OTT BE Mission 19 - 7th August 1918
Over The Trenches - The Bitter End Mission 19 - 7th August "Amiens, Brother..."
(Notes - 1. I completely forgot to use any of the “Ace” skills available to the Entente scout pilots! - silly me!
2. All damage decks used were double decks. 3. Where there was any question of choice of target I chose that the Central Powers would attempt to take out the RE8 as a primary target)
Not far from Amiens in France
August 1918 and the mood in the “Tommy” camp was changing. Desperate days lay behind them. The enemy had made almost heroic attempts to end the war in their favour, making push after bloody push, since the beginning of spring; but to no avail. They had been stopped – just. Now it was the turn of the “Tommies” to hit back as hard as they could. Was this it? Could the breakthrough finally be made? Four years of hard evidence in the form of unspeakable carnage was trying to prove otherwise. But something in the air was bringing new hope.
“Time to get going” announced Cpt Alexander Clarke; generally known as just plain Alex. “Got everything you need Sholto?”
“Yes, I believe so!” came the reply from his observer. “I know we’ve done this hundreds of times before, but I still like to check and re check everything beforehand. The camera is good and we have plenty of plates. So far as I’m concerned we’re good to go!”
“OK, let’s do it.”
Their RE8 awaited them, patiently, in the glow of the early summer morning. It promised to be a beautiful day. Their task was straightforward enough, as far as the nature of this wartime work permitted! Fly to eight thousand feet, make contact with their escort, then wend their way across the lines. On arrival at the correct sector, take as many photos as possible that would identify enemy strong points. These would then be targeted by the artillery during the coming offensive, which everyone knew was going to happen, but about which nobody was allowed to mutter a word. They had done this so many times before. What could possibly go wrong?
Up above, in that glowing dawn light, looking down at the now familiar view, was Lt Harold Medlicott in a Sopwith Camel, an aircraft in which he felt confident. He looked around carefully, aware that he was never alone up there, even if it seemed that way at times.
“Not long now” he thought to himself. “Where have they got to?” Then he spotted what he had been expecting. The RE8 he was to escort for the next hour or so.
Not long after that they flew east, over the enemy trenches below, ignoring the archie that didn’t appear to be that active, nor accurate this morning, and Flight Sergeant Sholto Douglas, with the benefit of many hours of experience, started his job for the day. Concentrating, as he was,
(Photo number 1 taken on straight)
he failed to spot an approaching enemy scout as it flew towards them from the north. Just as well the pilot, Ltn Ernst Benzler, hadn’t yet picked them up either. The German knew someone was about, because the archie had attracted his attention, but right then he was looking more to the west and praying that his own side would respond to his presence and cease firing. They did. Which was at the very moment he spotted what he was looking for. An enemy two seater. He immediately turned east into the attack!
(Photo number 2 taken on stall)
“Here we go again” thought Medlicott, as he turned his Camel in response to the new danger! Narrowly avoiding a collision with his ward, skimming just above him, he was able to get off the first shots. Daka daka daka daka. (Medlicott, Camel, hits Benzler, Albatros, “1 + rt rudder jam”)
Then, suddenly, there seemed to be far more aircraft in the sky than he had anticipated.
“Where the hell did they come from?” he cursed. Two more enemy scouts had appeared from the west, no doubt attracted by the same black puffs of archie that had brought in the first one. At the same time, though, help was on hand. Another Camel joined the party from the west and the dance began in earnest!
Ignoring the shots that had done him and his aircraft little harm, Benzler headed for the RE8, which he considered the greater threat to those below. He left the “Tommy” Camel in the capable hands of his friend and colleague, Ltn Kurt Parschau, who was now attacking it from the west. He just had time to note, also, that Ltn Paul Beckman had peeled off west to take on a second Sopwith Camel, newly arriving from that direction. However, Medlicott, cursing profusely when the
(Photo number 3 taken on straight )
Albatros he was attacking flew straight past him, heading for the RE8, turned again, quickly and got onto the tail of the EA. Daka daka daka daka, daka daka daka daka. He fired again, once more fairly ineffectively! It seemed his aim was off at the moment. Daka daka daka daka! This time the shots were being aimed at him. One of the other Albatros scouts was on his case!
