OTT BE Mission 21, 5 September 1918, Infantry Contact Patrol (Carl Brisgamer)

[Carl_Brisgamer]

PROLOGUE

Ourches Aerodrome, Lorraine
5 September 1918
0600hrs



"Gentlemen, our boys have the Heinis on the run," declared Major Joseph McNarney, commanding officer of the USAS IV Observation Corps.

The crews of the 8th Aero Squadron responded with an enthusiastic cheer and the odd hoot and holler.

Settling the briefing with a wave of his hand, the Major continued. "The trouble is they are pulling back so fast the infantry are having to push hard to keep up," he said sweeping his pointer over the map on the wall of the hangar. "The IV Corps is advancing towards Vigneulles, but Corps command has lost contact with the vanguard formations."

"Your job is to fly low level contact patrols to locate these advance units, mark their coordinates and get back with the information. This will allow food, ammunition and medical supplies to be routed to these areas and ensure the advance can continue."

"You won't be up there alone," stated Major McNarney noting the looks between pilots and observers of the 8th Aero. Low level missions were always dicey propositions. "The 27th Aero will be flying escort. They will keep the Huns off your back while you complete your mission."

"Mister Thaw, you and Sergeant Taylor will be the first cabs off the rank. Report to the flight line by 0630."

[Carl_Brisgamer]

Skies south of Vigneulles
5 September 1918
0700hrs



Flying at 1000 metres, KptLt. Willi Mattheus and his wingman Ltn. Hermann Meyer were scanning the skies for enemy aircraft. The See Adlers had again found themselves operating out of a makeshift field east of Verdun as they were thrown in to stem the Franco-American forces attacking the Saint-Mifiel salient. All the redeployments and living out of tents made Mattheus feel more like a gypsy than a Naval officer, and he almost missed the cold, grey expanse of the Nordsee that covered their northern flank in Flanders.



To the west 2Lt. Edgar Thaw and his observer Sgt. Donald Taylor were approaching the front at the same altitude as their See Adler opponents. They had made their rendezvous with 2Lt. Everett Brown and 2Lt. Arthur Cook of 27th Aero Squadron. They were now flying the SPAD S.XIII scout after their squadron had been re-equipped the previous month.



Mattheus spots the enemy and alerts Meyer with a wing waggle before commencing a climb.



The German Jadgflieger and American scout pilots close up to engage their opposites as Sgt. Taylor readies his flare gun to make contact with any friendly infantry fighting in the wooded hills below.



Hermann Meyer and Everett Brown approach nose to nose, both pilots firing their twin machine guns. Meyer wings the SPAD but Brown's burst leaves Meyer's Fokker streaming smoke. Sgt. Taylor fires his flare gun, watching the ground below for any responses.



2Lt. Thaw banks around to give his observer a clear view of the ground.



While Arthur Cook narrowly avoids colliding with the two Fokkers, Leutnant Hermann Meyer reverses course and rakes Brown's SPAD with a long burst.



Meyer is as shocked as Brown as the American's machine falters and falls, giving the German his second victory. Brown strains on the stick to maintain some semblance of control, but the heavy SPAD has the glide characteristics of a brick.



Mattheus nods approvingly as Meyer claims a SPAD with only two bursts as he banks around to engage the American DH.4.



Meyer banks with his commander, as Thaw and Taylor continue their turn ......



..... but despite their efforts no evidence of any ground forces can be observed (2 result).



Leaving Meyer to attack the two-seater, KptLt. Mattheus pulls his Fokker around to engage the second SPAD passing through his six o'clock. Mattheus tags the enemy scout with a long range deflection burst, perforating the SPAD's rear fuselage and tail section damaging the rudder controls.



Undeterred Sgt. Donald Taylor fires another flare .....



..... as 2Lt. Thaw continues his turn. Mattheus pulls back on the stick and puts another damaging burst into Cook's SPAD as the American comes out of a reversement.



Mattheus hangs on the prop of his Fokker D.VII, kicking the rudder to push the nose around firing another burst at the SPAD. Hermann Meyer also fires up at the enemy machine scoring a few hits of his own.



