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Thread: Wings of War and Glory - Chapter 10: Balloon Defense

  1. #1

    Default Wings of War and Glory - Chapter 10: Balloon Defense

    January 25, 1916

    With the new French planes, the enemy was becoming more adventurous in their raids. Our balloons, that were pretty much left alone in the previous months were now being harassed daily. But the high command was still adverse to protect them properly. We were warned that a flight of French planes were crossing the lines and probably moving against one of our balloons. We've scrambled up to meet them, Leutnant Sven Michelson and me. Our cold engines pushing our Fokkers in a slow ascendance in the chilling morning...

    When we got there the balloon was still intact. That was good news. The observer waved at us, oblivious to the danger that was coming.



    I searched the skies. The air was freezing but the skies were clean and bright. And then I saw them coming.



    A Saulnier and two of the new Nieuport model. Coming fast at the balloon. The fools below weren't yet aware of them and weren't pulling the balloon down.



    We pushed the engines of our machines to cover as much ground as possible. I wanted to meet them as far as possible from the balloons.



    As we were getting closer, I could see a strange contraption built in the wings of one of the new planes.



    They weren't going to deviate from their path to engage us... They were going straight at the balloon.



    That prompted me to turn sooner than I intended and I crossed their paths.



    I immediately took fire from them. And their bullets raked my plane.



    I fired back but I was clumsy and failed to connect. I was also distracted with the strange things bound to the wings of one of them.



    Then I got myself into the cross-hairs of the Saulnier.



    And once again I felt the bullets of his machine gun raking the fabric of my plane.



    Then Sven was on them and fired a precise burst that hit the Saulnier.



    I fired again against the first Nieuport and hit it lightly.



    One of the Nieuports kept going at the balloon, but the other two scouts hit the bait and changed their course. I reversed while Sven kept his plane on the tail of the Saulnier.



    And with a magnificent burst he put it on fire.



    I was fighting for advantage with one of the Nieuports. A difficult task, as these planes are more nimble than the Eindeckers. Sven was still on the French´s plane tail and the other one, with the strange contraptions was still going against the balloon.



    Sven hit the burning French plane again but his weapons jammed. Tough luck.



    I was getting the upper hand, but my eyes were also on the brown Nieuport.



    And then he fired some... kind of... fireworks display against the balloon. And they went in all directions but the balloon. And I wondered what would happen if it had hit it... The idea scared me a lot.



    Now they seemed to be turning back. This new contraption wasn't very accurate, but I could easily see the potential of it.



    I fired against the brown Nieuport but my weapons jammed.



    Our upper hand seemed to be lost and the enemy planes were maneuvering to get us. I fought with the jamming the best I could.



    But after firing against the balloon, the French seemed to have lost their way.



    You couldn't really tell if they were leaving or not.



    Sven was rejoining me and the Saulnier seemed pretty damaged so I guessed correctly that he was leaving.



    It was time to focus on the more dangerous Nieuports.



    They both made a quick reverse and were on us. The balloon wasn't still going down. What was the ground crew doing?!



    In the middle of a reverse with my Eindecker I wished again I could have one of the French planes. They were so nimble.



    The poor Saulnier was limping away and I had no time to take it down. But I guess that we were going to stop seeing those in a short while...



    I was now getting closer and Sven was in the middle of the two French planes.



    The brown one hit Sven.



    And Sven hit it back.



    Now I was getting close enough to offer some cover to Sven.



    I hit the first Nieuport squarely and at least I felt it fragile.



    He banked swiftly in my direction and once again I was surprised with its nimbleness.



    But the brown one was firing at me and I forgot about the small plane qualities.



    I fired back and hit it squarely.



    And I knew that now they would withdraw.



    But Sven wouldn't allow it to be easy.



    Neither would I, for that matter.



    Sven failed to hit it. I connected squarely.



    The fragile plane disintegrated in the air...



    The other one was moving away, far from our reach.
    In the cold morning of that late January day, the balloon start coming down...

  2. #2

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    Ahh...Vintage Joaquim action - good to see again

    "He is wise who watches"

  3. #3

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    Quote Originally Posted by flash View Post
    Ahh...Vintage Joaquim action - good to see again
    Thanks Dave! You're most kind.

  4. #4

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    A very exciting action full of incident and commentary.
    That balloon was darned lucky. Rockets at PBR and no damage.
    Still that's the French for you. Luck of the Devil those boys.
    Thanks for the super AAR Quin.
    Rob.
    "Courage is the art of being the only one who knows you're scared to death."

  5. #5

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    Very nice and Great Pictures.

  6. #6

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    Quote Originally Posted by Flying Officer Kyte View Post
    A very exciting action full of incident and commentary.
    That balloon was darned lucky. Rockets at PBR and no damage.
    Still that's the French for you. Luck of the Devil those boys.
    Thanks for the super AAR Quin.
    Rob.
    Thank you my friend. An year went by since I wrote the last one.
    The French were unlucky.

  7. #7

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    Quote Originally Posted by Mike George View Post
    Very nice and Great Pictures.
    Thanks, Mike.

  8. #8

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    Quote Originally Posted by Blackronin View Post
    Thank you my friend. An year went by since I wrote the last one.
    The French were unlucky.
    I'd say the French were very lucky that you have left them alone for a year ...................
    Rob.
    "Courage is the art of being the only one who knows you're scared to death."

  9. #9

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    Quote Originally Posted by Flying Officer Kyte View Post
    I'd say the French were very lucky that you have left them alone for a year ...................
    Rob.
    And now I have a French girlfriend... Oh choices...

