Ahead of the next attack on the French lines command had demanded full and detailed photographs of the terrain and the defence structures behind them. This meant a low and slow pass over enemy territory & their fortresses, a daunting mission to be sure but that probably explained why it had been laid at the door of the Eagles.
What they did not, and could not know, was that the allies knew they were coming and that the Bulldogs had been positioned to intercept their effort.
"So far so good" thought Obltn Johannes Achilles - they had made it to the lines with no opposition but as they crossed the allied trenches he saw a red flare burn bright over the fortress ahead of them.
"Maybe they hear us coming" he mused "but why the flare ?"
L-R: Ltn Hans Eberhardt-Gossner(E.III); Ltns Otto Festner & Karl Schilling (C.III); ObltnWolfram Reimer & Ltn Claus Ritscherle (C.III); Obltn Johannes Achilles (E.III)
The Albatros crews busy themselves photographing the territory leading to the fort from level two.
As they ready themselves to picture the fort's defensive attributes they become subject to some of them - machinegun rounds slap through the fabric of their machines as they pass at close range, Festner's coughs out some white smoke..
They continue their work despite the onslaught - Festner's engine is damaged and he must turn for home
but he keeps company with his leader long enough for Schilling to get a photo of the layout behind the fort.
The Bulldogs arrive suddenly
2Lt Cameron Paine (me)
& 2Lt Alistair Gaither
swoop out of the clag but are unable to capitalise on their surprise.
The Fokkers Immel immediately, being already in the process of doing so, and within moments latch on to the Bulldogs as they look to gain an advantage on the turning tandems.
Paine feels the rounds patter into his machine and braces himself for more to come
Gaither is luckier as his opponent's gun jams before any major damage can be caused
Paine bears the brunt of the German's hate as he takes hits from Achilles' Fokker as well as Festner's gun, Achilles jams but only after causing serious damage. Schilling also takes the opportunity to lace 2Lt Phillip Atterley's machine as it unwittingly appears alongside them, and continues to pour it on until he too jams his gun
Paine whips his DH2 around in an Immel but popping up in that manner he exposes himself to long range effort from Ritscherle in the other C.III.
Gaither, having slipped Gossner gets into it by opening up on Festner's machine
Atterley, having been grounded for some weeks rewards Gaithers efforts by running into him and doing not inconsiderable damage with his undercart to his flight leader's machine
Taking advantage of the jammed gun Gaither presses home his attack at close range and sets Festner's C.III alight. Paine does the same with Reimers decorated C.III but causes no significant damage at all - he curses his luck roundly.
Achilles reverses and opens up on Paine, Gaither empties his Lewis into Festner's plane, hitting it hard but swerving right to avoid Reimer's tail Paine unleashes a close range fusillade that lashes Festner's cockpits knocking down both Schilling and their machine - kill to Paine !
As the C.III falls away, Gaither struggles to reload as Ritscherle lays an accurate burst into him damaging his controls
Seeking cover of the blindspot both DH.2's close in - Paine puts his final rounds into the C.III and sees fire bloom - Yes ! A second victory perhaps ?
Will he ever know ? As he celebrates he strays in front of Gaither who, busy clearing his gun, promptly smashes his tail up and knocks him from the sky !
Gaither, angry at the turn of events, exchanges fire with the C.III
Atterly is making back to the fight when the Fokker's reverse once more
Gaither continues his pursuit - swapping lead with the gunner until his gun runs dry again
Atterly gets an angle and makes use of it by shooting up Achilles' Fokker
Gaither is not only out of ammo but out of luck - as he changes his pan Gossner calmly dispatches him with a long and accurate burst that drops him into no mans land, guaranteeing success of the German mission.
Atterley, his gun dry and with the attention of a pair of healthy Fokker's decides to call it a day and after a brief exchange dives away for home
Butcher's Tally:
Bulldogs
2Lt Cameron Paine: (DH.2 cdl) (me) EXP(col) FT 1 kill
Rolled 8 -3EXP = 5 Rolled 8 -3EXP = 5 - Injured - Skip 1D3 Scenarios . Rolled 4 = Skip 2
2Lt Alistair Gaither: (DH.2 PC10) SD-NML 0 kills
Rolled 10 -1SD -1NML = 8 - Injured - Skip 1D2 Scenario. Rolled 3 = Skip 1
E&E: Rolled 11 +1NML -1WIC = 10 - They didn't even see me! Total Skips 1
2Lt Phillip Atterley: (DH.2 cdl tail) RTB 0 kills
Eagles
Obltn Johannes Achilles: (striped E.III) RTB 0 kills
Ltn Hans Eberhardt-Gossner:(plain E.III) RTB 0 kills
ObltnWolfram Reimer: (P2 Decorated C.III) RTB 0 kills
Ltn Claus Ritscherle: (O) RTB 1 kill
Ltn Otto Festner: (P2 plain C.III) SD-FLM-ET 0 kills
Rolled 9 -2FLM = 7 - Injured - Skip 1D2 Scenario. Rolled 4 = Skip 2
E&E: Rolled 10 -1FLM -1WIC -1BEL = 7 Landed almost home! - Skip 1 Scenario. Total Skips: 2 (RW)
Ltn Karl Schilling: (C.III) SD-FLM-ET / WIA / 0 kills
Rolled 6 -2FLM -1WIA = 3 - Injured - Skip 1D6 Scenarios. Rolled 6 = Skip 6
E&E: Rolled 11 -1FLM -1WIA -1WIC -1BEL = 7 Landed almost home! - Skip 1 Scenario. Total Skips: 6 (R5W)
Victory Points:
Eagles:
2 pics of fort = 4
6 pics compass = 6
1 Scout shot down = 1
Total 11 Points
Bulldogs:
1 tandem shot down = 2
Total 2 points
Obviously I scaled this down to fit with my available crews, other than the delayed start for the Bulldogs the game went along nicely, well until I got shot down again ! There wasn't much luck for the Bulldogs in this one - scores were low when shooting, another day who knows.
Good luck to you chaps !
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