2Lt. Cook banks towards the red nosed Fokker, but Mattheus follows the tail of the SPAD. His Maxims spit fire again, the stream of 7.92mm rounds finding Cook's aircraft.



Mattheus' last burst finishes the SPAD, sending it down shedding pieces and fabric.



Below the perseverance displayed by Thaw and Taylor pays off, with a friendly infantry unit deploying recognition panels (1 result). Sgt. Taylor notes the location on his map.



With the enemy scouts eliminated Mattheus and Meyer are now free to stalk the DH.4.



Meyer dives to the same level as the American two-seater.



As Thaw banks back towards the front, Sgt. Taylor keeps the Boche scouts covered with his twin Lewis guns ......



..... until he gets the signal from 2Lt. Thaw to ready his flare gun.



Taylor fires the flare .....



..... and Taylor side slips to throw off the yellow Fokker closing on his six o'clock high.



Thaw banks to port as Taylor keeps one eye on the ground and the other on the Hun.



Mattheus turns in towards the banking DH.4 .....



..... then opens the throttle to make an beam attack on the two-seater. Sgt. Taylor grabs for his Lewis guns and returns fire.



2Lt. Thaw banks hard to port with Sgt. Taylor firing a flare as KptLt. Mattheus rounds on the DH.4 for another pass. Ltn. Meyer's Fokker crossing the lines at low altitude attracts a fusillade of rifle fire from the doughboys below, .30-06 rounds damaging his rudder controls.



Another volley of ground fire directed at Meyer's machine fails to find the mark.



Mattheus and Meyer open fire on the DH.4 at long range, both scoring hits, with Meyer's guns jamming. Donald Taylor returns fire on the yellow and black Fokker.



As Hermann Meyer remedies his gun stoppage, Mattheus makes a low deflection attack on the DH.4. The German ace puts the burst into the fuselage, wounding both Edgar Thaw and Donald Taylor.



As 2Lt. Thaw struggles against the pain of his wounds to maintain control, Willi Mattheus follows the DH.4 in the turn and delivers another well aimed burst again hitting both pilot and observer.



As Taylor slumps over his guns and Edgar Thaw collapses in the cockpit, the DH.4 falls out of control. Mattheus watches as the two-seater spirals down, claiming his second victory of the mission for a total of twenty-six. With the sky clear of enemy machines, KptLt. Mattheus and Ltn. Meyer reform to continue their patrol.

VICTORY CONDITIONS

CENTRAL POWERS

Two enemy scouts shot down = 8 points
One enemy two-seater shot down = 5 points
Total = 13 points

ENTENTE

Friendly infantry located = 6 points
Total = 6 points

CENTRAL POWERS VICTORY

[Carl_Brisgamer]

CASUALTY REPORT (AKA THE BUTCHER'S BILL)

CENTRAL POWERS



Kapitänleutnant Willi Mattheus, Gruppenkommandeur, Jagdgruppe See Adler (Jagdflieger – yellow & black checkered Fokker D.VII)
RTB (3 damage) / 2 kills (SPAD S.XIII (Black 26) shot down and Airco DH.4 shot down - twenty-fifth and twenty-sixth confirmed victories, qualified for award of the Orden Pour Le Merite for twenty-five victories).

Leutnant Hermann Meyer, See Adler Jagdstaffel (Jagdflieger – Fokker D.VII with red nose)
RTB (4 damage) / 1 kill (SPAD S.XIII (White 1) shot down – second confirmed victory, qualified for award of Eisernes Kreuz II.Klasse).


ENTENTE



Second Lieutenant Everett Brown, 27th Aero Squadron AEF (pilot, SPAD S.XIII White 1)
SD EXP ET / 0 kills (qualified for award of Wound Chevron for receiving a wound in combat against an enemy force).
C&W rolled 8 - 3 EXP = 5 Injured – Skip 1D3 Scenarios, rolled 2 skip 1 mission.
E&E rolled 4 - 1 WIC - 1 BEL = 2 Captured! The war ended for this pilot...

