Haupmann Philip von Turpitz checked his watch again. Where were they? What were their names again? They'd arrived mid morning, all fresh and eager. Then the phone had rang and High Command had made it very clear he had no option.
Then he heard the aircraft engines. He crushed the urge to rush outside. Calm, in command. He casually left his office and leaned against the doorframe watching the two Rolands come into land. Where was the third plane? The planes rolled to a halt and the four men climbed out all smiles , punching and slapping each other. Well that's four returned.
"Go see Leutenant Posseldt and give him your report. Where's the other plane?
Brom's coming sir. We caught up with him but he was going slowly. He waved us on. He's sure to be ba"
The sound that interupted him was unrecognisable as that of an Albatros D.II engine that had taken off two hours ago. The plane clunked to a halt and the pilot leapt out of the cockpit shouting
"I got one, I got one"
Lucas Marcus Poseldt had great difficulty but he finally typed the following report:
Mission: Photograph railyard and surrounding depot 10 miles due West behind enemy lines.
Planes and pilots - Albatros D.II Pilot Leutenant Gustav Brom
Roland C.II Pilot Leutenant Ludwig Giam Observer Leutenant Hans Browski
Roland C.II Pilot Leutenant Wilheim Fahlsbrusch Observer Leutenant Johann Lasli
They spotted three enemy aircraft over the target and three AA machine guns in front.
Nieuport 17 - F/O M L (Emil) Harris
Spad 7 - F/O Robert Kemp
Spad 7 - F/O Edward (Eddie) Edwards
Brom led the attack against the Central AA machine gun which peppered his plane (2 + RRD) He pressed on, destroying the gun (5, 3) but suffered badly (3 + Engine Damage) As he pulled away he shot at the Nieuport 17 in his path (1, 0) Brom again closed on Harris (1 + RRD, 1) As the Nieuport filled his gunsights, he couldn't miss (0, 0 + Gun Jam) Sheisse
Meanwhile Giam attacked the right hand AA machine gun, both parties receiving damage - Roland (3) AA machine gun (2 + Gun Jam) As he flew past Browski finished the job (3) as the guns final shots missed (0)
Behind the railyard Kemp felt the sharp loss of power in the Spad's engine and was forced to return to base.
Browski got a perfect photo of the right hand depot, following closely behind Lasli also got the perfect photo.
The sky above the railyard was suddenly full of planes and machine gun bullets. Edwards riddled the Albatros (3) only for Brom to return the favour (4) Edwards tried to manoevre away from the hail of bullets, succeeding (0, 0) only to be hit by Fahlsbrusch (2 + Smoke) Brom then found the other Spad (Harris) in his sights (0). He tried again (4) and Fahlsbrusch added to Harris' misery (3)
The right hand AA machine gun opened fire as Brom flew too close (0, 0) but missed.
Suddenly the two Rolands found themselves sharing the same airspace. Giam looked up to see two wheels poking through his upper wing (2) only for them to quickly dissapear as Fahlsbrusch hauled back on the stick, without any damage (0) Every time Harris managed to earn some breathing space, a second later the Albatros was on him again (3 + Engine Damage) The plane was a colander of holes and his thoughts to getting out of this. Again came the sound of bullets ripping into the plane (1) and the Nieuport headed for home, straight downwards.
As Fahlsbrusch brought the Roland round, lining up for another photo, he gave Lasli a perfect shot that destroyed the right hand AA machine gun post (1, 3) with the AA machine guns missed (0, 0) Giam in the leading Roland set up Browski for the perfect photo. Lasli fired as they flew past Edwards (0, 2 + Fire) The Fire burned on (2) and the observer fired again (1) with the end of Edwards' Spad being delivered by the pilot (1).
Ignoring the final AA machine gun, by flying behind it, they were able to take six photos, two of each target and headed for home.
C/W F/O M L (Emil) Harris Rolled 8 S/D -1 = 7 Skip 1d2 missions Rolled 1, miss 1 scenario
C/W F/O Edward (Eddie) Edwards Rolled 9 S/D -1 = 8 Skip 1d2 missions Rolled 2, miss 1 scenario.
Addendum: Leutenant Marcu Posseldt survived both World Wars and one day he was being interviewed by a reporter about his wartime experiences.
"I must have done hundreds, if not a few thousand of these After Action reports, but one sticks in my mind, even after all these years. You interview, almost interogate, the pilots on their return. The majority are just relieved to be alive, and tired. They deliver a dull, monotone, factual report. Flew this direction, at this altitude, spotted enemy aircraft at this altitude, on this heading, engaged, shot at, was shot at, saw this etc, etc. 10-15 minutes maximum. They were on an adrenelin rush and just kept going. I'd try to interupt their flow, just to get one voice, so I could take some notes but then another would interuptwith another bit and off they'd go again. We spent a good half hour with the Roland crews argueing. Giam insisted that Fahlsbrusch owed him a new planesince he'd put his wheels through his top wing and Fahlsbrusch saying that if Giam had looked up he would have seen him and that maybe a bit more basic training was needed - that nearly caused a fight. Brom's first kill was from another Albatros pilot returning from another mission Fahlsbrusch's first kill was confirmed by Browski.
I needed a drink and we all went to the Mess. I know the first kill usually buys the drinks but I did it as they all still on a high, still moving their arms to describe various actions. I introduced them to the few other pilots in the Mess. They sat down at a table, drinking and talking. Slowly the volume subsided and within ten minutes, they were all sleeping like babies.
Hang on a minute, I've still got it somewhere"
Posseldt rumaged around in a desk and then
"Yes, here it is"
He produced an old photograph of five fresh, oil covered faces, asleep at a table with empy beer steins in front of them.
" I wonder where they are now"
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