OTT DYM Mission 6 Where’s My Gunner? 12th February 1916 - teaticket
OTT DYM Mission 6 Where’s My Gunner? 12th February 1916
Two French N12s would perform the bombing mission.
The clear doped N12 would be flown by Lt. Etienne Martin while the aluminum N12 piloted by S/Lt. Armand Lambert.
Escorting scouts flown by S/Lt. Raoul Allard (N12 markings, white/blue pennant) would enter on turn 3 followed on turn 6 by Sgt. Henri Guerin.(no unit markings)
German interceptor#1 flown by Ltn. Paul Wolff would appear on turn 2, followed by Ltn. Otto Reittinger if needed.
Mission 6 Report
Captain Jerome quickly strode into the briefing room, his hands clasped together behind him. All conversation died out before he took his third step. His grim mood surrounded him like curls on a poodle. He stopped when he reached the slate chalk board listing the active roster that was centered on the back wall. Looking up at it with his hands still clasped behind him, he loudly cleared his throat. He then walked over to the map to the left of the roster, stopped and pointed to a location well behind enemy lines.
“HQ requests an immediate attack on a troop concentration here. Intelligence reports claim there is an enemy attack brewing and HQ wants to hit the concentration before it leaves the debarking area. They have spread out their troops on to both sides of the river“.
He waves a finger in a quick circle over the map.
Looking at the two-seater crews as he spoke, “HQ wishes for as much destruction as possible. Hit the troop concentrations and if possible, take out the bridge over the river. Any questions”?
Before anyone could blink, he carried on.
“We have two new two-seaters that arrived yesterday, Nieuport 12s. They are much faster than our Caudrons. They will give you a have a chance to get there and back before too many of the Boche can react. To get more bombs on to them I have instructed the crews to remove the machine guns. The extra bombs will also mean no observers will fly this mission”.
Looking at his watch, “The machine guns should have been removed by now. Pilots, go take a lap or two around the aerodrome to familiarize yourselves with the new planes. Be quick, the bombs must get loaded and you’ll have to be off as soon as possible”.
The two-seater crew’s eyes widened upon hearing this.
Remy St. Martin, still in a sling recovering from a wound spoke up. “Sir, we haven’t had any time with these new airplanes. This is r ”.
Captain Jerome cut him off, “HQ impressed upon me how important this mission is. My orders will be followed. Do not question me again”.
Captain Jerome spoke directly at the two-seater crews, “Ok pilots, go, what are you waiting for”?
Lt. Etienne Martin and S/Lt Armand Lambert jumped up and hurried off to the hangar.
The Captain cast a cold glance at Remy without saying a word, then left the briefing room.
Remy took a deep breath to regain his composure.
“Gentlemen, this is all a surprise to me too. Earlier this morning when the Captain and I discussed the day’s missions, this was not mentioned. New information must have reached him since we spoke”.
Remy slumped a little and his eyes dropped down, “As we all know, Captain Jerome is not comfortable interacting with us. I don’t know why and I doubt he’ll let us know the reason, if he is aware of it. We just have to do our job as well as we can regardless of his indifference to us”.
“Please pardon me, I shouldn’t have said that. Ok, back to business. I’m sorry Raoul and Henri, but your day of rest has been cancelled as you are the only available pilots”.
“I want you to escort Etienne and Armand. We can’t send them off for their whole mission unarmed over enemy territory. This mission’s target is pretty deep behind the lines. Your N11s don’t have the endurance to escort them over the whole flight. You’ll go staggered so to give them more time with at least one of you. Here’s what we’ll do…..”.
Etienne and Armand crossed the lines higher than they had ever done before. They were not to risk any interference from ground fire so flew at a safe altitude. It felt very strange not having an escort as they crossed the lines.
They formed up and flew abreast soon after clearing the German trenches. The target area was quite far behind the front if intelligence reports were correct so they wanted to stay in visual contact until the bombing runs began. Slowly they descended to Etienne kept looking over his shoulder hoping to see Raoul or Henri.
Etienne waved to get Armand’s attention. He gave him hand signals to let Armand know the target was coming into view. Armand’s thumbs up acknowledged seeing the target area.
Being so high up they were not sure about when to release the bombs. Etienne waved forcefully to drop a bomb now. Each of them let one bomb fall. The targets seemed to be coming up quickly so they each let another bomb drop a couple of seconds after the first.
(dropping from alt. 8 each bomb will travel 3 more cards after the release. # of markers is how many more times the bomb must move. Blue markers show bombs traveling at stall rate, brown at a full straight.)
Etienne watches the bombs closely hoping to be able to gauge the next drop better.
Armand notices a puff from the barrel of an anti-aircraft gun below. A black and orange flower blossoms with a deep BOOM well behind him. Etienne has the same experience.
A German eindecker notices the AA bursts and flies in their direction to investigate anticipating there would be enemy planes.
Etienne and Armand’s first bombs fall short while their second keeps on travelling towards the next target.
The second bomb falls true and lands in the midst of the troop concentrations. Many German boys were killed and wounded while the rest either dove to the ground or ran for their lives.
Watching the result of the bomb exploding Armand didn’t notice another AA gun trying to reach up and touch him. Another round detonated well above and behind him.
Etienne had no such luck as the gunner below him had excellent aim. The blast just below and in front of him ripped into his Nieuport. A third of the fabric from his port wings was torn away and he began to belch thick black smoke from where the leaking oil madly broiled where it splattered on the engine’s hot surface.
As his Nieuport dipped to the left from the loss of canvas, Etienne fought to regain control. One more bomb fell, only because in Etienne’s struggle to control his airplane he inadvertently bumped one of the bomb releases.
Two more AA guns bracketed him with fire letting him know he was not welcome here.
