OTT CYM Mission 8 - "Formation Flying!" - 26th August 1916 - Mike's AAR
OTT CYM Mission 8 - “Formation Flying!” - 26th August 1916 – Mike’s AAR
Just for once, Acting Lt Dubh Beard was quite enjoying the experience of flying at a few thousand feet above the troubled world below. The sky had that lazy mid summer kind of haziness and the air was relatively warm, even at this height. Following a week of rain, it was quite exhilirating. Thoughts of battles raging in trenches and the usual daily routines of his type of airman were, dangerously, not in his immediate thoughts.
He’d just glanced down to see a sparkling ribbon of sunlight, reflecting off a river and for that brief moment his attention wandered. His mind was cast back to happier days, fishing on the Kells Blackwater with his brother. “The month of August,” he thought. “terrestrial time.” Which, for the uninitiated, means that the fly fisherman, seeking those beautiful, buttery yellow bellied, wild brown trout, would need to use fly patterns representing terrestrial insects. The ephemeroptera were not nearly so abundant at this time of the year. “Happy days indeed!”! But less than a month to go and he would have missed yet another season – and that saddened him.
Then it was back to reality; dark and sinister. Four insect like shapes wormed their way into his consciousness, but these were far from being food for salmo trutta. And this wasn’t Ireland, it was France and he was in the middle of a war. Approaching front right, from the east and rapidly closing the gap between themselves and Dubh, came four Albatros CIIIs with black crosses adorning the fabric of their wings and bearing stings in their mouths and tails that spelled death to the unwary. Immediately he felt angry with himself, for permitting his attention to wander like that. It could be fatal, not only for himself but also for his wingman, 2nd Lt Bo Fletcher!
But Bo, flying alongside in his Airco DH2, was already alert to the threat and Dubh caught sight of the usual signal – furious arm waving from the Aussie. They were already on course to intercept these hun interlopers. It wasn’t going to be a piece of cake either, because these uninvited guests were all two seaters which, unusually, were flying in formation. “Interesting” thought Dubh. “That looks pretty strong to me. Going to have to be very careful with this one!”
But they were not alone with the enemy. Approaching from the north were two more aircraft, which Dubh recognised as their own, mainly because they were meant to be there. This was the pre arranged rendezvous point for the four aircraft sent out earlier, on an offensive patrol. The German formation had just happened along at the most disadvantageous moment to themselves. But it was still going to be a challenge.
It will be appreciated that all of these thoughts were processed by Dubh Beard, their flight leader, in a flash, because by now he and the other pilots of 57 Squadron, the Bulldogs as they were wont to refer to themselves, were pretty experienced. Dubh acknowledged Bo’s arm waving and indicated his intention to attack from the flank and in return he could sense, almost feel, that bloodthirsty grin on Bo’s rugged features.
By now the four Albatros CIIIs were almost upon them. Unwaveringly confident in their unusual cluster, three of the crews fervently believed they could support one another with a deadly crossfire, should they be attacked. They felt pretty safe, providing they could hold this formation. As safe as any air crew could be under the circumstances. The fourth crew, however, was less sure of itself. A couple of inexperienced newcomers to the war in the air, 20 year old observer, Ltn Joshua Schmidt and his 18 year old pilot Fwbl Thaddeus Johannes, were in the hindmost position of this diamond shaped flight. Having spent most of the war, up to now, in the trenches, neither really knew what to expect up here. This was their first flight on active duty, and both were just a trifle nervous.
The intention of this flock of birds was obviously to reach the line of British trenches that lay ahead. Whether for reconnaisance purposes or to bomb them wasn’t immediately apparent to their foes, but given their speed, Dubh suspected the latter. Either way, the four German Eagles of FF(A)245 were now sandwiched between a couple of pairs of British Bulldogs. Teeth were bared in an angry predatory snarl and talons were honed to a very fine needle sharp point. Let the fun begin!
