OTT CYM Mission 2, Bring Them Home If You Can – July 12th 1916 by Teaticket
Pre-battle damage put 1 hit on the Rumpler photo plane and 3 on the escorting Albatros. The Frenchman (Remy St Martin) closest to the German scout pair could not hold back and bolted straight for them.
Another day, another mission. Some particular missions were liked by some pilots more than others. Some missions were universally disliked and even feared. Flying in larger formations may have given a sense of strength and security but it also drew the enemies attention. Missions with few or single planes sometimes never saw an EA, boring maybe but a greater chance of returning in one piece.
Obltn Hans Steinhäuser was the steadiest tandem pilot in the unit, so he was given the honor of flying the photography mission. Despite his protests both machine guns were removed so the highest quality camera and all its plates could be mounted.
“Could I keep my front machine gun and leave Gotty behind?” Hans hissed through his grimace.
“That would be mighty fine with me”, Gottfried Esswein, the observer-photographer, agreed and volunteered to stay behind.
A quick slap on the side of his head and Gotty’s cap went tumbling to the floor.
“Schnell”! Onkel would have none of it though and ordered both of them to get ready for the mission immediately.
Only when fitting out the camera gear did they find out that they would be escorted by Rudolf Mulzer and Dieter Rosenfeldt, two of the more aggressive tandem crews around. With a sigh of relief Hans and Gottfried then began to think the mission was survivable. Not often do planes go aloft without any means to defend themselves but having Rudolf and Dieter along was more than comforting. This crew had as many aerial victories as the best Eagle scout pilot so they would be in good company.
The mission went surprisingly smooth. Photos of all the targets were taken with extra plates for the most valuable ones. Rudolf Flew his Albatros C.III well above the Rumpler C.I while the photos were taken so he could keep an eye out for trouble. When the last plate had been used Gotty fired off the signal flare to tell Rudolf they were heading home.
Ten minutes on they were attacked by a flight of three French Nieuport 11s. Rudolf flew between their stablemate and the Nieuports. The N11s made a few passes each but didn’t press the attack. Rudolf and Dieter put up some stiff resistance but were surprised that the Frenchmen left so soon. Maybe they were low on fuel? They really didn’t care, they were left alone to head home again and that’s what mattered.
Their easy ride didn’t last long as more aircraft soon approached, two from the right and one from the left. Friend or foe? They knew better and always treated incoming as EA until positively identified.
Sure enough, not friendly.
Rudolf, flying lead, immediately turned towards the closest foe, this time one of the newer N17s.
The first exchange taught the Frenchman to respect the Hun two-seater. Rudolf’s aim was spot on and plinked the fuel line setting a fire.
The Frenchman panics to escape Rudolf’s aim and flies right into Dieter’s gun sights, paying a heavy price.
Paul Wolff and Werner Hengst were flying their patrol along the lines when they noticed several aircraft ahead. They cross the lines to investigate.
At the same time the French pair, Remy St. Martin and Guy Porcher, spot the oncoming German scouts. St. Martin signals for Porcher to go after the tandems while he deals with the scouts.
St. Martin handles his new N17 well and slides away from Paul’s guns. The eindecker is riddled with holes. Paul shakes a fist at the Frenchman. He curses himself for letting the situation develop as it did.
Guerin’s fire isn’t so bad at the moment if he can only quickly douse it.
The nimble N17 gets behind the tandems and out of Dieter’s arc of fire.
Rudolf kept his eye on the flaming N17 a hair too long and almost flew into the Rumpler.
Wolff turns too late and St. Martin gets behind him and on Hengst’s tail. A great position for the Frenchman but to his dismay his Lewis jams at the most inopportune time.
Hengst doesn’t realize there is an enemy behind him as he is too concentrated on protecting the two-seater ahead. St. Martin cracks a smile as he notices Hengst begin to hammer ah his breech.
Esswein and Steinhäuser yell in unison as their mount erupts in flames.
Porcher shouts a few choice words that wouldn’t make his mother proud at the Hun.
(The Rumpler’s position is actually a card under the mess)
Hengst, with some deft flying, gets past Rudolf and Dieter and ignores that his gun is jammed firing into Porcher. (Oops! Luckily it is not crucial damage that changes the battle.)
The fires pay no attention the planes…for now.
St Martin enjoys the scene in front of him as two Hun planes try to occupy the same place. He casually clears his jam, now ready to do his worst to today’s Huns.
The erratic maneuver and slight collision prevents Dieter from shooting as he holds on tight to the cockpit ring.
