OTT CYM Mission 9 “Who’s Stalking Who?” 5 September 1916 by ShadowDragon
OTT-CYM Mission 9: Who’s Stalking who)? – 5th September 1916 – by ShadowDragon
Original scenario by Stumptonian
https://www.wingsofwar.org/forums/sh...September-1916
The CO of X-Squadron, Rumsbottle, wasn’t happy. Except for the Aussie’s solo mission (#5) when FSL Dundee had mixed it up with a half dozen Huns and bagged two, it had been over a month since the squadron had any real mission successes. Sure they had added to their reputation as killers but the RFC was beginning to wonder if the RNAS squadron wasn’t cut out for inland aerial combat. They hadn’t stopped the Hun photo recce missions on 27 July (mission #4); the Admiral at Dover threatened to throw any X-squadron crew in the brig if they came around his way again (mission #6); the plan to trap the Huns had went badly with the loss of FL Hastings (mission #7) and they had failed to take down the Hun bomber formation (mission #8). If what they were good at was killing Huns, then let them have at – clear the sky of Hun scouts or don’t come back.
The scout flight was short 2 pilots. Dundee was back in Blimy on a PR tour to bolster support for the war effort and the Canadian, Jack Wilde, was malingering in hospital – no doubt chasing nurses and having a grand time of it all. A pity they were two of the top three pilots in the flight other than the flight leader, Nigel Flashman. The Scotsman, Jock, was experienced but with just 1 kill to his credit. The remaining two – the Irishman, Fergis O’Neil, and the young British Columbian lad, Al Smith, had a grand total of zero between them. The CO wanted Flashman to watch the Irishman. That meant Jock would fly with Smith – on the morning patrol while Flashman and O’Neil took the afternoon slot. Hopefully they get a Hun or two and get the old man off their backs.
Morning Patrol
Jock thought he had spotted a couple of Huns through a break in the clouds and signalled Al to dive down from their cover. Luck was with them; they had the jump on the Huns – right behind them at 6 and 7 o’clock. Perfect timing. Och! Two Halberstadts! A couple of Eindeckers would have suited Jock just fine.
Jock got into perfect firing position and fired off a burst from the Lewis. From the looks of it, Jock thought he might have hit the pilot as the Halberstadt veered to the left.
The Halberstadt was flying erratically – perhaps the wounded enemy was struggling to keep his crate flying. Jock glanced over at Al to see if he was alright. The young Canadian had got a nice deflection shot at the other Halberstadt.
The nearest Halberstadt pulled an Immelmann – that must have hurt him a wee bit, thought Jock. Jock got another good shot at the Hun, who was probably fighting blood loss and couldn’t fire back. [Note: this was the 3rd planned manoeuvre of the turn for Fritz. The next turn Fritz will break off and head for the aerodrome.]
Jock flipped his Bébé in an Immelmann to get back into the fight but the Hun had broken off. He had too much of a head start for Jock to catch him. Meanwhile Al and the other Hun (Hans Bohenkamp) circled each other looking for an opportunity.
Jock decided to join the Al’s fray rather than fruitlessly chasing the wounded Hun. He and the Hun jockeyed for an advantage.
Jock got the edge first but missed a tough deflection shop while the Hun, Hans, slipped away.
But not for long, Jock was on the Hun’s tail and dealt out some major damage to the Halberstadt.
The Hun wasn’t giving up though, and with an Immelmann traded blows with the Scotsman. The Nieuport’s fuel line was hit and smoked obscured the Jock’s vision. For his trouble Hans took a bullet in the leg. He might be out of action for a bit – if he made it back to base.
While Hans was tying his tourniquet, the Canadian, Al, had returned to fight on the tail of the Halberstadt. Making it back to the aerodrome wasn’t looking like it was in the cards for Hans.
Han’s plane was terribly damaged and it would be difficult to keep it in the air even without his leg wound, but it was a mattered little as Al kept on the Halberstadt, sending it into an earthward spiral. Just in time too as the Nieuport’s Lewis jammed as the last round tore into what was left of the enemy aeroplane.
Afternoon Patrol
The morning patrol had gone well – both Jack the Canadian, Al Smith, had returned with little damage with Smith picking up his first kill. Perhaps luck would be with Flashman and Fergis. Hopefully they wouldn’t end up facing one or two of the new Hun aeroplanes – the Albatros. Fortune did indeed smile on Flashman and his wingman. The broke cover and ended up in nearly the same position as the morning lads – just a bit higher and a bit further back. This time the Hun machines were a captured Nieuport and a Halberstadt.
Flashman dove on the nearest Hun in the captured Nieuport, but the Hun had spotted him and used the Nieuport’s manoeuvrability to full advantage – thwarting Flashman’s designs.
Oh well, there was the CDL Halberstadt in sight. Flashman fired a burst that went wide – and just barely avoiding a collision with his target.
Skillfully, Flashman flipped the Nieuport onto the tail of the enemy – a direct hit on the Halberstadt. Perhaps engine damage which would take the Hun out of the fight. The captured Nieuport was back at it but its shots were off the mark.
Flashman kept on the tail of the Halberstadt, while the enemy Nieuport traded shots with the Irishman. More like courtesy shots than a real attempt to damage each other thought Flashman.
The Irishman and Hun avoided a collision – or was it? Flashman thought he saw the Irishman and the German exchange hand signals as they passed each other.
The Halberstadt was breaking off as Flashman anticipated. With his Lewis still jammed from the last burst at the Halberstadt, he gave up the chase and turned towards the other dogfight.
Or what was supposed to be a dogfight. The Irishman’s Nieuport nearly flew into Flashman. What was Fergis trying to do – head Flashman off????
Now time to think about that now. The enemy Nieuport was in Flashman’s gunsights but after a quick burst the Lewis jammed again.
The enemy and Flashman both manoeuvred their Nieuports in an Immelmann for another head on pass at each other. Flashman’s gun was still jammed. The enemy fired but Flashman could see the Hun banging at his Lewis. Welcome to my day, thought Flashman.
His Lewis cleared – ah, thanks to that mallet trick the RFC bloke taught us. He fired at the Hun. But where was Fergis??
An Immelmann and Flashman was on the tail of the Hun Nieuport. Another burst hit something flammable on the captured Nieuport.
What was the Irishman doing? An Immelman right between the Hun and Flashman’s blazing gun? Was he trying to interrupt Flashman’s aim? But the Irishman was too low and Flashman continued firing at the enemy Nieuport which spiralled towards the earth in a ball of flames.
Rumsbottle was pleased. His X-men had done as he asked. They had cleared the skies of the Huns – at least over the little patch they were patrolling. And two more kills to the squadron’s credit with Flight Leader Flashman just one shy of becoming the squadron’s 2nd ace. However, he was a bit troubled by Flashman’s account of the Irishman’s exploits. The wing commander had given Rumsbottle specific instructions to keep an eye on Fergis O’Neil – but with no explanation of why or what specifically they should watch.
Victory Points
Seadogs: 4 X 1 (4 planes RTB) + 2 X 2 (2 enemy shot down) + 2 X 1 (2 enemy FRTB) = 10 points
Adlers = 0 points (or is it 1 point for a FRTB without crashing???)
An Adler rout.
Reply With Quote
Originally Posted by Stumptonian
it seems that being late to the party I missed the problems with the photos because they look fine now although it takes a minute or two for my old brain to see where one picture ends and the other starts but they still show your wonderful planes to good advantage.
and the other mystery is what is that Fergus fellow up to, he's even using the same camouflage as the Halberstadt's, it's a good job he wasn't on the morning patrol.
Well good for the Doggies then 
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