As the two pairs of RFC aircraft tore into opposite flanks of their formation, the rookie German crew, at the rear of the formation, had time to observe, with a rising feeling of panic, the results of some rather accurate enemy machine gun firing. Fire immediately broke out on the Albatros to their front right. A black oily smoke and some frightening looking flames burst from its fuselage and they could see the observer, Ltn Wilhelm Kummetz not only trying to avoid those flames but also trying furiously to hammer at his gun, which had obviously jammed already. The pilot, Fwbl Rudolf Buddecke had appeared to throw himself in a sideways spasm away from the oncoming rage. He had been hit. Already it began to look ominous for them and their mission.
At the same moment, the two rookies were pretty horrified to see more black oily smoke, streaming this time from the Albatros to their front left. But the first onslaught hadn’t been all one sided. In his CDC DH2 Flight Sergeant Charles Drake had felt the impact of a large number of bullets as they smacked loudly into his bus. But then most of the german guns went silent as one after the other they jammed.
Then it was the German rookies’ turn
Flying past the flanking German aircraft, with little threat from mainly jammed guns, the Bulldogs showed their canine fangs to the tail end Albatros and barked furiously. But you’ve heard the expression “All bark and no bite” haven’t you? Well the two rookies must have felt some relief when the two Tommies coming at them from their right missed completely – how embarrasing for them. Joshua Schmidt then whooped with glee as the first bullets he fired in anger from an aircraft smashed into Drake’s DH2 and wounded this pilot into the bargain. So that was Drake’s day done. He now needed to peel off and head home, before blood loss prevented him attaining that desired objective.
However, relief for the German rookies was, sadly, at least for them, short lived. Bullets from Dubh Beard’s gun, on their left, slammed into their fuselage a brief moment before 2nd Lt Simon Hawker, on their right, fired a second burst that clattered into their engine, hit something vital and next thing they heard was a loud bang. They were done for!
Thaddeus Johannes was never conscious of screaming all the while their aircraft plummeted earthwards. He struggled furiously and desperately with the unresponsive controls, his screaming high pitched and out of control and his last thought was just sheer terror as the aircraft hit the ground and the butt end of his machine gun tore through his unprotected 18 year old brain. Joshua Schmidt was somewhat luckier. He was hurled from his cockpit, knocked senseless and lay their unconscious and bleeding from minor wounds until he was found by some tommies and taken into captivity. He, at least, survived the war!
So, in the time it takes to say “Good day, how are you? Isn’t it beautiful up here?” One of the DH2s had been sent packing, it’s pilot wounded; one of the Albatros CIII’s was shot down and a second Albatros set on fire, so also needed to peel off and dive for home. The German flight was in tatters. Added to which the gallant Aussie from Wollongong, Bo Fletcher, now took a long range pot at the left flank Albatros and one lucky bullet took out something important in its engine casing. Good night baby! It too would need to peel off and dive for cover, just as fast as its little legs could take it. The German formation was broken up, the self belief of its pilots and observers replaced with a gritty determination to survive, long enough to reap revenge for the two youngsters they would have to leave behind. Not that anything about the efficacy of the formation had been proven, of course. It was a good one and would provide effective defence for such aircraft on many future occasion. Just not this one. The Bulldogs’ aim had been just too good or just too lucky. It mattered not which to them.
Thereafter a few more parting shots accompanied the scattering Germans, just to help them on their way. And they, in their turn, tried hard to bite back, much to Beards annoyance.
The result was a foregone conclusion. The fight broke up as aircraft pulled out of it, leaving three Bulldogs to give chase to one determined Eagle that they were unlikely ever going to catch. Bravely, the latter continued, under fire, mainly from the still grinning, “Gong” born, Bo Fletcher who really wanted to bring this chap to heel.
The fire on the right flank Albatros miraculously burnt itself out doing little or no damage at all except to the crew’s pride. Ltn Kummetz would celebrate that, very grumpily, in the mess later that evening, after settling his pilot, Fwbl Buddecke, in the nearest hospital tent. The wounded Buddecke would have to wait a while for his next celebratory drink; he would also have time, whilst his wound healed, to ponder on what had gone wrong today and how that could be dealt with in the future.
