OTTTBE Mission 13, Unlucky for Somme - May 5th 1918 - teaticket
A rainy afternoon on a day where no one was flying, Major Büttner was in his office catching up on writing reports, filling out requests, all the paperwork he hated so much and put off until it had to be done. But it was good to have a break now and then from flying. The mechanics could have more time to work on the aircraft. The pilots could forget about their deadly job and relax a bit.
Büttner prepared his third critique and request for better quality ammunition but was pleasantly interrupted when he could hear singing and Lefty at the piano in the mess. It brought a smile to his face to hear his ‘boys’ having some fun. “Better enjoy today as there may be no tomorrow”, he thought.
It looked like the rain was letting up but the mud would have the final say on when they would fly again.
Just as Büttner finished his order form for a larger caster oil allotment that he knew would fall on deaf ears, a driver came slipping and sliding down the road leading into the aerodrome. Soon the communications officer came into the office still wiping the rain from his sleeves, “I think I have some good news for you today Herr Büttner”.
“Have a seat and some of our wonderful ersatz coffee dear Hubert”, Büttner said with an inquisitive smile. “You must also try some of my mother’s Lepchuchen. She sent me more than we here can handle. Sometimes I think she wants to feed the whole army! Anyway, it will greatly improve this poor excuse for coffee“.
“Thank you Peter, and please thank your dear mother for her baking”, Hubert slowly sat across the desk from Büttner with a full ceramic cup and a handful of pastry.
“What on earth could you tell me on such a miserable day that would cheer me up”? Büttner joked but knew Hubert had some real information. Hubert had been bringing news quite regularly for some weeks to the Eagles aerodrome and had become friends with most of the crew.
“Well, I can’t stop the rain or dry up the mud…but, I have some news I’m sure you will absolutely love”. Filling his mouth with a large bite of Lepchuchen, Hubert sat back and took a sip of coffee. He had a way of extending his official visits as long as he could. Büttner knew his game and played along. Hubert was a friendly chap and was quite helpful in getting through some of the beaurocratic red tape that got in the way of running things.
“This has to be the best Lepchuchen in Bavaria”, Hubert said with wide eyes. “I’m surprised you are not fat from growing up on this. Vunderbar! My grandmother makes a……”
After a minute that took twenty, Hubert finally got to the reason he was here. “Seems your new friend, that uh, Manfred fellow”, Hubert winked, “He is sending you some of the new Fokker aircraft. He’s got word the squadrons under his command will be flushed out with them when this weather clears and will put aside six of them for you”.
Büttner jumped up, “If you were better looking I would kiss you”! The thrill of having new planes made the dreariness of the morning’s paperwork immediately disappear.
Hubert put on a serious face, “You must have some connection high up for The Baron to do this”.
“Oh not really, he just enjoyed flying with us last week”. Büttner’s respect for von Richthofen had just gone beyond what he could imagine. The morale boost he gave the Eagles with his visit, the personal touch and the inspiration he imparted on the Eagles was invaluable, and now this! He did mention he would put in a word about new planes but he came through in spades.
“Hubert, why don’t you stay with us for lunch? The rain isn’t making the roads any better and with wonderful news like this I’d hate to see you have driving troubles. Let me tell the steward there will be one more for lunch”. Büttner patted Hubert on the shoulder as he headed out of the office. Hubert picked up another piece of Lepchuchen settling lower into the chair.
Three days later Büttner sent six pilots to Cambrai to shuttle the new planes forward. When they arrived there was a buzz of excitement. The whole of the squadron came out to see, cooks, laborers, blackmen, pilots, the whole lot. The planes, Fokker DVIIs, were a mixed lot of colors but that mattered not to Büttner, but his ground crew were already talking amongst themselves on how to get some more orange paint.
