OTT ED Mission 10 - Three Bridges to Victory - 19th October 1916
Oberleutnant Biettruoffen called his men together again. “Don’t get cocky just because we gave the RFC a bloody nose at Flers. There are rumours going round that the RFC have a new toy. Faster and agile and deadly. So keep your eyes peeled today. Today we are going to bomb the same 3 bridges that Jasta 32, The Kestrels, bombed two days ago. Now can anyone identify where these bridges are in the sector? You’ve all flown that sector so come on...here’s the first:
“Well done Sidweg, and for that you get to lead this jaunt today” The rest laughed at Sidwegs obvious discomfort. “I have also decided that Sidweg will be my 2nd in command and I’m glad GHQ agree, and with of course the rank of Hauptmann. Now to the 2nd....
"We are getting good now this one"
"Wrong. Wrong. Wrong. I’m surprised not one of you recognises London Bridge, in London.
Ok this one"
"No you dolts this is the bridge in the town I grew up in.
Lastly"
"Good."
Oberleutnant Biettrutoffen began, “The English salient into our lines was formed from what was initially a bridgehead over the river Ancre. It is the desire of GHQ that this salient be eradicated and the line straightened out to the river line and that area to be subsequently used as a springboard for an offensive on the enemy's flank. To that end we have been aiming our efforts into this exact action but so far it seems that no matter what we throw at them the enemy resists all our exertions. This is frustrating to say the least but more importantly there is a danger that it will begin draining our resources that are desperately needed for the successive operations. “ He paused for breath
“This resistance has thus far been somewhat of a mystery as shortly after the bridgehead was established we destroyed the three bridges that crossed the river effectively cutting off the bridgehead, whilst we accept there is a chance of supplies being ferried across the river there should not be such a flow as to support and replenish the troops there let alone supply the replacements that seem to appear in the area. Luckily we now have the answer to the riddle. Information has been received from the Intelligence Corps that might just explain what has been going on. A well placed and trusted source (subsequently identified as the renowned female spy Fatamari aka Fifi la Fan) has identified that the enemy has built an 'underwater bridge' alongside one of the three destroyed bridges over which many men and supplies are moved during the hours of darkness - this explains why our frequent reconnaissance has not seen any movement or bridging structures. The enemy has also been very cunning by not drawing attention to the area with by locating any anti aircraft weapons around the bridges concerned or being overly protective of the airspace above them. The only thing we don't know now is which one is the bridge concerned; it is therefore proposed that you will bomb all three downed bridges to ensure we get the job done. We practice today and bomb the bridges tomorrow”
“Oh great another low level run in” Sidweg advanced rather loudly. “Not at all , not at all! The enemy are used to seeing reconnaissance flights at high levels and so it is proposed that the bombing will be conducted at that high level.” Ludwig looked around at the astonished faces. “Hence the practice today, now to your aircraft, get some practice bombs and start practicing. A target has been laid out in a field near here. Fly to altitude and get it right, we only have today for tomorrow we must destroy that bridge.”
“Jurgen I will drop mine like this Ja?
“Look, this is how you drop bombs you clot”
“Now that you have had your practice, with varying degrees of success I might add, get some sleep. It’s a dawn attack, to keep in line with our recce flights over the salient.”
Tomorrow morning.
The crews head for their aircraft.
Hauptmann Sidweg Fettlemeir
Leutnant Jacob Strum and Feldwbel Jurgen Maas
Leutnant Karl Toffeleiter and Leutnant Johanne Zweibelsuppe
It was not long before they were climbing to the required altitude and heading for the target salient bridges.
Meanwhile on the other side:
2Lt Thomas Keeble was pleased to be flying his new Spad VII (Green), alongside him was 2Lt Stephen Wheeler (Blue), just returned to duty after being wounded in a small fracas against the Eagles. Their mission to fly near to but not over the new salient but engage any enemy aircraft over the salient, especially in the vicinity of the bridges.
Captain Boniface Liberace was also in the area. A French Ace also flying a Spad VII in his distinctive colours.
‘Sacre Bleau! Merde, Beuffe’ Cried Boniface as by instinct he threw the Spad left as a British Spad passed under his wingtip. Keeble had only just spotted the French Spad as he climbed up under him and threw his Spad to one side at the last moment. A string of expletives were lost in the slipstream as he shook his fist at the disappearing French pilot.
Sidweg moved to cover the Roland’s rear.