  10. #10

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    Now that is interesting young Lisbon. Fraternization with the enemy eh!
    von Kytle.
    "Courage is the art of being the only one who knows you're scared to death."

  11. #11

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    Quote Originally Posted by Flying Officer Kyte View Post
    Now that is interesting young Lisbon. Fraternization with the enemy eh!
    von Kytle.
    Will I face a military court?!

  12. #12

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    Only if you get caught .
    Von Kytle.
    "Courage is the art of being the only one who knows you're scared to death."

  13. #13

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    Great story, Joaquin.
    The photos are first rate.
    I must break out my balloons some day.

    ( and mount some gimbals ...)

  14. #14

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    Quote Originally Posted by Stumptonian View Post
    Great story, Joaquin.
    The photos are first rate.
    I must break out my balloons some day.

    ( and mount some gimbals ...)
    Thanks Pete!
    You're very kind.

  15. #15

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    A fantastically documented AAR there Joaquim. Also liking the Eindecker E.Is which feature in your photos - Ares Games or Nexus Games please as I'm getting into WGF as you may have seen and like this type of aircraft

    Been reading today about the defence of balloons over The Front during WW1 but they do say that he who has the overview is the one who wins the war. Mind you I have played one game where a dirigeable was created using a 1/72 aircraft stand and a small packet of Hob Nob biscuits! More of a barrage balloon than an observation / manned one

  16. #16

    Thumbs up

    Great to have you back at the WW1 front 'Quim.
    Another classic AAR from you mate!

  17. #17

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    Quote Originally Posted by Tonx View Post
    A fantastically documented AAR there Joaquim. Also liking the Eindecker E.Is which feature in your photos - Ares Games or Nexus Games please as I'm getting into WGF as you may have seen and like this type of aircraft

    Been reading today about the defence of balloons over The Front during WW1 but they do say that he who has the overview is the one who wins the war. Mind you I have played one game where a dirigeable was created using a 1/72 aircraft stand and a small packet of Hob Nob biscuits! More of a barrage balloon than an observation / manned one
    Thanks Barney!
    It's a pleasure to have you.
    Grab some Eindeckers from Valom if you can.

  18. #18

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    Quote Originally Posted by gully_raker View Post
    Great to have you back at the WW1 front 'Quim.
    Another classic AAR from you mate!
    Thanks, my friend.
    Thanks for the REP.

  19. #19

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    Quote Originally Posted by Blackronin View Post
    Grab some Eindeckers from Valom if you can.
    Those are kit-built aircraft which need painting aren't they? Pity I thought the Eindecker E.I was available as a ready-to-run for the game.

    Will have to make do with the Eindecker E.V instead! WGF Introductory Package arrived this morning so here we go ...

  20. #20

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    Quote Originally Posted by Tonx View Post
    Those are kit-built aircraft which need painting aren't they? Pity I thought the Eindecker E.I was available as a ready-to-run for the game.

    Will have to make do with the Eindecker E.V instead! WGF Introductory Package arrived this morning so here we go ...
    Pictures?

  21. #21

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    Quote Originally Posted by Blackronin View Post
    Pictures?
    Yes - more detailed information available in WW1 Missions: Circuits and Bumps II including pictures which will start appearing later on today. Won't post them here as I do not wish to divert this thread away from your excellent AAR ...

    SPOTLIGHT is on YOU

  22. #22

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    Quote Originally Posted by Tonx View Post
    Yes - more detailed information available in WW1 Missions: Circuits and Bumps II including pictures which will start appearing later on today. Won't post them here as I do not wish to divert this thread away from your excellent AAR ...

    SPOTLIGHT is on YOU
    Thanks.
    Then put a link here so that I can follow it.

  23. #23

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    Quote Originally Posted by Blackronin View Post
    Then put a link here so that I can follow it.
    http://www.wingsofwar.org/forums/sho...s-and-Bumps-II where we have just established that my first Mount is to be the Sopwith Camel. My aircraft included within the kit are all 1916 to 1918 mid to late-war era however I've a cunning plan to account for starting off in this era and then working backwards to the earlier aircraft types when I can buy some

  24. #24

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    Quote Originally Posted by Tonx View Post
    http://www.wingsofwar.org/forums/sho...s-and-Bumps-II where we have just established that my first Mount is to be the Sopwith Camel. My aircraft included within the kit are all 1916 to 1918 mid to late-war era however I've a cunning plan to account for starting off in this era and then working backwards to the earlier aircraft types when I can buy some
    You're not the only one doing that. Check my WW2 The Kindness of Strangers Solo Campaign.

  25. #25

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    Quote Originally Posted by Blackronin View Post
    Check my WW2 The Kindness of Strangers Solo Campaign.
    Never read that before so I will do. Sounds very good anyway.

    Circuits and Bumps I (nee Circuits and Bumps) in WW2 Missions is all about the learning of WGS / WW2. Inspired by this I have created a WGF equivalent ... Though this time I'm not going to write from a flight instructor's point of view but as a trainee pilot to begin with. The flight instructor element may once again be needed though to cover the earlier war era aircraft. OR I just wait until I have something available from earlier on in the war and commence fire with the flying then?

  26. #26

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    Carefully played and well documented - a pleasure to follow!
    <img src=http://www.wingsofwar.org/forums/image.php?type=sigpic&userid=2554&dateline=1409073309 border=0 alt= />
    "We do not stop playing when we get old, but we get old when we stop playing."

  27. #27

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    Quote Originally Posted by Nightbomber View Post
    Carefully played and well documented - a pleasure to follow!
    Thanks for the kind words and REP, my friend.

  28. #28



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