The Scenario Set Up
This is AAR is a variant of the 2nd mission of the OTT Campaign – Daring Young Men: Coming and Going. This would be the going part – i.e., intercepting an enemy reconnaissance mission which is intended to assess damage done by a previous enemy bombing mission. The scenario was designed by Teaticket:
https://www.wingsofwar.org/forums/sh...g-by-Teaticket
My variant is set in the Fall of 1917 on the Italian Front.
In the first half of the scenario two scouts from Flik 55J-bis flown by inexperienced pilots intercepted one of the returning bombmers – a Caproni. They managed to shoot down the Caproni but were both shot down themselves.
https://www.wingsofwar.org/forums/sh...least-halfway)
This AAR picks up the action from that point. The scenario rules are that if both scouts from the first half survive they continue on to the second half but if at least one of the scouts is downed or forced to return to base there will be a reinforcement scout. Since I lost both scouts, there will only be the reinforcing scout which will have the mission of intercepting the reconnaissance aircraft. The recce aircraft will be escorted by the same airplane that escorted the Caproni.
Note: the escort was only supposed to appear with the recce aircraft. If I done the scenario as intended there’d be two intercepting scouts. So to compensate I gave the reinforcing interceptor two ace skills – trigger finger and sniper.
As I don’t have an appropriate recce plane flown by the Italians in late 1917, I substituted a RAF RE8 – supposedly because the Italians are evaluating a replacement for their aging recce planes.
The Scenario Action
Feldwebel József (“Josi”) Kiss was searching the skies for two Albatrosse from Flik 55J-bis. József was from Flik 55J whose pilots were supposed to mentor those from Flik 55J-bis. The CO of 55J-bis, Michael von Taaffe of Irish descent, was having second thoughts about sending up two of his young pilots alone. So he had phoned Josef’s CO, Oberleutnant Josef von Maier, and asked that one of von Maier’s pilots be sent out to look after von Taaffe’s.
József didn’t particularly like the job of baby-sitting but he liked the Oberleutnant. There were some CO’s – like the CO of Flik 42J - that could real bastards when it came to how they treated their enlisted men. In 55J, Josef, as he liked to called by his men (in the mess only, not when on duty – then it was Herr Oberleutnant) had created a real camaraderie among the officers and enlisted pilots.
József had met the pilots of 55J-bis. All were young and inexperienced – not that József was old, he was just 21 years old. Neither was the Oberleutnant, who was 28. József so desperately wanted to be an officer. His grandfather was a generalleutnant but he was executed for choosing the wrong side in the revolution of 1848-49. Perhaps becoming an officer would in some way redeem his family name.
József’s thoughts were interrupted. Off in the distance he saw several aeroplanes engaged In combat. One was an enemy Caproni, two were Albatrosse painted I the scheme of 55J-bis and other looked like it might be a Nieuport. Those are our boys, he thought. He banked his machine right, in the direction of the combat, but in an instant all hell broke loose. One of the Albatrosse exploded, while the Caproni was on fire and in a death spiral. The remaining Albatros looked like it was in trouble too. Damn…two of our machines down but at least they got the Caproni. Time to make the Nieuport pay his dues.
Before József could reach the Nieuport, it had turned around and rendezvoused with a reconnaissance aeroplane. József didn’t recognize it but it was clearly a two-seater that was probably on it’s way to determine whatever damage the Caproni had done. Well, thought József, he won’t find out if I can help it.
Photo 1 (initial positions): József spots the two Italian machines off to the right.
Photo 2 (end of phases 1 & 2): The Nieuport spots József and crosses in front of the RAF RE8 to intercept him.
You need have debt, Nieuport, thought József, but it will have to wait until after I deal with the snoop.
Photo 3 (end of phase 3): József uses a cloud bank to elude the Nieuport.
The RE8 saw József just in time to bank his machine out of the way of József’s bullets.
Photo 4 (end of phase 4): Sometimes it doesn’t help to be a sniper – getting to choose between a 0 and a 0 – what fun.
A few bullets from the RE8 ripped through József’s wings. I’ve got to focus, thought József.
Photo 5(end of phase 5): The RE8 is getting the better of the deal so far.
Photo 6 (end of phase 6): Well, at least until the RE8’s rear gun jams and József finds his mark.
Photo 7 (end of phase 7) is MIA: I thought I took it but apparently when I checked this morning it wasn’t there. There was a brief exchange with minor damage on both the RE8 and József’s machine.
Photo 8 (end of phase 8): Formation flying by József and the RE8.
Photo 9 (end of phase 9): József closes in on the RE8.
Photo 10 (end of phase 10) was also MIA and it was an important one. József did major damage on the RE8 (see butcher’s bill later).
Photo 11 (end of phase 11): The RE8 hangs in and dishes out some damage back at József.
Photo 12 (end of phase 12): The RE8 pilot is flying well – doing a good job of keeping out of József’s sights.
Photo 13 (end of phase 13): But József is the better pilot….[and József used both the sniper and itchy trigger finger skills]
Photo 14: The RE8 crashes to the ground.
That evens up the score; now for that Nieuport, thought József. He checked his fuel gauge. Damn, he thought, another time Nieuport – another time. He banked his plane right and headed back to base.
End results – a victory for Fliks 55J/55J-bis
Butcher’s Bill – for the 2nd half
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Feldwebel József Kiss – Albatros D.III / RTB / 1 Kill
Result – All good
Unknown pilot – Nieuport 17 / RTB / 0 kills
Result – all good
Unknown crew – RAF RE8 / SD – ET / 0 kills
Pilot
C&W: 9 – 1 (SD) = 8 (injured); Roll = 4 (miss 2 scenarios)
E&E: 8 – 1 (ET) – 1(W) = 6 (in hiding); Roll = 4 (miss 2 scenarios)
Result = miss 2 scenarios
Observer
C&W: 7 – 1 (SD) = 5 (injured); Roll = 3 (miss 2 scenarios)
E&E: 11 – 1 (ET) – 1(W) = 9 (they didn’t even see me)
Result = miss 2 scenarios
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