OTTBYM Mission 3 - "Help!...I need Help!" - 19th October 1916 - by Vagabond

[Vagabond]

I’d had a bit of a lay in this morning and then taken a stroll down to the local French village for croissant and coffee, their breakfast was better than the one served in the mess on Friday mornings. I was still on sick leave but should be fit for duty in a few days, the plaster casts were off both legs now and the tip I’d been given about the removal of most of my leg hair with the cast’s had turned out to be true. The Poteen had alleviated the pain of that procedure so apart from my imminent return to duty the world was a wonderful place. Having made my leisurely way back to the Drome I was looking forward to lunch, which was always a bit special on Fridays, and wondering where everyone was.

I knew most of C Flight were on a big show, the scouts escorting the two seat machines, they were off bombing some poor unsuspecting Germans but Biff should be around somewhere. He’d just returned from a short spot of leave and arrived back late last night, that’s when I heard the sound of an aero engine approaching.

Text is below pictures


Then I saw the plane, a DH2, low down, it just skipped over the hedge and landed in a most erratic manner heading straight towards me, then slewed into the trees to my right, coming to a halt only 50 yards away. The pilot made a poor attempt to climb out, fell and collapsed on the grass.

Get the Doc I shouted as I ran across to help. I say ran but it was more of a lumber than a run. I’d had the casts off my broken legs last week but my left leg had healed a little crooked and it was still painful to walk, let alone run and if you’ve ever tried running aided by a walking stick you know it doesn’t aid at all.

I knew as soon as he emerged from the cockpit it was Biff and as I reached him his first and last words were “I had to leave them, see if you can’t get some one to go and look” and then he just collapsed and drifted away.

There was lots of blood, he’d been shot in the arm but the Doc arrived pretty quickly and after staunching the flow he grunted and said “I think he’ll be OK, he’s fainted from the shock and probably relief at making it back home. We’ll get him off to the hospital asap and I’m pretty sure they’ll be able to patch him up.

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That’s when a second plane landed, a big FEE and I hobbled over to see who it was. “Blimey Bob, I didn’t know you were back” and then I looked at Bob’s Observer, dead in the front seat, “who’s this” I asked, totally bewildered.

“It’s a long story” he said in his strange high pitched voice, and I wondered then, as I’d wondered before, when his voice would break, he must have gone through puberty by now, “come with me to see Uncle will you “ he said “I’m not feeling too steady at the mo”.

“No need” I said, as Uncle came striding across the grass with that confident gait of his. “You ok Bob” he asked and Bob just nodded, “where’s that Aussie chap” he enquired and Bob just shrugged his shoulders, “I don’t think he made it” was the quavering response.

Ten minutes later we were sat in the shed that Uncle euphemistically called his office with a big mug of builder’s tea in front of each of us and steam condensing on the windows.


I’d been called in because, as Uncle remarked, with Biff wounded I might just end up being the acting Lieutenant leading C Flight again and so I needed to be up to date with the situation.

“Well Bob just go through it slowly and tell us what happened, although maybe I should just explain to Vagabond why you were out this morning”. I looked enquiringly and he explained that the Squadron had received an urgent last minute mission to try and rescue some poor boob who had been shot down behind enemy lines. Someone had the bright idea to send a tandem with just a pilot and spare seat, escorted by a pair of scouts. “There was no one here to send”, he went on, “well apart from Biff, but just as I was about to tell Wing we couldn’t oblige then the tender from Amiens turned up with Bob, just back from Pilot training and a new man, an Aussie called Rhodes, Barry Rhodes”. “The Aussie had never flown a FEE before and so as Bob did some of his training in them, I sent him in the FEE to be the taxi driver with Biff and Rhodes riding shotgun”.

“OK Bob” he said “you can pick up the tale from there”.


“Well Sir” he began “we crossed the lines and could quite clearly see the Be2 still smouldering from the crash, it was exactly at the coordinates you gave us”. “The Lieutenant had instructed me to fly 500 feet below him and make my approach landing as near to the wreck as possible”.

