Oberleutnant Bernhard Wienand had hastily called three of his pilots for a quick mission briefing.
“Die Entente hat eine große Streitmacht Bomber zum Angriff auf die Waffenfabrik Mauser in Oberndorf am Neckar geschickt.
Erste Berichte deuten darauf hin, dass die Dinge nicht wie geplant gelaufen sind und sie schwere Verluste erlitten haben. Offenbar trafen viele der Angriffstruppen irrtümlich Donauesschingen.
Das Oberkommando möchte, dass wir Nachzügler und übrig gebliebene Eskorten abfangen.“
< The Entente has sent a large force of bombers to attack the Mauser arms factory in Oberndorf am Neckar. Initial reports suggest that things did not go as planned and they suffered heavy losses. Apparently, many of the attacking troops mistakenly hit Donauesschingen. High Command wants us to intercept stragglers and leftover escorts. >
An hour and a half later, those three pilots are returning from a futile search for the enemy bombers. As they near No Man’s Land they do see several scouts approaching.
Ltn Günther Giesebrecht in his now-regular yellow Albatros D.II is leading Ltn Felix Eisenhardt and Ltn Dietrich Oelker, also flying D.IIs with slightly different camouflaged livery.
As they near No Man’s Land they do see several scouts approaching.
It is hard to tell for certain what the enemy flight – if it is a flight - consists of.
What they are facing are remnants of several fighter groups.
As they get closer, Giesebrecht sees a grey machine with British roundels, but does not recognize the type.
It’s one of the new SPAD S.VII that have been rarely seen as yet.
This one is piloted by 2Lt Richard Glen who had been given the opportunity to evaluate the new machine for The Bulldogs.
Oelker also spies an aircraft he is not familiar with.
This one is a Sopwith Pup.
It is flown by 2Lt James Shaw, a new replacement for the Bulldogs, who is in fact on his way to the squadron to deliver the ‘Pup’ on a trial offered by one of the RNAS units.
He has just stumbled into the area after noticing several aircraft heading roughly in the same direction.
Eisenhardt lines up his target – this one they have seen before.
It’s a Nieuport N.17 flown by F/Sgt Alex David.
Tikka tikka
Giesebrecht gets off a quick burst but sees nothing for his effort. [Itchy Trigger Finger wasted]
Giesebrecht curses quietly to himself. His ‘Sniper’ skill seems to be wanting – is he losing his touch?
Tikka tikka
Glen fires a few seconds later but appears to get the same result.
Tikka tikka.
Eisenhardt fires at the Nieuport but sees no damage.
Not a good start for die Adler.
Giesebrecht passes by the SPAD so close he can almost touch it.
He notices there is no wing-mounted Lewis on this machine.
“Die Engländer müssen endlich herausgefunden haben, wie man durch den Propeller schießt.“
< The English must have finally figured out how to shoot through the propeller. >
Actually, it’s a French machine ….
Oelker dekes out of the sights of the new little aircraft.
He also notes the lack of a wing-mounted Lewis.
Eisenhardt and David very nearly collide.
So Round One goes to … neither side.
All pilots try to assess the situation and regroup.
Giesebrecht and Oelker perform Immelmann turns.
David also flies an Immelmann.
Eisenhardt glances over his shoulder and sees the new British plane closing.
Oelker has been working on his own ‘Sniper’ skill.
Tikka tikka
His effort resembles that of Giesebrecht.
Tikka tikka.
“Aaargh!”
Shaw’s Vickers hits Oelker hard in the top of his shoulder.
“Das ist nicht gut. Ich werde die Schlacht verlassen müssen ...“
< This is not good. I'll have to leave the battle. >
Shaw has been focusing to much on the D.II and nearly clips his target.
Tikka Tikka
Tikka Tikka
Eisenhardt and Glen fire short bursts.
The Adler gets the best of this one.
Shaw changes targets.
Tikka tikka
The wounded Oelker cannot evade the plucky Pup.
