor der niederländischen Küste experimentiert.“
<The British have been experimenting with a new type of mine in the waters off the Dutch coast.>
“Diese Art von Mission würde normalerweise von einer Marineflieger-Einheit erledigt, aber anscheinend sind sie nicht verfügbar.“
< This type of mission would normally be handled by a naval air unit, but, apparently they are not available.>
“Es ist eine Schande, denn wir könnten sicherlich ein Wasserflugzeug für dieses verwenden...
< It is a shame because we could certainly use a float plane for this one ..>
“Anscheinend hat man beim Testen der neuen Minen versehentlich gezündet und eine Reihe von Explosionen ausgelöst, die das Minenverlegeschiff versenkten und die Besatzung mitnahmen.“
< Apparently, while testing the new mines, one accidently detonated and triggered a series of explosions that sank the mine laying vessel and took the crew with it. >
Attachment 277835
“Ein Wissenschaftler und sein Ingenieur haben jedoch überlebt und sind auf einer abgelegenen Insel gestrandet.
Die Briten schicken ein paar Flugzeuge, um sie zu extrahieren.“
< However, a scientist and his engineer have survived and are stranded on a remote island. The British are sending a few aircraft to extract them.>
“Sie, meine Herren, sollen vor der Rettungsaktion auf die Insel kommen und sie sicher zu unserem Flugplatz bringen.
Von hier werden sie nach Berlin begleitet.“
< You, gentlemen, are to get to the island ahead of the rescue party and get them safely to our airfield.
From here they will be escorted to Berlin.>
“Fiedler und Raucheisen Sie fliegen jeweils einen Roland, der für die eigentliche Gewinnung verwendet wird.“
< Fiedler and Raucheisen …. You will each fly a Roland to be used for the actual extraction. >
Leutnant Justus Raucheisen was a new member of the two-seater unit. This would be his first mission for Die Adler.
“"Folglich ist der Beobachterplatz nicht besetzt."
<Consequently, the observer seat will be unoccupied .>
“"Hueber und Giesebrecht werden Sie als Begleiter begleiten und sich um den Feind kümmern, der versuchen wird, dasselbe Ergebnis zu erzielen.
Wenn Sie die Rettung nicht erfolgreich abschließen können, müssen Sie sicherstellen, dass sie nicht zum Feind zurückkehren. Verstanden?"
< Huebner and Giesebrecht will accompany you as escorts, and to take care of the enemy who will be attempting to achieve the same result.
If you are unable to complete the rescue successfully, you must ensure they do not get back to the enemy.
Understood? >
“Alles ist klar!”
The pilots clicked their heels and saluted.
“Das hoffe ich sehr …”
< I certainly hope so > said the Oberleutnant under his breath as the pilots exited the tent.
Attachment 277837
The island in question has one beach that should be usable as a landing strip.
At least until the tide comes in …
Attachment 277838
Ltn Günther Giesebrecht in his usual (of late) Halberstadt D.II accompanies newcomer Ltn Justus Raucheisen in the Roland, flying slightly higher and keeping an eye open for trouble. With no rear gunner, Raucheisen is glad to have a forward-firing gun mounted.
Attachment 277839
… Unlike the Be.2c of 2Lt ‘Gus’ Mase, who is virtually unarmed. The only Lewis is mounted in the forward cockpit.
He will totally rely on fellow Canadian, Eddie Duke in the DH.2 for protection.
Attachment 277840
Giesebrecht turns toward specs in the distance, while Raucheisen eyes the beach with a wary eye.
Attachment 277842
From the opposite side, similar maneuvers.
Attachment 277749
A minute or so behind, Ltn Till Huebner in the reddish brown Halberstadt accompanies Ltn Herbert Fiedler in the second Roland, which is also flying slightly below his escort.
Attachment 277750
The second wave of Bulldogs approaches.
2Lt Doulas Winterbottom flies Be.2c “B” with yet another Canadian, 2Lt Duncan Moore in the DH.2.
Attachment 277751
Raucheisen dives toward the landing stip.
