Leutnant Herbert Fiedler had had enough of being hamstrung by the ridiculous restrictions forced upon Fokker Eindecker pilots by ‘Die Mächte, die Sein Werden‘ < the ‘Powers That Be’ >
“Das ist eine dumme Regel!“ < it is a stupid rule >
He was referring to the stipulation that pilots flying the Eindecker not enter enemy airspace to ensure that the Entente did not take possession of a downed aircraft and neutralize the advantage the German pilots had with the ingenious interrupter gear that allowed the machine gun to fire through the spinning propeller.
„Wir fliegen mit einer Hand hinter dem Rücken!“ < We fly with one hand behind our back >
The other pilots in the mess nodded in agreement.
„Aber wir können nichts tun ...“ < But there is nothing we can do > rookie pilot Günther Giesebrecht said, shrugging his shoulders.
„Wir werden sehen, ob das stimmt!“ < We will see if that is true >
And with that Fiedler stormed from the mess.
The next morning, there was a commotion in the barracks as rumours started flying about a lone pilot having had an Albatros C.III armed with bombs.
One of the armourers ran back to the commander‘s tent shouting „Oberleutnant Wienand!“
He barely had time to explain when the Albatros could be seen taking off down the airfield and lifting skyward.
„Was zum Teufel macht er?“ < What the hell is he doing? >
Oberleutnant Wienand shouted at two pilots who had just stumbled out of their tent.
“Heubner! Giesebrecht! Geh nach ihm und bring ihn zurück!“ < Go after him and bring him back! >
Huebner and Giesebrecht hurried to their respective Eindeckers and were into the air as quickly as they could, but the renegade pilot had a good head start.
Leutnant Herbert Fiedler, for it was he who had recklessly taken the C.III, had already dropped his bombs on his target and was making his way back across No Man’s Land.
His target had been a small airfield just over the British lines. The lines he could not cross in his Fokker.
He had heard about this airfield from aircrew who had been able to cross the lines. Two-Seater crews.
In fact his target was an abandoned field with a broken down BE.2c that had seen its last mission a while back and had been deemed unworthy of any effort to get it airborne again. His bombs, even if they had hit their target, would have had no effect on the enemy, but Fiedler had no way of knowing that.
“Ich habe die Bastarde gezeigt!“ < I showed the bastards > he shouted to no one but himself.
Whether he was referring to the enemy, or to his own High Command, was irrelevant, especially now that he could see aircraft approaching ...
From his left he saw a monoplane heading straight at him.
For a moment he thought it was an Eindecker coming to escort him home.
But then he saw it was not a Fokker.
“Englander!” he shouted aloud.
Actually the pilot in the approaching Morane-Saulnier was Canadian, Duncan Moore.
Checking his situational awareness, as had been drummed into all the students in flight school, he noted movement over his right shoulder.
“Ein anderer Engländer!” < another Englishman >
This time he was right. It was another Morane ‘Bullet’, flown by Lt Edward Fitzgerald.
Moore gets the first shots in.
Tikka tikka
No noticeable damage.
The Morane is slightly higher than the C.III and is out of range.
Fiedler tries to maneuver out of harm’s way, but flies straight into a steady stream of bullets.
Tikka tikka
This time he sees bits of fabric and wood breaking away from around his engine and then “Rauch!”
Smoke starts to stream from a severed oil line.
Huebner closes in past the smoking Albatros, but is too far away to get a shot at the Morane, which is at slightly higher altitude.
Tikka Tikka
Fitzgerald gets a solid hit on the green Eindecker and is pleased to see a flicker of flame coming from the Fokker.
Note: This should have been a +1 for altitude advantage
Moore dives his Morane to cut off the Albatros.
Giesebrecht is finally within range and fires up at the Morane.
Fitzgerald sees some new ‘stitching’ in his right wing.
Huebner’s attention is all on the flames and trying to keep them from doing further damage by shifting left and right.
“Ein anderer verdammter Engländer!” < another %$#& Englishman >
Giesebrecht sees 2Lt John Moncrieff approaching just to his right and slightly behind.
Hueber is otherwise occupied and doesn’t notice the new threat.
Fitzgerald dives just in time to miss colliding with Giesebrecht.
Moncrieff targets the burning green Eindecker but misses by a wide margin.
Huebner’s flames flare up in spite of his frantic maneuvers.
Huebner takes advantage of an opportunity and catches Moore flying right in his line of fire.
Tikka tikka tikka
Moore manages to squeak past Huebner but not in time to catch the Albatros.
Fiedler finds some low cloud and makes his escape!
Huebner begins to think about finding an open area to land his burning Eindecker as the flames give him grave concerns of a horrible end.
But then the flames recede …
Tikka Tikka
Huebner catches Moore again. This time it is the Canadian’s turn to worry as smoke starts to stream past his cockpit.