“That’s when I saw the German scouts, there were 3 of them, I think 2 Halberstadts, they have that small pointy tail and the other was one of the new Albatros scouts. We were told in training that they are as tough as old boots and carry 2 machine guns so to be treated with respect”.


As we approached everyone opened fire and looking upwards I could see 2 of their planes attacking the Lieutenant. I was too low to fire and was having difficulty keeping my eye on the fight as well as the downed plane and also looking for a suitable landing space.


It was all a little confused but I distinctly saw the Lieutenant peel off and bank to starboard, and Rhodes flew straight through their formation, I was still losing altitude prior to landing but couldn’t see a field big enough to put down in.

“Bob” said Uncle, “the Lieutenant is Biff, you can call him Biff”. “Yes Sir” responded Bob. “Bob” said Uncle, “you can call me Uncle, everyone else does, so you can as well”. “Yes Sir, err I mean Uncle” said Bob going red in the face and looking very uncomfortable indeed before continuing with his report.


Well Sir, err Uncle I could see that err Biff was certainly turning back the way we’d come, I assumed he was trying to get onto the tail of the CDL Halberstadt but then thought he might have some other problem.


I lost sight of him as I was making my final approach, I’d identified a large field by now and was preparing to land.


But there just wasn’t enough room and I had to power up and haul back on the stick or I would have flown straight into the wreck. I’m sorry Sir but it was my fault. The wind was blowing from the west, behind me and just pushed me faster than I expected, it didn't occur to me to check the direction, it won't happen again Sir.

Thinking about my arrival and my first landing at the Drome which was a fiasco, I said “Don’t worry Bob it can happen to anyone” Uncle looked at me sharply and I could see he didn’t altogether agree with my observation.


"Rhodes and the Brown Halberstadt were dancing round each other", Bob continued "and the Albatros had turned and was diving down towards me".

I’d also turned and was trying to drop the FEE as close to the target as possible but I knew I was making a hash of it he continued.


The other German was chasing after, err, Biff, who I could see was definitely headed home. He must have taken a damaging blow in that first round of shooting. Yes said Uncle sorry you don’t know, Biff was shot in the arm, he’s on his way to the Hospital but the Doc thinks he will make it.


That’s a relief I thought the Halberstadt might have caught him and I was the only one to make it home. Anyway the Albatros was coming in fast, right in front of me but he was still too high and so I just concentrated on putting the FEE down in one piece.


Which I finally managed to do but I was a hell of a long way from the crash site, however I soon saw the pilot break cover and head my way. I can’t tell you how relieved I was to see him Sir, Uncle I mean Sir, I know you must all be used to landing in enemy territory but it’s very nerve wracking the first time, well it was for me anyway he grimaced. It wasn't my best landing, I thought I might have broken the undercarriage because of the rough ground but fortunately it was OK.


Rhodes and the Brown Halberstadt were continuing their battle but it didn’t look as if either of them could out fly the other, they were back and forth, Immeling and turning for all they were worth.


Well until they collided with each other, just a grazing blow as they passed but they were like mad dogs in the night. I suspect Rhodes might have been clearing a gun jam at the time of the collision but couldn't be sure.


Rhodes would Immel and the Brown plane would turn or sometimes Immel as well, they were like the big swings at the fairground, up, turn, down, up, turn, down, over and over.


I felt like a sitting duck on the ground, waiting for the pilot, he seemed to be running towards me so slowly and then I realized he was hurt, I didn’t think he would make it before the Albi would be pouring lead into my plane, - and me, he finished with a small shudder.


This is the Albatros pilots view as he dives lower and lower, lining his plane and machine guns up on his target to take the final destructive shot.


What a let down for him as he opens fire and misses. What a relief for Bob.
0

The German looks down at the British Pilot, feels anger as the British Pilot raises his fingers in the traditional salute, then annoyance at his bad luck or is it just poor shooting.


