RFC
Lt P Rhodes (p) Harry Jones (bullet checker) (o) Sopwith 7
2Lt C Wagner (p) Toby Cannon (o) Sopworth 8.
2Lt J Smith (p) Gordon Houseman (o) Be2 Photo
Eagles
Oblt P Degenhardt (strong const) (p) Eric Camman (o) Roland (blue)
Lt Hans Wiese (p) Lt Ernst Vogel (o) Roland (purple)
Lt Jann Bitten (p) S Grasse (o) Aviatik Photo
It took a good 30 mins for the dust, debris and smoke to settle after the charges were detonated. The shock wave had left the PBI on both sides dazed and confused. British troops had occupied some of the craters ,but HQ was uncertain as to the remaining bomb sites hence the call for a photo recon. A Be2 was seconded from another Squadron for the photo part of the mission. The Bulldogs got to escort them but in 2 seaters as all the scouts were deployed on other missions.
Rhodes and Jones lead the flight. Below looked a complete mess, Water was filling the craters near the Scorff river and troops from both sides seemed to be moving up jostling for position on the new NML. A coloured flare went up from the Allied lines, arcing over the Germans front.
Rhodes feared the worst. A flare like that only meant one thing. Artillery.
Scanning the German lines, he saw another go up. Rhodes banked the plane towards the German lines, the second Sopwith following to port hoping to catch the enemy planes by surprise . The BE2 trundled behind them by some ½ mile.
Both sides accelerated towards each other Rhodes had a Roland in his sights when he heard the unmistakable sound of an approaching shell Suddenly there were flames licking from Rhodes target (4+fire) , and an orange flash as a second shell hit the other German plane square in the cockpit. (EXP)
Rhodes poured more misery on the burning plane the bullets pounding home. Harry Jones the observer for the mission continued the punishment hitting the already damaged fuel tank igniting a second fire.
The second Sopwith was above and ahead of the Aviatik they both exchanged a short burst before the German's gun jammed. Flying on Grasse got the first crater in his camera's eyepiece. Meanwhile Smith guided the BE2 towards the first of the craters Houseman happily clicking away.
A shell from a second salvo straddled both the Strutters. Rhodes' plane taking the brunt of damage as shrapnel ripped through the wings hitting the engine block and effectively putting an end to his part in protecting the BE2
Wiese struggled with burning crate. With two fires to contend with his only hope was to head for the safety of German soil but Wagner had turned sharp to port and caught the Roland with a passing shot, (1+RRD). Weise replied with a dull series of clicks from his gun. Vogel the obs was more fortunate firing as the planes passed each other (1,0) but it was a little too late, Wiese screamed as the flames engulfed the stricken plane, the wings disintegrated and the Roland plummeted to the ground.
The Aviatik and BE2 circled the craters one following the other in a bizarre dance. Rhodes also by this time had left the area and Wagner was the only hunter left in the skies. Shells continued to rain down on the new battlefront lines , fortunately missing the planes above .
Bitten skilfully manoeuvred the German 2 seater over another target. Wagner closed in on the German, who flipped right and passed the Strutter heading for another section to be photographed.
Wagner was forced to haul the Sopwith round in as tight a turn as he could make in order to line up for another run at the Aviatik (turn 4)
But it was Houseman in the BE2 that did for the German. A long burst at short range hit the engine, destroying several cylinders as they passed through the nose section
(2,2+Eng)
Smith passed over the last crater and turned for home. The lone German plane, his mission now impossible, also looked to escape. Wagner, however, was keen to bag a limping Hun but the distance between them was too great and the Aviatik slipped away.
Butcher's Tally
RFC
Lt P Rhodes (p) Sopwith 7 - FRTB-E 0 kills
Harry Jones (bullet checker) (o) - FRTB-E 0 kills
2Lt C Wagner (p) Sopworth 8 - RTB 1 Kill
Toby Cannon (o) - RTB 0 kills
2Lt John Smith (p) BE2 Photo - RTB 0 kills
AM3 Gordon Houseman (o) RTB 0 kills 6 photos
Eagles
Oblt P Degenhardt (strong const) (p) Roland (blue) SD-EXP- ET 0 kills (due to artillery fire).
Rolled 4 -3EXP = 1 KIA
Eric Camman (o) SD-EXP- ET 0 kills
Rolled 11 -3EXP = 8 - Injured - Skip 1D2 Scenario. Rolled 3 = Skip 1
E&E Rolled 9 -1EXP -1BEL -1WIC = 6 In hiding! - Skip 1D2 Scenarios. Rolled 2 = skip 1 Total Skips 1 (Lucky bugger !)
Lt Hans Wiese (p) Roland (purple) SD-FLM- ET 0 kills
Rolled 10-2FLM = 8 - Injured - Skip 1D2 Scenario. Rolled 1 = Skip 1
E&E Rolled 10 -1FLM -1BEL -1WIC = 7 Landed almost home! - Skip 1 Scenario. Total Skips 1
Lt Ernst Vogel (o) SD-FLM- ET 0 kills
Rolled 3 -2FLM = 1 KIA
Lt Jann Bitten (p) Aviatik Photo FRTB-E 0 kills
S Grasse (o) FRTB-E 0 kills. 5 photos
Adendum
Mike I didn't use your your AA and ground fire part of the scenario as I figured rightly or not that the troops would be to dazed to bother with airplanes as the enemy were swarming the craters. Instead I substituted the risk of being hit by ground artillery shells, which as it turned out was pretty lethal. The whole scenario was shall we say short and sweet , only 6 turns but somewhat bloody in its outcome.
Dave if you could do the honours for the fallen pilots and planes i would be grateful. Due to site problems the only photos I could upload are the end few but hey ho that's the internet for you.
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