OTT BE Mission 16, 21 June 1918, The Breaking Point (Carl Brisgamer)

[Carl_Brisgamer]

PROLOGUE

Jabbeke, Flandern
21 Juni 1918
0830hrs



Only arriving back at Jabbeke from their sojourn in Laon the previous evening, the officers and men of the See Adler Gruppe were busy restoring the unit and aerodrome to operational status. The mechanics had been hard at work re-assembling aircraft all night, while the Gruppenkommandeur Kapitänleutnant Willi Mattheus had left immediately for Brussels to be briefed on current operations in Flanders. After unpacking their belongings and enjoying a night cap the aircrew had retired for the evening.

Oberleutnant Werner Bastian was up early the following morning, having assigned himself as duty officer. This gave the other 'gentlemen' of his Staffel the luxury of a late rise, and besides he had a mountain of paperwork to complete as the correspondence normally dealt with on a daily basis had not been forwarded to their temporary base in the Aisne Sector of the front. Following a brief stop at the mess to fill a mug with ersatz coffee (not improved in taste in the weeks he had been away), Obltn. Bastian reached the duty hut and began the paper war.

After dealing with urgent requisitions for fuel, ammunition, spares and replacement aircraft and signing the approval for See Adler observer Leutnant Heinrich Maas to attend pilot training, Bastian was pleased to find a large satchel containing numerous letters and parcels assigned to the See Adler Feldpost Nummer. The officers and men had not received any mail from home while they were deployed to the south, so these would be most welcome. As he sorted through the mail to his delight Werner found an envelope addressed to him postmarked 10 June. Expecting the missive to be from his wife, Bastian tore open the letter but was puzzled as the started to read. It was not from his beloved Ursula but her sister, who also lived in Berlin.

"Dearest Werner," read Bastian as he scanned the page, "It is with a heavy heart that I write to you. Three days ago Ursula and your son Helmut were taken ill and went to the hospital. Conditions have been hard here with the lack of food and everyone is so weak. Helmut got sick first and then Ursula. They both had a terrible fever. Oh Werner, it fills me with pain to have to tell you this, but my sister and your son both died this very morning ….."

Bastian let the letter drop, unable to read another word. He stood, staring down at the paper on the desk, barely able to comprehend the catastrophe that had claimed his wife and eighteen month old son. Tears filled his eyes as his heart sank, so heavy with grief he thought it must stop beating. He felt his knees buckle, only his hands grabbing the edge of the desk preventing his collapse.

"NEIN, ES KANN NICHT....!!!" he screamed as if in agony, a hand pushing all the files from his desk in one violent sweep. Suddenly the grief inside him coalesced into white hot rage, a seething anger directed against those who punished innocent, starving civilians with their inhuman blockade. Reaching for his flying helmet and goggles, Bastian stalked from the duty hut onto the field, yelling at the nearest mechanics to prepare an aircraft.

Swinging himself into the cockpit of his Fokker D.VII, Obltn. Bastian was soon taking off with murder in his heart and just one thought in his mind - "They will pay!"

[Carl_Brisgamer]

Skies over the Flanders Front
21 Juni 1918
0900hrs



Not thirty minutes after taking off from Jabbeke, Oberleutnant Bastian picks out an enemy artillery spotter flying over No Man's Land.



Bastian quickly closes on the enemy, a Belgian RE.8 two seater flying about 300 metres below him.



In the RE.8 pilot Sous Lieutenant Andre de Petrowski and his observer Sergent Adolphe Benselin of 2eme Escadrille see the approaching Boche machine, with de Petrowski taking evasive action.



The Belgian pilot managed to get his observer into position for a shot and Sgt. Benselin does not disappoint, his burst tearing into the tail section of the Fokker shooting up the rudder. Bastian curses as his jammed controls refuse to comply.



Bastian banks hard to port coming around to make a head on attack on the RE.8. sLt. de Petrowski does not shrink from the challenge, opening up with his own single synchronised Vickers gun. Despite scoring more hits on the yellow Fokker, the de Petrowski's efforts do not discourage the furious Bastian who takes careful aim and rakes the Belgian machine from nose to tail. Bullets strike both crew leaving the two men sorely wounded (Bastian uses two of his temporary ace skills - Marksman II and Deadly Aim II).



