AAR - BrisWingsofGlory WGS Campaign 1, Mission 13 - Polish Air Force 1939-45
France 1940 Mission 13 Defensive Patrol Amiens 06/06/1940
On 5 June 1940 the Wehrmacht launched Fall Rot (Case Red), the second phase of the conquest of France. In the west Armee Gruppe B attacked across the Somme River, but French Army held firm. Despite the losses of the previous month the poilus were determined to hold the line against the Boche, forming strong defensive localities well supported by massed artillery. Twenty-four hours after the start of the offensive the 4.Armee had managed to force crossings over the Somme, but had been unable to punch through the French defence in depth. West of Amiens elements the 7.Panzer Division in the German vanguard were thrown back repeatedly by accurate artillery fire. As they had in Poland and in the opening stages of the French campaign the Luftwaffe liaison officers assigned to the Wehrmacht's ground forces called on close air support to neutralise the enemy strongpoints.
On the morning of 6 June 1940 GC II/7's Patrouille Polonaise was again operational with three serviceable aircraft. Based at Meaux-Esbly they were very close to the factories and spares depots located all around Paris, meaning parts and replacement aircraft could be delivered much faster than in the early weeks of the campaign.
That morning Sous Lieutenant Władysław Gnyś in D.520 'Red 3', Sous Lieutenant Tadeusz Kowalewski in 'Red 4' and Adjutant Władysław Chciuk flying 'White 6' were airborne and patrolling the skies over the Somme Valley, the scene of some of the fiercest fighting.
On the ground below a battery of French artillery was firing salvo after salvo in support of their infantry dug in along tree lines and in the villages in the path of the German advance.
As they approached Amiens at 5000 metres the Polish Flight could see the smoke and muzzle flashes of the guns ......
..... as could the Messerschmitt Bf 109E-3 Schwarm from 9.Staffel Jagdgeschwader 2 'Richthofen'. "Franzosische artillerie, hinten zwölf Uhr," called the Schwarmführer Leutnant Werner Machold flying 'Yellow 5'.
Scanning the skies his Rottenkamerad Ltn. Rudolf Rothenfelder then called "Achtung, feindlichen Jäger, zwei Uhr in der Höhe!"
"Ignore them for now," said Machold looking up at the French fighters closing on his flight, "we will destroy the enemy artillery first and deal with the fighters once we are done."
The Patrouille Polonaise was flown by the three current campaigners - Rod, Wayne (whiskysierra) and Paul .....
..... with Ned, Charlie (provost121), newcomer Dave and myself taking a 109 each.
The Poles saw the Germans as well. S-Lt. Gnyś ordered the flight to bank to port and flank the 109s, however Adj. Chciuk ignored the order and flew directly for the German formation, intent on preventing their attack on the French gun line.
But the Messerschmitts were fast and soon were in position to dive on their targets .....
..... so fast in fact that only Ltn. Erich Rudorffer in 'Yellow 1' was able to get a burst away. Adj. Chciuk cursed as the 109s made their first run, unable to dive fast enough to intercept the Luftwaffe fighters.
As the 109s passed over the French gun line however machine gunners and rifleman providing close protection engaged the Luftwaffe fighters, with Rudorffer's machine taking a hit in the reserve fuel tank leaving behind a flammable trail of high octane vapour.
The sudden German attack had caught Władysław Gnyś in 'Red 3' and Tadeusz Kowalewski in 'Red 4' out of position, but they soon banked around to pursue the 109 Schwarm.
The Messerschmitts then reversed course, making another run on the French gun line. Flying at tree top height Ltn. Rudorffer opened fire at long range. This time his burst of 20mm cannon fire exploded around a French 75, knocking out the gun, transport and crew.
Passing under the French fighters, Leutnants Machold and Rothenfelder open fire as well with their bursts going wide, but both aircraft are hit by return fire from the ground.
Ltn. Rothenfelder corrects his aim, his second burst of cannon and machine gun fire destroying another gun .....
..... as Władysław Chciuk flying 'White 6' gets back into the fray still too high to fire on the 109s.
Gnyś and Kowalewski pass over Leutnant Carl-Hans Röders as the German reverses course to make his run on the guns .....
..... which sees the last artillery piece destroyed in a hail of cannon fire.
Leutnant Werner Machold turns back to survey the devastation. "Engage the fighters!" orders the Schwarmführer, confident his pilots can easily dispose of their enemies.
