OTT-CYM Mission 4: A-Hunting We Will Go - 27 July 1916 - teaticket
July 27th of 1916 day dawned bright and clear. A cold front had passed through during the night so the day was bright and clear. The dawn patrol had flown along the front without incident. The mid-morning patrol intervened in a French attempt to cross the lines and drove off the offenders. The French fled before they engaged. The chase was on but once across the lines they were let go.
Most of the pilots that had already flown were either resting or with their ground crews checking their mounts. Hans Pfeiffer sat alone at the back of the mess. His furrowed brow clearly showed he was deeply concerned with something. Being the newest pilot with the Eagles, he wasn’t comfortable with his contribution so far to the unit. He only had flown only 2 combat missions over the last couple of weeks while others seem to fly every day. He knew no one wanted to fly with the rookie. His being a liability for the others was weighing on him.
Paul Wolff entered the mess looking to grab a snack before his next flight. Paul was one of the Eagles better pilots, always in the thick of it. He had no fear and the damage to the planes he somehow was able to bring home added to the respect his fellow pilots had for him.
He noticed a dejected looking Hans and slowly walked over towards him while gnawing on the cold sausage in his hand.
“Hans, how’s it going”?
“Gut”. Hans’ positive reply didn’t come across convincingly at all. Paul pressed him and learned of his concerns.
“Come fly with me today. I have a patrol in an hour with Werner. You can come along and get in some more air time”.
A grin immediately crossed Hans’ face. “Danke, I’ll tell the ground crew to ready another plane”.
Downing the last bite of his sausage, Paul found Werner and explained what he wanted to do for Hans. A little more experience with a watchful eye would do Hans good. Paul would stay close to Hans and Werner would follow. If Hans got into trouble the two of them should be able to get him out of it.
More maneuverable planes were coming into the unit, but Paul still had a place in his heart for the Fokker E.IV with twin machine guns. So far, he hadn’t had much luck with the E.IV but he felt it was just a matter of time.
Paul and Hans lead the patrol with Werner trailing behind and above. After half an hour flying along the front a French 2-seater was spotted crossing over the German trenches.
Leo Monet and Oscar Tasse flew towards their objective peering downwards unaware of the Germans coming up behind them.
Just as Monet was stabilizing the Nieuport so Tasse could get a good quality photograph another French Nieuport dropped out of a cloud behind them. Maurice Lyon and Basil Uteau were flying the same mission. Lately the Germans had been picking off single planes on photograph missions so several were now sent to increase their chances of obtaining the needed photographs.
Paul had backed off to give Hans plenty of room for his attack on the yellow Nieuport but what was this? Another French plane just appeared from behind a cloud.
Paul hoped Werner sees this and joins them quickly.
Tasse gets what he hopes is a good image as Lyon gently stalls over the target to lessen the vibrations.
Lyon and Uteau imitate the lead Nieuport while Lyon turns for the second target.
The closest pair of Germans position themselves for the upcoming attack.
Hans heads straight at the SOP. 1A.2 while Paul takes a course to cut both the French off. Hans fires a quick burst. A few rounds struck the engine and a fire immediately break out.
To add to the French duo’s dilemma Uteau’s Lewis jams while returning fire at the Hun.
Paul cuts off the yellow Nieuport coming in at an angle where it is defenseless and scores a good hit.
Paul now takes aim at the 2nd Frenchman and quickly fires, damaging it’s controls.
The two French planes return fire ripping holes all over the Fokker’s fuselage and tail.
As Paul positions himself under the burning 1A.2, Tasse’s sharp eye shooting is true and sets the E.IV on fire.
“Curse the damned luck of this Fokker”, shouts Paul as flames rage on both French and German without mercy.
Werner finally reaches the fight and trades shots with the yellow Nieuport’s observer.
With serious damage and flames dancing past his left shoulder, Paul signals Hans to stay with Werner.
Paul knows he cannot continue and starts evasive maneuvers to reduce the fire’s damage.
Hans freezes as he sees Paul gesturing and flying directly at him. He looks on in horror as Paul dives inches below him.
Paul curses the rookie and hope he learns something from what just happened.
When Hans regains composure from the near collision he realizes he had missed a great opportunity to shoot at the Frenchman.
As Tasse is concentrating on his camera, Werner puts the third aircraft in the air on fire!
