OTT BE Mission 17 - Hell over Hamel - 4th July 1918

**tikkifriend** · 01-16-2018 07:55

RAF

52 Sq Bulldogs

Breguet BR14:
2Lt Sebastian Lamson
Sgt Henry Doran

DH4:
2Lt Watershed
Cpl Mark Chapman

Camel A
A/Lt Betts

Camel H
Lt Sumpter

Das Adlers

Ltn Hans Gruber Stucker Arrow

Ltn Karl Rittinger D.VII Yellow

Ltn Herman Hartmann Stucker LD

Ltn Sigi Smitt ace D.VII Stark.

The RAF biplanes droned towards their target drops the crates of ammo hanging precariously beneath the fusilage. Low and with a dangerous cargo was not the ideal situation to be in without fighter cover.

Rittinger and Gruber swooped in on the biplanes.

Rittingers first burst cut the Breguet rudder lines ,

but the twin Lewis guns manned by the observer tore into the D.VII as it sped passed.

The Cavalry arrived, as did the second batch of Adler scouts.

Betts and Sumpter manoeuvred to protect the vulnerable supply planes, Hartmann and Smitt went for the Camels.

Smitts guns stuttered after a few rounds hit Sumpter (2+GJ)

Gruber in pursuit of the DH4 fell victim to the RAF pilots deadly aim. The sting of the hot rounds knocking the wind out of the German (3+pilot)

Hartman fell on the Breguet clipping its tail (2+RRD) unaware of a row of holes appearing in his lower wing (2)

Gruber still trying to recover from the impact of his wounds became the target of the DH4 till the forward guns jammed (0+GJ,1) followed by the rear gunner (3)

Hartmann dropped neatly behind Sumpter raking the Camel and splitting spars (5), but suffered hits from the Bruguets tail gunner.

Smitt his guns cleared dropped the Fokker on its prop in a short tight right turn . With the 2 Camels in his line of fire he aimed at Sumpter and fired. The Camel went into a dive (EXP). Kill Smitt.

Betts and Smitt passed wing-tip to wing-tip a brief glance at their respective opponents.

Rittinger banked round to close on the DH4 and Breguet.

Gruber slinked off to his aerodrome, hoping no one would follow him.

Smitt and Betts push their respective planes to the limits trying to out turn each other. Rittinger carefully moved to cut off the Camel before he caught the German Ace,but spotted the Breguet ahead and below him. He opted for the easier target. A fatal mistake as the observer pounded the D.VII as it passed over. A burst of flame erupted from the Fokker.

Betts continued his aggressive turns and managed a short burst at Smitts plane. They passed perilously close to each other. Finally the inevitable happened and they collided Smitt under-carriage tearing a hole in the Camels wing.

Hartmann's guns let him down as he dove on the retreating DH4

With the fire on Rittingers plane under control Betts now found himself facing 2 D.VIIs. Confident that his Camel was the better machine he continued to press home his attacks, until his guns jammed

but a deft flick of his rudder got him some distance from his attackers and time to free his Lewis guns.

Hartmann having given up his chase of the DH4 turned about, only to be greeted by the sight of Betts bearing down on him, he put the Stucker into a left turn and watched the Camel speed by before it turned after Hartmann , the stutter of the Lewis burst taking the German by surprise

The 2 Fokkers suddenly turned hard and Betts found himself sandwiched between the two.

Rittingers burst hit Betts in the temple but it was Smitts rounds that brought the Camel down

kill Smitt

Butchers Tally:

Bulldogs

Breguet BR14:
2Lt Sebastian Lamson RTB / 0 kills
Sgt Henry Doran RTB / 0 kills

DH4:
2Lt John Watershed RTB / 0 kills
Cpl Mark Chapman RTB / 0 kills

Camel A:
A/Lt Betts: SD-ET /WIA 0 kills
Rolled 8 -1SD -1WIA = 6 Injured - Skip 1D3 Scenarios. Rolled 5 = Skip 3
E&E: Rolled 7 -1WIA -1WIC -1BEL = 4 Captured and escaped! - Skip 1D3 Scenarios. Rolled 2 = Skip 1. Total 3 (RWW)

Camel H:
Lt Stanley Sumpter: SD-EXP-ET 0 kills
Rolled 5 -3EXP = 2 KIA

Das Adlers

Ltn Hans Gruber: 'Stucker' (Arrow) RTB /WIA 0 kills
Rolled 5 +3RTB -1WIA = 7 Injured - Skip 1D2 Scenario - Rolled 1 - Skip 1

Ltn Karl Rittinger: Fok D.VII (Yellow) RTB 0 kills

Ltn Herman Hartmann: 'Stucker' (LD) RTB 0 kills

Ltn Sigi Smitt (ace): - Fok D.VII (Stark). RTB 2 kills

Poor Betts fell again, not helped by a collision which cost him 8pt

Sorry about the delay in getting the AAR posted but after solving the problem of not being able to upload multiple photos on NYE the local telephone exchange got a lightning strike on NYD and only got repaired on the 12th!!!

**flash** · 01-16-2018 08:01

Better late than never old chap - hardly your fault if your French hosts can't splice a few wires - mind you a lightning strike probably left a molten mass !
Anyway, another knock down drag 'em out fight between the Eagles and the Bulldogs - but seems to miss the mission. Did the two-seater's make their drop and was it on target ? We need to know as that's what the Victory Points are based on !

Onkel says:

Well done boys, two more victories for the Jasta and our Sigi - a couple more and he's a double ace !

Hans made it back but will be out of action for a few weeks with the graze on his head - good job he has a thick skull - he's earned his wound badge in black.

I rolled for the chaps on the Tally & stuck Bulldog crew in the two holers as they should all be Bulldogs taking part.