As the Huns separate St Martin follows Hengst’s biplane and damages one of its control surfaces.
Dieter adds a few more holes in the Frenchman’s canvas.
Hengst Immelmanns with perfect timing to catch the N17’s tail but misses horribly.
Dieter also cannot keep his Parabellum trained on the Nieuport.
Must be the Frenchman’s lucky day!
(St Martin does not have a gun jam, just ran out of ammo so I mark it like a jam)
Steinhäuser slips for home but not unnoticed. Porcher isn’t about to let the Rumpler away so easy.
The fire loses all interest in the Nieuport and goes out but the Rumpler seems to be a bit tastier.
Porcher and Guerin now focus on the Rumpler. The way the Huns are protecting him he must be I important.
Hengst sees the pair of aluminum Nieuports chasing the Rumple and heads that way to help out if he can. He leaves St Martin behind letting Rudolf and Dieter deal with him.
While Dieter scratches at St Martin behind Rudolf tries to line up Guerin ahead. As Rudolf levels out of a turn he gets in a telling blow to Guerin’s N17.
By the time St Martin reverses, Hengst has put some distance between them. The new N17 is much faster than the Fokker D.I so St Martin begins to reel the Hun in.
The two Frenchmen are so focused on the Rumpler they let Wolff catch them broadsides. Unfortunately for Wolff, he can’t hit his target and jams his guns to boot.
What a sweet spot to be in and not able to shoot!
Paul turns tightly and gets right in with the Nieuport pair almost colliding with Porcher.
Guerin holds off for a second until he has a clear shot. Its always good to shoot and not be shot back at!
(or so Guerin thinks)
Rudolf zeros in on the trailing aluminum Nieuport. First burst drops low and goes unnoticed but the next one does the Frenchman in.
Just as Rudolf looks away from the falling Nieuport Hengst appears under his nose!
The fire has one last flare up taking another bite out of the Rumpler before extinguishing.
All but forgotten, St Martin returns to the fight scoring some solid hits into the Albatros.
Dieter tries to return fire but after a few rounds his weapon fouls.
St Martin keeps on Rudolf’s tail but he is still too far away for a good shot. Not giving up the Frenchman finds his mark. (The die marks a +1 consecutive shot)
Hengst Immelmanns back on St Martin to try to take the pressure off of Rudolf and Dieter. This does change the situation as St Martin is now toothless and has to change ammo drums with Hengst harassing him.
While maneuvering to get a shot at the aluminum Nieuport Paul cannot stop it from firing upon Hans and Gotty. The previously damaged fuel line has left a wet mess around the engine and it billows thick black smoke.
Paul backs off just a hair and severely punishes Porcher and his airplane.
Porcher involuntary turns as he slumps in pain and luckily passes under the eindecker.
Hans turns for the shortest route back over the lines now that the enemy had seemed to given up the chase.
After Paul and the aluminum N17 part Rudolf pulls his trigger. Nothing!
Rudolf and Paul watch as Porcher dives away escaping the fight.
Hans also re-crosses the lines to safety bringing the valuable set of photo plates home.
Seeing Porcher dive out of the engagement St Martin evades Hengst and heads home too.
Rudolf, Dieter, Paul and Werner feel good about warding off the French allowing Hans to make it home.
Looking around one last time to see that there are no more EA about, the three German aircraft turn for home. Paul and Werner give the thumbs up to Dieter who stands and takes a bow. One enemy down with no loss of our own, the Eagles are happy today.
Butcher’s Bill
Bouledogues
Lt Remy St. Martin RTB 0 Kills
S/Lt Guy Porcher FRTB WIA 0 Kills
C 7 -1(wia) +1(rtb) = 7 injured, 3 = miss 1 Mission
Sgt Henri Guerin SD FT 0 Kills
C 10 -1(sd) = 9 OK!
Eagles
Ltn Werner Hengst RTB 0 Kills
Ltn Paul Wolff RTB 0 Kills
Ltn Rudolf Mulzer RTB 0 Kills
Ltn Dieter Rosenfeldt RTB 1 Kill
ObLtn Hans Steinhäuser RTB 0 Kills
Ltn Gottfried Esswein RTB 0 Kills
Photos returned, mission completed!
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for his service to the Kaiser. 
What a great battle that was Peter!
Originally Posted by Teaticket
. At this point it seems the Germans had the upper hand in tandems and the French with scouts, Nieuport 17's - wonderful but give me an Albatros CIII any day. 
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