Bentangles Aerodrome--0800 hours-27th January 1916
Prologue
Inside C Flights command hut Lt. Reginald Fife-Brand was knee deep in paperwork.
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There were Requisitions, Combat Reports, Parts requests, Mess requirements not to mention Intelligence Reports which required scrutiny. One interesting thing was the report of a new German Biplane that had been encountered by some Squadrons recently. Thank the Lord that at last there was to be some relief in sight as a new single seat fighter the DH-2 was due to be introduced shortly & indeed 2nd Lt "Dusty" Rhodes was now at St Omer having training on the new aircraft.
Suddenly his ruminations were interrupted by the strident bellow of a RAF V8 engine from a BE 2c. "What the Devil?" cried Reg. "We have no flights programmed for this morning perhaps it just an engine test" This solution was quickly squashed as the engine noise rose in pitch & continued to rev harder.
Leaving the hut he was greeted by the sight of a BE 2c climbing away from the aerodrome.
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Striding out on to the 'drome he rounded on a group of ground crew who were also watching the plane as it disappeared into the morning mist.
"What the bloody hell is going on Corporal Smithers" he demanded of the senior NCO in the group.
Saluting smartly Smithers explained that Flight Sgt Griswold (known to all C flight as "Pudden" as he hailed from Yorkshire) had ordered his ground crew to bomb up the BE for a special mission. "We presumed he had been ordered to do a solo mission Sir" replied Smithers looking rather sheepish.
"Damn & bloody hell" Shouted the Flight Commander. "What is the young fool up to?" Smithers looking particularly contrite said Griswold had mentioned a German Airfield near the front lines which appeared to not be defended by AA guns.
Still cursing under his breath Fife-Brand rounded up Flight Sgt Stark & the experienced Lt. "Lofty" Hill & ordered them to chase the "young fool" & try to bring him back safely so I can tear strips off him. "Stark you take the Morane & Lofty grab that new FE 2b with Quartermain as your gunner".
The Mission
Set Up
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Flight Sgt. Lawrence Griswold was feeling rather pleased with himself. He had grabbed the opportunity to show his ingenuity & spunk & successfully bombed the German airfield he had spotted during one of the regular patrols over the trenches. He had destroyed a German plane on the 'drome as well. He was sure his success would overcome any criticism for his high handed actions. Suddenly he was brought back to reality by the sound of a Spandau cracking & bullets tearing at the fabric of his plane. In his dreaming he had failed to notice not one but two German aircraft closing on his unarmed BE. "God!" "What have I done?" he thought. "I have to get back to base ASAP!"
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As the rescue party closed on the scene they saw that Griswold's panic moves had flat footed the German aircraft which included a new Biplane they had not encountered before.
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The German Biplane which was indeed one of the new Halberstadt D.II's flown by the Eagles leader Obltn Wilhelm Bassenge had already reacted & turned towards the fleeing British aircraft.
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As the rescue planes closed they saw that the German biplane using its superior speed & manoeuvrability had closed on the BE & again attacked this time causing damage to the BE's Engine.
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A general melee now occurred with the Halberstadt getting a good burst into Stark's Morane which could not return fire & the Fee only managed minimum damage to the German biplane. The Eindekker opened fire on the Fee but its gun immediately jammed!
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The next moment one of those inexplicable things happened. The Eindekker collided with the FE 2b & the fragile German aircraft fell apart & crashed to the ground behind the British Trenches whilst the sturdy Fee suffered no damage at all!
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Hampered by the damaged engine Griswold struggled towards the Bulldogs aerodrome while the Halberstadt closed in for the kill!
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As he flew over the wreckage of the Fokker, Lofty was surprised to see another E.III appear out of the clouds off to his Port side. Alerting Alex Quartermain by slapping the nacelle he pointed in the direction of the new danger.
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The two aircraft quickly closed to shooting range & the Fee got in serious damage to the Fokker thanks to Quartermain's accurate gunnery.
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Meanwhile Bassenge's Halberstadt continued to harass the BE & suddenly Lawrence Griswold felt a hammer blow to his right shoulder. "#*2^" he cried. "I am wounded, this idea of glory has gone to Hell in a Basket!"
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Bassenge closed in for the kill & his next burst proved fatal to the BE & it spiralled into the ground for a hard crash landing in British territory.
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The Fee now closed on the Halberstadt but Quartermain's snap shot missed.
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Brandon Stark's Morane had returned to the battle after pulling an Immleman & got a good burst into the grey biplane whose gun jammed after a few shots.
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Ltn Carl-August Schwartz's green Fokker E.III had now managed to return to the eagles aerodrome with the Oberusal engine firing on about 50% of its cylinders & after landing he switched off & went looking for a restorative schnapps.
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Lofty Hill had now also closed on the Halberstadt & Alex's burst caused the German aircraft to commence smoking.
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With the last rounds from his Lewis guns magazine Alex Quartermain managed to cause more slight damage to the German Biplane.
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The German aircraft then returned the favour but its shots went wide.
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Stark now took up the fight while Quartermain changed the Lewis' Magazine & his shots set the Halberstadt on fire which immediately flared up & caused the German aircraft to crash into the ground a smoking wreck in British territory.
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The two British aircraft now turned for home hoping for some good news regarding the fate of young Griswald.
Comments & Observations
Well that was a most enjoyable little game & it was good to field two new Aircraft in the scenario. Used Dave's D8 charts, no altitude & ALL aircraft flown by AI as my named pilot is over at St Omer getting prepped for the advent of the DH-2's. For once all the jams hit the Germans this time!
Victory Points
German Forces: 1 point for shooting down BE 2c
British Forces: 2 points for shooting down Halberstadt
1 point for Green Fokker E.III forced return to base with damaged engine.
(I did not count the CDL Fokker crashed due to Collision!)
Total Points: 3
Therefore a BRITISH VICTORY! (yeh, Finally!)
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