The badly shot about RE.8 appears certain to fall to Bastian's guns when another aircraft appears in the same sector, a French Sopwith 1-1/2 Strutter.



Seeing the plight of the RE.8 Sous Lieutenant Armand Guisand makes for the Fokker, warning his observer Caporal Henri Gilbert to ready for action.



Bastian sees the approach of the French two-seater and rather than turn his tail to chase the fleeing RE.8 is forced to turn to face the new threat.



Meanwhile the RE.8 gets away from the battle, as s-Lt. de Petrowski fights to retain consciousness and regain his airfield.



As Bastian flies past the Sopwith he finds out this machine also has a sting in the tail as Cpl. Gilbert hits the Fokker leaving the aircraft trailing black smoke.



As Bastian manoeuvres to make a firing pass on the Frenchmen, Cpl. Gilbert puts a few more holes in the Hun machine, emptying the magazine on his Lewis gun in the process.



With Gilbert's gun falling silent, Obltn. Bastian turns into the Sopwith and fires off a long range burst. His aim is good however with his rounds striking a piston on the engine sending smoke streaming back from the French machine.



He follows up with a second burst from his twin Maxims which also finds the mark.



Reloading his Lewis, Gilbert is able to return fire but misses the Hun scout. Bastian shoots well however, as his third burst in a matter of seconds tears through fabric and splinters spars and struts.



Closing to point blank range, Bastian lets loose another long burst which sees bright flames emerge from the Sopwith's fuel tank.



Oberleutnant Bastian watches with grim satisfaction as the burning aircraft plunges down into No Man's Land. "That was for you my darlings," he says, the words barely a whisper on his lips swept away by the whistle of the wind and the roar of the Fokker's Mercedes engine.



Barely had the blazing French two seater crashed to earth when a SPAD S.VII piloted by Sous Lieutenant Louis Martin approaches from the south west.



Bastian turns into the Frenchman's attack, scoring a few hits while at the same time avoiding return fire.



As S-Lt. Martin turns to follow the Fokker, Bastian executes an Immelmann and gets off a long range burst. His machine guns chatter briefly before they fall silent, a misfeed causing a stoppage in the mechanism.



S-Lt. Martin banks to starboard as the Fokker climbs past him. The Frenchman can see the Boche pilot bashing on the breaches of his jammed machine guns.



As Bastian again breaks away from the French SPAD to clear his useless Maxims another aircraft entered the fray - an English DH.4 crewed by pilot Second Lieutenant Arthur Peters and observer Corporal Elmer Tilton.



Clearing his guns Oberleutnant Bastian turns back to the fight ....



..... but the enemy machines were both as fast as his Fokker and avoided Bastian's approach.



As the Frenchman and the English two seater turned back to engage Bastian .....



..... he first took on the SPAD again damaging the French scout .....



..... before making a head on attack on the DH.4. Again Bastian's guns fire but for a moment before another stoppage caused then to fall silent. In the cockpit of his DH.4 2Lt. Peters opened up with his single Vickers gun scoring hits on the approaching Fokker.



His guns again rendered useless, Werner Bastian kicks the rudder, pulling a hard turn to port. 2Lt. Peters finds himself in a good position to fire another burst at the Fokker but the violent manoeuvre puts of his aim.



Bastian continues his turn unable to be engaged by either the DH.4's pilot or observer .....



..... before climbing over the English machine as it turns into him.



His climb having put him out of reach of the English, Bastian turns his attention back to the SPAD.



Seeing the Frenchman turning towards him, Bastian opens the throttle .....



..... banking port to make another pass. But s-Lt. Martin turns away, allowing Peters and Tilton time to return to the fight.



Bastian continues to pursue the speedy SPAD.



But suddenly the French scout reverse course at the same time the DH.4 turns in to make a run on Bastian's Fokker.



Bastian and Martin close to quickly to exchange fire .....



