Adler Airfield Briefing Tent
Oberleutnant Bernhard Wienand is describing the upcoming mission to four of his pilots.
“Der Feind wendet neue Taktiken für seine Bomberformationen an.“
< The enemy is using new tactics for their bomber formations.
“Sie fliegen in einer Diamant Formation, vier Flugzeuge pro Einheit.“
< They fly in a diamond formation, four planes per unit. >
“Dies gibt ihnen viele Feuerfelder.“
< This gives them many fields of fire >
„Es gibt genau eine solche Gruppe, die sich von Westen her nähert. Wir müssen sie daran hindern, ihr Ziel zu erreichen.“
< There is just such a group approaching from the west. We need to stop them from reaching their target.”
“Pass auf! Versuchen Sie, wenn möglich von der Seite anzugreifen.“
< Take care! Try to attack from the side if possible.>
“Das ist alles, meine Herren. Viel Glück!“
< That is all, gentlemen. Good luck! >
The four Halberstadt D.III pilots see the enemy approaching: Ltn Felix Eisenhardt in the CDL one, Ltn Till Huebner in the dark brown, and Leutnants Burkhard Baumann and Dietrich Oelker in a pair of camoflaged ones.
Their targets are the new Sopwith 1-1/2 Strutters*
The lead aircraft is flown by 2Lt Douglas Winterbottom, with AM3 Frank Wilkinson in the rear seat.
The left flank is covered by Lt Alan Wood and AM1 Patrick Francis.
The right flank has 2Lt Charlie Hall and AM3 Billy Holder.
And bringing up the rear we find 2Lt Arthur Raymond and AM3 John Morris.
*Note: I had to use two Comics as ‘stand-ins’ for the 2-seater Strutters
Huebner mutters to himself “Keine einfachen BE.2s mehr …” < No more easy BE.2s >
Baumann and Oelker prepare to strike.
The group had all determined to approach the enemy from an angle, hoping to avoid the forward-firing Vickers and the Observer’s Lewis.
Tikka tikka tikka
First blood to Baumann, who gets a solid hit on Wood’s Strutter.
Next up, Felix Eisenhardt.
Tikka Tikka Tikka
Wilkinson sees bits of fabric ripped from the lower left wing.
Da da da da
Wilkinson’s Lewis comes to bear on Huebner.
Tikka tikka Tikka tikka
Huebner’s sniper skill does some major damage to Wood, while Woods Vickers return fire is barely noticeable.
Baumann’s timing is off and must make a quick maneuver to avoid slamming into the Strutter.
Tikka tikka
Raymond tries to help but his shots do no noticeable damage.
Tikka tikka tikka
Eisenhardt chooses a new target and his bullets rip through Hall’s Sopwith, damaging the rudder controls.
Not that Hall will notice for a while as the group sticks with the planned formation.
Tikka tikka
Eisenhardt is caught in a vice, but Raymond’s Vickers causes no damage.
Luckily for him he is Wilkinson’s blind spot.
Da da da da
Morris fires at Baumann and does some minimal damage, but
BOOM!
Baumann has hit Raymond’s fuel tank!
One down!
Baumann has kill number three.
Da da da da
Francis hits Huebner and sees oily smoke start to stream from the Halberstadt.
Huebner is too concerned with avoiding Baumann to notice at the moment …
Eisenhardt closes in on Hall and Holder.
Tikk ….
“Um Gottes Willen!”
Eisenhardt’s gun has seized!
Da da da da
“Ach nein! Feuer!”
Holder has started a fire with his Lewis.
“Have that ye bar steward!”
Da da da
Wilkinson adds to Eisenhardt’s troubles.
Da da da
Lewis ends the day for Oelker!
“Gott im Himmel”
Oelker’s Argus engine immediately loses power.
“Ich habe noch keinen Schuss abgegeben!“
< I haven‘t fired a shot yet! >
Da da da
The bark of Holder’s Lewis brings even more trouble for Eisenhardt.
Luckily for Eisenhardt the fire seems to be under control.
The Strutters pull away from the Adler.
Eisenhardt weaves from side to side, Huebner streams black smoke, Oelker is looking for an exit and Baumann struggles to catch up with the Strutters.
Things are not looking great for the Eagles at the moment ….
Oelker starts to turn away from the chase.
He signals to Baumann that he has to leave the battle.
Eisenhardt’s movements seem to be keeping the flames down.
Tikka Tikka
Eisenhardt takes an opportune shot at the Strutter.
Da da da
Hall returns the favour and empties his drum.
Nada nada
Neither sees any damage for their effort.
“Vorsicht!”
< Watch out! >
Eienhardt nearly clips Baumann while focused on the flames.
Other than the drone of multiple engines, the air is silent.
“Nein!”
Eisenhardt’s flames flare up ….. But just as suddenly, stop.
