Part One
All Aircraft in Part One were flown at Level Three!
Uncle called all the members of C Flight into the Squadron Hut.
"Right Chaps! Listen up. GHQ are in their usual flap. With the big push due to start tomorrow they have received intelligence that the Germans have assembled two big Ammunition dumps behind their lines & we need to destroy these before we commence our attack. Now Time is of the essence so we need to photograph 4 possible sites & get the photos back ASAP & then mount a bombing raid on the two most likely sites after the boffins study the photos. Then we will attack those targets"
"Now our resources are limited with only 3 x 2 seaters serviceable & 4 scouts including the shiny new Nieuport Lt Fife-Brand has just picked up from St Omer for evaluation"
"So Reg how do you think this should proceed?" "Well Uncle" said Reg Fife-Brand "I think it most important to get the photos so I suggest we send the Fee with Lofty Hill & Alex Quartermain & the CDL Strutter with its regular crew of Downton & Abbey to do the photography & I will run Escort in the Nieuport along with F/Sgt Stark in his DH-2"
"Right" said Uncle "Make it so!"
Shortly afterwards with the aircraft prepared for the mission the 4 aircraft took off & flew towards the co-ordinates provided by the Intelligence Corps.
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On the German Side of the lines Oblt Caul-August Schwartz the Staffel Fuhrer had detailed Ltn Arntzen in the Green Fokker E.III & Ltn Thiede in his CDL E.III to fly a racecourse circuit between the Ammo dumps to be ready to attack any enemy aircraft which should approach. He, in his Halberstadt D.II & Ltn Rudiger in a Grey E.III would be ready to reinforce them if necessary.
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The British aircraft had paired off with a scout attached to a 2 seater & they were separated to Port & Starboard to minimise the distance they had to fly to reach their respective co-ordinates.
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As the Strutter approached its first target it came under fire from German Flak which was fortunately off target however they saw the approaching shapes of a Hun Halberstadt & a Fokker making towards them.
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On the other side of the battlefield the FE 2b was not so lucky & the German Flack battery caused shrapnel damage to the Fee's Engine. "Bugger!" cursed Tiny "Crook luck to get a hit on the Beardmore right at the start of our run!"
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{ At this point I thought what would I have done if I was this pilot? I decided I would press on with the mission & try to get these important photos. However after the game was finished I had second thoughts re the rule requiring engine damaged planes to return to their home base asap. I PM'd Dave (flash) to get his opinion & it was decided that the Fee could not fly on after the first photo to obtain the second photo so the AAR has been modified to show only one photo obtained by the FE 2b}
The British scouts accompanying the Fee now returned the complement with Fife-Brand damaging the engine of Ltn Arntzen's Green Fokker.
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They followed up with another burst which slightly wounded the unfortunate Arntzen. (missed the +1 for this damage! Rusty after the lockdown!)
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As the Strutter took its first photo it came under fire from the Halberstadt & the Fokker of Ltn Rudiger. Whilst 2nd Lt Downton wounded Rudiger & caused further damage to his plane the Strutter's engine was damaged & Schwartz's shots damaged the Sopwith's rudder.
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As the Strutter passed through the German Aircraft Max Abby got a good burst into Rudiger's Fokker from his Lewis gun & Thiede tried a deflection shot at Brandon Stark's DH-2 but missed.
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As the Strutter passed over the Flack Gun Downton neutralised it with a burst from his forward firing Vickers gun.
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As the FE 2b turned for home Alex Quartermain tried to take his second photo but found the glass plate had been cracked by the Flak shrapnel.
{ This is the second photo that was agreed with Dave not to count!}
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The unfortunate Arntzen now came under attack from both Fife-Brand & the FE 2b & the already damaged Fokker started emitting black smoke & its rudder went slack.
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The remaining Flak gun now targeted the group of British aircraft within range but its aim was off.
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Fife-Brand now closed in for the kill on the unlucky Arntzen & with the last rounds in his Lewis gun sent the Fokker spiralling to the ground.
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F/Sgt Stark who had been on the peripheral of the action finally got the opportunity to participate & exchanged shots with the CDL Fokker of Ltn Thiede with telling effect setting the Fokker on fire. Thiede's reply caused no damage.
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The Strutter & Rudiger exchanged shots before both guns jammed.
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As he flew on towards home with his two photos John Downton gave his gunner Max Abbey a great shot at Rudiger's Grey E.III. His shots must have hit its fuel tank because it exploded in spectacular fashion & crashed a burning wreck to the ground.
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The Flack gun had another try at the enemy aircraft but was again ineffectual while the fire continued to burn the CDL Fokker.
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Stark now had the opportunity for a side shot at Schwartz's Halberstadt & his aim was good.
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The fire on Thiede's E.III which had been started by Brandon Stark suddenly flared up & the German aircraft crashed to the ground.
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With only one German aircraft left flying, fuel & ammunition both low Oblt Schwartz reluctantly turned for home as both the British 2 seaters were way beyond reach even with damaged engines so the combatants all headed towards their home bases.
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Observations
Well that started out badly for the Brits but apart from their engine damages things definitely improved as the game went on with the poor old Hun copping the worst of the damage cards
I really enjoyed being back in the Campaign & look forward to flying Part 2 later this week. Thanks to Paul for a most enjoyable BRF!
Butchers Bill---Part One
Lt R Fife-Brand--Nieuport N17
1 Kill--Arntzen green E.III
RTB
No Damage
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F/Sgt B Stark--DH-2 --C-2
1 Kill--Theide CDL E.III
RTB
No Damage
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FE 2b
Pilot Lt. L Hill
Observer AM3 A Quartermain
FRTB-E
6 damage +Engine
1 Photo
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Sopwith 1 1/2 Strutter
Pilot 2nd Lt J Downton
Observer AM2 M Abbey--1 Kill Rudiger grey E.111
FRTB-E
3 damage points + Engine
2 Photos
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German Forces
Oblt C-A Schwartz--Halberstadt D.II
RTB
2 damage points
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Ltn R Arntzen--Green E.III
SD/WIA/FT
14 damage points
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Rolled 10 - 1SD -1 WIA =8 Injured
Rolled 4--Skips 2
Ltn W Thiede--CDL E.III
SD/FLM/FT
12 Damage Points
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Rolled 5-2 FLM =3 Injured
Rolled 3--Skips 3
Ltn K Rudiger--Grey E.III
SD/EXP/WIA/FT
13 Damage Points
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Rolled 8 - 3EXP= 5 -1 WIA =4 Injured
Rolled 6--Skips 6
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