(Medlicott, Camel, hits Benzler, Albatros “1+ rt rudder jam” again!)(Parschau, Albatros, hits Medlicott, Camel “0”. Parschau’s guns jam.)
Meanwhile, a little to the west, the second Sopwith Camel arrived. It was piloted by 2nd Lt Alan McLeod, an experienced Canadian, who spotted what was going on and assessed the situation in a blink of an eye. He too ignored his first assailant, Ltn Paul Beckman, and headed towards the main action, where a two seater, doing important work, needed protection.
Back in that direction, Medlicott cursed as the Albatros he was attacking continued towards the RE8. He fired again, Daka daka daka daka but was shocked to find the other Albatros tearing in from his flank. (Medlicott, Camel, hits Benzler, Albatros, “2 + lt rudder jam + 1 Aim bonus”)
“Thank the Lord” he thought, as no fire came from that direction. It was the turn of Ltn Parschau
to curse as his guns had jammed!
Whilst the scouts were having their bit of fun, of course, the crew of the RE8 were calmly going about their business. They just kept a wary eye on proceedings, but were really grateful that their escort and some unexpected new friends, seemed to be doing a very good job in occupying the enemy. A number of photos had already been taken and just a few more should do the trick for the moment. With luck they could head off home soon and leave these boys to their toys.
Talking of friends, it now seems that a third Sopwith Camel had appeared out of the blue, also arriving from the north, over no man’s land. Perhaps he had been hunting the three Albatros scouts on his own.
“In that case, you’re a better man than I Gunga Din” muttered the keen eyed flight sergeant Douglas, to no-one in particular, having spotted him from afar.
He also noticed that Ernst Benzler, whom he did not know by name, of course, was ernestly tracking them with a determination verging on the suicidal; followed doggedly by their very own escort and another Albatros scout, in what was rapidly turning into a queue! A veritable “train” of events! Soon to be joined by Camel number two! Everyone merrily blasting away at everyone else!
(Medlicott, Camel, hits Benzler, Albatros, “3 + 1 aim bonus”)
The RE8 turned, Alex Clarke trying to shake off his pursuer. But now he saw there were two of the “bar stewards” heading for him. They really meant to have him out of the sky, didn’t they? But fortunately, he was confident he could rely on his allies to sort them out.
The machine guns were barking, not all of them friendly, but he and his observer had a job to do.
(Medlicott, Camel, hits Benzler, Albatros, “2”)(McLeod, Camel, hits Parschau, Albatros, “0”)
Indeed, the game was hotting up, as first Kurt Parschau had the satisfaction of seeing a definite strike from two quick burst, at short range, on the verdammte Englander chasing his friend! Followed quickly by a reminder of the seriousness of this dance, when his own aircraft showered splinters and fabric around his head; the result of effective fire from the Camel flown by Mcleod.
This fight could, most definitely, go either way!
(Parschau, Albatros, hits Medlicott, Camel, “”2 + 3 + Engine Damage” – Medlicott must disengage next turn)(McLeod, Camel, hits Parschau, Albatros, “5”)
Not for the first time this day, Medlicott cursed aloud. This time his engine had been hit. Time to get out of there whilst he could, but his quarry was in his sights, so he fired again – Daka daka daka daka; behind him, McLeod was trying to do the same to the Albatros flown by Parschau, although nothing happened. Not so, for Medlicott. Despite his damaged aircraft, which was beginning to play up badly, his bullets had struck home.
A spiral of black smoke curled away from the engine of the Albatross as down it went, out of control. No time to look now, but later it was confirmed as his ninth “kill” - “Here’s a toast to the brave pilot”, he thought to himself, then “For some unknown reason, I hope he makes it!”
