Onkel stood in front of the summoned pilots in the briefing room.
“Gentlemen, Today I will not assign any of you to today’s mission. This morning, despite the gallant effort of our mechanics, we have a paucity of functioning aircraft”.
Looking down at the aircraft maintenance report in his hand Onkel reads again that there are only four ready scouts and three tandems. He bites softly on his lower lip.
“Today I will ask for volunteers. Before anyone comes forward let me explain what we need to get done today”.
“We need to secure photographs from behind the enemy lines in sector 4. Intelligence at HQ tells us there is a buildup growing for an offensive. The offensive cannot be stopped but if we are successful, we can delay it giving our boys more time to prepare and lessen its impact. We are to find the supply dumps and then also bomb them”.
“We’ve been given a tall task and I know you will do your best. To start this mission, I need two scout pilots and two tandem crews. Come to my office in ten minutes and be ready to go. I’ll give you exact instructions then”.
As soon as Onkel left the room there was a scuffle to get to the door first. Alfred Müller was up first but Hans Pfeiffer grabbed and spun him around. Werner Hengst wrestled with Otto Reittinger as Paul Wolff snaked through the pile while pushing off Reinhold Schäfer behind him. It was more a rugby scrum than an orderly ending to a mission briefing.
“HALT”! Konrad bellowed. Everyone froze in their tracks and turned around to face the flight leader.
Obltn Konrad Dahl shook his head. “I thought I had a Jasta of responsible, trained pilots, not a group of uncontrolled school children on recess”.
“Onkel wants volunteers. Wolff, Müller, you are the two scout volunteers. Go meet with the tandem team volunteers in the ready room, they have already been given their instructions. Please take extra care of your machines on this flight so we can use them later today. Be off”.
Wolff and Müller straightened themselves out and made their way to meet with Rudolf Mulzer, Dieter Rosenfeldt, Hans Steinhäuser and Gottfried Esswein.
Once in the air Wolff and Müller took the lead with the two tandems close behind. Senior pilot of the two seaters, Hans Steinhäuser, held the honor of being the primary photograph plane with Rudolf Mulzer flew secondary.
After the Eagles crossed their own lines nearing those of the enemy, French aircraft could be seen circling over where their suspected targets were. Rudolf breaks formation hoping to have a better angle of attack when the French are engaged.
As soon as they crossed the lines the French AA opened up.
Alfred laughed, “Those French couldn’t hit anything, even if it were on the ground right in front of them”!
Just as Alfred cleared the black AA cloud in came the first French Nieuport. He and Paul shot at it with little effect. The French plane immediately had a problem with a jammed Lewis gun.
The Frenchman flew straight in forcing a surprised Paul to dive out of the way of the Nieuport.
Two more N17s quickly approach the skirmish.
Rudolf sees that the newcomers are heading right towards him so he turns back to get behind Hans and their escort.
Paul and Alfred turn to engage the newcomers hoping Hans and Gotty can handle the 1st Nieuport.
Gotty get in a shot that damages the green Nieuport’s controls.
The CDL Albatros has the attention of the ground gunners. This time they are much closer to hitting the slower tandem.
Gotty keeps on shooting and more and more wood and canvas are removed from his target’s the ailerons.
Hans keeps his head and stays focused on taking his first photograph.
Gotty almost feels sorry for this Frenchman as he tears into his plane again.
Remy can’t believe his bad luck. His Lewis had jammed on his first shot and while he cleared it his foe had shredded his ride. St. Martin’s N17 has had enough and reluctantly dives out of the fight.
Dubois and Rosenfeldt trade harmless long range shots. As Dubois passes behind the Roland Dieter finally scores some minor damage.
Müller tightens his turn to help out his friends in the Roland. He squeezes his trigger and has a good feeling that his rounds found the enemy. He was sure he saw the French pilot flinch in the cockpit.
While concentrating on Dubois, Müller failed to notice the pair of N17s flying directly at him. His Fokker is peppered with lead, damaging the controls and plinking the oil line causing smoke to trail his D.I.
Joubert stays on Müller and punishes him for his lack of situational awareness.
Seems Wolff’s Fokker E.IV is very prone to engine damage as again he is forced to leave the battle. Not a day at the beach as the bad vibrations and sputtering engine once again do him in. A small relief is Allard has jammed his gun.
Even though smoking and with engine damage, Müller and Wolff reversed to face their tailing enemy. Even Rosenfeldt adds in a burst on Joubert causing his N17 to trail smoke.
Joubert gets off a quick burst and adds more control damage to Müller.
Dubois heads for home after quickly tying a tourniquet around his wounded leg.
Behind the lines and away from the fight Hans and Rudolf steer their tandems over the targets to take their photographs.
Even though they were away from the enemy aircraft they still weren't safe as they had the attention of the guns on the ground.
After clearing his jam, Allard found himself in a difficult position between Müller and Wolff. Lucky for Allard, Wolff’s engine damage was too much to carry on. Wolff disengaged.
Müller also gained the attention of a second AA gun but its aim was off.
Backing off a bit Müller let Allard fly into his guns but somehow could not hit such an easy target!
Allard has had enough and reverses, almost hitting Müller in the process.
While this is going on Hans and Rudolf make their way to the second set of targets, but not without the occasional AA burst hurrying them along.
The French regroup and get ready for another attack.
Joubert gets in a damaging burst with little effective return fire.
Allard follows Joubert in with Müller trying to catch him from behind.
The AA does its best to stop Müller but come up short again.
And again on the Roland…
Unimpeded, Allard rips into the Albatros. Hans grimaces as the C.III shudders under the blows. His only thought this second is to get back over friendly territory.
Müller and Rosenfeldt try to dissuade Allard from pursuing their comrade but can do little.
Maybe the distraction worked as Allard turns his attention to the Roland, letting Hans and Gotty off the hook. Mulzer frantically rocks the Roland in evasive maneuvers to throw off the Frenchman’s aim. Mulzer was momentarily furious with Rosenfeldt. “Why wasn’t he returning fire”? Then he turns and sees Rosenfeldt taking a photo of the last target. “Ah, good man”!
Esswein is at his gun and does make Allard pay for his attack on Mulzer.
Müller is now set upon by Joubert. Müller tries to avoid Joubert and gets a shot at Allard, setting him ablaze.
As soon as he can Rosenfeldt drops the camera and takes up the machine gun. The blazing Allard is an easy target to hit.
Müller knows he can’t let Joubert stay behind him so Immelmanns, catching Joubert off guard. Müller gets off a quick lucky shot and wounds Joubert.
Allards fire seems harmless but Allard knows his N17 is in a bad way. He dives attempting to blow out the flames and to his delight is successful!
Hans and Rudolf signal each other to head home with the photos. Müller lets the wounded Joubert go so he can join up with the two tandems. The return home is uneventful but is filled with the good feeling of success. A great haul of photographs for HQ and everyone returned home, what could be better.
Joubert and Allard head back to their aerodrome licking their wounds.
Intermission
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