Mission 6 report
The German air attack warning system had failed at a critical moment. A fast moving rain storm covered the front so the ground observers were lax, not expecting any activity above. Reports were not relayed in the timely manner that the system depended upon to work. A French bombing raid flew north of the weather to cross deep behind the lines and then turned south, well past the Eagle’s sector. Warnings were given to units to the north and they were sent up. These units couldn’t find the French who had turned south well before they could get to altitude.
The deep raid went off unhindered to the amazement of the French. They reached their objective, dropped their bombs and headed straight for home as the foul weather had blown clear of the sector of the front they were to pass through to get home. With the headwinds encountered, the formation began to be strung out with different plane types slowing more than others.
Konrad Dahl picked up the ringing phone on his desk. He quickly straightened up, listening very carefully so not to miss anything. Before even getting up from his chair he was yelling out for his adjutant.
The available pilots were quickly assembled, and a plan was laid out by Konrad. Not knowing exactly where the bombers were heading presented quite a problem. Scouts were to be spread out to cover the whole sector and attack any enemy bombers spotted heading west. This may lead to piece meal attacks, but it was the best way to at least spot and attack some of the enemy bombers on their return flight.
The ground crews scrambled to ready planes for takeoff. Even as Konrad climbed into his cockpit the armorers were still frantically feeding belts of ammo into his Fokker. The Fokkers were still new so the crews weren’t comfortable yet for a fast readying. To Konrad the process seemed to take forever in his state of haste.
“Am I good to go?” Konrad barked out at the crew working on his plane.
“Ya”. Answered a nervous looking armorer, who quickly scurried away.
The chocks were pulled, the wings were set free and Konrad was bounding across the field till he was airborne. He was the first one up. As he circled the airfield gaining altitude, he watched several others take off before he headed east.
First to spot the French was Paul Wolff. Eager to let go of his cursed Fokker E.IV, he happily tried on a Fokker D.II. He felt, or hoped, this new biplane would surely outperform the old eindecker.
Reinhold Schäfer spotted the same French stragglers and came in from the opposite direction from Wolf.
Wolf headed for the lead aircraft, a Caudron G.4. It’s forward gunner could fire to the rear awkwardly over the head of the pilot. A long-range exchange inflicted little damage.
Schäfer attacked from the front and the French gunner quickly repositioned to face him. Schafer cursed as his gun jammed in it’s first rounds fired.
Wolf misses on his second attack, distracted by the Nieuport firing on him.
Wolff slips under the Nieuport to avoid it’s guns but cuts his maneuver a little too close for comfort.
The surprised observer sprays bullets wildly after Wolff’s passing just meters beneath the Nieuport.
With no incoming fire the French observer punishes Schäfer as he flies past.
Konrad reaches the battle and attacks from the Caudron’s 10 O’Clock.
“What the hell”? His own rounds bounce off of his face as they fail to feed properly into his machine gun. He desperately works to realign the belt to it’s proper position.
Wolff Immelmanns and fires off a burst with a lucky round (if you are not French) setting the Nieuport on fire. (not sure why Uteau did not shoot back, guess the fire distracted him!)
The fire is annoying but not deadly so far.
Konrad somehow keep out of the French firing arcs while working on his malfunctioning weapon.
Konrad hugs the tail of the Nieuport to keep hidden from it’s rear gun but Soucy in the Caudron ahead is not fooled. His shot is difficult as he does not want to hit his friends.
Uteau waits for Konrad to clear his tail and tries but fails to place rounds into the Fokker.
The trio of Eagles now begin the chase, hoping to catch the French before they escape.
Little do they notice another Caudron G.4 coming up behind them.
The nuisance fire continues.
Schäfer, like Konrad, has trouble with his machine gun failing to work properly. To add to his trouble, smoke blows into his face as he tries to clear the jammed round.
Out of nowhere a Nieuport 11 charges into the Eagle formation. Wolf is ready and wounds the Frenchman but not without sustaining severe damage to his aircraft.
Uteau keeps up firing at the now smoking Fokker but his pilot’s erratic flying makes it almost impossible to score a hit.