Then he turned for home, with a long way to go!
(McLeod, Camel, hits Parschau, Albatros, “0” McLeod’s guns jam)(Medlicott, Camel, hits Benzler, Albatros, “4 + smoke” - total damage, with aim bonus points, now 15. Shot Down – 1 Kill to Medlicott)
(Photo number 4 taken on straight)
(Parschau, Albatros, hits McLeod, Camel, “2”. Parschau’s guns jam)
With Benzler down and Medlicott effectively out of the game, it fell on Ltn Kurt Parschau to bring down the RE8 and 2nd Lt Alan McLeod to defend it. Parschau turned as fast as he could and fired again – Daka daka dak …… nothing!!!! Yet another gun jam – this was a joke, a bad joke!
The RE8 turned again and the observer took another photo!
But they were not alone, of course. Another pair of protagonists were jousting a little way west of them. 2nd Lt Arthur Hammond and Ltn Paul Beckman had circled one another for some time, each looking for the advantage. Hammond had taken the first shot, but missed - “Just trying to get my eye in” he lied to himself. Then the two came face to face in a chicken run, both going a little to their left at the last minute, fortunately for them! But it was Beckman whose nerve held the longest on this occasion, and he was rewarded with a good hit against his opponent.
(Hammond, Camel, hits Beckman, Albatros, “0”; then again for “0”) (Beckman, Albatros, hits Hammond, Camel, for “4”)
This was getting personal! Beckman and Hammond had to see one another off, or fail to make any further contribution to the overall contest. Parschau, having seen Medlicott shoot down his friend, was out for revenge and was now determined to hound him off the playing field – or preferably into it, in a big heap of wood, fabric, metal and whatever the nasty little Englander was made of, spread over the top of it! Oh yes, definitely personal now!
(Photo number 5 taken on stall)
(Photo number 6 taken on straight)
(Parschau, Albatros, hits Medlicott, Camel, three times, for “0” “0” and “1”)(Beckman, Albatros, hits Hammond, Camel, for “1”; Hammond, Camel, hits Beckman, Albatros, for “5 + pilot wound” - Beckman must disengage next turn).
To cut a long story short, Kurt Parschau chased Medlicott for some time, the latter hampered by a faltering engine. But he only managed to score one more minor hit against him, missing on all of the other occassions he managed to fire. Then finally he anticipated incorrectly, that Medlicott would go right and side slipped in that direction. But Medlicott went the other way and effectively made his getaway!
The other contest, however, did have a pretty decisive outcome. Hammond finally found his mark in an exchange that most definitely went his way. Minor damage was received, but his opponent flinched badly, following the shoot out, and he knew he had hurt the pilot. In fact Beckman had been badly hit and would have to get back to base, if he were to survive the shock and the loss of blood. He was just amazed that he hadn’t passed out – yet!
The RE8 continued on its way, finished the photo shoot and tried to quietly make its’ way, first south, then west, towards friendly territory and home!
Only, at this juncture, yet another aircraft made an appearance, as if by magic. Arriving on an easterly heading, making for the barn, following what had so far been a fruitless offensive patrol. This was Ltn Fritz Brünig, another really experienced pilot with a few scalps under his belt and somewhat of a loner, when he was permitted to be, which was not often enough in his opinion. He was quite unaware of the goings on in front of him, when all of a sudden, there were two Sopwith Camels, right before his eyes. One he was tailing almost, the other coming towards him.
A quick assessment of the situation also revealed a friendly scout heading east, harassed by yet a third Camel.
“How delightfully convenient” he thought to himself. “And there was I thinking I had wasted my morning!” He checked his guns and flipped his mind into focused attack mode.
Indeed, harassed, was an under statement, as Paul Beckman would claim later. Trying hard to avoid the further attentions of the enemy, he was flying as fast as he could towards safety, but he was picked up by an alert McLeod who gave him a parting gift, before flying down the throat of the aggressive incoming Brünig.