..... but the French pilot executes another reversement and takes a snap deflection burst at the yellow Fokker as it flashes past his nose. .303in bullets smash into Bastian's already badly shot about aircraft, tearing through fabric and ricocheting off the tubular metal frame of the Fokker D.VII. Bastian ducks involuntarily and pointlessly as the projectiles penetrate his machine and the SPAD passes overhead.



Whether as a result of the near miss, an understanding of how much damage his Fokker had sustained, his poor tactical position or just how dog-tired he was after such a protracted aerial engagement, Werner Bastian felt the rage that had consumed his mind burn away, like an early morning fog under the rays of the rising sun. "What am I doing?" he thought, shaking his head. Though his heart was still broken at the loss of his wife and child, he realised that he still had a duty to his comrades, for they were the only family he had left. To waste his own life and sacrifice his machine on a fool's quest .....



Just then his reverie was broken by the chatter of a machine gun as Cpl. Tilton in the DH.4 opened up on Bastian's Fokker with his twin Scarff-mounted Lewis guns. The long range burst failed to find its mark, but it punctuated Bastian's argument with himself on the futility of his personal vendetta.



Opening the throttle Bastian spurred his 160hp Mercedes engine to maximum power and pointed the nose of the Fokker towards the east and home.


VICTORY CONDITIONS

ENTENTE AIRCRAFT SHOW DOWN = 1

ENTENTE VICTORY

[Carl_Brisgamer]

CASUALTY REPORT (AKA THE BUTCHER'S BILL)

SEE ADLER STAFFEL



Oberleutnant Werner Bastian, Staffelführer, See Adler Staffel (Jagdflieger - yellow Fokker D.VII)
RTB (14 damage) / 1 kill (Sopwith 1-1/2 Strutter, 8th confirmed victory).


ENTENTE FORCES



Sous Lieutenant Andre de Petrowski, 2eme Escadrille Aéronautique Militaire Belge (pilot, RE.8)
RTB WIA (11 damage) / 0 kills
C&W rolled 3 + 3 RTB - 1 WIA = 5 Injured - Skip 1D3 Scenarios, rolled 1 = skip 1 mission.

Despite his wounds s-Lt. de Petrowski managed to brings his badly damaged RE.8 back to base. Receiving immediate treatment in a nearby military hospital, the Belgian pilot was given two weeks leave to recuperate and returned to flying duties in late July 1918.

Sergent Adolphe Benselin, 2eme Escadrille Aéronautique Militaire Belge (observer, RE.8)
RTB WIA (11 damage) / 0 kills
C&W rolled 7 + 3 RTB - 1 WIA = 9 All well when you land well!

Sgt. Benselin suffered a flesh wound in the right arm which momentarily rendered him incapable of using his gun during the fight with the Boche in the yellow Fokker. After treatment and a few days rest, Benselin was ready to return to action.



Sous Lieutenant Armand Guisand, SOP285 Aéronautique Militaire Francais (pilot, Sopwith 1-1/2 Strutter)
SD FLM FT / 0 kills
C&W rolled 8 - 2 FLM = 6 Injured - Skip 1D3 Scenarios, rolled 4 = skip 2 missions

Battered and burned S-Lt. Guisand was lucky to survive the crash of his Sopwith. He was pulled from the wreck by British troops and carried to an aid station barely conscious. Transferred to a Paris hospital, s-Lt. Guisand’s wounds healed quickly and by the beginning of August 1918 he was ready to resume operational flying duties.

Caporal Henri Gilbert SOP285 Aéronautique Militaire Francais (observer, Sopwith 1-1/2 Strutter)
SD FLM FT / 0 kills
C&W rolled 4 - 2 FLM = 2 Dead!
Cpl. Gilbert was killed in the crash of his Sopwith 1-1/2 Strutter, his badly burned body retrieved from the wreckage and buried in a nearby British cemetery.



Sous Lieutenant Louis Martin, SPA3 Aéronautique Militaire Francais (pilot SPAD S.VII)
RTB (4 damage) / 0 kills

Second Lieutenant Arthur Peters, 4 Squadron RFC (pilot, Airco DH.4)
RTB (3 damage) / 0 kills

Corporal Elmer Tilton, 4 Squadron RFC (observer, Airco DH.4)
RTB (3 damage) / 0 kills

[flash]

Another cracker from you Carl, it's nice to revisit the older games whilst you're catching up. Bastion chose just the right moment to come to his senses !

