Uncle had called Ltn Reginald Fife-Brand,flight commander of C flight & 2 of his scout pilots to the Squadron briefing office.
"Now chaps Army HQ is in a bit of a flap. Seems the old Hun has a Balloon set up just behind their trenches which has been directing their heavy artillery on our PBI in the front trenches" "Now A flight had a go at it yesterday & got nowhere & B flight are off for a crack today" "If they don't succeed it will be your turn tomorrow so if you have any bright ideas now is the time to bring them forward!"
AAR Flight leader.jpg Views: 42 Size: 34.8 KB ID: 278441" class="thumbnail" style="float:CONFIG" />
Fife-Brand spoke up. "Well uncle I have a cousin who is a Major in the Armaments Department & he has been telling me of some experiments they are doing for the RNAS with some incendiary ammunition for the Lewis gun which has phosphorus that leaves a blue smoke trail & might just be the thing to set those gas bags off!" "If I can get a dispatch rider to him he just might be able to supply some drums for us to try"
"Right" said Uncle. "Phone him & I will get a DR on his way"
Sure enough early the next morning a truck arrived carrying the drums of Buckingham ammunition.
Quickly loading the drums into his DH-2 Reg accompanied by F/Sgt Brandon Stark the flights only Ace they flew off towards the German lines. 2nd Lt. James Lanister the other scout pilot had been detailed to guard their own British Balloon which had helped the Allied artillery to return the favour.
Over behind the German lines & unknown to our chaps the German Kest had arranged an attack on the British Balloon with Obltn Wilhelm Bassenge in his CDL Fokker E.III accompanied bt Ltn Richard Arntzen in a Green E.III as his wingman. Bassenge had also equipped his machinegun with experimental incendiary rounds.
Both pairs of attacking aircraft passed each other without being aware of the other aircraft in the distance.
AAR 01.jpg Views: 42 Size: 155.3 KB ID: 278444" class="thumbnail" style="float:CONFIG" />
The eindekker of Bassenge was the first aircraft to attack the British Balloon as Lanister flew towards the intruder to try to protect the British sausage. Fortunately the Hun bullets caused no damage.
AAR 03.jpg Views: 42 Size: 128.9 KB ID: 278445" class="thumbnail" style="float:CONFIG" />
At the other end of the battle field the British pilot fared no better with his first shots but his second burst started a flicker of flame from the German Drachen. Brandon Stark added some damage as well. The German Observers took to their chutes as the ground crew began to wind down the damaged Balloon.
AAR 04.jpg Views: 42 Size: 179.1 KB ID: 278446" class="thumbnail" style="float:CONFIG" />
AAR 05.jpg Views: 41 Size: 195.6 KB ID: 278447" class="thumbnail" style="float:CONFIG" />
Meanwhile back at the British lines the Green Fokker which was also equipped with the new experimental ammo also started a fire & the allied ground crew started to wind down the Balloon as the Observers jumped to safety. (Did not pick up on my mistake until writing up the AAR so added it to the Story!)
AAR 06.jpg Views: 44 Size: 152.1 KB ID: 278448" class="thumbnail" style="float:CONFIG" />
The German pilots continued to press their attack but caused little damage.
AAR 07.jpg Views: 42 Size: 163.8 KB ID: 278449" class="thumbnail" style="float:CONFIG" />
Both British pilots continued to attack the German Balloon at close range & Fife-Brand was pleased to see the new Buckingham rounds were effective as another fire broke out on the Drachen.
AAR 08.jpg Views: 42 Size: 169.0 KB ID: 278450" class="thumbnail" style="float:CONFIG" />
As the German Balloon continued to burn Brandon Stark came under attack from Ltn Wilhelm Thiede flying a Halbertstadt & Brandon felt a stinging to his left sholder & found a German bullet had torn through his leather flying coat & nicked his flesh.
AAR 11.jpg Views: 44 Size: 156.8 KB ID: 278451" class="thumbnail" style="float:CONFIG" />
Having changed drums Fife-Brand again attached & was successful in starting yet another fire before his gun jammed!
AAR 12.jpg Views: 42 Size: 167.0 KB ID: 278452" class="thumbnail" style="float:CONFIG" />
The Halberstadt swooped it to attack the DH-2 but its gun immediately jammed.
AAR 14.jpg Views: 42 Size: 139.5 KB ID: 278453" class="thumbnail" style="float:CONFIG" />
Meanwhile back at the British lines the Balloon burnt very slowly as the German planes prepared for another attack.
AAR 13.jpg Views: 41 Size: 142.7 KB ID: 278455" class="thumbnail" style="float:CONFIG" />
AAR 10.jpg Views: 44 Size: 108.1 KB ID: 278454" class="thumbnail" style="float:CONFIG" />
James Lanister had caught up to the Green Fokker of Arntzen & gave it a good burst which caused black smoke to pour from the engine."Humm" thought James looks like I might have nicked an oil line!
AAR 15.jpg Views: 44 Size: 119.7 KB ID: 278456" class="thumbnail" style="float:CONFIG" />
Having shaken off the effects of his flesh wound Brandon Stark now gave the Halberstadt a good serve in return.
AAR 16.jpg Views: 43 Size: 142.6 KB ID: 278457" class="thumbnail" style="float:CONFIG" />
The accumulated fires started on the German Balloon finally took their toll & it crumpled to the ground a fiery wreck. The Buckingham rounds had certainly proved their worth!