(McLeod, Camel, hits Beckman, Albatros, for “3 + Engine Damage”)
Brünig fired a quick burst, first at the surprised Hammond, who had been focused on the departing Beckman, then at the arriving McLeod. The latter did get a shot in himself, which damaged the rudder on the black Albatros, that had appeared from nowhere, but did little damage otherwise. On the other hand, McLeod was horrified to find his eardrums assaulted by a loud bang, following which he further found himself plummeting earthwards, totally out of control. Brünig was a very happy man at that point in time. The odds were in their favour once again! But not for long as it happens!
(McLeod, Camel, hits Brünig, Albatros, for “1 + left rudder jam”; Brünig, Albatros, hits McLeod, Camel, “Exp” - Camel is shot down – 1 kill to Brünig)
Fritz Brünig was not to know this though as he concentrated on chasing down a second Camel; the one attempting to spoil the day of the friendly aircraft that was obviously in difficulty and trying to escape back to his barn. Daka daka daka daka – he opened up at long range and a satisfying trail of black smoke wound its way behind the wounded Camel.
(Brünig, Albatros, hits Hammond, Camel for “4 + Smoke”)
The Camel immediately veered off to the right, just allowing Brünig one more shot before it managed to evade him, turning back to the west, from whence it had come.
Overshooting slightly, Brünig was unable to turn tightly enough to keep the Camel in his sights or in range. He tried, oh yes, he tried so hard, following his intended prey for a long way westward, over no man’s land. But the Camel was undeniably seriously damaged and it’s pilot had obviously decided that caution was the better part of valour. He was not going to risk further combat, so Brünig remained frustrated in his attempts at a second kill that day. Certainly, it was not worth risking crossing over to British held territory. Now, he had to admit, his morning’s work was done.
But even as this small drama unfolded, another was just in the opening act. Believe it or not, yet another Sopwith Camel made an appearance, this time from the south, where its’ pilot, 2nd Lt John Roberts, had been on offensive patrol above the trench lines. Roberts arrived just at the moment our RE8 and its’ crew were approaching the German held trench line and it looked like they were on their own. Roberts was near the end of his patrol so he decided to accompany the two seater for its final run home.
Meanwhile, however, another very frustrated and angry pilot had other ideas. Ltn Kurt Parschau had seen his friend Ernst Benzler, shot down before his eyes; had chased the responsible pilot all the way back to his own lines, without success and now he was on the look out to take his revenge on any damned Tommy that crossed his path. Nothing for it though, he turned east for home. Then to his immense joy he saw, not one, but two enemy aircraft. That verdammte two seater and yet another Camel. One he didn’t recognise from earlier. But that didn’t matter. He was going to down the RE8 or die in the attempt!
He turned about and started his approach attack. The Camel seemed determined to bar the way, however, as Roberts, spotting the intruder also turned into the attack!
But Roberts had misjudged the situation. He fired off a few ineffective rounds at the Albatros, but instead of firing back, the enemy aircraft, adorned with those threatening and very ominous black crosses, swept on past him, heading straight for the two seater!
(Roberts, Camel, hits Parschau, Albatros, for “0”)
Closing with the RE8 at maximum speed, Parschau blazed away furiously, the enemy rear gunner doing likewise. Heading for the tail end of the two seater, his plan was to first kill the observer, if he could. That would then make the job of destroying the aircraft somewhat more likely. However, the Tommy scout was now turning around, so he had to watch his back like a hawk. Not only that, but he was getting dangerously close to the British held trench lines and neither he, nor his Jasta, could afford to lose his aircraft. It had to be now or let go of his anger and head home.
(Parschau, Albatros, hits Clarke, RE8, for “4”; Douglas, observer RE8, hits Parschau, Albatros, for “2”)
As the Albatros turned in behind him, Douglas, on the RE8 fired again, but missed. He fired another few rounds but missed a second time, as did Roberts who was now closing fast.
