Obltn Bernhard Wienand and Obltn Leonard Wiechers are studying the latest map of the area approximately 3km west of Thiepval, where the British had been building a pair of redoubts to match those the Germans had constructed at Schwaben. Intelligence reports indicated that construction was nearly completed.
Wienand looks up and speaks to his assembled flight crews.
„Herren. Das Hauptquartier hat darum gebeten, dass wir unsere Artillerie dabei unterstützen, die Befestigung von zwei Schanzen zu deaktivieren, die kurz vor der Fertigstellung unweit unseres Gebiets stehen..“
< Gentlemen. Headquarters has requested that we assist our artillery in disabling the fortification of two redoubts that are nearing completion not far from our area. >
“Wiechers wird eine Zweisitzer-Besatzung für das Erkennen und die Koordination mit der Artillerie einsetzen.“
< Wiechers will assign a tandem crew for the spotting and coordination with artillery. >
The Adler looked around assessing their fellow pilots without anyone making a move. Will anyone step forward or will they draw straws?
Wiedler looked at the pilots with a raised eyebrow.
“Jemand?” < Anyone? >
While several pilots dithered, Ltn Günther Giesebrecht spoke up. “Ich werde das machen.” < I will do it. >
“Nimm einen Albatros. Und viel Glück.“
< Take an Albatros. And Good Luck! >
Not long after, Giesebrecht was shepherding a Roland C.II ‘Walfisch’ across No Man’s Land toward the redoubts.
The Roland was piloted by Ltn Justus Raucheisen, with Ltn Max Jungbauer in the observer’s seat.
The pair had often flown together and were a good team.
Jungbauer was fiddling with the finicky radio he would use to report the accuracy of the artillery rounds.
The aerial had to be positioned ‘just so’ in order for the communication to be successful with these early devices.
The technology had been copied from a captured British unit taken from a downed BE.2c
Not far from the targets, a pair of Nieuport N.17s were patrolling the area.
Acting Lieutenant Edward Duke flew to the right of F/Sgt Alex David.
The pair had only just been approved for flight duty by the MO after both were shot down a few weeks earlier.
They were both adjusting to their new machines.
Duke had flown a Nieuport 11 before, while David had only had experience in a DH.2
As they approached the target area Raucheisen tilted his wings to let Giesebrecht know he was preparing to turn.
The Nieuport pilots have spotted the Germans, who as yet were too focused on their mission to notice their enemy,
while Giesebrecht’s view was blocked by the Roland.
Raucheisen sees the closing Nieuports and calmly tells Jungbauer to be ready to put aside the radio if necessary, but not yet.
Jungbauer concentrates on the mission at hand and awaits the signal to call for a spotting round.
The N.17s are just out of range, but closing quickly.
Giesebrecht sees them and gets ready to intercept.
Jungbauer calls for the first shot and is startled from his concentration.
Da da da
Duke fires at the Roland but curses as, luckily for the tandem crew, his Lewis jams.
“First damn shot!”
Giesebrecht flies past the N.17s hoping to get behind them.
David is just out of range.
Jungbauer carefully puts aside the radio equipment as he waits for the first rounds to arrive.
Da da da
David’s luck is not much better than Duke’s, but at least his Lewis has not jammed.
Da da da
Jungbauer returns fire with his Parabellum but his aim is off.
Raucheisen sees that the artillery has missed their mark and calls back to Jungbauer.
Jungbauer gets off another burst at David but misses for a second time.
Duke clears his jammed Lewis.
Da da da da
Third time’s the charm for Jungbauer and he finally damages David’s N.17
Da da d..
Jungbauer curses under his breath as his Parabellum jams.
He will not have time to work on it as he must get back to the radio gear to be ready for another call to the artillery battery.
Da da da
David’s luck has turned as well, and not in favour of the Adler tandem.
Da da d … “Damnitall!”
David’s gun has jammed!
