OTTBE Mission 15 - Belleau Woods - Semper Fi - 6 June 1918 - teaticket
Major Büttner opened his office window and poked his head out to see what all the ruckus was about. Most of the Jasta were out playing a very loud game of polo on the edge of the field just outside the office. Lefty was wildly swinging a mallet while riding on the back of Hermann Beck. Büttner couldn’t make out the rest of the odd couples stomping around and yelling in the cloud of dust they kicked up. He put his paperwork in the top drawer and went out to join in the fun.
Two months ago one of the captured British pilots had a polo mallet with him that he used as a walking stick. He graciously left it in the mess as a trophy of his capture when he was taken away to the prison camp. At first it was hung on the wall, and forgotten, though not by everyone as Konrad Schroeder hatched an idea. It took him a couple of weeks to gather enough supplies to construct several more mallets and some simple goals. The mallets weren’t pretty but they would do the trick.
Horses were out of the question so at first bicycles were used, but Büttner had to end that quickly as injuries grounded a couple of pilots. They played a bit too competitively!
Football was then the fall back sport during the down time until…
…Konrad was back on to polo. Konrad’s family back in Bavaria had stables so he grew up playing polo. As a child he could never get enough of it. So without horses and bicycles which were too dangerous Konrad came up with another option, Piggyback polo. It was an instant hit and matches were played twice a week. First only with the Eagles, but then a curious nearby artillery unit couldn’t be stopped from joining in. Under Konrad’s coaching the Eagles usually won. This the artillerymen were not too upset about as the winners provided the after-game refreshments. Whenever he had enough to contribute, Büttner’s Lebkuchen was always a big hit.
So, in the middle of this match a rider came in and Büttner excused himself and went to meet him in his office. Back at the war, the latest German offensive had been halted and the new boys at the front, the Americans, turned to the attack at Belleau Wood.
Büttner had heard that the Americans were slowly becoming a force at the front but in the air had seen no evidence of it. Maybe today they would show themselves above the front?
Büttner ran out and halted the match. Beck trotted up to Büttner with Lefty still mounted on his back asking what was up. With the events explained everyone got to work. The artillerymen quickly trundled off back to their positions. Planes were readied as the mission was made clear to the pilots.
Büttner set up the roster for the flight against the American infantry. Beck, Wolf, Rothammer and himself would escort two bomb laden Rumplers flown by Amadeus Schubert and Hans Kimple.
Lefty chided Heinz Wolf, “Lucky you get to fly today, I still don’t have permission. I hope you remember how to fly, it’s been so long since you did”. Lefty gently elbowed Heinz in the ribs. Both have been recovering from injuries.
Heinz replied, “Lucky for you, you don’t get to fly. I recall you flying in circles last time claiming your plane was out of balance”! Heinz jokingly poked his polo mallet in the vicinity of Lefty’s crotch.
Konrad came by and collected the mallet out of Heinz’s hand as Beck grabbed Heinz by the collar, “Come on man, you’ve got to get ready”.
As Büttner entered the tent that housed his plane he nearly fell over. His crew were frantically painting his new Fokker DVII.
“What the hell are you doing, I need my plane ready immediately”!
Bruno, the blackman crew chief, had an ear to ear forced grin. “Ja, you can fly but you must promise not to get any bullet holes today, and take care as the paint in places is still not dry”. He backed out of the way and extended his left arm to show Büttner his newest tiger creation.
Büttner could only laugh. “I promise I won’t ruin your artwork with any new holes. Now you have to get the enemy to promise as well”!
Schubert’s bomb rack came loose loading the first bomb so was delayed for a quick repair. Büttner sent Beck, Wolf and Kimple off and would join them as soon as possible.
As the trio lifted off Lefty stood to the side and saluted. Heinz returned a salute with a beaming smile as he lifted off.
Beck led the flight south in a black tailed Fokker DVII as the wood where the raging battle came into view below.
Coming up from the south was a British patrol, two Camels and a Bristol Fighter.
Roy Morrow led the Bulldog trio flying cover over the American infantry below.
Beck peeled off flying directly at the oncoming Entente planes.
He engaged all three hoping to give time to Hans in his slower Rumpler. In the exchange Beck’s Spandaus jammed while his DVII took a hit on the oil line and began to trail smoke.
Heinz Wolf, flying on the far side of Kimple turned to help Beck.
With his guns jammed Beck threw his DVII into the middle of the British formation.
Veterans Morrow and Lewis flew straight on but the rookie Trescowthick panicked and turned off almost hitting Morrow.
Wolf takes a long shot at Morrow but misses.
(the photo looks like Morrow should have a shot but his arc was off 1/8’ inch)
The rookie now panics in the opposite direction and Wolf lines up his tail. Somehow the rookie avoids any real damage…for the moment
Richard Rice-Owen quick shoots Wolf. Another smoking DVII.
Wolf stays on the rookie’s tail and delivers a telling burst. Trescowthick slumps in his cockpit.