2Lt. Everett Brown thought it was all over when his SPAD crashed into a wood, but it probably saved his life. The trunks and branches of the trees tore the wings off his machine but slowed his descent enough for him to survive the impact. Knocked unconscious, Brown was found by German troops and dragged from his cockpit. He was loaded on a wagon and carried with the withdrawing German forces. Having sustained a nasty concussion, the American officer was in and out of consciousness for the next two days. By the time he was recovered enough to be aware of his surroundings he was on a hospital train bound for the Fatherland.



Second Lieutenant Arthur (Artie) Cook, 27th Aero Squadron AEF (pilot, SPAD S.XIII Black 26)
SD ET / 0 kills (qualified for award of Wound Chevron for receiving a wound in combat against an enemy force).
C&W rolled 6 - 1 SD = 5 Injured – Skip 1D3 Scenarios, rolled 3 skip 2 missions.
E&E rolled 3 - 1 WIC - 1 BEL = 1 Captured! The war ended for this pilot...

Like his squadron mate, 2Lt. Artie Cook was lucky to survive the crash of his SPAD without serious injury. He was struggling to escape from his wrecked aircraft when a platoon of German infantry arrived on the scene and took him prisoner. Cook was marched to the rear nursing facial wounds and a dislocated shoulder. Two days later he was on he same train as Everett Brown steaming east towards Germany and a prisoner of war camp.



Second Lieutenant Edgar Thaw, 8th Aero Squadron AEF (two-seater pilot, Airco DH.4)
SD 2 WIA FT / 0 kills, one successful friendly infantry contact (qualified for award of Wound Chevron for receiving wounds in combat against an enemy force).
C&W rolled 5 - 1 WIA - 1 WIA - 1 SD = 2 Dead!

Having sustained several bullet wounds under the guns of KptLt. Willi Mattheus, Second Lieutenant Edgar Thaw did not survive the crash of his DH.4. The wreck was found the following day by troops of 'The Big Red One', the US 1st Infantry Division. 2Lt. Thaw's body was recovered and two days later buried with full military honours.

Sergeant Donald Taylor, 8th Aero Squadron AEF (observer, Airco DH.4)
SD 2 WIA FT / 0 kills, one successful friendly infantry contact (qualified for award of Wound Chevron for receiving wounds in combat against an enemy force).
C&W rolled 10 - 1 WIA - 1 WIA - 1 SD = 7 Injured – Skip 1D2 Scenarios, rolled 6 skip 2 missions.

Despite being shot twice in the aerial combat over Vigneulles Sgt. Taylor was fortunate the Boche bullets did not strike anything vital. He was able to use the auxiliary controls in the observer's cockpit to bring the damaged DH.4 down for a crash landing. Although his pilot Lt. Edgar Thaw did not survive the ordeal, Taylor was able to extricate himself from the downed machine. As he staggered from the wreck he was found by infantry of the Big Red One. He was taken back to Saint Dizier for medical treatment. Although still suffering the effects of his wounds, Sergeant Donald Taylor was with the rest of the 8th Aero Squadron when they buried their comrade Second Lieutenant Edgar Thaw. Given a furlough in Paris as part of his convalescence, Sgt. Taylor returned to his squadron in mid-October 1918.

[flash]

Another first class victory for the See Adler, the DH.4 gave you a bit of a runaround but the unusual wounding of both crew on consecutive shots put paid to their shenanigans.

Onkel says:


Another successful mission, we showed the Americans why we rule the skies today.

Herman Meyer is awarded the Iron Cross 2nd class (EKII) for his second victory
However...

Willi Mattheus is awarded the Pour le Merit, the Blue Max, for his 26th victory, the highest order that can be bestowed and he's promoted to Korvettenkapitän (KKpt)
I'm sure the Kaiser will wish to present this medal himself but before he does lets get into some champagne and celebrate our hero's achievements ourselves



PM me Willi's next ace skill Carl (like he needs one !)