“Ich hoffe der Sand ist fest....“
< I hope the sand is firm >
Attachment 277752
Mase also lowers the Be.2 and prepares to turn to the landing strip.
Just off to his right, Duke approaches the CDL Halberstadt.
Attachment 277753
Da da da
Duke draws first blood as his bullets find Giesebrecht’s D.II
Giesebrecht is out of position and cannot return the favour.
Attachment 277754
Giesebrecht makes a wide sideslip and avoids colliding with Duke.
Attachment 277755
Giesebrecht has his eye on another target.
He dives toward the Be.2
Attachment 277756
Mase drops again in preparation for landing.
Attachment 277757
Raucheisen makes his final approach.
Attachment 277758
“What the …?”
Both Raucheisen and Mase see each other at the same moment.
Attachment 277766
A classic Chicken Run!
Who will flinch?
[Note: I decided to let the cards decide as I was controlling both landings at this point. I put one each of Dive / Climb / Left / Right card for each aircraft and drew for the result. Raucheisen chickened out and turned to the right. The plucky Canadian dived.]
Attachment 277767
Raucheisen barely avoids a cataclysmic crash which would have ended the mission for all concerned!
Mase’s Be.2 makes its way across the sand.
Attachment 277759
Meanwhile, Huebner tries to avoid Duke’s DH.2!
The wingtips barely touch.
Both pilots can breathe again….
[The Halberstadt is just the card]
Attachment 277760
Winterbottom approaches. Giesebrecht sees him, but is too late to intercept.
Attachment 277761
Duke Immelmanns his DH.2
Attachment 277762
Giesebrecht has also Immelmanned and catches Winterbottom’s Be.2.
Flames can be seen streaming from the engine area.
[Note: Giesebrecht used his Sniper skill, drawing a 1 Fire and 0 – selecting the obvious choice. The second 1 Fire was the regular draw]
Attachment 277763
Raucheisen is just out of range as Mase brings Be.2c “A” to a smooth stop.
Attachment 277764
Flames eat at Winterbottom’s Be.2c “B”
Attachment 277765
Mase is madly swinging his Be.2 to prepare for takeoff.
“Where are those damn scientists?”
Fiedler just misses Mase and flies his purple and black Roland over Raucheisen’s.
Tikka tikka tikka
Raucheisen’s burst slams into the fragile British craft.
Mase keeps his calm and is relieved as one of the ‘passengers’ appears from the brush.
“Taxi!” shouts the engineer with a cheeky grin. “Victoria station, please, good sir” he smirks as he climbs into the forward seat.
Attachment 277768
Across the island, Giesebrecht has misjudged his speed and barely misses Winterbottom’s burning Be.2c
Attachment 277769
Moore flies an Immelmann and sees his charge in trouble.
Attachment 277770
Tikka tikka tikka
Raucheisen fires at Mase but misses.
[Duke is 2 pegs higher and has no shot from the DH.2]
Attachment 277771
The flames continue to worry Winterbottom.
Attachment 277772
Mase lifts off the beach, with barely a foot of sand to spare.
“I say, you don’t half like to frighten a fellow …”
Mase is too concerned with all that is going on around him to notice the engineer’s dry humour.
Attachment 277773
Tikka tikka
Dada dada
Giesebrecht and Duke trade shots with equally poor aim.
Attachment 277774
Raucheisen fires at Mase.
Tikka tikka
Smoke flies in the face of the now not so plucky passenger.
Rauch! < Smoke! >
Raucheisen smiles as the Be.2 takes on his name.
Attachment 277775
Raucheisen is too close to hit Mase with another burst.
[Damn that rule!] ;)
Not so, Duke, and he fires at the Roland …
Da da da
… and misses!
Attachment 277776
Winterbottom has had to abort his landing attempt to deal with the fire.
At least his moves have helped in that regard.
Attachment 277777
An adler eye view of the situation.
Attachment 277778
Da da da
Moore tries a quick shot as Huebner passes in his line of sight.
Attachment 277779
Giesebrecht has reached his fuel limit and must head back to base.
