OTT BE Mission 24 21st Oct '18-The Cornered Beast Strikes Back--gully_raker

[gully_raker]

Prelude-4 PM 19th October 1918



Captain Boniface "Bon" King C.O. of C Flight sat at his office desk after wading through the days mountain of Reports, Analysis, Requisitions, Lists & more lists.
"Sometimes" he thought "the paper war & red tape would smother him"
Uncorking his bottle of Grants Speyside Single malt Scotch he half filled a tumbler & took a satisfying sip.
He then heard the growling of a RAF Tender & a squeal of brakes as it pulled up on the road outside.

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"Humm that might just be the replacement pilots they have been promising us for weeks!"
Shortly there was a knock on his door & Orderly Sgt "Molly" Mollison peeped around the door.
"Sir our replacements have finally arrived!"
"O.K. Molly, bring them in & lets have a look at them"
The 3 pilots moved inside & stood to attention & snapped off smart salutes.
There was a tallish thin 2nd Lt. & 2 Sargent's. One was an older man wearing a Black Watch forage cap & the other a very young looking lad with a shock of red hair.
"Welcome gentlemen to C Flight of the Bulldog Squadron! I am Capt King your C.O."
"Before I get you settled into your quarters I would like to know something about you & your training & experience. Lt. You first!"
"2nd Lt Timothy Titterington Sir. I flew a tour on RE 8's but transferred to Scouts when they were requesting replacements. I have 6 hours on Camels at the Fighter School"
The older Sgt spoke up in a rich Scottish burr. "Sgt Hamish McSporran ex the Black Watch. Mind I was only a wee Corporal then until I copped a Blighty at the Somme in '16".
"They thought I was no longer fit for the trenches so I joined the Flight Training scheme so I could pay back the bludy Hun for all me wee mates who lost their lives back then".
I have 4 hours on Pups & 6 hours on SE. 5's Sour".
The young redhead now introduced himself in a broad Irish brogue. "Sgt Patrick O'Toole from Donegal Sir. Come to join me Dar who is fighting the Germans in the Trenches".
"5 hours on Pups & 5 on Camels Sir!"

"Bloody Hell!" thought Bon "talk about Lambs to the Slaughter" "Titterington might just make it but I pity the two Sgts".
"Right then I will get Sgt Mollison to bring Sgt Simon Short to escort the Sgts to their Mess & he can then show you to your quarters".
"Lt Titterington I will take you to the Officers mess & introduce you to our other pilots"
"You will have tomorrow to settle in, meet the ground crews etc & then on the 21st I will arrange two orientation flights so you can learn our area of responsibility"
"Good Luck gentlemen!"

The Briefing on the Morning of 21 st October

"Right everybody, quieten down!"
"Now we are in the process of re equipping with Snipes & Dolphins but are still relying on a number of Camels & SE 5 's."
"So Lt Algy Smyth-Browne will lead a flight of Camels with Lt Titterington & Sgt O'Toole who have the most experience on Camels whilst our current star Ace Lt "Tiny" Large will take a second flight of two Snipes with Sgt Simon Short & Sgt McSporran". "Tiny will be flying his Dolphin".
"Now remember you are out there to learn the territory but always watch your 6 & keep watching for the Hun out of the Sun". "Good Luck Gentlemen"

Meanwhile behind enemy lines Ltn Wilhelm Ulmer, the Stafflefuhrer of the Eagles, was addressing the other 3 pilots who would be accompanying him on the morning patrol.
"Mien Herren, I need not remind you of the problems we are now facing, outnumbered in the air, supplies becoming harder to obtain, shortages of fuel & oil however we are not yet defeated. It is our duty to the Fatherland to keep fighting & extract every victory we can over the British." "Today I will lead a Kette of 4 aircraft with myself in the Red & Whire Fokker D.VII, Ltn Schnieder will fly the Lilac banded one whilst Karl you will take the Fokker Monoplane & our new pilot Ltn Prahlow will fly the SSW D.111".

The Mission

Algy led the trio of Camels over the Trenches into German Territory which had now become their main area of action as the RAF took the war to the Germans ever deeper into their territory.

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He soon became aware of a quartet of German aircraft approaching from their rear Port quarter. He had impressed on his charges to always turn into an attack from the rear & so they did so.

Algy exchanged fire with the Red & White Fokker but was horrified when his Rotary engine suddenly went rough. "Bloody Hell! first exchange & the Clerget is stuffed"" I will have to fire a flare & hope the New chums can look after themselves until Tiny & the Snipes arrive"
However Lt Titterington had fared somewhat better as he was sure he saw the pilot of the garishly coloured D.VII jerk in his seat however the Huns return fire had caused his rotary to emit clouds of black smoke.

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Sgt O'Toole had managed to keep out of range but now closed on the lilac Fokker but due to his inexperience missed the German.