Tikka tikka tikka
“Aaarghhh!”
David’s luck has gone right down the tubes as Giesebrecht’s double Spandaus rip through his Nieuport and his flying suit.
Giesebrecht’s sniper skills seem to improve with every outing.
David struggles with his control stick and spins right in front of the Roland.
Tikka tikka tik …
And, luckily for David, it’s Raucheisen’s turn to curse the armourers.
Jungbauer signals the artillery to fire.
In his eagerness to help his wingman, Duke very nearly runs into the Albatros.
Raucheisen slips between the Nieuports.
David finishes swapping out his jammed Lewis pan and nearly runs into the Roland.
A huge explosion in the distance.
Raucheisen shouts out to Jungbauer.
“Direkter Treffer!”
< A direct hit!>
The artillery has destroyed the first target.
[Rolled 6 & 1 +4]
Tikka Tikka
Giesebrecht’s sniper skill comes up short this time.
Duke is just out of firing arc.
Duke can get a shot at the Roland, though.
Da da da
Dud.
Tikka Tikka
Raucheisen uses his inherent Sharp Eye and hits Duke in the shoulder.
Da da da
Jungbauer misses with his quick burst at David.
Da da da da
Jungbauer is more successful with his shot against Duke.
Flames begin to flicker from the Nieuport!
Giesebrecht flies an Immelmann and ends up right in front of the Roland!
Luckily, Raucheisen is about to bank to his left.
Duke is worried as the flames flare up.
Suddenly there is a huge flash as the fuel tank explodes!
Duke rides his stricken aircraft to the ground.
Luckily friendly forces are nearby to help extract him from the remains of his Nieuport.
Giesebrecht is following David, who appears to be heading away from the area.
He sees what looks like a similar machine coming from the opposite direction …
David is, in fact, heading to the barn, nursing not only his wound but an aircraft that is barely holding together.
Tikka Tikka
Giesebrecht lets off a burst but is out of range.
David waves weakly at the approaching Nieuport.
2Lt Stanley Pateman salutes him as he flies past.
Not wasting any time, Pateman fires at the yellow Albatros.
Da da da da
Giesebecht’s luck saves him from what could have been a devastating hit, but he does see smoke coming from an oil line.
Jungbauer calls for an artillery salvo on the second target.
Giesebrecht manages to get out of Pateman’s firing arc.
KA-BOOM!
The artillery is ‘bang on’ this time and the second target is destroyed!
Jungbauer jubilantly calls in the result.
Giesebrecht surprises Pateman by performing a Split-S
Now it is Giesebrecht’s turn to have Pateman in his sights.
Tikka tikka tikka
His sniper skill rewards him with some major damage.
Giesebrecht guesses Pateman’s move but ends up too close for comfort and does not get a shot.
The plucky Aussie evades the Adler ace.
Meanwhile the Roland exits the area.
Pateman performs an Immelmann and flies past Giesebrecht.
The billowing black smoke begins to fade and Giesebrecht can see clearly again.
He flies a Split-S and pursues the Nieuport.
He wonders whether the Aussie will give up the fight and head home.
Pateman turns …
It looks as though he has had enough for one day.
“Was ist das??!”
Pateman is not done yet and surprises Giesebrecht with an Immelmann.
[Note: I decided a die roll would determine whether Pateman would ‘hightail it’ and leave the field or not. 1-3 he would exit 4-6 turn and fight. I rolled a 4]
Da da da da
Tikka Tikka Tikka
Serious damage to both aircraft.
Giesebrecht’s Austro-Daimler engine is not sounding healthy – he will, reluctantly, have to break off the engagement.
But Pateman does not get off easily either.
Giesebrecht’s sniper ability strikes again and flames start to pour from the fragile French machine.
Giesebrecht can feel for the Englander (he has no idea his adversary is an Australian), having been in a similar situation several times in the past.
