OTTDYM Mission 8 - Operation Judgement - 27th February 1916 - teaticket

[Teaticket]

(Unfortunately, I lost the first few photos. Not sure what happened but that’s war. The action with photos starts on the ~third/forth turn. I know this is a bit late off the mark but life has been a bit hectic since summer. Hopefully with the extension through January I'll be able to catch up.)

Captain Jerome stood with his back to the six flyers. A large map hung on the wall in front of him. After explaining the mission to his flyers, he motioned to them to come up to the map. They all looked very closely at the terrain at the target and the surrounding area, especially the approach.

Jerome was relieved when they left the room. He is even more relieved that Remy isn’t here for the mission briefing. His eyes were a little glassy and he had to put in all his effort not to teeter while standing. He didn’t even remember drinking before breakfast.

Walking to the hangars the crew discussed the mission.
“Why do we have to fly straight up the valley? Jerome insists we do so. I think we’d fare much better coming in from above and dropping in for the run right at the end”. Eitienne grumbled.

“Maybe he knows something we don’t? His approach does keep us low and out of sight”, Armand replied.

“Jerome is not a pilot. What does he know about flying? How would he know what is best? Flying down in the cutting gives us no room to maneuver. How will we evade any Hun aircraft? You know they will be patrolling the area. Once we’re in the cutting we’ll be sitting ducks”. Eitienne went on.

Eitienne stopped talking realizing he was putting a black cloud on the mission.
“Ok gentlemen”, Eitienne shouted to the other five as they stood next to their aircraft, engines running. “I’ll buy the champagne when we return after dropping our eggs in their nest!” He signals a thumbs up and climbed into his cockpit. The others did the same and soon were in the air heading north east.

Eitienne Martin led the flight of three two seaters in a Morane-Saulnier P type.
Armand Lambert followed closely behind in another P type.
Jacques Rousseau lagged a little behind in a Caudron G.4.

Eitienne recognized a few terrain features and knew they were close. He signaled the others to drop down. They would know it was show time.

As the railroad cutting came into view, Eitienne flew to it like a moth to a flame with the others close behind. As soon as they dropped into the cut a machine gun opened up from the floor of the cut. The French flight must have surprised the gunners as they missed Eitienne. He returned fire and picked off a soldier. Each plane peppered the machine gun position keeping them from getting off any aimed shots of their own. A few holes appeared in the wings of the planes following Eitienne.

A German biplane appeared from the right just above the flight. Shots were exchanged and Lucien Moreau got in the last one. Otto Reittinger’s Fokker crumpled and fell into the cut as the French flight flew on.


Another Hun appeared, this time on the left. Lucien instinctively ducks as Schmeiss sends a few rounds over his head.
Eitienne and Armand try but fail to silence an Anti-Aircraft gun below.



Another AA gun opens up but has trouble calculating the range in the cut.



Lucien quickly gets his nerve back and fill an eindecker with his lead.



This time a gunner finds the range and altitude. Eitienne Martin and Laurent Colbert can’t wish hard enough to keep their Morane in the air. They dive off to the right and crash into the wall of the cut.



Herve gets a shot at the Pfalz passing above while Jacques takes out a few gunners below.
A new Hun appears above the cut and joins the chase of the Frenchmen.



Armand and Jacques drop down as low as they can to stay away from the hunters above. Armand fires on the AA gun position to his front while Lucien does the same to the rear.



A third Hun, Konrad Dahl, closes in while Lothar Ochs flies above the cutting getting ready to drop down.





Jacques and Lucien pepper the gun crew again but fail to take it out.
The Hun above struggle to get into the cut.



Another machine gun in the cut opens up. The Morane is shredded. Armand fights with the controls but the Morane twists against his will and smashes into the cut.



Jacques has one last chance to take out the AA but no bullets leave his machine gun’s barrel.
The Hun above, twisting and turning to line up the cut are finally in position to dive down and attack the remaining French bomber.





The last mg between Jacques and the target fires. Jacques frantically tries to get his weapon firing again but is having a difficult time.
The flock of Germans are getting closer and ready to pounce.



Konrad is angry that he hasn’t been able to dive at the Frenchman but he fears running into Lothar.
The Caudron begins to smoke as the mg in the cut rips into it. (this shot is at +1)



Jacques clears his gun but immediately focuses on the target ahead. He puts one hand on the bomb release, ready to pull.
Schmeiss can’t believe what he sees. “What are those idiots doing”? Dahl and Ochs still can’t get a shot at the Caudron.



Schmeiss screams as he finally sends bullets streaming into the Caudron.
Jacques notices another MG above the tunnel. With the stick between his knees he places his second hand back on the machine gun trigger, but misses.



Herve’s return fire at Schmeiss quickly sends the Pfalz into the ground.
The MG over the tunnel takes careful aim. The Caudron shudders, almost stopping in the air. It struggles briefly but it’s fate is sealed. Jacques and Herve hold on as they gain speed in their dive into the ground.



Butcher’s Bill

Kaiser’s Eagles


Otto Reittinger EXP FT 0 Kills
C 6 -3(exp) = 3, injured, 5 = -5 missions, done for the war


Peter Schmeiss EXP FT 0 Kills
C 5 -3(exp) = 2 KIA


Konrad Dahl RTB 0 Kills

Lothar Ochs RTB 0 Kills


Les Bouledogues


Ettienne Martin SD ET 0 Kills
C 5 -1(sd) = 4 injured, 4 = -4 missions, done for the war
E 5 -1(wic) -1(bel) = 3 Captured but escapes, 5 = -3 missions

Laurent Colbert SD ET 0 Kills
C 7 -1(sd) = 6 injured, 4 = -2 missions
E 2 -1(wic) -1(bel) = 0, Captured, the war is over for this one!



Armand Lambert EXP ET 0 Kills
C 7 -3(exp) = 4 injured, 2 = -2 missions
E 8 -1(wic) -1(bel) = 6 in hiding, 5 = -2 missions

Lucien Moreau EXP ET 1 Kill
C 2 -3(exp) = -1 KIA



Jacques Rousseau EXP ET 0 Kills
C 8 -3(exp) = 5 injured, 4 = -2 missions
E 6 -1(wic) -1(bel) = 4, captured but escapes! 4 = -2 missions

Herve Soucy EXP ET 1 Kill
C 8 -3(exp) = 5 injured, 4 = -2 missions
E 6 -1(wic) -1(bel) = 4, captured but escaped! 4 = -2 missions