OTT-BYM - Mission One -"Konrad and Lothar Deny the Enemy" - 5th October 1916
There was a buzz in the mess as all the pilots were expecting the imminent arrival of the newest Fokker aircraft. After what seemed an eternity, a hum was heard from the east. Everyone hustled out to the field to greet the new planes and their fellow Eagles flying them in from the depot.
ObLtn Konrad Dahl, flight leader, of course had to be the first to get one of the new planes. He was called to the factory for inspection and instructions on the new plane. He was to be given 3 of Fokker’s latest. Two standard D.IIIs and one with experimental controls called ailerons. Being the most experienced pilot and the flight leader, Konrad had the choice to make and took the experimental. He chose Ltn. Lothar Ochs and Ltn. Hans Pfeiffer to fly in the other two Fokker D.IIIs. They later met him at the depot and the three would all fly back together.
When they landed at the Eagle’s aerodrome they were surrounded by their curious flight mates. A few were confused, “They’re not new, they’re just Fokker D.IIs”, until they noticed that there were dual machine guns on the front deck!
With his eyes wide open, “Woah, I want one of these”, Paul Wolff cried out.
“We’ll see if we can get any more from the depot. The demand on them is great. I think we were lucky to get these three”, Konrad dampened the enthusiasm.
Hans was not going to let Konrad lower his spirits. “I got to talk to Anthony Fokker”, he boasted to the Eagles. “There were lots other pilots at the depot to. A guy named Udet I think was the one who had an interesting idea I’m going to borrow. He seemed to be a pretty good flyer”.
Konrad, standing behind Hans, rolled his eyes. A few of the Eagles noticed and chuckled.
“Ernst Udet, …a pretty good flyer? Ah Hans, you have much to learn. If we could all be as pretty good as he is. He’s one of the best there is”!
Hans blushed and bit his tongue. “How was I to know”?
“You could start with reading the weekly Gazettes. There is great information shared in there you would all be better off learning”, Konrad said as he walked out of the mess. “A little knowledge wouldn’t hurt you”.
After a few familiarization flights around the aerodrome Konrad planned to have the three new planes fly a mission together. As soon as they were serviced and armed they would be off.
A new French observation balloon went up yesterday in the southern sector and was causing trouble. The boys in the trenches had been ducking more artillery shells than they’d like. HQ asked Konrad how soon he could deal with it. Konrad knew it wasn’t a question.
The three D.III pilots met in the hangar at 1500 hrs.
“What in the blazes is that on the back deck of your plane Hans?” Konrad railed.
There was an outline cut out of metal of an observer facing rearwards just behind Han’s cockpit.
“This is what that Udet fellow was talking about with me at the depot. This will make the enemy think I am flying a two seater and be hesitate to attack from behind”.
“Let’s hope the French aren’t that smart today, and don’t rely on your Silent Sigfried for any help. He’s not about to tell you when a Frenchie is on your tail so keep an eye out”.
“Let’s go”. Konrad climbed into his new plane.
The three took off and soon were approaching the front. Pfeiffer on the left, Konrad the right, with Ochs in the center. Ochs was tasked with attacking the balloon with the others to protect him from the expected French.
The balloon was seen well before they reached the lines. Before they crossed the French lines a pair of defending aircraft were seen coming in, one on each flank.
Ochs kept focus as the balloon grew larger and larger as he approached. He's never attacked a balloon before and is amazed at it's size.
As the French aircraft were still out of range Konrad joined in with Ochs and took a shot at the balloon. One balloon observer disappeared in the basket while a second jumped to escape with his parachute.
Pfeiffer got the jump on the French Nieuport. St. Martin wanted to protect the balloon and go after Ochs but had to now defend himself.
Konrad kept his eye on the balloon just a hair too long and was caught flat footed. Baux poured some French lead into the new D.III.
Ochs tries to help Konrad but can’t get in a clear shot.
As Ochs slips between the Nieuport and Konrad he shows off his flying skill and surprises the French and gets in a shot at the balloon.
Pfeiffer and St.Martin begin their dance. As opportunity shows itself Pfeiffer takes a shot at the gas bag while turning to face St. Martin.
When he does face the Frenchman his fortune isn’t good. One of his guns stop firing and his engine belched thick black smoke.
Konrad deftly Immelmans and catches Baux. The hot round buries itself into Baux’s calf and he curls up in pain.
Ochs turns to get in another pass at the balloon and is horrified to see the Nieuport turning right at him. To his relief it’s machine gun is silent as the pilot is clenched with pain. They harmlessly pass by each other but it did cause Ochs to miss an opportunity to shoot at the balloon.