At this point, it has to be said that the aim of the German pilot was not that much better.
(Douglas, observer RE8, hits Parschau, Albatros, for “0”; and again for “0”; Roberts, Camel, hits Parschau, Albatros, for “0”; Parschau, Albatros, hits Clarke, RE8, for “1”)
Then came the decisive moment in this conflict of wills. With one final attempt at bringing down the RE8, Parschau came to his senses and broke off the engagement. His final rounds hit the RE8 and would help to keep the Ack Emmas busy back at their barn, but the Camel pilot was finding his mark now and Parschau was aware of the bits flying yet again around his head. He broke left and dived away, turning east as he did so and thus headed for home, to lick his wounds and think of the revenge that might come some other day. And who knows, Ernst Benzler may well have survived!
So it was, with great relief, that Cpt Alex Clarke and his observer, crossed over the lines and made it home – with all the photos they had set out to take. Job well done! The only down side for him was the poor shooting from Douglas, who really had an off day with the machine gun!
(Parschau, Albatros, hits Clarke, RE8, for “3”; Douglas, observer RE8, hits Parschau, Albatros, for the third consecutive time at “0”; Roberts, Camel, hits Parschau, Albatros, for “3 + 1 + left rudder jam; then again for “0”)
And finally, what of 2nd Lt Arthur Hammond. Well he too made it back to the barn safely, leaving Ltn Fritz Brünig muttering under his breath for the rest of the day!
Brunig had done his best, but there was little doubt about the likely outcome of the chase. The Camel was just too far ahead and Brunig was unwilling to follow it over the British lines. So now, all that remains is to find out what happened to the two unfortunate pilots who were shot down on this August morning! Their friends await the news with bated breath!
The End
The Butcher’s Bill
Entente
Cpt Alexander Clarke VC; MC & Bar; DFC – pilot RE8
RTB / No kills - all good
F/Sgt Sholto Douglas MM; DFM – observer RE8
RTB / No kills - all good. Mission completed – six photos delivered for assessment.
Lt Harold Medlicott MC; CdG – Camel pilot
RTB / 1 Kill all good
2nd Lt Alan McLeod DFC; CdG – Camel pilot
SD ET / No Kills
Roll 2D6 = 10 – 3 EXP + 1 ace (AP1) = 8 Injured – skip 1D2 scenario. Roll 4 Skip 2 scenarios.
E & E: Roll 2D6 = 6 – 1 EXP – 1 WIC – 1 ET = 3 Captured & Esc – skip 1D3 scenarios. Roll 1.
Result – Skip 2 scenarios
2nd Lt Arthur Hammond MC – Camel pilot
RTB / No kills – all good
2nd Lt John Roberts – Camel pilot
RTB / No kills – all good
Central Powers
Ltn Ernst Benzler EKII;PB;Wbs – Albatros pilot
SD FT / No kills
Roll 2D6 = 10 – 1 SD = 9 All well when you land well !
Ltn Kurt Parschau Wbs
RTB / No kills – all good
Ltn Paul Beckman WBb
RTB WIA / No kills
Roll 2D6 = 9 – 1 WIA + 3 RTB = 11 All well when you land well!
Ltn Fritz Brünig EKII; PB; Wbg
RTB / 1 kill – all good
Victory points
4 useful photos – Entente decisive victory
I am aware that my AARs are, more than likely, far too lengthy. Or just plain long winded. But I write them this way because I enjoy it. Sorry. For those who find them all too much, my apologies. But I hope you like the photos and can pick up enough from the Butcher’s Bill to get the low down for the action.
Cheers
Mike
Reply With Quote
When I see you there Dave I shall explain all about the new invention called "rocket fuel"! You'll love it 
Didn't even notice that the example showed a DH4! In fact I still haven't - better go wipe my specs off!!! Rocket fuel is what I call it now 
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