Jasta 24 Headquarters – 6th March 1916
Oberleutnant Bernhard Wienand has a strange feeling of déjà vu.
“Das ist das die Zielsetzung.” < This is your target > he said to the airmen gathered for the morning biefing.
The pilots and crewmen look puzzled.
“Haben wir diese Mission nicht schon geflogen?“ <Have not we already flown this mission? > asks Fwbl Lukas Himmel-Spaziergänger,
stating what the others were all thinking.
“Wir haben diesen Tunnel zerstört.“ < We destroyed that tunnel > adds Ltn Roland-Reinhart Dietrich-Daimler.
„Ja, hast du.“ < Yes you have > replies Wienand, with a bit of a twinkle in his eye.
“Jetzt werden Sie den der Auftrag beenden.“ < Now you will finish the job >
Pointing at a new aerial photograph, Wienand explains.
“Du hast den Ausgang zerstört.“ < You destroyed the exit >
„Dies ist der Eingang..“ < This is the entrance >
„Sie lagern große Mengen Munition, die mit der Eisenbahn geliefert werden.< They are storing large ammounts of ammunition, delivered by railway >
„Mit etwas Glück können Sie auch einen Zug zerstören.“ < With luck you can also destroy a train >
“Die Meteorologen prognostizieren eine starke Bewölkung.“ < The meteorologists predict a strong cloud cover >
“Das Gebiet ist durch Flugabwehrkanonen und Maschinengewehre gut verteidigt.“ < The area is well defended by anti-aircraft guns and machine guns.>
“Niedrig fliegen setzt Sie schwerem Feuer aus.“ < Flying low will expose you to heavy fire >
“Wenn Sie hoch fliegen, wird es schwierig, das Ziel zu sehen.“ < If you fly high, it will be difficult to see the target >
“Die Meteorologen sagen, dass es kleine Brüche in der Wolkendecke geben könnte.“
< The meteorologists say that there could be small breaks in the cloud cover. >
“Ich überlasse Ihnen die Wahl ...“ < I will leave the choice to you >
„Viel Glück, meine Herren.“ < Good Luck, Gentlemen >
Obltn Leonard Wiechers nods to the others. They all smartly salute and begin to exit the brifing.
Wienands turns and adds „Oh übrigens. Nehmen Sie eine Halberstadt als Escort. Giesebrecht oder Hübner sollten verfügbar sein.“
< Oh by the way. Take a Halberstadt as an escort. Giesebrecht or Hübner should be available. >
Giesebrecht was the lucky one chosen to fly escort for the pair of Albatros C.III
Obltn Leonard Wiechers and his pilot Fwbl ‘Siggy’ Nixdorf flew their usual brown machine, while Fwbl Lukas Himmel-Spaziergänger piloted
Ltn Roland-Reinhart Dietrich-Daimler in the same pale blue machine that so successfully bombed the tunnel the week prior.
They flew above the cloud layer, scanning the sky for any opening that could help them find their target.
None of them were keen to dive under the carpet of cloud and face the meat grinder of multiple machine guns.
Note: I decided against trying to modify the map with cloud cover – you must use your imagination.
There would be a surprise waiting for them when they did get to the target area.
The RFC had sent a pair of DH.2 to keep watch over the railway tunnel.
Lt Edward Fitzgerald (don’t dare to call him Eddie, or even Ed) flew the all-PC10 machine, while 2Lt Charles (not Charlie) Gordon handled the one with CDL tail.
They were flying roughly an oval pattern, and were nearing the end of a very boring shift.
“Bloody waste o’ time.” muttered Gordon to himself. The weather was heavy with cloud and drizzle.
Like their German counterparts, the Bulldogs were patrolling above the thickest cloud layer, just a bit higher than their yet-unseen enemy.
Nixdorf is the first to see the DH.2
“Englander!” he shouts, and waggles his wings to draw the attention of the other two pilots.
That waggling has caught the eye of Fitzgerald as well, just as he was about to turn back toward the target area.
Meanwhile, there is in fact a munitions train approaching the tunnel, nearing the bridge over the river.
Note: you might need a magnifying glass to see it. I have included a picture of the train at full size before resized to 7mm x 22mm
Fitzgerald and Giesebrecht close in for combat.
Unfortunately for the DH.2 the angle is not quite right to return fire.
Tikka tikka tikka
Giesebrechts Spandau chatters.