Onkel says:


"It's not good enough" raged Onkel, "I understand your reasons and I empathise but this is not a private war, we are all involved and responsible for others involved. You cannot take off on your own on a mission of vengeance - you and the machine belong to the Kaiser. The machine is a damn near write off, I'm surprised you got it down in one piece. It had more damage than you thought" snatching up the engineers report and shaking at Bastion's face. (14 damage)
"You could have got yourself killed you young fool... This...This cannot go unpunished. Feldwebel !" he bellowed.
The door swiftly opened and the orderly room sergeant stepped nervously into the room, before he could open his mouth Onkel snarled "Place Der Oberleutnant zur See under arrest" The Feldwebel looked startled, Bastian looked shocked, "And hold him under arrest for precisely thirty seconds before you release him."
The Feldwebel ghosted a smile, placed his hand on Bastian's shoulder and pulled out his pocket watch. Thirty seconds later
Onkel reached for his hat and said calmly "Now, hopefully, we have got that out of our systems and we can get on with what's left of this war. Come we have a victory to celebrate and you're buying"


(Idea shamelessly stolen from the Bridge Too Far movie )

[Stumptonian]

Read the story so far yesterday and just checked back because the thread showed as new.
No new news yet but I did notice something obvious that I have never done in my own postings.

Here I am with a whole box of numeric counters that I mainly use for showing +1 in photos and damage tracking.
What's on the other side of said counters?



Ace Skills! I always use the descriptive card in my postings when I have the actual markers at hand.

Thanks for pointing out the obvious, Carl.

Now get on with the continuation of your AAR!
Even a Fokker D.VII can only hang on for so long you know ...

[mikeemagnus]

Very moving prologue Carl - appropriate to the mission if very sad. Hope his success is assured and that it helps to get some of the pain out of his system!!!

We wait with bated breath - great so far and excellent moody pics - like the perspective used

[Setarius]

Carl,
A similar idea to mine with a revenge motive. Yours family death by disease, starvation, and wartime blockades, which goes along with one of your previous stories. Mine, family death by "indiscriminate" bombing of Paris.
Anxiously awaiting your finale.

[Carl_Brisgamer]

Sorry for the delay guys, work and family commitments have consumed my time. Hopefully tonight

[Carl_Brisgamer]

AAR and butcher's bill complete, apologies for the delay.

[flash]

Worth the wait fellah ! Onkel has spoken - see above

[Popsical]

Great shots of the action Carl, well done!

[Stumptonian]

Glad Bastian survived that one, Carl.
14 damage is perilously close to being done in over enemy territory.


Seeing your Belgian RE.8 leave the table reminded me of my own version of this tale (although it was a stand-in for a BE.2C in mine.*)
Great premise and exciting telling of the tale - so good to have you back in the OTT fold.
REP on the way if I haven't managed to jam my Spandaus.


* 3 Shapeways BE.2C and 2 FE.2B sitting in the sun waiting for the Dawn soaking to dry up as I type this ....

[gully_raker]

Another cracker of a story & fight Carl.
Wonderful to have you back in action & looking forward to seeing your subsequent catching up AAR's.
Loved the post card & Stamp. Would like to know how you managed that?

Rep Inbound!

[Setarius]

Another great one Carl. When I originally saw the envelope I thought Bastians lady had left him for another man who wasn't fighting and could take care of her.
Like I said earlier, similar to mine with the revenge motive. The biggest difference being my guy got 6Ks to your 1K and you RTB where my guy ended up a POW in a German mental hospital.
Oh, the fickle fates of war.

[Carl_Brisgamer]

Thanks for the positive reception guys, it is great to be back.

Bastian was unlucky not to get the RE.8, and then his luck went completely with gun jams and zero damage cards coming thick and fast. But I was glad he made it back.

The envelope Barry was an image of an actual 1916 Feldpost letter I found online. I photoshopped the postmark to the 1918 date and did the same within the name and location of the recipient.