Attachment 277780
Huebner dives and passes over Winterbottom who has also dived.
Attachment 277781
Still streaming smoke, Mase exits the area.
The smoke has the engineer a bit bothered.
No jaunty jabber now.
Attachment 277782
Moore flies an Immelmann and heads back toward the island.
Attachment 277783
Huebner performs his own Immelmann and heads toward Moore’s DH.2
Attachment 277784
Duke is also reaching his fuel limit and exits the area.
Attachment 277785
Raucheisen closes behind Winterbottom.
Tikka tikka
[And I totally forgot that Raucheisen has the inherent ‘Sharp Eye’ skill]
:hmm:
Attachment 277786
Huebner dives toward the DH.2 - but Moore also dives – so they are out of range.
Attachment 277787
Raucheisen fires at Winterbottom again.
Tikka tik …
“Verdammnt!”
The gun has jammed.
[and I forgot the +1] :surrender:
Attachment 277788
Unbothered by any defenders, Fiedler lines up for a beach landing.
Attachment 277789
While Winterbottom does the same.
He is nervous with Raucheisen on his tail, but doe not know of the Roland’s machine gun issue.
Attachment 277790
Huebner dodges to the right and Moore loses his target.
Attachment 277791
… but sees another, straight ahead.
Attachment 277792
The tide is coming in – there will not be time for another attempt.
Winterbottom touches down on the shortened landing strip.
Attachment 277793
Fiedler is straightening out and is stunned to see Winterbottom has already touched down!
Attachment 277794
Fiedler scraps his landing and fires at the Be.2c
Tikka tikka
“Wie könnte ich vermissen?!”
< How could I have missed? >
Attachment 277795
Tikka tikka
Huebner tries a deflection shot and messes up Moore’s rudder cable.
Attachment 277796
Like a acrobatic circus maneuver the three aircraft come amazingly close to disaster, but altitude differences save them from calamity.
Fiedler dives over Winterbottom, and Raucheisen climbs just in the nick of time!
Attachment 277797
Raucheisen is just high enough to be out of range on Winterbottom.
Attachment 277798
Fiedler is just about scraping the trees as he climbs .
Attachment 277799
Tikka tikka tikka
Raucheisen blasts Winterbottom from close range.
The Be.2c engine starts a disconcerting knock
Attachment 277800
Tikka tikka tik...
Raucheisen’s followup jams the gun again, but seals the Be.2’s fate …
[Another green jam – why does 'Bulletchecker' Huebner never draw these??]
:confused:
Attachment 277801
The Be.2 flips over just past the end of the strip of beach.
The hopeful passenger, watching from the woods is devastated!
Attachment 277802
Huebner sees the crash and gives a sigh of relief.
“Gerade rechtzeitig …”
< Just in time ..>
His fuel gauge has told him it’s time to go home.
Moore is in the same boat and reluctantly heads back to base.
Attachment 277803
But the Germans have other plans ….
Attachment 277804
Both Rolands circle back toward the beach.
Attachment 277805
Huebner flies away hoping the Rolands can finish the task.
Attachment 277806
Moore heads away in the opposite direction.
“I guess it will be up to the Senior Service now …”
They had been advised the Royal Navy would send a submarine to pick up the castaways if the RFC was unable to get the job done.
Attachment 277807
Raucheisen approaches from the Eastern end of the beach.
Attachment 277808
.. While Fiedler approaches from the West.
Attachment 277809
“Nicht noch einmal!”
< Not again! >
Fiedler has already touched ground.
Raucheisen climbs and nearly clips the other Roland’s wing!
Attachment 277810
After slowing to a stop, Fiedler spins his aircraft around.
The tide is coming in fast now – he can see his runway shrinking as each minute passes.
Attachment 277811
Fiedler revs his engine and prepares to take off.
If there is another castaway he must make his presence known now!
Just then he sees a figure running up beside the aircraft.
He jumps on the wings and struggles to board the aircraft.
Attachment 277812
The Roland roars down the sand strip and lifts off, just as the waves claim another foot or two of sand.