Ochs shakes it off and turns his D.III in for a shot and notices nothing in the way of damage to the immense gas bag.
Trying his trick maneuver again he sprays the descending balloon and basket mercilessly. The unseen observer in the basket is done in.
St. Martin breaks off with Pfeiffer and focuses in on Konrad.
Konrad Immelmanns and finds he is now facing two Nieuports. He knows not how badly Baux is wouned but knows he had damaged his green N17 and wants to finish it off.
Pfeiffer is in a quandary. Not sure if the smoke is a prelude to a fire and having to clear a gun jam, what to do, what to do?
He decides what the smoke does is out of his hands and starts to clear the jam.
More of his attention was on the green N17 and Konrad almost forgot about the silver one. At the last second Konrad dives to avoid contact. (St. Martin is the card beneath Konrad, not the plane model.)
He missed a shot at Baux but will soon have another chance.
Pfeiffer works on the fouled round while trying to get back into position to engage the enemy scouts.
Ochs turns from the balloon to split-s back at it.
Pfeiffer has another fouled round and yells, “Siggi, (to the fake observer right behind his head) can’t you do something about this”?
Unsurprisingly there is no response.
As Konrad parts with St. Martin, Baux presents a juicy target. The N17’s engine immediately jumps and jolts. Baux knows he is in real trouble.
Konrad latches onto Baux’s tail and shreds it to pieces. The Nieuport spins silently towards the ground.
St. Martin catches on to Konrad’s tail while Konrad is watching Baux fall to the ground.
Konrad now feels the anxiety of a damaged engine. St. Martin is between he and home, this will be tricky!
Konrad feels more French bullets hitting him from behind. “And I was telling Hans to watch his own back!”
Konrad sees Hans Pfeiffer off his 9 o’clock. “Whew, help is on the way. If I can only hold on?”
St. Martin has a kill in his sights and to his grief his Lewis pan runs dry.
(Lucky for Konrad as he has 1 point remaining!)
On the other side of the balloon Ochs closes in and does some real damage to it.
Lothar turns off at the last second to avoid a collision he knew he wouldn’t win.
Time to make some space and turn around to do it again.
Lothar tears a large hole in the balloon and it loses it’s shape as all the gas rushes out. The remains of the balloon crashes down as the ground crew flee for their lives.
Konrad split-s’s below the oncoming Nieuport while Pfeiffer gets a lucky long shot and pings an oil line. St. Martin’s vision is blurred with oil on his goggles and smoke filling the cockpit.
Pfeiffer closes in on the stunned St. Martin and punishes his N17. (1 point left!)
Flying blind, St. Martin knows he is in deep trouble. (He doesn’t know Konrad has to disengage and is leaving.) He flips around beneath the oncoming Pfeiffer and escapes the German’s guns.
Pfeiffer turns as hard as he can hoping to get another shot at the Frenchman.
This Frenchman is slippery and turns back inside of Pfeiffer’s turn.
Pfeiffer can only watch as the Frenchman escapes for home.
“Fair enough Siggi, we got him off of Konrad. That’s worth it’s weight in gold. Now, about that third jam?”
St. Martin is glad to be able to escape. He assesses his damage and wonders if he will make it home.
Konrad nurses his brutalized D.III east and homewards.
Lothar and Hans easily catch up Konrad and escort him home.
“So Siggi, overall a successful outing but we have a few things to work out don’t you say? “
Konrad looks up over his shoulder. “Who the hell is Hans Talking to?”
Butcher’s Bill
Bouledogues de la Republique
Lt. Remy St. Martin FRTB-D 0 Kills
FRTB 2 & 4 OK
Asp. Andre Baux SD FT WIA 0 Kills
C 9 -1(sd) -1(wia) = 7 injured, 1 = miss 1 Mission
Ill fated balloon.
Kaiser’s Eagles
ObLtn. Konrad Dahl FRTB-E-D 1 Kill
FRTB 4 & 5 OK
Ltn. Lothar Ochs RTB 1 Kill (balloon)
Ltn. Hans Pfeiffer RTB
Looks like a clear victory for the Eagles.
Downed balloon +20
Downed enemy scout +10
Enemy scout forced home +5
Friendly scout forced home -5
total +30
Reply With Quote
Well that was a hard fought victory Peter so well done!
Originally Posted by gully_raker
Rep gun jammed I'm afraid, but I guess you know why 
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