Hans had the tougher job of dropping a load of bombs on the Americans without hitting the nearby German infantry. He flies to get parallel to the lines and over the Americans.
Morrow lines up Kimple and rakes the Rumpler. Kimple has to keep on line to do his job knowing if he evades the Camel now he may not get another chance to bomb his target.
Tensing up from the incoming rounds passing all around him, Deitz can’t concentrate to get off a decent shot.
Beck and Wolf join to attack the Bristol. Rice-Owen fires first but jams his Lewis.
The Bristol gets away with minimal damage from the double threat.
Wolf and Beck, each concentrating on the Bristol nearly collide.
Wolf keeps his wits and stays on the Bristol tearing up some wood and canvas.
Noel Lewis realizes the danger he is in but tries to dissuade the Rumpler from its mission.
Gound fire misses the Bristol but the Americans have better aim and Kimple feels the Rumpler pull to the right.
Kimple knows this is his best chance and releases his bombs.
Beck Immelmanns back into the fight. He tries to distract a Camel from it’s approach on Wolf.
The rookie gets revenge on Wolf and punished the DVII, setting it on fire.
Lewis fires into the tail of the Rumpler making Deitz freeze and not return fire.
Kimple’s drop hits the center of the American unit and it breaks formation diving for cover.
Beck keeps on the Camel but his Spandaus again fall silent as the enemy flies across his front.
Rice-Owen cursed, unable to fire while he watched a DVII cross hit tail so close he could almost touch it.
Lewis flies just under the Rumpler’s tail keeping it from firing on him.
As the Bristol pulls away Deitz finally gets off a burst but badly misses.
Beck and Wolf, even under their own stress of fire and smoke, notice Kimple in a bad position with a Bristol on his tail.
The rookie is not thinking about the battle as he tries to tie off his bleeding arm, flying away from the action.
Morrow focuses on the smoking Beck and closes in.
Wolf’s fire seems to be under control.
Rice-Owen easily notices the flaming German turning in towards him and re-ignites the sputtering fire.
Wolf hammers the Bristol’s engine causing instant concern for Lewis.
Deitz can’t seem to get off a good shot.
Morrow distracts Beck with a long shot. He does no damage but as Beck turns to look over his shoulder at his attacker he flies over the Americans and their volley strikes the DVIIs vitals and it falls from the sky.
Wolf and Rice-Owen keep up a constant stream of bullets towards each other. The evasive flying by Lewis makes it hard for Rice-Owen to aim as does the fire on Wolf’s DVII.
As the planes circle about accessing their situation looking for an advantage Wolf’s fire flares up and pulls his DVII into the ground. (kill goes to the rookie Trescowthick for the fire)
Kimple, now looking for a way home as he has completed his part of the mission, must get past the rookie. The exchange does not go his way but he does watch smoke billow from his enemy.
Major Büttner finally reaches the battle with Rothammer coming up behind.
With a sputtering engine Lewis knows he cannot fight so heads for home. He signals Morrow of his dilemma.
Trescowthick’s smoking Camel is barely holding together and he too heads for the barn.
Büttner eyes the smoking enemy Camel but it flies away before he can engage.
Two more Camels join the fray flown by Malley and Coombs.
Morrow signals to Malley and Coombs, not seeing the tiger striped DVII dive in on him.
Büttner rattles Morrow’s Camel hard with point blank fire.
Kimple leaves the scene as Rothammer flies over the friendly troops below, rallying them knowing they have support above.
Rothammer catches Morrow off guard as he frantically tries to escape the tiger on his tail. Morrow takes a desperate shot at Rothammer. The shot hits the join between the fuselage and the windscreen, shattering the windscreen sending the shards of it and pieces of the fuselage into Rothammer’s face and chest. The shock of the blow stuns him and he flies straight momentarily as he regains his composure.
The approaching Malley and Coombs can’t fly fast enough to come to the aid of their outnumbered mate.
Büttner stalls planning to let the Camel fly in front of his guns. To his dismay and horror, the Camel Immelmanns right into him! Both planes tumble from the sky towards the ground.
Rothammer is shaken back into the moment by Coombs.
Rothammer, not sure of his injuries but profusely bleeding from his face and chest, immediately decides he has to leave the battle.
Malley and Coombs both see the oncoming Rumpler. Malley signals for Coombs to keep on the Albatros while he attacks the Rumpler.
Mally closes in on the Rumpler as Schubert lines up a drop run on the Americans advancing on the wood below.
Malley was too late and Schubert scatters another American unit. Unknown to him it was the straw that broke the camel’s back, the American infantry lost their momentum and their attack faltered.
Rothammer avoided Coombs and flies for home as fast as his bird will carry him.
Coombs miscalculated his maneuver, not knowing the German was leaving, and over shot him.
Zimmermann gets a shot at the passing Malley but a jam quickly stops his hail of bullets.
Schubert strafes the remaining American infantry doing all he can to harass them now that he has no bombs left to drop.
Coombs cannot catch the fleeing Albatros so changes targets and heads for the Rumpler.