“Gott sei Dank dafür …”
< Thank God for that >
Tikka Tikka
Eisenhardt can finally focus on the task at hand.
Hall’s rudder controls are damaged some more.
Holder has swapped his Lewis drum and prepares to shoot.
Tikka tikka
And again!
Hall has no idea his rudder is badly damaged.
Da da d …
The air is blue with profanities as Holder’s only just reloaded Lewis jams!
Oelker does some cursing of his own as he leaves the area with nothing to show for his day’s outing but a damaged engine.
The C.O. will not be happy.
„Wienand wird mit mir nicht glücklich sein....“
Tikka tikka
Making up for lost time, Eisenhardt really gives Hall and Holder what for.
Tikka tikka
Like a Rottweiler on a rat, Eisenhardt stays on the Strutter.
“Rauche” he muses to himself as he sees smoke.
The Rottweiler has broken the rat’s neck and the Strutter slips to earth, narrowly avoiding both a water landing and some warehouses.
Things don’t look good for Hall and Holder.
Tikka tikka
Huebner has finally got within range of Wood and Francis.
Another Sopwith sustains unrealized rudder damage.
Da da ... click
Francis empties his Lewis drum and misses with his return fire.
Tikka tikka
Huebner hits the Strutter again and braces for return fire that is not forthcoming.
That last burst was the final nail in the coffin.
Wood brings his aircraft down near a railway embankment.
And then there was one.
Huebner signals his wingmen.
With fuel levels dangerously low, they must turn about and return to base.
Tantalizingly close, the three Adler see their prey slip away.
One may have got away, but the Adler think Wienand will be happy to hear that each of the returning pilots has added a kill to his tally.
“Getränke heute Abend rundum in der Messe!“
< Drinks all round in the mess tonight >
Butcher’s Tally
Bulldogs
Sopwith 1-1/2 Strutter
Pilot: 2Lt Arthur Raymond EXP ET
C&W: 8 -3 EXP = 5: INJ 1D3(4) : Skip 2
E&E: 2 -1 BEL -1 EXP -1 WIC = -1 : Captured! “The War is Over for this pilot.”
Observer: AM3 John Morris EXP ET
C&W: 9 -3 EXP = 6: INJ 1D3(6) : Skip 3
E&E: 4 -1 BEL -1 EXP -1 WIC = 1 : Captured! “The War is Over for this airman.”
Sopwith 1-1/2 Strutter
Pilot: 2Lt Charles Hall SD ET
C&W: 6 -1 SD = 5: INJ 1D3(6) = Skip 3
E&E: 4 -1 BEL -1 WIC = 2: Captured! “The War is Over for Charlie Hall”
Observer: AM3 William “Billy” Holder SD ET
C&W: 5 -1 SD = 4: INJ 1D6(5) = Skip 5
E&E: 5 -1 BEL -1 WIC = 3: Captured and Escaped – Skip 1D3(3) = Skip 2
Total: Skip 5 “Although he managed to get away from his captors, his wounds were serious and will force him to miss the remainder of this campaign.”
Sopwith 1-1/2 Strutter
Pilot: Lt Alan Wood SD ET
C&W: 10 -1 SD = 9 :“Not even a flesh wound!”
E&E: 3 -1 BEL = 2 : “Captured! The War is Over for Lt Wood”
Observer: AM1 Patrick Francis
C&W: 8 -1 SD = 7 : INJ 1D2(2) = Skip 1
E&E: 9 -1 BEL -1 WIC = 7 : “Almost Home!” : Skip 1
Total: Skip 1
Sopwith 1-1/2 Strutter
Pilot: 2Lt Douglas Winterbottom RTB
Observer: AM3 Frank Wilkinson RTB
Adler
Halberstadt D.III
Ltn Till Huebner RTB 1 Kill (Wood/Francis)
Halberstadt D.III
Ltn Felix Eisenhardt RTB 1 Kill (Hall/Holder)
Halberstadt D.III
Ltn Burkhard Baumann RTB 1 Kill (Raymond/Morris)
Ltn Dietrich Oelker FRTB-E
Victory Points
Bulldogs
1 Bomber exits: 2 pts
Adler
3 Bombers shot down: -6 points
Adler Victory!
==============================
Well I was surprised to pull a victory out of that.
It started off well but then turned south on me when Eisenhardt first drew 0/0 w/ Gun Jam and then caught fire (flying the CDL Halb for the absent Giesebrecht – maybe that’s his problem?)
and then to top it off, Oelker drawing engine damage.
I started getting déjà vu
It was a slow creep to catch up with the Strutters.
Without the scenario’s obligatory stall each turn they would have all escaped.
It was an interesting mission, John, albeit a tough one for my Entente crews.
My E&E rolls were godawful!
5 Bulldogs out for the duration.
Sorry, Dave.
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