Fitzgerald barely has time to register what just happened.
His DH.2 plummets like a stone to the ground below.
Gordon has seen the flash from across the battle area and sees the approaching enemy.
Nixdorf has spotted a break in the cloud and gets both Wiechers and Himmel-Spaziergänger’s attention.
The rail line guides them straight to their target.
“Damnit!” Gordon curses his luck as he finds himself out of position.
Wiechers prepares the bombs for release.
As Wiechers and Nixdorf count the seconds, Himmel-Spaziergänger shouts at Dietrich-Daimler to prepare for release.
BOOM!
There is an explosion as Wiecher’s bomb strikes the ground.
The train is safely inside the tunnel, so there is no secondary cataclysmic explosion.
Dietrich-Daimler releases his string of bombs while Himmel-Spaziergänger prepares to turn away.
KRAK!
Nixdorf jumps in his seat as the British Archie fires from his left.
Giesebrecht gets in the way of Himmel-Spaziergänger.
“Dummkopf!”
BOOM!
Dietrich-Daimler glances to the left.
A massive explosion erupts from the tunnel mouth.
KRAK!
His attention is startled as the other Archie fires.
Himmel-Spaziergänger’s maneuver has likely saved them from almost certain destruction.
Tikka tik …
“Verdammt!”
Giesebrecht fires at Gordon’s DH.2 but his gun suddenly stops.
Note: Perhaps I should have sent Huebner – his Bullet Checker skill would have finally come in handy.
As it was, this was Giesebrecht’s ‘Sniper’ shot. The other rejected card was a 2 Gun Jam!
Giesebrecht has been climbing every turn to get up to Level 4 where the Bulldogs were.
He was still one chit short so this is treated as long range.
Tikka tikka tikka
“Rauch!”
Gordon’s return fire has the Halberstadt smoking.
Nixdorf dives the Albatros down to the cloud layer.
Giesebrecht finishes his climb, but now his target is behind him.
Himmel-Spaziergänger also drops his C.III into the heavy cloud layer.
Gordon has performed an Immelmann turn but is now far out of range of the Halberstadt.
His aircraft still smoking, Giesebrecht wisely decides to fly away from the area now that the primary mission is a success.
Only now does he realize he has claimed his 6th kill!
“Ich habe Hübner eingeholt!” < I have caught up with Huebner >
Butcher’s Bill
Bulldogs
DH.2
Lt Edward Fitzgerald EXP FT
C&W roll 7 -3 EXP = 4 : Injured 1D6(5) : Skip 5
The campaign has ended for “Don’t Call Me Eddie”
DH.2
2Lt Charles Gordon – RTB
Adler
Albatros C.III
Fwbl ‘Siggy’ Nixdorf : RTB
Obltn Leonard Wiechers : RTB
Target damaged.
Albatross C.III
Fwbl Lukas Himmel-Spaziergänger : RTB
Ltn Roland-Reinhart Dietrich-Daimler : RTB
Target Destroyed
Halberstadt D.II
Ltn Günther Giesebrecht : RTB – 1 Kill (DH.2 – Edwards)
Results:
Target obliterated.
Train entombed in the rubble.
Official Score:
Bulldogs
Nicht / Nada / Zip / Zilch / Not a Sausage / Diddly Squat
Adler
Tunnel Destroyed : 10
Single Seater Shot Down 2
Total : 12
Decisive Victory!
=====================================================
An interesting mission, Sam.
Definitely the shortest I have played Over These Trenches
I think that was due to your down-to-the-second timing and initial placement and location of the targets.
Well done that man!
The only thing I missed out on was the train, which squeaked into the tunnel just in time.
Nixdorf & Wiechers might have destroyed the target but when fiddling for photos I decided to call it just damaged, assuming the next crew would at least damage and thus finish the job.
I was reluctant to play another bombing mission so soon, but the allowance of one scout enabled Giesebrecht his 6th kill on a very lucky card draw, so all is good in the Adler mess.
The same cannot be said for ‘Don’t Call Me Eddie’ Fitzgerald. Just back from 3 weeks making his escape he is now out for the count after just his third mission.
Looks like a new ranking officer will be needed, Uncle. I recommend 2Lt Robert Lewis, who has shown exemplary skill with 3 kills in just two outings, although only if he remains a Flight Leader, and not a Desk Jockey.
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