The Bulldogs C flight leader Lt. Reg Fife-Brand called his 2 BE 2 crews & the Gunbus duo of Dusty Rhodes & AM2 Hamish Macbeth to the Flight Office to discuss the days missions.
"Right lads, at ease. We need the two BE's to undertake an important Artillery ranging mission against a Hun heavy battery that is giving our trench chappies one hell of a pasting!"
"H.Q. have the coordinates from a flyover so we can give you the area you need to cover. Lofty I want you to fly as escort in the BE with the oblique firing Lewis on the fuselage with young Quartermain as gunner while 2nd Lt. Hardie will fly the ranging aircraft with Apsland doing the Morse work. Dusty you & Macbeth will take the morning patrol over the trench line & keep a lookout for any German Observation planes lurking around"
The two BE crews got together to study the maps & coordinates for the mission.
Meanwhile Dusty & Hamish prepared the Gunbus for the Patrol
Over at the Eagles Nest the KEK Commander Obltn Wilhelm Bassenge address the pilots & crew detailed for today's activities.
"Helmet I want you to fly an important Observation & Photographic mission in the Aviatik with Hans Groos who has photographic training. Your Mission is to fly along & photograph our front Trench line so H.Q can look for weak spots etc so the can commence planning for a Spring Offensive. This is a vital job so be very careful & bring us back what is required."
"Now Wilhelm I want you on standby ready to take off in one of our Eindekkers should any of the Englishers have the temerity to overfly our lines!"
The stage was now set for the days outcome.
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As Dusty & Hamish flew towards the front lines they saw the familiar shape of a German Aviatik Observation aircraft heading for the front lines. Dusty made towards an intersection point as fast as the old Gunbus could manage.
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The German plane also made towards the commencement of the German trench line.
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As the German aircraft turned to fly along the lines Dusty had judged his approach perfectly for a head on attack. Hamish fired the Lewis only to have it stutter to a stop after a few rounds. "Ach! Fething ammo, the poor wee thing canna even fire for a decent burst! mays well have a bluudy pistol!"
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Dusty narrowly avoided a collision with the Aviatik as they passed each other!
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As they separated the Observer of the Hun aircraft took a shot at the Gunbus but missed.
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Meanwhile the two BE's were approaching the target area & Alfred Apsland sent off the first Morse message to prepare the British Artillery for ranging.
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The phone at the Eagles Kette office rang! "Yar! Yar, two you say? Vee vill send the Fokker immediately". Ground crew ran to the waiting Fokker & quickly gave directions to Ltn. Wilhelm Thiede so he could intercept the British Aircraft. He smiled & thought "Yes more fodder for us today!"
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Alfred Apsland now sent the "commence firing" signal to the Battery.
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But they became aware of a Fokker E.III closing in on them rapidly & Lofty Hill prepared to defend his charge.
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Soon the Fokker was in range of the leading BE & got a good burst into it however Lofty's Lewis was out of Arc & he could not return fire.
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The Fokker now targeted the second BE & damaged its rudder.
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However the Fokker now came under fire from both observers of the British aircraft but little damage was done & the spotter BE's gun jammed!
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The German Observation plane had continued to photograph their front line whilst the Gunbus valiantly tried to catch up after unjamming the Lewis.
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Alf Apsland now sent the correction to the Artillery Battery as their ranging shot fell behind & to the left of the target.
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As the Gunbus was turning it had the chance of a shot at the Fokker whose rudder had been damaged by fire from the BE's.
Hamish "Whooped" as for once his gun had not jammed.
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Apsland was again disappointed when the next shot from the Artillery fell to the right of the target but much closer!
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The German Aviatik having completed its mission now turned for home with its precious photographs as the Gunbus strove to close within range. The manoeuvring of the German aircraft had assisted the slower Gunbus to have a slim chance to do so.
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The last Morse correction had borne fruit & the next shot from the British guns hit the enemy battery dead center wiping out the entire battery as its ammunition exploded as well.
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The Gunbus finally got a chance at the Aviatik as it turned towards home but sadly the burst went wide much to Hamish's consternation & verbiage! (@#**^@#)
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The Eindekker had finally returned to hassle the BE's & exchanged a front on pass with Lofty's BE & was surprised by receiving damage from its front Lewis which just managed to get its arc to hit the German aircraft. Both planes took damage.
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Using its firing Arc to advantage the Gunbus got a burst into the retreating Aviatik only to have the Lewis jamb once again. The German Observer was almost certain he heard a stream of Scots burr over the sound of the engines. The Aviatik had to take avoiding action as the returning BE of Hardie & Apsland flew towards home with a job well done.
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As the two aircraft separated their observers exchanged shots & whilst the British plane heavily damaged the Aviatik the return fire set the BE on fire.
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Further away Lofty Hill & the E.III of Ltn Thiede continued to duel & Alex Quartermain got a solid burst into the Fokker which wounded the pilot & started the Fokker smoking as it fell to the ground mortally damaged!
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Quartermain tried a shot at the Aviatik as it passed him at long range but his gun jammed & the German aircraft returned safely to its aerodrome.
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Sadly the BE that had successfully ranged the Artillery succumbed to the fire before it could reach safety & crashed in No Mans Land. The fate of the crew is unknown at this stage.
Comments
Well that was a very interesting game with way too many jams again for the old Gunbus. Hamish will be furious with his armourer when he gets back to the Doggies Aerodrome!
Sad that the ranging BE went down but they did their job well.
I used Dave's D8 charts & flew my nominated pilot Dusty Rhodes.
That was at least a Draw for the Brits this time with both sides gaining 10 Victory points.
Interesting that both sides lost one aircraft each & the Aviatik suffered 10 damage. What might have been without all those JAMS!
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