Malley reverses and takes another run at the two-seater.
Zimmermann calmly resets his Parabellum and gets ready for the incoming scout.
Malley easily scores on the slow moving Rumpler but feels his controls stiffen.
As the Camel passes by Zimmermann lays into it and sees the pilot jerk in his seat.
“That should take care of him”, Zimm thought.
He then started to punish the infantry below but again his Parabellum seized up.
Just at that moment Coombs got into range of the helpless Rumpler. Schubert evaded as best he could but knew his Rumpler was no match flying against a Camel.
The Camel pilot was relentless and kept firing as he closed in.
Luckily for Schubert and Zimm the Camel over shot and lost some distance…but that would not last long.
Crossing the lines Schubert thought he was home but Coombs would not give up the chase.
Schubert was feeling desperate ad the Rumpler had taken a lot of damage. Zimm calmly kept up return fire and his steady aim hit the Camel’s engine and set it aflame.
The surprise of the fire momentarily broke Coombs concentration and he stalled to access the fire.
The fire quickly enveloped the engine and spread to the wings so fast Coombs could do nothing to stop it. Once the fuel tank was reached the inevitable happened.
Schubert and Zimmermann breathed a sigh of relief as the fireball fell in a slow arc to the no-man’s land below. All seemed different now as they were the only plane around.
Off in the distance ahead they could see Rothammer’s Albatros but no others. They could only hope that everyone else made it back ok.
Butcher’s Bill
Bulldogs
2Lt Noel Lewis RTB 0 Kills
2Lt Richard Rice-Owen 0 Kills
2Lt Charles Trescowthick WIA RTB 0 Kills
C 4 – 1(wia) +3(rtb) = 6 injured, Skip 1D3 Scenarios: Rolled 1 = Skip 1
A/LT Roy Morrow SD COL NML 1 Kill
C 7 - 2(col) -1(nml) = 4 injured, 2 = -2 missions
E 9 -1(wic) +1MNL = 9 - They didn't even see me ! (nb. no deduction for collision)
2Lt George Malley WIA RTB 0 Kills
C 4 – 1(wia) +3(rtb) = 6 injured, 4 = -2 missions
2Lt Warren Coombs SD EXP NML 0 Kills
C 2 -3(exp) -1(nml) = -2 KIA
American ground forces, two units destroyed, one damaged.
Eagles
Maj Peter Buttner SD EXP/COL NML 1? Kill TOTAL -3 Missions
C 10 -3(exp) -1(nml) +1(ace) +1(fa) = 8 injured, 1 = -1 mission
E 5 -1(exp) -1(wic) +1(nml) = 4 Captured!... but escapes, 5 = -3 missions
Ltn Heinz Wolf SD FLM NML 0 Kills
C 4 – 2(flm) -1(nml) = 1 KIA
Obltn Hermann Beck SD EXP NML 0 Kills TOTAL -3 Missions
C 6 – 3(exp) -1(nml) +1(ace) +1(fa) = 4 injured, 3 = -3 missions
E 4 – 1(exp) -1(wic) +1(nml) = 3 captured! …but escapes 3 = -2 missions
Fwbl Hans Kimple RTB 0 Kills 1 target destroyed
Ltn Deitrich Deitz RTB 0 Kills
Ltn Amadeus Schubert RTB 0 Kills 1 target destroyed
Ltn Horst Zimmermann RTB 1 Kill
Ltn Gunther Rothammer RTB WIA 0 Kills
C 9 -1(wia) +3(rtb) = 11 OK
Eagles Bulldogs
Targets destroyed 2/10 -
Scouts shot down 2/4 3/6
Forced planes to leave 3/3 1/1
Victory points Eagles 17 – Bulldogs 7
After Schubert and Zimmermann had landed they filed their report and left it on Büttner’s desk with the reports of Kimple and Rothemmer. They then went to find the others.
Kimple and Deitz hung their heads low in the mess when recalling to the other what they had witnessed. First Beck’s smoking plane spinning down to the ground, leaving a three thousand-foot-tall black cork screw in the air. Then Wolf’s flaming DVII diving straight down into the earth, and finally seeing the enemy collide with Büttner, both of them tumbling from the sky.
The mess went into a cold silence, only an occasional sigh to be heard from all the seated Eagles. Lefty held his head in his hands as tears flowed from his eyes, rolled down his nose and fell to the floor.
Later in the day a rider came in with the great news that their effort had blunted the American attack and helped save the day. As he left he was puzzled at their reaction, or rather no reaction to the great news.
That evening the grim news that Heinz Wolf’s plane and remains had been found. No word on Beck and Büttner. The situation on the ground was still somewhat chaotic so no parties had yet been able to get to where their planes went down.
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Well that was certainly full of action, flames & Boom's Peter.
Originally Posted by Setarius
He'll get another ace skill too (just in case he gets back into action) 
Congrats to the Eagles on their hard earned victory and for all the gongs awarded. RIP Heinz Wolf 
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