Eisenhardt gets a good look at the SPAD as they pass.
Oelker manages to get away from Shaw.
Tikka tikka tik ….
David curses as his Lewis jams.
Giesebrecht feels his rudder slacken.
David ducks away to work on clearing his jam.
He has been practicing in his spare time and can shave a bit off the average time needed.
[Weapon Specialist skill]
Situation Overview.
David clears his Lewis but now has two Albatros on his tail!
Glen flies a reversal and sees Oelker’s D.II across No Man’s Land.
“Where’s that bugger think he’s going?” he thinks to himself.
Glen turns toward Oelker.
Tikka tikka.
Giesebrecht tries out his ‘Sniper’ skill again, and does at least get a hit this time.
Tikka tikka
David fires his recently cleared Lewis and does just about as much damage to the Albatros.
A near mash-up as four planes head for the same small space.
Giesebrecht and David have to focus on avoiding each other.
Tikka tikka
Eisenhardt gets in a burst on David’s N.17 and does some decent damage.
It looks like Glen zigged when he should have zagged.
The adversaries manage to all come out in one piece.
Oelker heads up into some cloud and makes a clean getaway.
Tikka tikka
Shaw’s Vickers finds some fabric.
Tikka tikka
Changing targets Shaw misses the mark this time.
Eisenhardt performs a Split-S
Tikka tikka
Shaw’s turn to take a bit of damage.
Giesebrecht moves in for a close shot and, finally, his ‘Sniper’ skill comes through.
Shaw’s Le Rhône begins to make noises that it should not be making.
“That’s torn it!” Shaw exclaims.
Another aircraft will be exiting the fray.
Tikka tikka tik …
Tikka tikka tik …
A cacophony of machine gun fire is suddenly silenced as both David and Eisenhardt jam their guns.
“Bloody ‘ell ..” cursed David. “I’ve just cleared the damn thing!”
The last round in his drum has jammed!
His Weapons Specialist skill will be put to use again.
[I finally remembered to use his skill for once but then forgot that his is only an ‘inherent’ aptitude that is only supposed to be used once per game.]
Eisenhardt lets off a stream of “Flüche” < curses > that will, unfortunately not make it past the Aerodrome Bulletin Board censors.
Back at the Adler airfield the armourer’s ears are burning.
Shaw makes a quick exit before anyone notices.
Tikka tikka
Giesebrecht’s ‘Itchy Sniper’ strikes again.
Tikka Tikka
Glen gives as good as he gets – actually a bit better in fact.
Tik .. Tik …
David’s curses turn the air blue around him.
His newly loaded drum has jammed!
To add the proverbial ‘insult too injury’ David is is a perfect spot to have done serious damage to Giesebrecht.
[Ain’t that always the way?]
Tikka tikka
Every bit helps, I suppose.
Giesebrecht does a bit more damage to David.
Tikka tikka
Giesebrecht damages Glen’s rudder.
Eisenhardt does another Split-S.
Glen’s stall throws Giesebrecht off and he nearly runs into him.
It’s looking as though reversals are in order.
David pulls up to avoid Eisenhardt.
Giesebrecht’s turn for a Split-S.
David and Eisenhardt Immelmann.
Tikka tik …
David hits the Albatros but – can you %^$#%* believe it?
Another jam.
[Good thing I was so lenient with the Weapons Specialist skill.]
Tikka tikka
The ‘Itchy Sniper’ strikes again!
“Aaargh!”
Glen is hit in his upper thigh, but can continue to fly.
His minor hit on Giesebrecht in return is insignificant.
Glen needs to adjust his position – the throbbing in his leg is throwing him off and he nearly runs into Giesebrecht.
David dekes around Eisenhardt with a wide sideslip.
David clear his jam. Again.
Glen’s wound really kicks in. Luckily he is just out of Giesebrecht’s range.
Tikka tikka
Giesebrecht is closing on Glen but does no visible damage.
