Prologue
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2nd Lt Algenon Smyth-Browne was in a deep blue funk! In a fit of Patriotic Fervour he had left Trinity College at Cambridge University in the middle of his final year to join the Royal Flying Corps & now 18 months later he was somehow still alive when so many other pilots had lasted only a few weeks He even had one victory but that was so long ago, way back in mid 1917. Mick O'Leary the diminutive Irishman who had joined the Squadron around the same time now had 6 kills.What was he Algy doing wrong? Sure he had been wounded & out of action for a few weeks but still.
He thought of all his College mates who had paid the ultimate price. Half his crew-mates from the sculling 8's were dead & about 7 of the Cricket Blues had been lost in the mud & barbed wire of the Trenches. Yet somehow he had survived. Hawker was dead, Albert Ball was dead, young Rhys Davids the Etonian Classic scholar & victor over Werner Voss was dead. Kurt Wolff the German Ace was dead. Even the famous Red Baron,the highest scoring Ace of all sides was dead! They had all been Aces yet he still lived but for how long?
His mind reeled & his head spun. He had to prove himself to the Squadron & to himself! Suddenly a plan developed in his mind Yes! On the next patrol he would lose the Flight in the clouds & go Hun Hunting! Death or Glory like the 17th/21st Lancers of that famous Crimean Charge.
The Mission
Two days later he had his chance as he was detailed to fly with the morning Offensive Patrol over the front lines & the sky was filled with cumulus clouds.
Waiting for his opportunity he turned away & lost the Flight in a cloud.
On exiting the cloud he saw an Albatros C.III at a lower altitude heading away from him towards German territory. "Now this is my chance" he thought. "I don't recognise it, must be one of the FFA aircraft returning from observation" Hoping the German crew had not seen him he closed on the enemy aircraft.
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However the German pilot was no novice & turned to face the oncoming British aircraft.
Fulled by adrenaline & a new found skill he manoeuvred into the blind spot of the C.III & dealt it a telling burst wounding the pilot & jamming its rudder. "That's the way to do it Algy old boy" he shouted to himself.
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His joy was to be short lived however for as he passed behind the Albatros the rear gunner hit his Camel & set it on fire!
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"Oh God! No! " he screamed in anguish. Fire was every pilots nightmare & although Algy would not have minded being killed he definitely did not want to be burnt to death.
Calling on all his skill he turned the Camel from side to side to keep the fire away from the cockpit. The fire appeard to die down & he took a deep breath to steady himself.
"Right" he thought "I can manage this, just keep a cool head!"
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As he chased the Albatros he was further dismayed to see a Halberstadt Cl.II in the colours of the Eagles coming towards him although it was still some way away.
Perhaps distracted by this he only managed to do minor damage to the German 2 seater & the rear gunners return fire scored a minor flesh wound to his right shoulder.
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Suddenly the 2 German 2 seaters collided probably because of the Albatros' pilots wound. Both suffered damage from the impact but Algy was now back in "the Zone" & took the opportunity to wound the pilot of the Halberstadt.
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The fire on the Camel suddenly flared up & Algy cursed! *#^# "Please God NO!"" Dont let me burn!" Panic set in & his resolve faltered.
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Finally pulling himself together he looked around the Sky to see the Albatros C.III heading for home with its wounded pilot & he realised he had lost the opportunity of a kill.
The Halberstadt was still in view so he headed towards it in a desperate attempt to attack it before the fire destroyed his aircraft.
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As he tracked the German 2 seater the fire finally burnt itself out although the sturdy little Camel was badly damaged.
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Breathing a huge sigh of relief he checked to see that no more enemy aircraft were in the vicinity. He could not afford to attempt to take on two Germans with the damage he had sustained but he was determined to shoot down something before he turned the Camel for home.
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The 2 opposing aircraft turned towards each other but were still out of range.
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There was still no sign of another German plane so Algy pressed his attack.
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The converging planes narrowly avoided a collision.
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As the Halberstadt passed the rear gunner took a snap shot at Agly but caused little damage before his machine gun jammed.
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The two aircraft continued to turn looking for an advantage to no avail.
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Finally Algy got a perfect opportunity & peppered the engine of the German aircraft which caused it to crash in German Territory. British ground forces witnessed the crash of the enemy aircraft.
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Having finally achieved a kill & having survived the fire which had badly damaged his aircraft Algy realised his energy was spent & so with the monkey off his back & a sober reminder of just how lucky he was he turned the battered Camel for home & hoped his excuses & a victory would mollify Uncle about the sad state of his Camel & losing the Flight.
Observations & Comments
Well that went pear shaped really quick. Once Algy caught fire I thought it was all over! However I was lucky no further German planes were rolled for & having dispatched the Halberstadt I decided to let Algy return home with only 2 damage points remaining. I had chosen Marksman, Acrobatic Pilot & Dedicated Ground crew as my Ace Skills & apart from Marksman never got the chance to use the other two. Could have used "Lucky Pilot" had I picked that one!
I hope Bob & Dave consider this was the right thing to do.
I really enjoyed the scenario & would like to try this one again in the future. Could be a fun one for our Games Club too! Well done Bob for a great mission.
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