Part One--Dawn Patrol
Pre Mission activity
Rolled 3 for Set up
Rolled for Initiative: Germans Successful.
Rolled 8 on D12 for Attack Arc
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The Mission part one.
" Ring, Ring, Ring!" F/Sgt Brandon Stark woke from a deep sleep, yawned & stretched & prepared for the Dawn Patrol that he was to lead with the young Aussie 2nd Lt "Dusty" Rhodes as his wingman. Bran was somewhat disgruntled. As the highest scoring Ace in C Flight with 9 Victories he was still only one of 2 Sergeants in the flight & Al Foyle the other had only be with the Flight a very short time. Bran thought "If I can bag my 10th today I will have a chat with Uncle about recommending me for a commission & then I will feel at home with the other officers".
The two British Pilots took off in their De Havilland DH-2's & headed out towards the Trench Line. Perhaps distracted by his thoughts Brandon did not notice 2 German Aircraft approach from a cloud bank. Ltn R Arntzen the senior Pilot in the Eagles Nest due to Wound leave in his CDL Halberstadt & Ltn Thiede in a grey Eindekker E.III were also out early on patrol. Arntzen wiggled his wings & pointed towards the un-suspecting British aircraft.
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Bran was rudely awakened from his thoughts when German bullets slammed into his aircraft damaging his rudder.
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Before he could take avoiding action another burst caused further damage.
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Throwing his plane into an Immleman he returned fire only to have his gun jamb. "Bloody Hell! I am not having a good start to the day" grunted Stark.
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To add insult to injury he now came under attack from the grey E.III & could do nothing but try to clear his gun.
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The next moment the two aircraft brushed wings but neither suffered any damage.
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"Dusty" Rhodes who had turned towards the fighting now got a close burst into Thiede's E.III & the German Pilot received two wounds, blacked out & his Fokker spun into the ground in British territory.
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The remaining Aircraft were now scattered as often happens in Aerial fighting as they manoeuvred for advantage.
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"Dusty" who really had the bit between his teeth closed on Arntzen's Halberstadt & exchanged fire. He damaged the Germans rudder but the Germans gun jammed!
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Meanwhile Bran was slowly closing back towards the action.
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"Dusty" continued to harass the Halberstadt & now damaged its rudder.
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"Dusty" continued to turn after the German aircraft & now got a close range shot into the cockpit of the Halberstadt wounding the pilot.
Unfortunately I lost this photo during the game as I ran out of battery's but the two damage cards will show in the Butchers Bill!
The German pilot stunned by the bullet continued to fly straight & "Dusty" again punished him.
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Finally the wounded pilot flew home nursing his wound. (Flew off the table due to 3 straight cards whilst wounded.
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The 2 British pilots then turned for home low on both fuel & ammunition. Bran shook his head glad to make it back with his DH-2 decidedly 2nd Hand. There would be no approaching Uncle today!
Observation & Comments
Well that started out looking bad for the Bulldogs after being jumped by the old Hun. However once "Dusty" got the E.III the luck changed sides. I think that is the first time in a game when I have dealt 2 wound cards from the one burst. It ended up quite a quick game.
I flew Dusty's plane & all others were controlled by AI via Dave's D8 charts. Altitude was not used.
VICTORY POINTS:
2 Aircraft RTB Safely = 2 points
1 Enemy Shot Down = 2 points
1 Enemy FRTB-W = 1 point
TOTAL POINTS = 5 Points
British Victory!
I plan to Fly Part 2 tomorrow!
The Butchers Bill
British Forces:
F/Sgt Bran Stark --DH-2 No.1 - RTB--- 0 Kills (9 Damage Points)
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2nd Lt "Dusty Rhodes--DH-2 No.3 - RTB--1 Kill (Thiede grey E.III) 1 Damage Point
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German Forces:
Ltn Richard Arntzen--CDL Halberstadt D.II - FRTB-W---0 Kills (11 Damage Points)
Rolled 6 + 3 Landed safely.
Rolled 5 -1 WIA +1RTB= 5 - Injured skip 1d3 scenarios. Rolled 5 = Skips 3
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Ltn Wilhelm Thiede--Grey E.III - SD/2WIA/ET - 0 Kills (4 Damage Points)
Rolled 6 -1SD -2WIA = 3 - Injured Skip 1D6 scenarios. Rolled 6 = Skips 6
E & E: Rolled 11 - 2WIA -1 WIC -1BEL = 7 - Landed almost home--skips 1
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