[mikeemagnus]

Good shooting - congrats to the See Adlers for another fine mission. Thanks for the entertainment Carl Nice one

[Carl_Brisgamer]

Butcher's Bill complete and ready for Onkel's attention.

The card draw for this one definitely came out in favour of the Germans, particularly Meyer's rapid dispatch of the first SPAD after only two cards. The Deadly Aim ace skills again proved decisive, not only in damage to the enemy but also avoiding gun jams!

An auspicious day for the See Adlers with 'Kanone' Will Mattheus scoring his 25th and 26th victories. Perhaps there may be a missive from the Kaiser any day now? Epilogue to follow once the results have been confirmed.

And thanks for suffering through my episodic uploading Mike, Barry and Dave, I just can't seem to get enough time to do it all in one hit these days.

[Stumptonian]

Spectacular result for your See Adler, Carl.
They seem to do better away from aforementioned sea ...
It will be interesting to see if Mattheus earns the only Blue Max of The Bitter End

The Yanks, on the other hand ...
Luckily there are a lot of 'em.

[Carl_Brisgamer]

The Yanks, on the other hand ...
Luckily there are a lot of 'em.

Ironic the Americans have had little joy with the card draws in this and the Belleau Wood missions, yet US scout pilot Lt. Charles Buckley is the only Allied airman who has managed so far to shoot down Willi Mattheus, earning a DSC and a Croix de Guerre. There might be something to what you mentioned about luck away from home base, just wait for my mission 22 AAR!

[gully_raker]

Another Great result for your See Adlers Carl.
The DH -4 crew were "dead" unlucky to draw double wounds each time.

Rep inbound mate.

[Carl_Brisgamer]

Another Great result for your See Adlers Carl.
The DH -4 crew were "dead" unlucky to draw double wounds each time.

Thanks Barry. You rarely get two wounds in a row and I have NEVER picked double wounds consecutively for a multi-crew aircraft before (and I doubt I will ever see the like again).

[flash]

...It will be interesting to see if Mattheus earns the only Blue Max of The Bitter End...

Well he may have earned the second Blue Max of the Bitter End campaign Pete...
Teaticket's Major Peter Büttner bagged the first in Mission 15 I believe.

Onkel has checked the report

[Carl_Brisgamer]

Willi Mattheus is awarded the Pour le Merit, the Blue Max, for his 26th victory, the highest order that can be bestowed and he's promoted to Korvettenkapitän
I'm sure the Kaiser will wish to present this medal himself but before he does lets get into some champagne and celebrate our hero's achievements ourselves
PM me Willi's next ace skill Carl (like he needs one !)

Thanks Dave, much appreciated. Please add Lucky Git II as his fifth ace skill. It might help Mattheus get through the last few missions, after a couple off to accept his Blue Max of course!

[Flying Officer Kyte]

A very clinical strike for the Sea Eagles Carl.

Well done that man.
Rob.

[Vagabond]

An amazingly good result for your boys, the poor Americans never stood a chance, nice round up to the Butchers Bill and an entertaining read.

[mikeemagnus]

And thanks for suffering through my episodic uploading Mike, Barry and Dave, I just can't seem to get enough time to do it all in one hit these days.

Absolutely no "suffering" whatsoever Carl. I really do enjoy your AARs a great deal, with both prologue and epilogue. The AArs make great stories. So take as many episodes as you want. They'll get our support ok

[Stumptonian]

Well he may have earned the second Blue Max of the Bitter End campaign Pete...
Teaticket's Major Peter Büttner bagged the first in Mission 15 I believe.

How could I forget such an important milestone?
Grey cells are letting me down methinks ....


Congratulations Carl. (Sorry, Peter)


But I do think that will be the last we see.

[mikeemagnus]

Willi Mattheus is awarded the Pour le Merit, the Blue Max, for his 26th victory, the highest order that can be bestowed and he's promoted to Fregattenkapitän

Hey, congratulations that man. Drinks on you tonight then

[Carl_Brisgamer]

EPILOGUE

Jabbeke, Flandern
12 September 1918
1700hrs



Kapitänleutnant Willi Mattheus hung his flying jacket, scarf, helmet and goggles on the pegs fixed to the wall of his office. It had been four days since the See Adler Gruppe had returned to the Flanders Front, and in that time the unit had been mostly grounded due to bad weather. At least being back at Jabbeke, regarded by the Marineflieger as their home for the past six months, had brought some semblance of order amidst the chaos of war - even if it was just having the usual place to hang your flying gear.