As for Vzfwbl Georg Wenelmuth and Ltn Franz Hennig, they managed to nurse that damaged engine all the way back to their barn too, despite the best efforts of the couple of passing shots fired by the wounded and retiring Charles Drake. Well, they shouldn’t have crossed his path, should they? Drake too was in for some recovery time once he safely returned home. His wound was serious enough to ground him for a while, but I don’t believe he was that unhappy about it. Nothing vital to his future well being had taken any damage, so he was contented!
Finally, Dubh Beard and his wing man persisted in their chase of Fwbl Robert Jansen and Ltn Dieter Geigl. Beard and Geigl exchanged a few shots during which Beard’s rudder controls were damaged and the Albatros was set on fire. Ignoring this danger, Geigl hit Beard’s DH2 again and Beard swerved off course as a result and he called it a day. Not so Bo Fletcher.
The dogged Aussie chased on, hoping to catch his prey and hoping the flaming Albatros would be slowed enough for him to catch up. But it wasn’t to be. The Albatros survived the fire,
and a couple more goodbye waves of lead from Bo and continued bravely on, no doubt dropping its bombs somewhere over British held territory, with more effect on the morale of the poor bloody infantry than in any way causing physical damage. Nothing very much different there then!
The remaining Bulldogs, tired, hungry and over excited, decided enough was enough and headed for their kennel. Uncle should be pleased and young Simon Hawker had his first confirmed victory. Good for a piss up and a party tonight.
“I wonder what happened to the poor sods Simon shot down.” mused Dubh and he made a mental note to try and find out.
The end.
The Butcher’s Bill
Entente
2nd Lt Simon Hawker / RTB / 1 kill
Result: All good
F/Sgt Charles Drake / FRTB-W / WIA / 0 kills
Rolled 3+4 = landed safely
C/W Roll 2D6 = 7 – 1 WIA + 1 RTB = 7 Injured skip 1D2 = 5 – skip 2 missions
Result: Skip 2 missions
2nd Lt Bo Fletcher / RTB / 0 kills
Result: All good
A/Lt Dubh Beard /FRTB-D / 0 kills
Roll 2D6 = 4+5 = safely landed
Result: All good
Central Powers
Bottom left:
Fwbl Thaddeus Johannes P2: EXP / ET / 0 kills
Roll 2D6 = 5 – 3 EXP – 1 BEL = 1 KIA
Result: KIA (RIP)
Ltn Joshua Schmidt O: EXP / ET / 0 kills
Roll 2D6 = 11 – 3 EXP – 1 BEL = 7 Injured skip 1D2 = 2 – skip 1 missions
E&E
Roll 2D6 = 5 – 1 EXP – 1 BEL – 1 WIC = 2 Captured
Result: Captured – the war is over for this airman.
Bottom right:
Vzfwbl Georg Wenelmuth: P2: FRTB-E / 0 kills
Roll 2D6 = 4+2 Landed safely
Result: All good
Ltn Franz Hannig: O: FRTB-E / 0 kills
Result: All good
Top Left:
Fwbl Robert Janzen: P2: RTB / 0 kills
Result: All good
Ltn Dieter Geigl: O: RTB / 0 kills
Result: All good
Top right:
Fwbl Rudolf Buddecke: P2: RTB / WIA / 0 kills
C/W Roll 2D6 = 8 – 1 WIA + 1 RTB = 8 Injured skip 1D2 = 4 – skip 2 missions
Result: Skip 2 missions
Ltn Wilhelm Kummetz: O: RTB / 0 kills.
Result: All good
Victory Points
Entente
1 x bomber SD – 2 points
1 x bombers FRTB – 2 points
Total – 4 points
Central Powers
1 x bomber exited successfully – 2 points
Total – 2 points
Result: Entente Victory
A most enjoyable mission. Thanks John. It was all down to the luck of the draw in my game. An early boom card, a flamer and engine damage just about sealed the deal from the outset.
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for his service to the Kaiser 
I'll go back and read through the campaign rules again and hope I don't make too many other mistakes in the future - my bad! 
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