Yet again the 2 combatants Australian and German turn and attack each other, causing little damage, until…


BOOM, they collide again, Rhodes the Lucky Git should have bought the farm but instead survived unharmed and both planes were undamaged after a second collision.


Bob after a slight pause continued, “the pilot finally made it to my plane, clambered up the side and before he was fully in his seat I had opened the throttle and we were off, bouncing over the grass but the blasted Albatros was on my tail in a flash, tracer bullets flew past me and the injured pilot slumped forward in the cockpit”. “Straight away I knew he was dead I’ve never seen it before but I just knew”.
“Out of the corner of my eye I saw the CDL Halberstadt had given up chasing after Biff and was losing altitude to come for me”.


Out of the corner of my other eye I saw Rhodes and his nemesis draw together and both opened fire, there was another much larger and somehow more real explosion and Rhodes plane just blew up in the air. I’ve no idea what happened after that as I was far too busy trying to stay alive myself.


The CDL plane was turning and diving down to attack me but the brown one was just behind my tail. I thought I’d out smarted him by pulling hard to port as soon as I was off the ground and given him the slip. But I knew this was only a temporary advantage for me.


He was soon right on my tail again, just a little too far back to fire effectively but I knew he was faster than my plane and would soon make up the ground lost by my port turn.


Sure enough soon bullets were ripping past me but V for Vagabond was leading a charmed life, something I’ll always be grateful for.
I grinned in reply.


All I could think to do was to turn hard to starboard, I knew I would take more lead but it might be a sufficiently cunning and evasive move to throw him off.


His last burst of fire cut up the poor old FEE more than the rest but I knew I’d out manoeuvred him. That is until I saw the CDL plane coming in fast. I was concentrating so much on avoiding the Albi that I hadn’t seen how close the Halbastadt was. I seriously thought this going to be my swan song and on my first mission.


I could see the tracers start from his machinegun but just as soon they stopped, hell’s grannies, his gun jammed and he overshot me as well.


I was over our lines and they were out of position now and so turned for home.


It was a nightmare flying back, my passenger kept lolling around in the cockpit right in front of me. I couldn’t do anything to stop it. Of course once the adrenaline stopped pumping I realized I was lost.
I’d not flown over this countryside for weeks, not since being returned to Blighty for pilot training and I’d no real idea where to go. I thought I saw a glint in the sky and hoped it might be Biff returning here so I just flew in that direction. That turned out to be a lucky guess and I made it back but I’m sorry I couldn’t rescue the downed pilot, do we know who he was?

“No idea Bob”, said Uncle, “but I expect your tea’s cold now, would you like another cup”?


Well that was a roller coaster ride, when Biff took a hit in the opening stages I thought, that’s it, outnumbered effectively 3 to 1 there’s not much chance of getting anyone back. I’d given Bob one of the pole mounted Lewis guns on the FEE so that he could fire in a limited arc forward but because he’s a novice I was going to penalize his shooting in the same way I penalized his flying, of course he never got to fire at all. He shouldn’t have been able to do the Immelmann turn to land where he did but of course in the excitement of overshooting the initial landing I forgot about that. I knew for the scenario he had to be within ½ a ruler of the crash site but he was closer to 1 ruler away and so I made the poor injured pilot run for 6 moves rather than the 3 in the scenario.

Having read previous reports I’d decided I’d only use the Lucky Pilot skill if I drew an Explosion chit and then to draw 2 was a bit over the top. I hope Barry Rhodes survives the crash, I don’t want to be the first of us to lose ‘Baz’.

Dave – Bob is a scout pilot but I wanted to use him on the mission, and he was flying solo. .
Cheers.

[Vagabond]

Butchers Bill


Lt Montague “Biff” Anstruther-Browne - Flying No 1 DH2 – FRTB-W / WIA – 0 Kills .

FRTB Rolled 7(3,4) Landed Safely(The picture was just for dramatic effect )
C&W Rolled 7 -1WIA +1RTB = 7 Injured - Skip 1D2 – Rolled 6 = Skip 2 missions.