Armand sees the Hun approaching and veers away to the north. He was not aware of Etienne’s damage but thought he would try to draw away the Hun from his flight leader.
The Hun sees the silver Frenchman turning and takes a deflection shot knowing his chances of hitting were slim.
Armand keeps flying north west to get out of AA range before attempting another bomb run. He hopes the Hun monoplane would have trouble getting back after him.
Raoul sees the AA bursts ahead and knows it is aimed at one of his friends. He leans forward trying to make his Bebe fly faster.
Etienne’s errant bomb lands on the edge of German battalion causing minor casualties but major panic and confusion.
As Raoul got closer to the scene, he spied the German monoplane. He had to get there fast as his friends could not shoot back!
Raoul makes a sharp turn, showing more of his plane to the Hun, hoping to get his attention.
Totally focused on the green monoplane, Raoul was shocked when an AA burst tore his Bebe to shreds. His controls now connected to nothing and his engine whirled on at full speed without a propeller.
Wolff had Immelmanned to engage the new Frenchman. He was delighted to see the N11 fall in pieces to the ground. “Where’s that silver Frenchman gone off to?” he immediately thought refocusing back to his original target.
Etienne accessed the condition of his N12 and though the worst. Missing a lot of canvas and oil he was not sure he would make it home. Luckily today the prevailing wind was contrary so he would get some help on his way west.
Armand starts to make his turn for his last bomb run.
Wolff, now alone in the sky, regains visual contact with the silver Frenchman.
“Ah, there you are Frenchie”.
Wolff was eager to engage the Frenchman. A bit too eager as his approach was not timed well. When just in range the Frenchman jerked his plane about so he could not get off a shot. Then they were too close and passing over each other to get any firing solution.
Armand dipped just below the oncoming monoplane. His concentration was intense as he kept focus on the target below and release 2 bombs towards another Hun battalion.
As the planes pass ever so close by each other Armand releases another pair of bombs, his last two.
Wolff is furious that he missed the Frenchman. He Immeled again to try to halt any more destruction below. Wolff did not know the French plane had dropped all of it’s bombs.
Armand is pleased to see two bombs land right in the middle of the battalion he targeted.
Henri reaches the target area to see Etienne flying west and Armand being chased by a green monoplane.
Etienne is on his way home so he decides to help Armand. As Henri looks to the left for Armand his N11 is rocked by a blast of Archie. Luckily the damage is minimal.
He shakes his head to clear it and turns towards the Hun only to have another burst ring in his ears.
Etienne managed to escape the AA’s last attempt at him. His wounded mount gingerly carried him homeward aided by a small but helpful tailwind.
Armand’s last pair of bombs land on the edge of another German infantry unit. This hit Armand did not get to see as he was trying to evade the monoplane while also avoiding the AA tossed up in his direction.
Henri finally closes and gets in a well aimed deflection shot and lets the Hun know he means business.
The wily Hun turns in close out of Henri’s gun’s. He then makes enough separation to let the AA guns bark again at the Frenchman.
Henri’s blood is up and he turns to chase the Hun.
Henri then views Armand heading home. Another crack of Archie rips the sky and gives him second thoughts of fighting the Hun alone over his well-armed base.
Henri lets the Hun go and heads west.
The Hun is not so willing to let the matter end so easily.
Wolff tries to close in on Henri’s tail hoping for another shot before the Frenchman gets away.
Henri notices the Hun in time and quickly lifts his Bebe up into a cloud and safety.
Butcher’s Bill
Kaiser’s Eagles
Lt. Paul Wolff RTB 0 Kills
Bouledogues de la République
S/Lt Raoul Allard SD ET 0 Kills
C 8 -1(sd) = 7 Injured - Skip 1D2 Scenario. Rolled 5 = skip 2 Missions
E 10 -1(wic) -1(bel) = 8, landed almost home! -1 mission
Sgt. Henri Guerin RTB 0 Kills
Lt. Etienne Martin FRTB 0 Kills
1 target hit
1 target partially hit
S/Lt. Armand Lambert RTB 0 Kills
3 targets hit
2 targets partially hit
11 points scored by les Bouledogues.
Amid all the confusion and panic caused by the unexpected bombing raid, Raoul somehow managed to get home.
No one paid any attention to his falling plane as the infantry were all helping the wounded or scurrying for cover. Raoul crashed near the river into a soft and very muddy field. Not having to burn his plane as it was already smashed to bits, Raoul wandered away from the crash site in a daze. As he pushed through a hedgerow, he stumbled into the middle of one of the just bombed infantry units.
Being covered with mud, none of the Germans paid any notice to his uniform. An officer yelled at him. Raoul alert to the situation, immediately fell in and helped carry some of the wounded to an aid station. After bringing in a third wounded German in, the doctor at the aid station noticed Raoul’s wound from his crash. He ordered him to sit still while he cleaned and dressed it. He did a thorough job and Raoul was impressed with the good treatment he was getting. Luckily no questions were asked. As soon as his new stitches were tied off and bandaged another wounded German took his place and he was ushered our of the station. Twenty feet out of the tent he was confronted with several German soldiers beckoning him to help them.
He then spent a few hours helping repair a wagon damaged in the attack.
Raoul laughed to himself, ”I don’t have to work this hard for the Bouledogues”!
When the wagon was again rolling, he then helped himself to a hearty meal from the chow station. The mud covered Frenchman wandered off into the woods unnoticed and wandered west. During the night he traversed the lines back to friendly territory.
Reply With Quote
Well done Peter!
That hurt! But well done Les Bouledogues on a mission completed at such short notice. Really like the idea of a mud bespattered Sous Lieutenant pulling off a stunt like that. Well done Monsieur Allard 
But as for Captain Jerome - well now, that's a difficult chap to have to work with 
Originally Posted by gully_raker
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