The two planes pass by close enough for Giesebrecht to get a good look at the panic in Pateman’s eyes.
Giesebrecht glances back over his shoulder and wonders what will become of the Nieuport.
He will have to fly back wondering whether he might have a ‘probable’ …
Out of sight of the German, the flames show no sign of settling down.
[Within 3 points of the Nieuport’s damage limit Pateman is now FRTB-F]
Pateman flits his Nieuport side to side trying to keep the flames at bay.
Giesebrecht heads home, hoping the Roland got away cleanly.
He had lost sight of it during his combat with the N.17
The Australian’s luck has run out and the flames eat away a major strut.
Pateman rides the Nieuport to a hard crash landing.
Giesebrecht will have his kill, he just won’t know about it for another day.
Butcher’s Tally
Bulldogs
Nieuport N.17
A/Lt Edward Duke: EXP FT WIA 0 kills
C&W: 8 -3EXP -1WIA = 4 - Injured 1D6(2)
Skip 2
Duke seems to have followed his predecessors Gordon and Moncrieff – the Bulldog leaders have a tendency to falling in action – but at least did not suffer the fate of squadron leaders Robert Lewis and Edward Fitzgerald.
Nieuport N.17
2Lt Stanley Pateman: SD FLM FT 0 kills
C&W: 7 -2FLM = 5 - Injured 1D3(1)
Skip 1
Nieuport N.17
F/Sgt Alexander David: FTRB-W / WIA 0 kills
FRTB Roll 5 & 1: Landed safely
C&W: 11 +1RTB -1WIA = 11 : T’was but a scratch!
Adler
Roland C.II RTB
Pilot Ltn Justus Raucheisen – No Kills
Observer Ltn Max Jungbauer – 1 Kill
=====================================
The following evening, the Adler were still celebrating their successful mission when Obltn Wienand strode into the Offiziersmesse smiling broadly.
He approached the pilots with a fresh bottle of schnapps.
„Achtung, meine Herren. ...“
The room suddenly went quiet and the men wondered what was coming.
Then they noticed the twinkle in Wienand‘s eye.
„Piloten der Kaiseradler ....
Ich habe gerade von einer unserer vorderen Einheiten in der Nähe von Aveluy erfahren, dass ein Nieuport 17 gestern in der Nähe ihres Gebiets in Flammen aufgegangen ist.“
< I just got word from one of our forward units near Aveluy that a Nieuport 17 was seen falling in flames close to their area yesterday. >
„Es ist mir eine stolze Ehre zu verkünden, dass Leutnant Giesebrecht der erste unserer Jasta ist, der fünfzehn feindliche Flugzeuge abgeschossen hat!.“
<It is my proud honour to announce that Leutnant Giesebrecht is the first of our Jasta to have downed fifteen enemy aircraft. >
Giesebrecht is a triple ace!
Albatros D.II
Ltn Günther Giesebrecht – FRTB-E – 1 Kill
FRTB Roll 5 & 1: Landed safely
Victory Points
Ground Targets Destroyed : 10 x 2 = 20
Scouts shot down or FRTB : 5 x 3 = 15
Total : 35
Bulldogs get 1 FRTB = 5
Adler Victory!
===========================================
Well, again, Giesebrecht’s Sniper skill and, especially, his Lucky Pilot skill, came through and gave my Adler a victory.
Hopefully I can keep it up with the next campaign.
I was having trouble deciding which of my scout pilots to send on this mission, as I feared the worst with only one scout against two and a pre-occupied tandem to babysit,
but in the end I wanted to give Giesebrecht a chance to get to triple ace.
It turned out I needn’t have worried.
Now I must try to not get too ‘Cocky’ as our Bold Young Men head into late 1916
Thanks for a great end to this segment, Mike.
Although I pulled out a victory, there were several points where it could have gone the other way.
Now to figure out what Giesebrecht’s 3rd skill will be. I have it narrowed down to six …
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