German High Command were looking for a good news story following recent losses. A strategy to put all the best performing students from the various training schools into one Jasta was formulated and the identified pupils fast-tracked and placed in quick time. A new Jasta (24) has been created especially for these “Bold, young men” who knew no fear, with tandems being assigned to FF(A) 245 who were co-located at the same Aerodrome. They had even managed to arrange a visit from Boelcke who had given the star pupils a lecture on the effective Dicta and how to implement it to prepare for what was to come.
An infantry veteran of the early war was put in charge of these students and he went by the name of Obltn Hans Tilkowski, who had distinguished himself on the front line but now walked with a permanent limp due to shrapnel, putting paid to a promising career in the infantry. It was the Eagle’s gain however as he sought to gain the deserved promotions from his flying skills. A strict disciplinarian, Hans had his own way of training the young Eagles which included a mix of sport, football primarily. He was able to play as goalkeeper and direct his young guns from the back which provided teamwork, discipline and formation possibilities along with a sense of comradeship, all of which would prove useful in the air. The team had thrived and was so successful and drilled, that they regularly now beat the ground crew and FF(A) 245 teams in the friendly games that were arranged.
The recruits had trained hard to learn the many and varied aircraft that were available to them, although promises had been made of the delivery of new Albatros D.II’s and even D.III’s in the near future. Thus far the new fliers had only flown defensive scrambles and escorts on their own side of the trenches and had met little resistance or serious dogfights, with no actual contacts or kills made. Everyone was eager to put all the training into practice.
So it was on the morning of 5th October 1916 during a friendly football match that the first real call came through. Everyone scrambled (or limped) to the hangar to see what was up. Weather for the month had been wet and foggy, although this morning’s fog had just cleared. The briefing was read out by Hans to the eager students. High Command was about to undertake a push to retake lost ground in the recent battles and the enemy was suspecting something like this was to happen. The “Englanders” had put up a hasty, unprotected ballon to try to establish troop movement and which sectors and the job to down the balloon had been given to this new Jasta. It was expected that there would be scouts flying in protection of the balloon which would be behind the English trench line on a heading provided. Obltn Hans Tilkowski was to lead the attack himself, concentrating on the balloon in a new Halberstadt D.III sent over by Jasta 4 for trial as the mechanics had fitted a second synchronised Spandau. He was taking Ltn Karl-Heinz Schnellinger in a Albatros D.I and Ltn Willi Schultz in a Fokker E.IV to act as escort and to deal with any scouts that were encountered.
This was the background that the trio as they approached the English balloon, defended by two scouts.
All the planes close on the balloon, with the first shots at long range
The winch starts to pull in the balloon, the race is on to stop it from reaching the ground.
As soon as shots puncture the gasbag, the two observers parachute to safety. It would appear to be just in time as Willi gets in a telling shot that smashes the basket to pieces. Other planes trade shots whilst trying to stop from getting damage or tangled in the network of hanging ropes, one of the DH2, narrowly avoiding a collision.
Disaster strikes as the two DH2’s come out the other side of the balloon and collide, resulting in a terrible grinding of one machine against the landing gear causing it to spin out of control and crash in Friendly territory. The lone scout is now going to be up against it against the 3 Eagles, but has avoided serious damage.
This now leaves the Halberstadt free to follow the balloon down and cause damage whilst the other two keep the lone scout busy.
However, things don’t go all the way of the Eagles and the DH2 gets a good firing shot at the Halberstadt, whilst the inexperienced Eagle Scouts nearly collide themselves, missing by a hairs breadth.
Eventually, Hans manages to get a telling shot against the balloon for close range causing it to catch fire.
….and the two German scouts begin to gain confidence and hunt down the DH2.
Rudder damage does not allow the failing DH2 to turn for home and so thinks about crash landing in No Mans Land but the D.I catches up to it and Ltn Schnellinger gains his first kill.
…at the same time the balloon explodes from the sustained fire damage despite the winch men pulling it down quickly with only a short way to go. The winch truck is showered with burning debris and Obltn Tilkowski gains a balloon kill.
The 3 Eagles return to base with a successful mission now behind them….They think it’s all over!
Victory points
Eagles
Balloon destroyed - 20 points
Bulldogs shot down - 2 x 10 points=20 points
Bulldogs
Nil
Victory Eagles 40pts v 0 pts
Butchers Bill
Eagles
Obltn Hans Tilkowski: Halberstadt D.III. RTB no injuries 1 kill (Balloon)
Ltn Karl-Heinz Schnellinger: Alb D.I. RTB no injuries 1 kill (Blackett)
Ltn Willi Schulz: Fokker E.IV RTB no injuries 0 kills
Bulldogs
English Balloon
Lt John Ansell: DH2 (PC10/CDL tail) EXP-COL-FT 0 kills
C&W: Rolled 9-3 EXP= 6 Injured Skip 1D3, rolled 4 = Skip 2
Shot down in friendly territory so Total Skips = 2
2Lt Frank Blackett: DH2 (PC10 #4) SD-NML 0 kills
C&W: Rolled 7-1 SD-1 NML = 5 Injured Skip 1D3, rolled 4 = Skip 2
E&E: Rolled 4-1 WIC+1 NML = 4 Captured and escaped Skip 1D3, rolled 5 = Skip 3
Total Skip = 3
I flew as Obltn Hans Tilkowski in the Halberstadt D.III and despite the balloon dropping 4 levels, a combination of the AP shot and flames ended it. Placed the balloon to face into random wind direction and used Dave’s solo rules for the first time. Altitude was used and most other options, just not ammo yet.
Thanks Baz for an enjoyable intro to the world of OTT and here’s to more Eagle wins, I’m sure they won’t all come as easy!! Could that “ unlucky” tag be finally wearing off? Be grateful if Dave can check my figures as it is the first time and also assume Collision is not attributed to anyone.
Baz
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