Willi Mattheus looked out the window at the heavy rain sweeping the field, driven almost horizontal by the strong winds. The Schwarzer Männer had pushed all the machines back into their hangars as protection from the elements. The ground crews were still kept busy attending to their many tasks - overhauling engines, cleaning and oiling machine guns, checking control lines and linkages - all under the watchful gaze of chief mechanic Franz Heglemeyer who never actually seemed to sleep. For the exhausted aircrew the enforced inactivity had been welcome at first, but now they were getting restless. Even Mattheus had completed all his reports, an achievement worthy of note in the war diary according to Oberbootsmann Knapp. The officer had even given his loud orderly room clerk the afternoon off, happy to enjoy a brief respite from the NCO’s booming barracks room voice.

The door to the duty hut opened as Oberleutnant Werner Bastian dashed inside, shaking off the water clinging to his own jacket. “Almost as bad as a North Sea gale out there,” reported Mattheus' friend and second in command, “not even the ducks are flying.” Mattheus grinned at the poor joke. Bastian had lost his wife and child three months ago, and it had almost broken him. It was the Kameradschaft of the See Adlers that brought him back from the brink. A shadow still hung over the Berliner, but sometimes the old good humoured Bastian pushed his way through. The thought that a man could keep some of his old self undamaged by the war, despite all they had gone through these past years….. it gave him at least some hope for the future.

Mattheus turned away from the window, reaching for his cap. “Come Werner,” said the Gruppenkommandeur, walking into the duty room, “I think we can safely say our flying day is done. Time for a drink.”

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

Chateau de Pelichy, Flandern
12 September 1918
1900hrs



With more bad weather forecast for the morning, beer, spirits and champagne were flowing freely at the Chateau de Pelichy. Officers and NCOs mixed freely in the great hall of the manor house that served admirably as the combined See Adler pilots’ and observers’ mess. For the first time in many weeks all the aircrew were together in one place.

Their commander Kapitänleutnant Willi Mattheus was on his second glass of champagne and engaged in an animated conversation with Oberleutnant Werner Bastian and Leutnant Lothar Nagel. Leutnant Hermann Meyer, now wearing the black and white ribbon of the Iron Cross on his tunic, was replaying his last victory over an American SPAD for Vizeflugmeister Alexander Zenzes and Flugmeister Gerhard Hubrich. Flugmaat Franz Henzel, Leutnant Heinrich Maas and Flugmeister Kurt Krüger sat at a table playing Skat and drinking beer.

At that moment Oberbootsmann Heinz Knapp marched into the hall, came to attention and saluted KptLt. Mattheus. “What is it Knapp?,” asked Mattheus. “And quietly now,” he added with a sideways smile to his officers, “we are not on parade.”

“Herr Kapitänleutnant,” began Knapp, swallowing nervously before continuing, “the Admiral is here.”

It took a moment for Mattheus’ champagne lubricated brain to process the information. The Admiral? A surprise inspection perhaps? He just had time to place his glass down on the bar and straighten his tunic when the doors to the hall opened and in strode Admiral Ludwig von Schröder, commander off the Marinekorps Flandern. Brought out of retirement at the start of the war, he was short and stout in stature, with a shock of white hair and a closely cropped beard. But the Admiral had an aura about him that inspired confidence and loyalty in his men, to whom he was known as the ‘Lion of Flanders’.



KptLt. Mattheus called the mess to attention and greeted the distinguished visitor with a salute, “Herr Admiral, the See Adler Gruppe welcomes you to Jabbeke.”

“It has been too long since I have been able to inspect your unit,” started the Admiral, looking about the suddenly silent room. “I see you are doing your best to maintain morale,” he continued.