Tasse surprises Werner with his quickness in getting back to his machine gun, blazing at him with excellent accuracy!
Paul twists and turns away from the fight with only his own survival on his mind.
He puts the fire out but his aircraft is too damaged to return to the fight so homeward he gingerly flies.
Hans sees Werner engaging the Nieuport so decides to take aim at the 1A.2.
The fires burn brightly!
Werner takes careful aim when Tasse’s Lewis quits on him. Bad luck turns worse for the French pair in the Nieuport. Werner’s bullets strike the N12’s vitals and it tumbles from the sky behind German lines.
Hans gives chase to the 1A.2 not realizing his plane cannot catch the faster enemy. Try as he might, Lyon just never gives him another chance to shoot. Lyon shows his flying skills as he is able to line up a photo for Uteau while still maneuvering to minimize the fire. Hans is mesmerized by the flying ahead of him, forgetting to look for Werner. Lyon and Uterau safely reach their own lines and bids farewell to the Hun tailing him in the distance.
Out of view from Hans, a third French tandem appears on the scene. This one flies in from the south from over the French lines into German territory. Werner spots him and engages immediately.
The Frenchman does not try to avoid the Hun. As they approach head on the speed at which they close gives them no time to fire their weapons.
Werner Immelmanns right behind the Nieuport and he and the observer blast away at each other at very close range.
The next thing he knew, Werner was falling from the sky holding on tight to his Fokker D.II. This French observer was not one to be reckoned with.
Hans can’t believe his eyes as he sees Werner spiraling downward. Anger takes over and he vows revenge and directs his plane towards the French 2-seater.
Hans does not notice a French scout getting closer.
As Hans closes in on the tandem the red Bebe gets on his tail.
Hans tries a long range shot but the observer ignores him as he is at such a long range. The Frenchman carefully takes his photograph.
With the photo taken, Sousy quickly remans his Lewis. Poor Hans pays dearly with what he receives and has his gun jam as a bonus.
The Fokker D.I does not take kindly to the flames as they engulf the plane.
Sousy puts the D.I out of it’s misery and sends poor Hans into an irretrievable nose dive towards the ground.
Ltn. Paul Wolff returned to the aerodrome on a shoestring. The singed remains of his plane carried him home to the disbelief of his ground crew. The Fokker E.IV was written off as unsalvageable.
An hour later reports came in on Ltn. Werner Hengst and Ltn. Hans Pfeiffer. Werner had a rough landing behind friendly lines and was found with minor injuries walking away from his downed Plane.
Hans wasn’t so lucky. He had to be extricated from his burnt, crumpled wreck. It will be a while before he flies again, but fly he will.
Butcher’s Bill
Entente
Lt. Leo Monet: EXP ET 0 Kills
C 8 -3(exp) = 5 injured in crash, 2 = miss 1 mission
E 9 -1(exp) -1(wic) -1(bel) = 6 in hiding! 2 = miss 1 Mission
Cpl. Oscar Tasse: EXP ET 0 Kills 2 photos
C 9 -3(exp) = 6 injured in crash, 5 = miss 3 Missions
E 7 -1(exp) -1(wic) -1(bel) = 4 Captured but escapes! 1 = miss 1 mission
Lt. Maurice Lyon: RTB 0 Kills
Cpl. Basile Uteau: RTB 0 Kills 3 photos
S/Lt. Jacques Rosseau: RTB 0 Kills
Cpl. Hervé Soucy: RTB 2 Kills 2 photos
Lt. St. Martin: RTB 0 Kills
Eagles
Ltn. Hans Pfeiffer: FLM FT 0 Kills
6 -2(flm) = 4, injured, 6 = miss 6 Missions!
Ltn. Werner Hengst: SD FT 1 Kill
C 5 -1(sd) = 4, injured, 1 = miss 1 Mission
Ltn. Paul Wolff: FRTBD 0 Kills
FRTBD 3 & 6 lands ok
Mission points
French
Downed scouts 2 x 2 = 4
FRTB scout 1 x 1 = 1
Downing the rookie 3
Photos taken home 5
Germans
Downed tandem 1 x 3 = 3
Total French 13, Germans 3
Reply With Quote
by his commanding general and promoted to Sgt for his victories and service to the Republic 
Originally Posted by Stumptonian
Welcome back to the front Peter!
Tough one - but well fought. Rep inbound. 
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