Part One
The mission was straight forward on the face of it - get over the lines - photograph four suspected locations - get home in one piece and hand over the plates to the experts who will identify the real targets. Simple.
"Yeah, right" mused Lt Terry Bull as he followed his three escorts parallel to the lines in his Morane Saulnier BB at level 3
His old comrade Lt Bill Foldes led the formation in his cdl Nieuport Bebe, followed by 2Lt Phil Atterley in his camouflaged version and tailing them both was 2Lt Ali Gaither in his supposedly more powerful Nieuport 16.
The target was in sight - a pair of Fokker's awaited them, circling over the target, waiting to pounce
Ltn Raven Busse piloted the Green Fokker, Ltn Walter Gandert the plain.
Foldes turned to cross the lines and they followed in progression
The escorts broke left to engage the oncoming plain Fokker; Bull took the opportunity & slipped behind them.
Atterley took some fire from the lead Fokker as he tried to sideslip, a mistake but no damage suffered, Foldes had similar luck when firing back.
Though he had better luck against the Green Fokker - taking damage but returning it in kind with the addition of fire
Gaither bringing up the rear demonstrated his shooting skill by knocking the blazes out of the plain Fokker with a close range effort, Bull, turning into the threat added to the party by setting the enemy ablaze. One down !
The Eagles were beginning to flock ! Climbing into the battle space a pair of blue kites had appeared from behind one of the furthermost targets on the left (pos 3). The Halberstadt D.II at the hands of Ltn Otto Hengl, the (captured) Nieuport 11 at those of Obltn Johannes Achilles
The crack of Archie announced they had more than the Eagles to worry about - no damage this time though
The rattle of AAMG at extreme range might be a cause for concern also
(I used the solo AA rule for the AAMG - drawing a B card on Special damage to get them in the game. Later wished I hadn't !)
The Halberstadt catches Bull's Morane but does no real damage - Jack Dawe knocks out some woodwork with his return fire.
Then disaster strikes ! As Gaither reverses he is caught by both the Halberstadt and the Nieuport - Achilles aim proving fatal for the Nieuport 16... Dawe exacts a small measure of revenge by hitting the Halberstadt again - pink mist - he's hit the pilot !
AAMG fire zips about but to little effect - Atterly whips past Bull's Morane and catches out the Halberstadt, battering the same. Dawe takes a pot shot at the N.11 but his gun jams
Foldes catches some MG fire but other than some holes no damage results
Bull's Morane is rocked by a near miss from Archie but Jack get a photo of the first target.
Folde's luck doesn't hold and he cops it from the other Archie, he and his machine are peppered with shrapnel - time to head home
flying between the two blue Huns Atterley is caught in a head on exchange with the flaming green Fokker, coming out second best and burning to boot.
Bull's Morane is set smoking by the MG of the next target
The Halberstadt and it's wounded pilot slip away before it catches any more trouble as Foldes makes his way back over the lines for the same reason in the background.
Atterley's Nieuport, already aflame draws the attention of Archie and eats Flak head on - he's done !
Dawes gets another photo as another flak round bursts nearby ripping up some canvas
The green Fokker, severely damaged by fire makes good his escape
Dawes has now cleared his jam & captures his third image as the pass over the next target area
Archie misses but the machine gunners have better luck and Dawes is felled
(1=both hit; 2,3,4=gunner; 5,6=pilot)
The blue Nieuport now catches up to them and with no opposition pours it on
Bull uses his skill to avoid further damage - Lucky Git !
Archie misses again; their tormentor scores further hits but his gun stammers to silence - this might be the break they need.
Despite putting a little distance between them it proves not enough as the Nieuport swings after them but again the gun stammers to nothing and it's too late now to stop them as the slip over their lines
Butchers Tally
Eagles:
Ltn Walter Gandert: SD-EXP-FT 0 kills
Rolled 5 -3EXP = 2 Dead ! KIA
Otto Hengl: FRTB-W / WIA 0 kills
Rolled 3 -1WIA +1RTB = 3 - Injured Skip D6 Scenarios. Rolled 1 = Skip 1
Ltn Raven Busse: FRTB-D 0 kills
Obltn Johannes Achilles: N.11 (blu) RTB 1 kill
Bulldogs:
2LT Ali Gaither: N.16 'D' - SD-EXP-ET 1 Kill
Rolled 7 -3EXP = 4 - Injured Skip D6 Scenarios. Rolled 1 = Skip 1
E&E: Rolled 5 -1EXP -1WIC -1BEL = 2 Captured ! The war is over for this pilot.
2Lt Phil Atterley: N.11 (cam) SD-FLM (Flak)-ET 0 kills
Rolled 2 = Dead ! KIA
Lt Bill Foldes: N.11 (cdl) FRTB-W / WIA / 0 kills
Rolled 7 +1RTB -1WIA = 5 - Injured Skip 1D3 Scenarios. Rolled 1 = Skip 1
Lt Terry Bull: P2 MS.BB: FRTB-D 0 kills
AM.1 Jack Dawe: O MS.BB: FRTB-D / WIA 0 kills - 3 Photos
Rolled 6 +1RTB -1WIA = 6 - Injured Skip 1D3 Scenarios. Rolled 1 = Skip 1
Well that was one heck of a ride ! Really didn't think I was going to get anything back from this foray at all.
I flew as Terry Bull - everything else was AI. Used Lewis restricted ammo rules for Tommy, played my alt rules as usual.
I didn't picture all the AA & AAMG fire esp if it didn't cause damage.
Hard work but enjoyable scenario... What d'ya mean I'm only half done..?!
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