As the N11 roared straight at Wolff, Wolff evades with a violent maneuver almost hitting Schäfer.
A quick look over Wolff’s shoulder, he sees the Nieuport pilot slumping down in the cockpit with only his back showing above the rim.
The lead Caudron has had a break from the fight but the Eagles are not about to give up the chase.
The fire whimpers out. It could have been a lot worse, but the damage is real.
Uteau, now with a clear view and steadier ride, plunks a round into Schäfer.
Schäfer, finally able to fire again, exchanges accurate blows with Uteau.
Marie Dubois, clutching his arm, flies home leaving the bombers on their own.
Trying to regain his bearings now that the fire is out, Lyon finds himself face to face with a pair of Hun Fokkers.
Paul Wolff’s itchy trigger finger pulls first and rips into the fire charred Nieuport.
Lyon returns fire into Wolff but receives more incoming from Schäfer and Konrad.
Konrad’s acurate rounds are more than the Nieuport can take. It noses up before gently gliding down into the French countryside below.
Konrad finally gets into range of the leading Caudron, but was it worth it?
Wolf also joins in on the hunt drawing off fire as Konrad slips behind the Caudron’s wide tail.
The Caudron bursts into flames as it takes a brutal blow from Konrad.
The fire isn’t kind to this French aircraft.
Just before reaching to point where the Eagles have to break off the final blows fall.
Konrad delivers more than the Caudron can take. It falls to the ground leaving a black column of smoke following it’s demise. Konrad’s second killing of the day.
Konrad is left alone as Schäfer and Wolff have to leave due to damage or wounds.
One more Caudron is spotted by Konrad. It had done well not to be noticed while all attention was focused on the lead Caudron and Nieuport.
Konrad carefully approaches the last bomber.
Coming in fast from a position where the gunner can’t fire back, Konrad feels good that this could be his third for the day. Just as he gets into range he slowly pulls the trigger. Nothing!
Konrad can’t believe his eyes as the Caudron looms within touch and he is unable to fire.
Staying just under the bomber Konrad thinks he has time to fix a jam.
To his bewilderment there is no round jammed in the breech. There are no rounds left to fire! How could this be? Oh yes, there was a problem 15 minutes ago. How many did he lose at the engagement’s beginning and why? There will be a long discussion with the armorers later today.
Konrad watched the French Caudron fly home with no means to stop it. He saluted to it’s crew and also flew for home.
Butcher’s Bill
Entente
Sgt. Marie Dubois: FRTB-W WIA 0 Kills
FRTB 4 & 3 landed ok
Rolled 5 +1RTB -1WIA = 5 - Injured Roll D3. Rolled 6 = Skip 3
Lt. Maurice Lyon: SD ET 0 Kills
C 9 -1(sd) = 8 injured, 2 = miss 1 mission
E 6 -1(wic) -1(bel) = 4 captured but escaped! 1 = Miss 1 Mission
Cpl. Basil Uteau: SD ET 0 Kills
C 5 -1(sd) = 4 injured. 1 = Miss 1 Mission
E 11 -1(wic) -1(bel) = 9 made it home ok!
S/Lt. Jacques Rosseau: FLM ET 0 Kills
C 6 -2(flm) = 4 injured. 6 = Miss 6 Missions
E 10 -1(wic) -1(flm) -1(bel) = 7 landed but miss 1 mission
Sgt. Herve Soucy: FLM ET 0 Kills
C 7 -1(sd) = 6 injured. 4 = miss 2 missions
E 3 -1(wic) -1(flm) -1(bel) = 0 Captured!
Lt. Etienne Martin: RTB 0 Kills
Cpl. Louis Robert: RTB 0 Kills
Eagles
Ltn. Reinhold Schäfer: FRTB/D WIA 0 Kills
FRTB 6 & 1 landed ok.
C/W Rolled 11 -1WIA +1RTB = 11 All well when you land well
Ltn. Paul Wolff: FRTB/D 0 Kills
FRTB 4 & 3 OK
ObLtn. Konrad Dahl: RTB 2 Kills
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