“Jawohl Herr Admiral,” replied Mattheus, “with the bad weather I am allowing the men to blow off a little steam.”

“These are trying times, we must all do what we can to keep up our fighting spirit.” Von Schröder smiled, but Mattheus also detected a hint of melancholy in the Admiral’s face.

“At ease meinen Herren,” said the Admiral, turning to address the See Adlers. “I am here tonight to thank you for brave and skilled service in the skies over Flanders. You have been vital to our victories of the past year, and even now our Marinekorps remains undefeated in the field.”

A low cheer rose from the pilots and observers at the Admiral’s words.

“Tonight I am very pleased to be able to reward your efforts in the struggle with the enemies of our Fatherland,” he continued. “You will, I am sure, be happy to hear the report I have just received from Supreme Headquarters.”

One of the Admiral’s aides stepped forward, handing von Schröder a telegram from which he read:

“His Majesty, our Kaiser Wilhelm II, in recognition of his twenty-six victories in the air, has awarded to our valiant Kapitänleutnant Mattheus the highest decoration of the German Empire, the Orden Pour le Merite.”

The Admiral turned to a shocked Willi Mattheus, “Tomorrow you will leave for Berlin where the Kaiser himself will award the decoration. Congratulations Mattheus, it is a well deserved honour.”

The Admiral stepped back as the mess erupted in cheers and the men pushed forward to offer their own congratulations to their commander. Mattheus was still reeling at the news, for despite his recent string of victories the war situation had left him with little time to consider he may have been in line for the ‘Blue Max.’

“I have more news,” said Admiral von Schröder in a grim tone, “your commander is not properly dressed for the occasion.”

Mattheus turned to the Admiral, wondering what was coming next?

“In further recognition of your outstanding leadership of the See Adler Gruppe, the Imperial Admiralty Staff has promoted you to the rank of Korvettenkapitän.”

“Thank you Herr Admiral,” responded Mattheus. “I am humbled by the honours the Kaiser has bestowed. They do not just belong to me however,” he continued, “for without the skill, courage and devotion to duty each man here displays every time they climb into a cockpit, nothing could be achieved. I accept these awards as the proud commander of our band of brothers.”

The liquor flowed freely in the mess, with many toasts to the Kaiser, the Fatherland, the Navy as well as Mattheus.

“Korvettenkapitän,” said the Admiral, guiding Mattheus away from the crowd “I have more news for you. I am being transferred to the Baltic Naval Station.”

“But you are needed here Herr Admiral, surely now more than ever,” said Mattheus, concern furrowing his brow.

“The Kaiser has decreed otherwise,” replied von Schröder. “I think you already know things are bad at home,” the Admiral continued in a low voice, “and in the near future desperate measures may be needed to settle matters for those who would turn their backs on Germany and all our men here at the front.”

“The course of the war is going against us, and the outcome may already be decided,” continued von Schröder with obvious difficulty, “but I need you and the rest of the men to keep their courage up and do their duty to the end. If we can hold out long enough, make the enemy pay dearly enough for each step forward they take, we may yet be able to salvage something from this mess and save the Fatherland.”

Mattheus looked at the Admiral, his gaze suddenly fixed on the blue enamelled Pour le Merite hanging from von Schröder’s own throat. These thoughts had plagued him for months, but now, to hear the words from the ‘Lion of Flanders’ …..

Gathering himself Mattheus replied, “Of course Herr Admiral. The See Adlers stand ready to fight to the last.”

Von Schröder patted Mattheus on the shoulder. “In the past you could expect a month of leave to celebrate your ‘Blue Max’, but I am afraid we cannot spare you for that long.”

“I understand Herr Admiral,” replied Mattheus.

“As much as I would enjoy to spend the evening with your See Adlers, I am afraid I must take my leave. Good luck my boy, I hope to see you again when this is all over and, God willing, we can make an honourable peace.”

[Stumptonian]

A fitting tribute to Mattheus, Carl.

[Setarius]

Congratulations Willi Mattheus on your award and promotion.

[gully_raker]

Well done Willi & well deserved.