Adjutant Chciuk and Ltn. Machold exchange bursts as they pass each other, both aircraft taking damage.
Leutnant Rudorffer and Leutnant Rothenfelder also reverse course back into the battle, finding themselves nose to nose with Władysław Chciuk in 'White 6' and Tadeusz Kowalewski in 'Red 4'.
Likewise Sous Lieutenant Gnyś and Leutnant Machold are also making head on attacks .....
.... when Machold reverses course too early and Władysław Gnyś takes advantage of the German's error.
Gnyś opens fire with his cannon and four machine guns at close range, blowing great holes in the Luftwaffe fighter. Werner Machold is lucky to escape his doomed Messerschmitt, bailing out with just enough height to get down safely. Once on the ground he is soon captured by French troops. S-Lt. Gnyś watches as the downed Messerschmitt explodes on the ground, marking his third victory.
At almost the same moment Tadeusz Kowalewski opens fire on Leutnant Erich Rudorffer's 'Yellow 1', already battered by ground fire and an accurate burst by Władysław Chciuk.
Kowalewski's aim is true and he sends the 109 down for his third victory. Ltn. Rudorffer manages to bail out but is wounded in the heavy landing and taken prisoner.
With two 109s down for no loss the morale of the Polish pilots is riding high .....
..... and despite all three Dewoitines having sustained damage they are keen to continue the battle.
Leutnant Rudolf Rothenfelder having seen his commander and another of his Schwarm shot down in a matter of seconds is less enthusiastic .....
..... and opens the throttle at tree-top height to escape the attentions of the enemy.
Of the remaining Messerschmitts 'Yellow 3' piloted by Leutnant Carl-Hans Röders is actually in the best position, having manoeuvred behind Władysław Gnyś in 'Red 3'.
S-Lt. Kowalewski in 'Red 4' having sustained heavy damage in the exchange with the Messerschmitt he shot down now finds himself making another had to head pass with Röders' machine. This time however Kowaleski gets the worst of the exchange, his D.520 sustaining fatal damage. The Polish officer hits the silk in time to land safely none the worse for wear as Ltn. Röders calls "Abschuss!" announcing his first victory.
Röders continues his pursuit of D.20 'Red 3' firing another burst after the French machine .....
..... while Ltn. Rothenfelder decides discretion is the better part of valour and exits the battle area still at low level. His 'Emil' had only taken a few hits from ground fire and was repaired in 48 hours.
S-Lt. Władysław Gnyś banks hard to starboard following his wingman Adj. Władysław Chciuk who had already turned his damaged aircraft for home.
Ltn. Röders is not willing to let the D.520 escape .....
..... and uses his superior speed to close on 'Red 3'.
Seeing his flight commander in peril and despite the damage already taken by his own aircraft, Adj. Chciuk reverses to cover his comrade.
Yet another head to head exchange takes place with both aircraft taking damage but while Röders' 109 is able to absorb the hits, the German's cannon fire smashes Chciuk's engine. The D.520 loses power and begins to fall, forcing Władysław Chciuk to take to his parachute, giving Ltn. Röders his second victory for the mission.
The Polish NCO's sacrifice however enabled Sous Lieutenant Władysław Gnyś to evade his pursuer and escape at tree top height.
Ltn. Röders breaks off the chase as Gnyś heads for home.
Ltn. Carl-Hans Röders brings his heavily damaged 'Emil' back to III./JG2's base, where his mechanics declare the aircraft a write off. His Staffel is hard hit by the loss of two pilots and three aircraft but Röders' successes are recognised with the immediate award of an Eisernes Kreuz II.Klasse.
Władysław Gnyś makes it back to Meaux-Esbly without further enemy contact. He submits the claims for his victory as well as that of Tadeusz Kowalewski, who with Władysław Chciuk make it back to their field before nightfall. Despite their failure to prevent the Luftwaffe from strafing the French artillery the Poles could at least take heart in the bloody nose they gave the Jadgwaffe by downing two of the much vaunted Messerschmitt Bf 109s. That evening in fact as their victory claims were confirmed both Władysław Gnyś and Tadeusz Kowalewski were advised of their promotion to the rank of Lieutenant in recognition of their service and success in the air. The two new 'poruczniks' (Lieutenant in Polish) are forced to put celebrations on hold however as they work long into the night with their ground crew to ready damaged machines for the next day's action.
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Originally Posted by Carl_Brisgamer
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