France '40, A run for the bridges
France 1940, A Run for the Bridges
The Germans had breached the Meuse. Forces were crossing over as fast as they could but local resistance was slowing down the columns. A counterattack was expected at this vulnerable point in the crossing.
Max Stein was leading his schwarm along the front when his radio sparked, “French aircraft heading towards Sedan. Head there taking your route through sectors 12, 9 and 7. No confirmation on makeup of force. If you find them, do not let any bombers through. The bridges must be kept safe”.
Max passed on his version of the message to his comerads and they turned south.
The French force was spotted 10 miles short of the river. Four fighters and two bombers.
The French spotted the incoming Germans and the fighters turned to engage.
Max ordered his rotte, he and Arno Roth, to engage the fighters while the 2nd rote would go after the bombers.
Max slips past the lead French fighter setting up his approach on another pair of following French fighters. In doing so he takes a shot of opportunity at the lead bomber.
Arno engages the French leader but is also hit from a second French Hawk 75.
The second pair of Hawks fly directly at Max. Quickly he makes a plan to Immelmann right behind them. He dips below them and gets a shot at the second Breguet.
The lead bomber’s rear gunner put a few holes into his 109, breaking the glass just behind his head.
The French leader reverses right besides Arno. He is too close to Arno and takes a shot at Max but misses.
Arno wounds one of the Frenchmen while taking both their shots. His Messerschmitt begins to smoke like a volcano.
Max Immels as planned but does not get the shot he had hoped for.
The tailing bomber’s rear gunner finds Max and clips his controls.
Gunther and Franz evade the incoming rounds and take their first shots at the bombers.
Max’s target reverses right in front of him and this time he hits home hard. Lots of pieces fly off of the Curtiss aircraft and the engine chokes and groans.
Gunther slips beneath the lead Breguet while the rookie Franz flies blindly to get on the tail of the leader. Both Breguets fire into him but he gets in a very good shot at the leader.
Arno opens his cockpit a bit to blow out the smoke so he can see better. He knows the French leader is on him so he goes into evasive maneuvers.
“Max, I’m smoking badly and have a Frenchman on me like glue. I have to bug out while I still can”.
He can’t tell how badly his 109 has been hit so dives away to leave the fight.
The French pilot wounded by Arno also leaves the fight.
Max is pretty sure his last burst will send that target home. He spots another to his 1 O’clock and turns after him.
The Frenchman with engine damage must leave the fight.
Max turn hard right and so does the French fighter.
Gunther gets out from beneath the leader and takes fire from the trailer while Franz pours more cannon and machine gun round into the leader. The rear gunner keeps his eye on Franz but he can’t do enough soon enough. The lead Breguet noses down and gains speed.
Gunther sets up to Immelmann to help Franz with the last Breguet.
He sees a slow moving Hawk but lets it go and stays with his rookie wingman who is maneuvering to renew the attack.
Franz and the Breguet exchange shots as soon as they can and with dire results. Two trails of black smoke start to line the sky.
Max sees the Breguet pulling away from rotte #2, so leaves the turning battle and gives chase to the bomber.
The French Hawk reverses after Max and gets a lucky round or two into the 109.
As Max pulls away the Hawk gets in one last shot.
Franz and the rear gunner have instant hatred for each other and let it show. Parts fly off of both machines.
Franz’s badly damaged 109 is shuddering violently so he pulls off and disengages.
The rear gunner does not let him go for free. (1 point short of downing him!)
Max gets out of range and heads as fast as he can towards the bomber.
Gunther sees he will not be able to catch the Breguet and sees Franz heading for home. He turns towards the pursuing Hawks. The leader is closest and they engage. Gunther comes out the better of this pass.
The French leader reverses and nips Gunther’s tail.
Gunther has to Immelmann to turn the tide. But the other Hawk has given up chasing Max and is coming to the aid of his leader.
Max lines up a long range shot. His precious cannon rounds are now few, but if he waits the bomber may escape. With some incoming 7.5mm rounds striking his 109 he slowly pushes the button and scores a direct hit, smoke belched from the starboard engine.
The Breguet has nothing left and falls from the sky.
Seeing it hit the ground Max reverses to see what is left of his schwarm.
Missed some photos here… Max heads back to where Gunther is dancing with the two French Hawk 75s.
“Gunther, The bombers are done. No reason for us to stay here without advantage. Follow me north”.
Gunther turns north to join Max but the two French have not yet finished with them.
Gunther twists and turns keeping the Frenchman from lining up a clear shot.
As he slips past the Hawk, Max hears another round hit his plane.
The French leader turns hard to get on Gunther’s tail but is just out of range. Gunther’s superior speed puts more distance between him and the French until they break off.
“Well done Gunther. You and your boy dod a number on those Breguets. Our rookie Franz even got his first kill. Wunderbar”!
“Ya, his shooting is amazing. He is a natural”.
Butcher’s Bill
French Air Force
GBA II/54, 4EME ESCADRILLE
2 Breguet 693s lost
GC 11/5 All 4 Hawk 75s all returned back to base.
Luftwaffe
9/JG.26
Franz Fuchs RTB 1 Kill
9 -1(Rookie) -1(sm) -1(rj) -3(75%) = 3 difficult landing, 2 = miss 2 missions
Aircraft written off
Arno Roth RTB
7 -1(sm) -2(50%) +1(5exp) +2(std) = 7 lands ok.
Max Stein RTB 1 Kill
6 -1(rj) -3(75%) +4(ace) +1(evp) +1(ap) +1(ach) = 9 lands ok
Gunther Bohm RBT
8 -1(rj) -1(25%) +3(vet) +1(evp) = 10 lands ok
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Originally Posted by BodeGier
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