Major Buttner was off meeting with the Jagdgeschwader leaders from along the front. With the Entente advancing along the whole front, Army HQ was desperate to find a way to stop the retreat. All air commanders were to confer to try to help find a solution to the current dilemma.
Obltn. Beck, in command as Buttner was away, answered the ringing phone.
“Ya, …where……ya”. Beck was on his feet before the phone was back on the hook. The line had been breached again. Information on where and how far the enemy has advanced was needed.
Beck forcefully strode into the mess. Seeing Johann Metzler and Hans Kimple, he spoke without breaking stride. “Hans, Johann, both of you get an observer and meet at the hanger in 5 minutes”.
Beck was explaining the situation to Hans, Johann and Horst when Ludwig came running into the hanger.
“We’re to fly behind our side of the last known lines at the front from here to here, (sliding a finger across a map) looking for the enemy breakthrough. We have to get out and back as soon as we can, this information is vital as to where the reserves need to be sent”.
Johann quickly explained to Ludwig as they checked their plane while the ground crew made ready.
The Rumplers took off first, giving Beck a few minutes to leave instructions for the Eagles for when they returned from their patrols. There was only one other scout pilot available immediately but Beck kept him at the aerodrome to make ready for the returning pilot’s missions.
Beck flew a SSW D.III. He would quickly reach altitude to escort the Rumplers to the front. When he reached the circling Rumplers, he signaled to them and they turned towards the front. Metzler piloted the brown, Kimple the mauve Rumpler.
Just as they were reaching the lines a pair of swift Sopwith Dolphins made a bee line for the Rumplers. Beck swung to the left a little trying to draw them off but they ignored him and went straight at the two seaters.
Were they ignoring Beck or did they just not see him? As the Dolphins flew past Beck timed his deflection shot perfectly before the Dolphin could get into range on the Rumpler.
Metzler saw the incoming EA and sent off a burst at extreme range but didn’t think he hit. Luckily the EA was flying towards Kimple and still just out of range.
Metzler fired again, this time he knew he hit the EA, …
but then disaster hit. The Dolphin piloted by the seasoned George Malley, sent his rounds into the front of Kimple’s Rumpler and flames immediately engulfed the engine.
Bad went to worse as Croft slipped in on Metzler’s side and tore the brown Rumpler apart. The struts collapsed and folded the left wings. Nothing could keep the Rumpler aloft and it began to quickly spin downward.
Beck tried in vain to stay on Croft but the speed of the Dolphin kept him from getting off an aimed shot.
Malley, in turning to avoid a collision, flew alongside Kimple. Horst saw a golden opportunity but ended up screaming obscenities when his Parabellum seized immediately up. Before he could finish is choice obscenity he slipped out of sight into his cockpit. (hard to see with the glare on the card but Horst was wounded)
Beck finally lines up a Dolphin but his guns jam to the relief of Malley.
The fire is not kind to Kimple’s Rumpler.
Kimple sets course along the front while desperately side slipping to minimize the fire’s effect.
As Beck turns off to clear his guns he feels his engine misfire on a few cylinders but it settles down quickly .
If the situation wasn’t bad enough a pair of the latest Sopwith’s arrive on the scene, flown by Lionel Bateman and Stephen Wheeler.
Kimple hoped he could stay behind the British but Croft’s excellent flying put him point blank next to the observerless Rumpler. The burning 2 seater could take no more and in slow motion nosed up, then fell, fluttering down to the ground.
Croft downs his second 2 seater, mere minutes after the first.
A toothless Beck now finds himself outnumbered 4 to 1! Frantically he works on his jammed Spandaus.
Trying to miss the intervening Bateman, Croft barely can get off a snap shot at Beck.
Beck turns in tight behind 3 of the enemy. He knows he should break off but after seeing his comrades fall, revenge keeps him in the fight.
With the planes all flying in tight, they barely avoid contact with another.
Bateman reverses to get a shot at Beck but Beck was ready and tears into the Snipe, wounding Bateman in the process.
Beck immediately turns right not seeing Wheeler and collides with him. The sturdy new Snipe flies on unaffected but Beck’s D.III was not so lucky.
Malley now makes a run at Beck but quickly realizes it was a bad idea. Beck shreds his Dolphin and it’s guns jam taking Malley out of the fight.
Beck gets off an accurate tailing shot at Bateman.
Bateman, with blood in his eyes and a badly shot up plane that he is not familiar with decides he better break off.
Croft, Wheeler and Malley are out of position to help Bateman.
Beck knows ignoring 3 EA to his rear would be his end so he lets Bateman go. He turns to face the trio of Sopwiths.
His engine stutters violently for a moment but then returns to smooth operation. Beck has second thoughts about staying in the fight.
Beck sees Malley on his own and sets his sights on him as Bateman heads for home.
Beck gets off a quick shot on the fleeing Dolphin but in the corner of his eye sees an oncoming Snipe.
Malley counts his blessings as the German flies past and keeps going. Malley’s badly shot up Dolphin falls in behind Bateman and follows him home. (Malley has 1 point remaining)
Beck exchanges rounds with Wheeler. Even though Wheeler’s guns stop and the odds down to 2 to 1, the damage they dealt to the SSW is enough for Beck to decide to go. (Beck’s SSW has 2 points left)
By the time Wheeler clears his guns and he and Croft can turn back on Beck, it is clear the German has called it quits. They form up and head of home themselves.
Butcher’s Bill
Bulldogs
A/Lt. Lionel Bateman WIA RTB 0 Kills
C 11 -1(wia) +3(rtb) = 13 OK!
2Lt. George Malley RTB 0 Kills
2Lt. Stephen Wheeler RTB 0 Kills
2Lt. Harold Croft RTB 2 Kills
Eagles
Obltn. Hermann Beck RTB 0 Kills
Ltn. Johann Metzler SD EXP FT 0 Kills
C 8 -3(exp) = 5 injured, 2 = miss 1 mission
Ltn. Ludwig Immelkopf SD EXP FT 0 Kills
C 6 -3(exp) = 3 injured, 3 = -3 missions
Fwb.l Hans Kimple SD FLM 0 Kills
C 11 -2(flm) = 9, ok
Ltn. Horst Zimmermann SD FLM WIA 0 Kills
9 -2(flm) -1(wia) = 6 injured, 3 = -2 missions
A total failure for the Eagles. Both Rumplers downed before they could even start their observation run. Two are badly damaged but no British planes shot down.
Beck feels miserable as he lands back at the aerodrome. Luckily Metzler and Kimple brought their planes back down on friendly side of the lines. The only bright spot is that they all will return to fly again.
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