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The second wave of German Aircraft attacked but the Fokker monoplanes guns immediately jammed.

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Sgt O'Toole now exchanged fire with the Siemens Scout & again his rookie status saw him miss his target while the German's fire sent a hot poker of pain across his left shoulder & he realised he had been wounded. Fortunately the German's guns also fell silent.

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Algy who was in the process of returning to his drome with the damaged engine had a perfect shot at the SSW D.III & must have hit its fuel tank as it exploded & crashed to the ground.

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As Algy banked towards home the other 2 Camels led by Lt Titterington closed on the Fokker EV & dealt it a damaging close range burst wounding the pilot.

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Following the German aircraft he fired again but appeared to do little damage.

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As the German pilot fought to regain control after his wound Timothy again fired & damaged the Fokker's rudder.

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As the EV's Pilot regained control he had an opportunity to take revenge on Lt Titterington & set the Camel on fire!

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Finally from the British lines the second Flight led by Tiny Large appeared & headed towards the action.

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The fire on the Camel seemed to die down somewhat to Titterington's relief.

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Timothy had again turned the tables on the German plane & gave it a damaging burst.

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This was just too much for the German aircraft & it spun into the ground.

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The Snipes led by Tiny's Dolphin were now closing in on the action although the 2 remaining Camels seemed to be holding their own although the fire on the Camel had again flared up.

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Tiny Large closed on the German Kette leaders Fokker & using his Marksman skill dealt it some damage.

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Hamish McSporran added to the German's woes by damaging his rudder.

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Timothy tried a snap shot at the Lilac Fokker but missed at long range.

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Sadly the brave Lt Timothy Titterington's luck ran out as a final flare up of the fire was too much for that battered Camel & it fell to earth in German Territory.

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McSporran had now closed on Ulmer's Red & White Fokker & his burst hit the D,III's fuel tank & it exploded & crashed to the ground at the rear of the German Trenches.
"Och aye that's for me wee Clansmen buried in the Somme mud you Hun bastard" cursed Hamish.

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As the lone German Aircraft left flying with Schnieder feeling somewhat faint from his wounds he turned for home with a heavy heart to report another black day for the Eagles.

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Tiny then fired the Re Call flare & headed the remaining British Aircraft back to their home drome.

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Comments & Observations

Well that ended up much better than it started out!
With Algy being forced to return to base with a damaged engine in the very first exchange of fire followed by O'Toole copping a minor wound things were looking rather grim!
However a Boom Card evened the odds.
Interesting the number of minor wounds suffered by both sides. Sad to see Lt Titterington go down after such a great effort whilst on fire. Hopefully the Dice Gods will be kind to him!

That was a really enjoyable game so thanks to Peter for dreaming that one up.
I flew Tiny Large's Dolphin. All others were AI using Peter's ACE charts for the Germans & Dave's D8 charts for all the British.

Allied Victory!

Butchers Bill later tonight or tomorrow.

[gully_raker]

The Butchers Bill

Allied Forces

2nd Lt Algy Smyth-Brown: (Camel No.1) FRTB (Engine Damage) /1Kill (SSW D.III)
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2nd Lt T Titterington (Camel No.3) SD-FLM-ET/1Kill (Fok EV)
Rolled 4 -2FLM = 2 - Dead..
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Sgt P. O'Toole: (Camel No.5 & Rookie) RTB/WIA 0 kills
Rolled 8 +3RTB -1WIA = 10 All well when you land well - Just a scratch !
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2nd Lt Tiny Large: (Dolphin A) RTB/ 0 Kills
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Sgt S Short: Snipe No.8) RTB/ 0 Kills
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Sgt H McSporran: (Snipe No. 2 & Rookie) RTB/1 Kill (Ulmer Fok D.VII)
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German Forces

Ltn Wilhelm Ulmer: (Fok D.VII Red/White) SD-EXP-FT 0 kills
Rolled 9 -3EXP = 6 Injured - Skip 1D3 Scenarios. Rolled 2 = Skip 1
Ulmer manages a rough crash landing just behind his lines and rolls from the wreckage bruised, bloodied but unbowed.
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Ltn Richard Schnieder: (Fok D.VII Lilac) RTB/WIA 0 kills
Rolled 3 -1WIA +3RTB = 5 Injured - Skip 1D3 Scenarios. Rolled 3 = Skip 2 - He won't be back
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Ltn Karl Wacker: (Fok EV) SD/WIA/FT/1 Kill (Titterington by fire started by Wacker)
Rolled 11 -1SD -1WIA = 9 All well when you land well !
Gaining a modicum of control just metres above the ground Wacker manages to flatten out and pancake his blunted razor in a field
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Ltn Karl Prahlow: (SSW D.III) SD-EXP-FT 0 kills
Rolled 11 -3EXP = 8 Injured - Skip 1D2 Scenario. Rolled 5 = skip 2. He won't be back.
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[flash]

That was quite a first pass Baz - so much special damage ! Really thought you were on the losing end of things until that first Boom dropped on the Eagles. Sadly Titterington didn't make it.