Attachment 277813
As the aircraft climbs, Fiedler is puzzled.
He did not expect an Englander to willingly board his aircraft, let alone with such enthusiasm.
The passenger must have read his mind.
Turning to face Fiedler, the scientist exclaims “Ich bin dänisch!”
< I am Danish >
“Ich bin in diesem Krieg nicht Partei!“
< I do not take sides in this war >
Attachment 277814
Rauchesien flies past the beach and turns to join up with Fiedler.
Attachment 277815
Fiedler waggles his wings indicating success.
Raucheisen follows suit. He shouts at Fiedler, although he knows he can’t possibly hear him.
“Ich hoffe, wir haben das klügere von beiden!“
< I hope we have the smartest of the two! >
Butcher’s Tally
Bulldogs
Attachment 277816
BE.2c
Attachment 277817
2Lt Douglas Winterbottom – SD – Neutral Territory
C&W: 5 -1SD = 4 : Injured 1D6(3) : Skip 3
The Campaign is over for Winterbottom.
Attachment 277818
DH.2
Attachment 277828
2Lt Duncan Moore – RTB
Attachment 277819
DH.2
Attachment 277829
2Lt ‘Eddie’ Duke - RTB
Attachment 277820
BE.2c
Attachment 277830
2Lt Augustus ‘Gus’ Mase – RTB
Rescued Engineer
Adler
Attachment 277821
Halberstadt D.II
Attachment 277831
Ltn Till Huebner – RTB
Attachment 277822
Halberstadt D.II
Attachment 277832
Ltn Günther Giesebrecht – RTB
Attachment 277823
Roland C.II
Attachment 277833
Ltn Justus Raucheisen – RTB – 1 Kill (BE.2c)
Attachment 277824
Roland C.II
Attachment 277834
Ltn Herbert Fiedler – RTB – Retrieved Danish Scientist
Epilogue
2Lt Douglas Winterbottom lay in the brush for a while.
He had seen the other BE.2c take off and head back to base with one of the stranded mine specialists.
He wanted to make sure that all of the German aircraft had also left the area.
After an hour or so he limped his way closer to the beach.
His aircraft, although damaged beyond repair, was still intact enough for the enemy to get possible technical data from.
Not that they would want to reproduce this pitiful piece of British engineering.
“Those German aircraft are a damn sight better than anything we have right now.” he muttered aloud.
“Definitely more flashy than our tawdry bits of canvas, as well.”
The doped linen burned nicely.
He hoped it might act as a beacon for the Royal Navy.
After a listless night, Winterbottom awoke to the sound of what he hoped were British voices not too far away.
Rescue was at hand.
Attachment 277825
=======================================================================
Thoughts and Observations
That was a very interesting one to play.
I cannot believe how all of the landing attempts were like Chicken Runs!
I was not sure how it was going to play out, what with both Entente and Adler vying for the rescue of the scientists.
In the back of my mind I anticipated have to draw a revolver to coax them aboard the Adler aircraft.
(But not as flashy as Mike’s version)
Then I had a Eureka! Moment and made the second scientist a neutral Dane.
It was definitely tricky maneuvering over and around the overlays I had placed on The Coast map to hide the city and create the beach.
I took several photos of the beach areas of the map and cut them up.
I think it worked (except for the edges starting to curl up) and gave me a way to handle the shrinking beach landing strip.
I made the whole thing extra finicky for myself by giving my altitude ‘chit’ system a run through.
I took photos of each control board with the ‘Altimeter’ cards every time a plane changed altitude so I could try give a visual of how easy the system is to use.
Attachment 277826Attachment 277827
But I ended up with far too many pictures and scrapped that idea.
Maybe some other time …
A very interesting game you gave us, Rob, but, then again, you always do!
You said there couldn’t be a draw, but I think I came damn close. Just the downing of the BE.2c gives the Adler the edge.
Hard to believe we only have one more to go in this Daring Young Men campaign.
I am sure Mike will give us a fitting farewell next month.
Although, I for one, would not be adverse to continuing ….
:D