Tikka tik ..
“Verdammt!”
Giesebrecht can feel a kill coming, but then his Spandaus jam.
[And I just now realized he could have used the ‘one barrel rule’ …]
Tikka tik …
For the umpteenth time, David’s Lewis has jammed!
But he will not have time to swear about it this time.
Tikka tikka
Eisenhardt’s bullets’ rip through the Nieuport and black smoke starts to stream from his Le Rhône engine.
The struts start to snap ….
David’s day is done.
The Nieuport crashes near the edge of the town beneath them.
“Vier!”
Eisenhardt has his 4th kill.
Tikka tikka
Another scream of pain!
Glen takes a second wound, this one clipped his collarbone.
But even without that wound Glen’s day would have been done as the SPAD – strong as the airframe may be – cannot take anymore punishing hits and plummets to the earth below.
After a lot of circling around each other, to the point I thought I was going to have to just call it a day, the mission comes to an abrupt finish.
“Fünf!”
Eisenhardt has joined the other aces of the Adler at last.
Holding up five fingers excitedly Eisenhardt tries to get Giesebrecht’s attention, but is unable to draw him out of his funk as they fly over No Man’s Land toward their lines.
Although happy with the outcome of today’s sortie, Giesebrecht is wondering if he will ever get another kill.
But then he thinks …. there is the chance of a Wahrscheinliche Tötung <Probable kill > with that little Britisher who left the field suddenly …
Butcher’s Tally
Bulldogs
Nieuport N.17
F/Sgt Alex David SD FT
C&W: 8 -1 SD = 7 : Injured 1D2(2) = Skip 1
SPAD S.VII
2Lt Richard Glen SD FT WIA x 2
C&W: 9 -1 SD -2 WIA = 6: Injured 1D3(3) : Skip 2
Sopwith Pup
2Lt James Shaw FRTB-E 1 Probable (Oelker)
Rolled 3 & 4 : OK
Adler
Albatros D.II
Ltn Dietrich Oelker FRTB-W
Rolled 3 & 1 : OK
C&W: Rolled 3 +1 RTB -1 WIA = 3 : Injured 1D6(2) : Skip 2
Albatros D.II
Ltn Günther Giesebrecht RTB 1 Probable (Shaw)
Albatros D.II
Ltn Felix Eisenhardt RTB 2 Kills (N.17 and SPAD S.VII)
Eisenhardt is now an Ace!
(Sniper skill würdest du bitte, Onkel)
Victory Points
Bulldogs
1 Adler FRTB : 2 Points
Adler
1 Bulldog FRTB : 2 Points
2 Bulldogs Shot Down : 10 Points
Total : 12 Points
Adler Victory!
-------------------------------------------------
That was a nice mission, Mike. Just took a long time, as these sometimes do ...
Luckily it all came crashing down (literally) in Turn 14!
I had been thinking of calling a draw and sending everyone home. There were 7 or 8 photos I didn’t post because there were getting to be too many ‘non-events’.
It was good to get some new planes to the table. Although I did use my SPADs back in 2015 when I first joined OTT, the Sopwith Pup made it’s first flight!
I had a heckuva time remembering how the formulas worked when converting Dave’s D8 charts to Excel so I could add the D* deck, but I finally got it sorted out.
Guess I had better add the Fr and R(a) charts while I remember …
Speaking of the Pup, I can’t take credit for it. It’s one of a pair I bought as part of a former forum member’s collection back in 2018.
It was an Adler victory, but I am sure Baz (‘Gully_Raker’) would have been one of the first to congratulate me. With the time difference his was nearly always the first comment.
I will certainly miss his camaraderie and positive attitude. If I ever get myself a Gunbus I will get it painted up just like his.
I am glad I got his last mission played and posted when he was able to see it.
So here’s to Barry.
He always posted a ton of drinks, so I will do the same.
We need one for tea now.
Or single malt Scotch!
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