OTT ED Mission 14 - Retreive The Spy, February 14th 1917 - Archidamus (Entente)
It was just after dawn when an RE8, escorted by two Sopwith Pups, slipped across the lines and headed towards a small village behind the German lines where a French operative was waiting. Captain Frank Palmer, 2nd Lt Fred Styles and Lt Mark Thyme had been briefed earlier that morning, and told that the spy had information vital to the war effort.
As Mark began the decent towards the village three Albatros scouts appeared, converging on his RE8. Frank turned towards one enemy plane as it dived down on the RE8, and he made a close-range pass. As his gun jammed, Frank's Pup shook to the impact of his opponent's twin Spandaus - but his luck held and little damage was suffered
As Frank and the Albatros flashed past each other, Mark was caught in the sights of the second Albatros - which he realised with horror was piloted by Houdini Hübner! The twin Spandaus seemed to be larger than cannons, and Mark was sure that he was about to be shot from the sky. He was mightily relieved when he saw Hübner begin to hammer at his guns in frustration - saved by a jam!
The RE8 landed on the road just south of the village, whilst overhead the Pups and Albatrii began to circle for position. Fred Styles managed to get Hübner's plane fleetingly in his sights, but his burst went wide
Villagers rushed out and began to swing the RE8 around, and a young woman clambered into the rear seat - the spy was a woman! Overhead, both Frank and Fred managed to get enemy planes in their sights - but neither could score a hit.
Frank managed to stay on his target's tail, and finally landed a telling blow as his bullets crashed through the Albatros' engine, which immediately began to falter. The pilot turned his crippled plane towards home and safety.
Then Frank turned his Pup towards a second Albatros, just as it's pilot - Albert Hahn - turned towards him as well. The two aircraft touch briefly as both pilots made frantic evasive manoeuvres, but fortunately for both men little damage was caused.
As Hahn cleared the collision he overflew the RE8 as it clawed back in to the air. Fred's Pup was in his sights, and his burst of fire began to shred it until the Spandaus jammed.
In the confusing maelstrom of machines Frank made the fatal mistake of turning the wrong way, and found himself under the guns of Houdini Hübner. The German pilot took full advantage, and his devastating burst of fire tore through the Pup and shattered the engine, which faltered and began to make horrendous grating noises
However, while the Eagles were concentrating on the two Pups the RE8 and it's important passenger and information were heading for the safety of the British lines. Frank began to nurse his crippled machine towards the lines and safety, but the damaged engine slowed him down. As he struggled to stay in the air both Hübner and Hahn swooped onto his tail, and the Pup staggered as more bullets tore through the fuselage and wings.
He could now barely keep the Sopwith in the air. However, with some skilful flying he managed to slide out of Hübner's sights - and Hahn's coup de grace fails to materialise as his guns jammed for a second time as he narrowly avoids colliding with the OberLtn.
Frank wasn't safe yet! As his Pup continued it's faltering flight towards safety Hübner made another firing pass - at first his shots went wide
but then bullets began to find their mark - the Pup burst into flames and despite everything Frank could do it plunged to earth just behind the German lines
Fred was both horrified and enraged at the sight of his flight leader's plane falling in flames, and in a cold fury hammered the Albatros that flashed across his sights. Hahn's plane shuddered as it was peppered with holes
Fred and the two Albatrii then commenced another turning battle, each pilot searching for the advantage. Hahn was the first one to fall into his enemy's sights, and Fred's long burst of fire ripped into his target
until finally Hahn's plane fell towards the ground below, trailing smoke
Now it was Hübner who was enraged - the two planes made a close pass and Fred's Pup was hammered badly. His engine began to misfire, and he turned for the safety of the lines and home.
But Hübner's blood was up - as Fred struggled to keep the Pup in the air he Immelmanned and came back at the Sopwith. His final burst found the Pup's fuel tank and it blew up, falling to earth just behind the German lines just a few yards from the wreck of Frank'sPup.
THE BUTCHER'S BILL
2nd Lt Fred STYLES: SD EXP BEL / - / 1 Kill (Hahn)
Crash roll 7 -3EXP = 4 Severely Injured (Miss 1d6 scenarios); E&E roll 11 -1FLM -1WND -1BEL = 8 Landed Almost Home (Miss 1 scenario). Rolled 3 for injury = total 4 missed scenarios
Capt. Frank PALMER: SD FLM BEL / - / 0 Kills
Crash roll 10 -2FLM +2ACE = 10 All's Well When You Land Well; E&E roll 9 -1FLM -1BEL = 7 Landed Almost Home (Miss 1 scenario)
Lt Mark THYME & French Spy: RTB / - / 0 Kills
Ltn. Erich JENSEN: RTB / - / 0 Kills
Ltn. Albert HAHN: SD FT / - / 0 Kills
Crash roll 6 -1SD = 5 Injured (Miss 1d3 scenarios). Rolled 1 to miss 1 scenario total
OberLtn. Hans Hübner: RTB / - / 2 Kills (Palmer & Styles)
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Originally Posted by Flying Officer Kyte
Congrats Rob on achieving the Magic 30,000! Does that get you to Air Marshall Rank?
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