After a day of having every pilot get the feel for how they flew Büttner set the next days schedule. Büttner couldn’t help himself from flying one of these gorgeous new planes. He chose the white tailed one. Teddy Schwarz of course claimed the black tail, Lefty got the yellow, Konrad the lilac, Franz the blue, and the newest Eagle, Gunther Rothammer, was thrilled with the last, the red.
As the six Eagles formed up they were happy like children with new toys. Deadly toys. Büttner wanted to put the new Fokkers to the test straight away. They flew above the clouds and unseen headed deep behind the lines. Then they headed back east looking for some British to jump. It didn’t take long.
Leading a Bulldog patrol, Roy Morrow rolled down the field picking up speed and lifted off the ground with Edwin Stimpson right behind. Quickly following were Fitzgerald Munns and George Malley. These well experienced four flew the finicky Camels as these birds had a mind of their own at times. The more forgiving SE5a’s would be flown by the newer members of the squadron, Lionel Bateman and Warren Coombs. Lionel and Warren had just trained on SE5as so Roy thought it a better fit than have them in Camels unless absolutely necessary. There were a couple of comments before takeoff Roy couldn’t make out as the SE5as were highly prized and everyone wanted to fly them if given the chance.
Morrow was looking around for the two rookies in the SE5as out on the wings and was lucky to spot the Germans swooping in on them from behind. He fired off a few rounds to get everyone’s attention and pointed aft. A few hand signals and their formation broke to turn around to engage.
Teddy and Konrad attacked the same Camel but both came up empty. Munns found Konrad’s new plane and showed it no pity.
Quickly there was a frenzied swirl of airplanes, each trying to line up it’s guns on another. Malley became the first one to curse his luck.
Teddy dove down on Malley and the Camel burst into pieces. Malley fought with the controls to soften his coming crash as best he could…
Gunther, staying on Franz’ wing, team up against an SE5a and punish it.
In the feeding frenzy it was difficult to take a shot at the enemy while keeping your friends safe. Quick ill aimed shots of opportunity were just wasted bullets. After a quick pass, the planes reformed for another go.
Konrad sees a chance as the swift SE5a flashes past. His round struck the rudder and the rookie Coombs is confused at his sudden loss of control. His hesitation gives Konrad another chance that a veteran pilot wouldn’t have given. A few more holes are torn into the SE5a.
Büttner carefully lines up a run at another SE5a. His patience and skill pay off as he seriously damages his enemy. The SE5a is only saved by Büttner’s guns fouling. Büttner misses some golden opportunities while he clears the errant round from the breech.
Gunther, feeling secure flying in the center of the formation is shocked when a Camel swoops in and makes his cockpit look like swiss cheese. Luckily he is not touched by the hail of bullets.
Konrad finds himself alone in the midst of the British. He nervously looks around and finds his friends off to his left behind him.
Lefty, having not flown in a while was easily distracted with the new Fokker DVII and flies across the front of Franz and Teddy, nearly getting his wing tip clipped by Teddy’s prop.
Startled by Lefty’s pass Teddy veers right and almost collides with Franz.
Büttner, now with Spandaus at the ready, moves closer to support Konrad.
Four Bulldog scouts head in towards three waiting Eagles.
Very quickly the formations are broken up into a furball.
Büttner and Lefty, out on opposite flanks, quickly realize the danger and move in to help their outnumbered comrades.
While Gunther eyes a Camel on the right Teddy slips below him and blasts a SE5a to their front. Hitting the SE5a head on, he destroys the engine and the plane can take no more. It immediately points it’s nose down into an unrecoverable dive.
Taking one quick glance at his second victim of the day, Teddy missed the Camel get by Gunther. One quick well aimed shot and Teddy’s new Fokker was riddled. Most of his top wing shredded off and he now headed down following his own victim to a similar fate. Teddy, noticing that the SE5a was heading to a wood on the left guided his DVII as best he could to a wood on the right.
Büttner joined into the brawl and set a Camel on fire. Did he also hit the pilot? He saw the fellow duck down but maybe he was just avoiding the flames.