[Carl_Brisgamer]

EPILOGUE

Jabbeke, Flandern
21 Juni 1918
1000hrs

The Fokker rolled to a stop on the grassed field, torn fabric and splintered timber evidence of the battle that had raged over the trenches barely twenty minutes earlier. Switching off the fuel, an exhausted Bastian could only sit in the cockpit as the starved Mercedes engine fell silent and the propeller blades ceased turning. Moments later ground crew reached the aircraft. Bastian was aware of hands reaching into the cockpit, releasing harness straps and lifting him from his seat. As his feet touched the ground Bastian’s knees sagged as he tried desperately to shrug off the numbing fatigue paralysing his body and his mind.

“Herr Oberleutnant!” called a familiar voice, that of Vizefeldwebel Hans Goerth, another of the See Adler Jagdflieger. The NCO pilot ran to the officer’s side, putting an arm around Bastian’s shoulders. “Get a stretcher, now!” Goerth ordered the ground crew, sending two of them scurrying towards the Lazarett.

“They are gone Hans…” croaked Bastian, tears washing clean lines in his oil stained face as Goerth removed his flying goggles.

“I read the letter,” replied Goerth quietly, as he gently lowered his Staffelführer to the ground, “and I am sorry. But you are back with us now Herr Oberleutnant, and we will set you right.”

The two sailors returned and lifted Werner onto the canvas stretcher. The men carried Bastian from the field accompanied by Hans Goerth who kept a reassuring hand on the stricken officer’s shoulder.

******************************

Military Hospital, Bruges
21 Juni 1918
1400hrs

Kapitänleutnant Willi Mattheus entered the hospital room to see Werner Bastian slumped in a chair. Usually a cheerful comrade, Mattheus was shocked to see his friend in such a state. “To learn what he did in that manner,” Matheus thought to himself, “it is more than any man could stand.”

As the See Adler Gruppenkommanduer crossed the room Bastian raised his head, his eyes flashing with recognition. Bastian struggled to stand, “Herr Kapitänleutnant, I beg to report ….”

“Setzt dich Werner,” said Mattheus, waving a hand for Bastian to remain in his chair, “there will be plenty of time for your report.”

“I am sorry Willi,” Bastian started to explain, “I took a Fokker, and made such a mess of it…..” his voice trailed off and he looked away, the shame readily displayed on his face.

KptLt. Mattheus sat on the bed testing the firm mattress on either side with his hands.

“You have nothing to apologise for Werner, you were only carrying out my orders.”

Bastian raised is head, a puzzled look on his face.

“Don’t you recall? Yesterday before I left for HQ I gave you verbal instructions to conduct a morning patrol to seek out any enemy artillery flyers over the lines. Too bad only one of our aircraft was operational. I confirmed this with a written order just thirty minutes ago.”

“But Willi …..” started Bastian before Mattheus cut him off.

“No buts Werner, the Regimental commander in that sector has even sent his compliments, as his trenches were spared the usual harassing bombardment due to your actions.”

Bastian lowered his head, part of him relieved he would not be court-martialled for his act of personal vengeance.

“However,” continued Mattheus, “you are no good to me like this. I am removing you from operational flying duty effective immediately and I am sending you on home leave.”

Bastain looked up at his commander with pleading eyes “No Willi, I have nothing left there, all I have is here!”

“Go home Werner, bury your family, take some time to make peace with yourself. We will be here when you get back, and we will need you at your best.”

Bastian placed his head in his hands and wept. Not tears of rage this time, but pure grief coming from an acceptance he would never again get to hold Ursula and his boy.

“Get some rest now,” continued Mattheus, "I will have your bags packed and delivered to the hospital. You leave by train for Berlin in the morning."

[Setarius]

[mikeemagnus]

Great stuff Carl. Been a bit busy recently, so only just catching up again. Fantastic shoot em up. I'm surprised more aircraft didn't go down. For a moment there I thought Onkle was being a bit harsh - but thirty seconds later I realized that, at heart, he's just a big softy Thanks for the entertainment. Like others, I find it enjoyable to revisit old missions - although this is hardly "old".