Moore is certain he has seen these Fokkers before. He has, just a few weeks ago, while on escort duty with a BE.2c.
“Déjà vu” he muses seeing the smoke. “Not again!” he shouts.
He performs an Immelmann turn, hoping that smoke does not turn into flame.
Moncrieff has an eagles view of his prey.
Moncrieff selects his target and Giesebrecht is the recipient this time.
*Another +1 missed
Tikka tik…
Moore squints past the streaming smoke as he fires at Giesebrecht’s Eindecker.
“Damn it all to hell!”
His Vickers has jammed!
The rookie Giesebrecht is still slow when it comes to reacting to incoming fire.
Tikka tikka tikka
He finally returns fire at the smoking ‘Bullet’ but definitely needs to work on his aiming skills.
Tikka tikka
Fitzgerald’s turn to fire at thin air.
Tikka Tikka
Giesebrecht fires up at Moncrieff’s Morane and damages the rudder controls.
Tikka tikka
Tikka tikka
Huebner and Fitzgerald trade shots as they approach.
Huebner gets the worst of the draw. His Fokker cannot take much more.
“Zeit zurück zu gehen …” < Time to go back >
He hopes he can get Giesebrecht’s attention. He does not want to leave the young rookie alone against three.
Giesebrecht continues his harassment of Moncrieff and does some major damage.
* This should have been +1
Suddenly Huebner’s view is filled with the sight of a Morane!
Somehow the two pilots manage to miss each other by a hair’s breadth.
Tikka tik …
“Verdammte Waffe ist gestaut!” < Damned weapon is jammed >
“Ich sollte meine Kugeln wie Huebner überprüfen“ < I should check my bullets like Huebner does >
Fitzgerald performs an Immelmann.
In fact all three Morane pilots reverse at the same time, almost as if choreographed.
Tikka tikka
“Flammen!”
Giesebrecht sees flames and begins to panic.
Moore is relieved when the smoke suddenly stops.
“No fire this time, thank God.”
His mind had been filled with memories of the last time when he had to deal with streaming flames.
Giesebrecht, however, struggles with his burning Fokker and manages to keep the flame from growing.
Tikka Tikka
Huebner hits Moncrieff’s Morane and does more damage to the control cables.
Luckily he won’t need to make a right turn for a while.
Tikka tikka
Fitzgerald has the green Eindecker right where he wants it.
Huebner had been right to head for home. His Fokker was finished.
“Kaputt!”
He fights his Eindecker all the way down and just clips the tip of a tree before finishing in a field.
Moncrieff sees the lone remaining Fokker briefly, but then even the flame is lost in a thick patch of cloud and Giesebrecht manages to get away from his attackers.
… but he still has the fire to deal with.
A bit more fabric is lost to the flames, but then he can give a huge sigh of relief.
The airfield is in sight. But where is Huebner?
The Butcher’s Tally
Adler
Fokker E.III
Ltn Till Huebner SD FT
C&W Roll 10 -1 SD = 9 “All is well.”
Fokker E.III
Ltn Günther Giesebrecht FRTB-F
Albatros C.III
Ltn Herbert Fiedler : RTB
Onkel to determine how many weeks he will be grounded for his escapade.
Bulldogs
Morane-Saulnier N ‘Bullet’
2Lt Duncan Moore : RTB
Morane-Saulnier N ‘Bullet’
2Lt John Moncrieff : RTB
Morane-Saulnier N ‘Bullet’
Lt Edward Fitzgerald : RTB – 1 kill (Fokker E.III)
Victory Conditions:
Adler
Two-seater escaped : 1
Bulldogs
E.III shot down : 2
E.III FRTB : 1
Bulldogs hold the bragging rights for this one.
Epilogue
Huebner was lucky, but did not feel it.
This was the first time he had had to find alternate means to return to base, and the first time he was without anything to show for his efforts, let alone without his aircraft!
He managed a lift on the back of a supply truck. Only his pride was wounded.
He was relieved to see Giesebrecht’s E.III although it was showing signs of the flames it had endured, not unlike his own.
Then he saw the C.III that had been the reason for today’s outing.
Fiedler had made it home as well, but the air had been blue when he faced Oberleutnant Wienand.
At least Huebner would not have to deal with that ….
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Well my Adler managed to survive but the Bulldogs take the day.
While writing up the AAR I cringed as I saw several +1 I had missed.
Both sides were affected, and I do not think it would have changed the outcome, but I must try to take better notes.
More than once I realized an error just after taking the photo, so took another shot but still forgot to place a +1 marker.
Interesting mission, Mike.
I hope Onkel doesn’t go too hard on Fiedler. I might need him for Mission 5.
Now on to writing that mission for next month’s adventure …
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