Uncle says:


Jolly well done chaps, you gave the Hun a bloody nose & sent him packing. Very sad to lose a new man first time out but he took one of them with him and we can't ask more than that. One of the other new boys got one as well and Algy's a smidge off being an ace so we have something to celebrate

[gully_raker]

Many thanks for the Survival (or not!) Rolls Dave.
Sad about Titterington but he fought the good fight & got a Hun.
R.I.P Timothy Titterington.

[Stumptonian]

Great show, Baz. Somehow missed seeing this earlier today.
It's tough when the new boys are taken out straight off the bat!

I lost a lot of Bulldogs in this one as well.
Your boys pulled a victory out of what was looking like a defeat early on. Just shows how things change so quickly in this game.

I like your customizing of your Snipes - I need to start doing more of that to make them unique. I picked up two more in that Labour Day sale I lucked into.

[gully_raker]

snipped***************************************

I like your customizing of your Snipes - I need to start doing more of that to make them unique. I picked up two more in that Labour Day sale I lucked into.

I started out doing that with my 5 Ellwood Camels for the Hearts of Oak squadron under Capt. Triggers way back before the OTT Campaigns.
Gave then 1 to 5 numbers on top wing & under lower wing. No. 1 also has the leaders Red elevators.
Simple way to make it easy to tell them apart.

[Carl_Brisgamer]

Things were looking grim there for a bit Barry but your Bulldogs made a good recovery.

Have some REP for your troubles

[Setarius]

Newbies, no matter how good you think you are, an experienced pilot will always tell you you are no better than the last mission flown.
Congratulations to your Bulldogs for pulling one out of the frying pan without being burnt too easily.

[gully_raker]

Epilogue 24th October

Capt. Bon King entered the Officers Mess at 6.30 pm clutching some buff pages in his right hand.
"Attention Chaps! I have finally got some information from GHQ re Lt. Titterington. Sadly its all bad, very bad. Poor sod did not survive his fiery crash. The Germans buried him next to his burnt out plane".
Tiny Large spoke up. "Well at least he got the Hun that set him on fire. He just did not let the fire deter him. Talk about brave! He wanted to be a Fighter Pilot & by George he proved he was". Algy then added his 6 penneth. "He came across as a really decent down to earth chap. Surviving a tour on RE 8's was no mean feat. I asked him what his nickname was back in 32 Sqd & he said "Titters" & laughed".
"Right" said Bon "lets raise a glass in memory of a brave pilot!" Here's to Titters!"

[flash]

Titters

[Vagabond]

RIP Titters. .

Great game writeup Barry, adding the numbers to the wings is a good idea, when I get round to it I'm going to do the same thing but go with letters I think.
Cheers

[gully_raker]

RIP Titters. .

Great game writeup Barry, adding the numbers to the wings is a good idea, when I get round to it I'm going to do the same thing but go with letters I think.
Cheers

Hi John.
Letters or numbers all OK as different Squadrons used both.
The AFC Snipes did use numbers.

[Vagabond]

Hi John.
Letters or numbers all OK as different Squadrons used both.
The AFC Snipes did use numbers.

Hi Barry, I noted your comment earlier about the red elevators for the leader, and I have seen symbols like dumbells, triangles and I think squares were used by the British, I never intended buying planes to build and or paint and now I seem to have about 24 planes that need paint jobs of one sort or another. So I'm starting from a low base and I don't want to spend much time on the research, is there a quick primer to symbols and identification marks for the British? I think I have much more latitude with the Germans.
Cheers

[gully_raker]

Hi Barry, I noted your comment earlier about the red elevators for the leader, and I have seen symbols like dumbells, triangles and I think squares were used by the British, I never intended buying planes to build and or paint and now I seem to have about 24 planes that need paint jobs of one sort or another. So I'm starting from a low base and I don't want to spend much time on the research, is there a quick primer to symbols and identification marks for the British? I think I have much more latitude with the Germans.
Cheers

Yes there is John but its very expensive. Cant remember the full title anyway.
I have a large selection of the Osprey Aces books plus some of the Elite Squadron ones so if you PM me with what Squadrons & time frame you are looking for I can probably assist & will be happy to do so!

[mikeemagnus]

Well done Baz. A much needed victory for the Bulldogs. Things looked decidedly uncomfortable for them in the early stages, but a great recovery. Sad about 2nd Lt Titterington, but he did really well before going down RIP
Thanks for another very enjoyable read REP inbound and thoroughly deserved

[Teaticket]

Nice one Baz. Always good to see a bad situation come around and be able to pull it off. Well done!