Staying on the burning Camel’s tail, Büttner keeps on firing hoping it will go down.
Even though wounded and on fire, Stimpson keeps his head and strikes Gunther hard, damaging the candy striped DVII’s engine.
Keeping on his assault on the Camel, Büttner must slip below Franz crossing from right to left. The persistence paid off as the Camel spirals to the ground leaving a corkscrew of black smoke pointing to his impact with the ground.
Roy Morrow is not liking the results of this encounter so far. He takes aim on Franz but cannot hit the plane above him.
With tracers coming up from his 1 o’clock Franz immediately noses down and delivers a devastating blow to Morrow. His Camel veers off to the right and continues on downward until he crashes into some woods on a hillside.
Lefty gets the jump on another Camel but his guns jam after he causes just minor damage.
Helpless to defend himself, Lefty is attacked point blank by the rookie Coombs in a SE5a. The DVII shudders and ignites forcing Lefty to quit working his jam and start evasive flying from the flames. He tries his damnedest but the flames just keep getting stronger until disaster strikes. A ruptured gat tank sprays fuel on to the wings and the fire grows even more. Lefty instinctively puts his plane into a dive hoping the fire will quit or he can pull up before hitting the ground in the dive. With the thick choking smoke trail behind him, he gets little solace that no one will be able to follow him.
Büttner takes note of the plane that downed Lefty. “#19, can’t let this one get away”, he thought.
Immediately Büttner’s thoughts are brought back to the battle. Munns and Büttner trade blows. The Eagle comes out marginally ahead.
After his pass at Büttner, Munns finds himself in a very bad position. He heads straight towards one enemy and slips below him before any shots can be taken. Munns did well to extricate himself from what could have been his end.
Forgetting all else, Büttner focuses on the one he must down, #19.
Old #19 turns much faster than expected and Büttner finds himself in a squeeze. Shot at from both sides and no target in front of him, Büttner curses his stupidity.
Luckily his Eagles are there to distract those attacking him.
After their attack, Munns turns to tail Büttner and Coombs goes after Konrad head on. Coombs puts a hammer blow into Konrad’s DVII but he doesn’t notice it as he totally wrecks Munns Camel from behind. Munns didn’t know what hit his as he was intent on keeping Büttner’s tail while clearing a jam.
Coombs then puts some hurt into Rothammer’s DVII.
Quickly noticing he is alone against four enemy, Coombs knows its time to get out. One EA gets a short burst at him but suddenly stops firing.
His fast SE5a does well shaking the first two Fokkers, but Büttner is waiting.
Seeing he has not the speed to keep up, Büttner cuts the angle of flight as best he could and takes a well-aimed long shot hoping to slow his foe down.
Coombs twists and turns like the devil is on his tail and Büttner’s bullets cannot find their mark.
Getting a bit too deep behind enemy lines Büttner gives it one more shot. His guns jam again leaving him toothless on the wrong side of the front. ‘This one deserves to get away”, Büttner nods.
Coombs looks over his shoulder, fearing he may not get home but he sees his tormentor salute him and turn off to the east.
Büttner is not happy that two of his new machines were downed on the British side. He knows his boys are well trained and will destroy their planes, if they are able. After setting his Spandaus right again he drops down a bit lower to look for his downed Eagles.
There are six smoking trails in the sky, which lead to his friends? Teddy was shot down right in front of him so he was pretty sure he knew the whereabouts of him. Lefty went down in a blaze so he searched for the thickest smoke…and there was Lefty on the hill top heading into some woods. His DVII was a total burning wreck so Lefty had nothing to do but escape back across the lines if he could. Lefty saw Büttner above and waved showing he in good shape.
A few minutes later Teddy was found making a pyre out of his plane.
On the other side of the woods Büttner could see some infantry searching for Teddy.
Teddy’s plane was wrecked pretty bad but not yet burning. What was taking Teddy so long?