Bursts of instinctive firing, bullets shredding their way through fuselages and wings, two aircraft on fire.
“Gott in Himmel, what was that Jurgen? I’ve got more holes in my flying jacket than a colander and its brand new!”
“Some Flying Corps pilot in a new type not seen before, just popped up in front, we both fired and hey ho we’re on fire!”
“So is he my friend, so is he, good shooting. Now don’t fly straight and we might just be lucky with the fire!”
Lt Wheeler was struggling with his Spad as the fire licked along the engine cowling towards the cockpit.
“Another one, Frenchy this time, get some of this”, taka taka taka
Jurgen could hear the rear parabellum chunking out its hail of death “Damn we missed the target, have to go round again”. He shouted to Strum in the back still busy covering the two Entente planes behind the Roland.
Meanwhile, Toffeleiter had lined up perfectly on the target, the north bridge, and the bomb went directly where it was supposed to. “Nice one Johanne”, “No, good flying Karl”.
Boniface waited then fired, “Good hit mon amis” He said to no-one in particular.
Sidweg had already fired at the new enemy type as it passed him as the bullets banged into his fuselage from the left, ‘damn, it’s the frenchman’ he said to himself. His rudder control felt slack as he tried to control the Albatros.
Boniface was having fun, he was singing the Marseilles at full throttle when the Rumpler came into his sites, he forgot all about the Albatros and went for an easy kill. “Je suis bon-bon, here we go, takakaaclunk.....” His gun jammed mid-stream. Banging on the drum and uttering a flurry of curses the Rumpler slipped by.
Sidweg was not having it all his own way an enemy pilot had got onto his tail but he heard the tell tale clunk as the lewis either jammed or was out of bullets. Keeble cursed his luck, the new fangled interupter gear had jammed or the new fangled belt had stuck in the breech of the new fangled vickers gun. He wished he had his lewis gun instead.
Boniface was not looking as Jurgen guided the Rumpler to almost touching distance before giving Boniface some of his own medicine in return.
Every time Jurgen lined up on a target he had to veer away to stop the flames getting worse, but they had been lucky up to now.
Jurgen fired again at the French plane as Keeble closing fast let rip a long range burst towards the Rumpler but his own fire put off his aim.
Sidweg did not see the enemy as he flipped the DII round until bullets started passing his plane, luckily nothing was hit. Wheeler’s aim was being put off by the fire threatening to engulf his Spad which was getting more intense.
Jurgen was having fun toying with the Frenchman. He put more holes into it than any other aircraft he had fired at before. The close range helping him. His aim was in now and he was going for the kill. Boniface felt something hit the back of his helmet, he lost consciousness.
The Spad spiralled into the ground
Sidweg flipped round again to be caught by the enemy pilot at close range. A loud bang came from his engine and he knew that he had been hit bad, he also realised that he too had been hit bad. Keeble senses his first kill was close but he forgot about the other two German aircraft and paid the price for his lax concentration.
Lt Keeble was overjoyed, he knew he had clobbered the Hun hard. What he didn’t expect was the weight of bullets that hit his Spad from the right. Jurgen had lined up his target well and fired just before Toffeleiter blocked his view in the Rumpler.
Lt Wheeler had had enough the flames were well established and he headed over the lines towards home.
Jurgen closed in for another kill and fired at close range into the side of the Spad. Keeble could only watch in horror as the reaper approached.
Keebles Spad caught fire and the controls went slack as the stricken Spad flipped over and spiralled earthward.
With no enemy aircraft in sight the two 2 seaters finished the job, bombed the remaining bridges and went home for tea, well schnapps and bickies.
The Butchers Bill
Hauptman Sidweg Fettlemieir: 6 dam/WIA/RTB
Feldwebel Jurgen Maas: RTB/8 dam/1 kill: Leutnant Jacob Strum: RTB/1 bridge bombed
Leutnant Karl Toffeleiter: RTB/1 dam/1 kill: Leutnant Johanne Zweibelsuppe: RTB/2 bridges bombed
Captain Boniface Liberace: SD/ET/12 damage/WIA
2nd Lieutenant Keeble: SD/ET/13 damage/Fire
2nd Lieutenant Wheeler: RTB/10 damage
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Originally Posted by Skafloc
I wonder if he plays piano in the Officers 
Very evocative story for that one Neil.
I'd send Rep but I have to spread it around first.
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