AAR 19.jpg Views: 46 Size: 110.2 KB ID: 278458" class="thumbnail" style="float:CONFIG" />
AAR 17.jpg Views: 39 Size: 160.9 KB ID: 278463" class="thumbnail" style="float:CONFIG" />
Sgt Stark had followed the Halberstadt & his next burst tore shreds off its wings.
AAR 20.jpg Views: 37 Size: 154.0 KB ID: 278472" class="thumbnail" style="float:CONFIG" />
Back at the British lines the Fokkers continued to attack the balloon as the crew tried to winch it to safety.
AAR 21.jpg Views: 38 Size: 107.5 KB ID: 278473" class="thumbnail" style="float:CONFIG" />
Ltn Arntzen now returned the favour to Lanister & set his engine smoking.
AAR 22.jpg Views: 39 Size: 159.9 KB ID: 278474" class="thumbnail" style="float:CONFIG" />
The Halberstadt having failed to protect the balloon now flew angrily towards the British balloon with revenge in mind chased by Stark who exchanged shots with Bassenge but neither caused any damage.
AAR 23.jpg Views: 38 Size: 174.5 KB ID: 278475" class="thumbnail" style="float:CONFIG" />
The Halberstadt succeeded in adding damage to the British target whilst Bassenge got a close burst into Stark which caused little damage whilst Stark again shot at the grey German scout.
AAR 24.jpg Views: 35 Size: 148.0 KB ID: 278476" class="thumbnail" style="float:CONFIG" />
The German pilot continued to vent his anger at the British sausage whilst Lanister tried a shot but missed.
AAR 25.jpg Views: 38 Size: 147.6 KB ID: 278477" class="thumbnail" style="float:CONFIG" />
However Lanister did manage to damage Bassenge's Fokker as it returned to the fight.
AAR 26.jpg Views: 38 Size: 151.8 KB ID: 278478" class="thumbnail" style="float:CONFIG" />
Ignoring the damage to his Fokker Bassenge was finally able to reignite a fire on the British Balloon which slowly burnt.
AAR 27.jpg Views: 38 Size: 145.5 KB ID: 278479" class="thumbnail" style="float:CONFIG" />
AAR 29.jpg Views: 40 Size: 147.5 KB ID: 278480" class="thumbnail" style="float:CONFIG" />
The German planes continued to hammer the British Balloon which up till now had seemed to enjoy a charmed life. Arntzen's close range attack only resulted in a jammed gun.
AAR 30.jpg Views: 37 Size: 117.3 KB ID: 278481" class="thumbnail" style="float:CONFIG" />
AAR 32.jpg Views: 35 Size: 157.9 KB ID: 278482" class="thumbnail" style="float:CONFIG" />
The Balloon seemed to resist the Germans best efforts & the German experimental incendiary rounds did not seem as effective as the British Buckinghams .
AAR 33.jpg Views: 36 Size: 154.6 KB ID: 278483" class="thumbnail" style="float:CONFIG" />
The fighters continued to duel around the Balloon but without causing any critical damage.
AAR 34.jpg Views: 40 Size: 153.3 KB ID: 278484" class="thumbnail" style="float:CONFIG" />
AAR 35.jpg Views: 41 Size: 154.6 KB ID: 278485" class="thumbnail" style="float:CONFIG" />
AAR 36.jpg Views: 37 Size: 136.1 KB ID: 278486" class="thumbnail" style="float:CONFIG" />
However the fire on the balloon finally flared up & the British Balloon was consumed before it could reach the ground!
AAR 37.jpg Views: 36 Size: 105.8 KB ID: 278487" class="thumbnail" style="float:CONFIG" />
AAR 38.jpg Views: 37 Size: 169.5 KB ID: 278488" class="thumbnail" style="float:CONFIG" />
With the destruction of the Balloon the fighters continued their dogfight & although Ltn Thiede got a damaging burst in to Brandon Stark's De Havilland, Brandon's fire caused Oblt Bassenge's E.III to explode.
"My God" said Brandon "Must have hit his fuel tank!"
AAR 39.jpg Views: 36 Size: 139.9 KB ID: 278489" class="thumbnail" style="float:CONFIG" />
AAR 40.jpg Views: 34 Size: 161.5 KB ID: 278490" class="thumbnail" style="float:CONFIG" />
With their fuel getting low the remaining German aircraft turned for home chased by James Lanister who also soon reluctantly had to give up the chase due to lack of fuel.
AAR 41.jpg Views: 36 Size: 138.7 KB ID: 278491" class="thumbnail" style="float:CONFIG" />
AAR 42.jpg Views: 39 Size: 95.3 KB ID: 278492" class="thumbnail" style="float:CONFIG" />
OBSERVATIONS & COMMENTS
Well what a marathon that turned out to be in more ways that one!
Apart from the Eleven turns of the game I had major problems in uploading photos from just after the halfway mark.
The uploading tool wanted to post multiple images which meant I had to click to remove the unwanted images & sometimes it would not load a new image even with click & drag. A realdrag to be sure!
I used Dave's D8 charts which as usual worked a treat. Started at Level 6 & as the game went on got everything down to level 3. Unfortunately the Balloon masked the German planes from the machinegun position.
I Flew Fife-Brands DH-2, all other AI with the Balloon or enemy aircraft the target as suitable.
VICTORY POINTS
BRITISH:
10 pts Balloon Destroyed
2 pts Fokker E.III (Bassenge) Destroyed
GERMAN:
10 pts Balloon Destroyed.
Slim Victory to British Forces.
Bookmarks