Büttner slowed down as much as he could for a low pass. He pointed and gestured with his right hand to let Teddy know of the advancing infantry. Teddy moved away from the plane he was not having any luck igniting and gestured back. Teddy has done his best to push all the loose bits of his plane in a pile on top of the wreck. Büttner nodded and climbed a hundred feet. Turning round his nimble DVII Büttner made a pass and strafed the downed Fokker. On the second run it caught fire. Teddy waved and disappeared into the woods away from the oncoming British squad. Büttner then made a few strafing runs at the infantry to give Teddy a head start on his way home and headed back while he still had enough fuel.
Butcher’s Bill
Entente
2Lt George Malley SD EXP 0 kills Total -1 Mission
C 11-3(exp) = 8 injured, 2 = -1 mission
A/Lt. Roy Morrow SD EXP 0 kills Total -1 Mission
C 10 – 3(exp) = 7 injured, 3 = -1 mission
2Lt. Lionel Bateman SD 0 kills Total -2 Missions
C 8 – 1(SD) = 7 injured,
4 = -2 missions
2Lt. Edwin Stimpson SD FLM EXP WIA 0 Kills Total -1 Mission
C 7 – 3(exp) -1(wia) = 3 injured, 1 = -1 mission
2Lt. Fitzgerald Munns SD WIA x 2 1 Kills Total -3 Missions
C 9 –1(sd) -2(wia2) = 6 injured, 6 = -3 missions
2Lt. Warren Coombs RTB 1 Kill
Central Powers
Lt. Theodore Schwarz SD EXP ET 2 Kills Total -1 Mission
C 8 –3(exp) = 5 injured, 1 = -1 mission
E 9 -1(exp) -1(wic) -1(bel) = 6 in hiding, 2 = -1 mission
Lt. Rudolf 'Lefty' Schmitt SD FLM EXP ET 0 Kills Total -2 Missions
C 11 -3(exp) = 8 injured 6 = -2 missions
E 8 -1(exp) -1(wic) -1(bel) = 5 in hiding, 5 = -2 missions
Lt. Konrad Schroeder RTB 1 Kill
Lt. Franz Kohler RTB 1 Kill
Maj. Peter Büttner RTB 1 Kill
Lt. Gunther Rothammer RTB 0 Kills
Epilogue
Büttner pulled his DVII to a stop just outside of his hangar tent. Three more DVIIs landed is succession close behind him. As soon as they had dismounted Büttner told them of Teddy and Lefty. A cheerful group celebrated the butt kicking they had just given to their stalwart foe.
Büttner’s eyes opened wide with joy as he saw Hermann Beck walking out towards them. Beck had been away from the Eagles for some time recovering from a serious wound some months ago. Büttner broke from the group and moved towards Beck to welcome him back and pass on the good news of the day’s action. When they met Beck did not extend his hand to meet the Major’s. Büttner’s smile faded as he saw a grave face on Beck.
Beck, looking down only shook his head. “He’s gone”.
“Who’s gone? Oh, no, don’t worry, Teddy and Lefty are fine”, replied Büttner.
Silence.
After a few moments Beck looked with his watery eyes into his Major’s, “The Baron”.
“What”?
“Yes, while you were just out word came back that his red DR1 was seen to go down. He never returned to his aerodrome”.
As the rest of the flight came over and gathered around the two they quickly caught on what had happened. The joy of their victory meant nothing and the mood instantly went black. It was as if the earth stopped spinning. The entire German army had it’s heart torn out that day.
Cruel fate gives and takes as it pleases. The Baron made sure the Eagles received some new Fokker DVIIs but never got to fly in his own.
I messed up with Gunther Rothammer. I forgot to send him immediately home after his engine damage but luckily he was out of the fight and didn't score and damage vs the Bulldogs.
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Originally Posted by Stumptonian
promoted to Oberleutnant 
And a moving epilogue as well 
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