2nd Lt Barry Rhodes - Flying No 4 DH2 – SD-EXP, ET – 0 Kills.

C&W Rolled 6 -3EXP = 3 - Injured - Skip 1D6 Scenarios. Rolled 2 -Skip 2 Missions.
E&E Rolled 6 -1EXP -1WIC, -1BEL = 3 Captured and Escaped (Hoorah!) Skip 1D3 = Rolled 6 skip 3 Missions.

Three days later Uncle had filled in the forms for a replacement for 2Lt Barry Rhodes and they were in his out tray waiting to be sent to Wing. Rhodes bags hadn't been unpacked and Uncle was waiting for a forwarding destination to send them to his next of kin.

We were having a sing song in the Mess, yes I know it was only 10:00am but the cloud was down and the Weather Chappies said there would be no flying today so we were celebrating with a new batch of Poteen.

That’s when we heard a high pitched growling noise, we all turned looking towards the door and there was a dishevelled looking chap with some sort of Teddy Bear in his arms. That’s where the noise was coming from – the Teddy Bear not the dishevelled looking chap.

“Didn’t your Nurse tell you to leave Rupert at home when you came away to the war” someone quipped. A question that drew a hard stare from the new comer and he asked “how did you know he was called Rupert?” We all just fell about laughing but then Bob spoke up “It’s Barry Rhodes, I thought you were dead” he said.

“It’ll take more than a few bullets from a German machinegun to kill me and Rupert” he responded. “But the explosion”! Bob stuttered. “Yes that was a bit inconvenient but not as inconvenient as wading through blood and mud making my way back here and we haven’t had a good meal in 3 days, what time’s lunch in this place” he asked.
Berry said “We can fix you up with a bite to eat straight away, what does your Teddy eat”?
“He’s very partial to honey sandwiches if you can manage that”. “Of course we can Barry or do you prefer Baz”
Don’t call me Baz said Rhodes, can’t stand the name, you can call me Dusty, same as all my friends.

And so that’s how Dusty Rhodes joined C Flight.


It took hours to find a photo that I was happy with, a chap from the Australian Light Horse and a Koala Bear seemed just about right.



F/Sgt Robert “Bob” Parkhurst. – RTB – No Kills.

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This was Bob’s first solo mission after training as a pilot, As they say “What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger” I don’t think that’s true but this is the 2nd time that I’ve flown a pilot only tandem being chased by Hun scouts and escaped off the board, I find it very tense trying to 2nd guess Dave’s AI system. Usually I don’t like the idea that the edge of the board represents sanctuary but on both occasions I’ve been very grateful for it.



Ltn Walter Hubrich (Brown Albatros) – RTB – 0 kills

Ltn Albert Franke (CDL Halberstadt) – RTB – 0 kills 1 Probable (Biff)

Hubrich was known for his enthusiastic Kill claims but Franke disputed this one, saying he is sure he shot the pilot but as there were so many bullets flying in Biff’s direction we will probably never know the truth. (But we do !)



Ltn Heinrich Muller – RTB – 1 Kill (Rhodes)


Flying Officer Vagabond will return to duty for the next mission and C Flight are in a sorry state of affairs when I am the most likely candidate to lead them for the next 2 weeks until Biff returns, but this is war and they’ll just need to ‘man up’. Well some of them at least.

Having read the next mission I might just send the poor boobs out on their own.

Dan Thanks for the scenario, I don’t think I need to tally the score to know when I've been well and truly beaten.

Cheers

[malachi]

Great storytelling timeline and point of view, John. Your Bulldogs took it on the nose but got the job done -- just unlucky for the rescued pilot to receive another wound.

Love that mat, one of my favs!

[camelbeagle]

Nice job! Great pictures and wonderful looking planes!

[ShadowDragon]

Another great mission, John....although, probably not from the 'rescued' pilot's perspective. At least all the named crew survived, so that's a call for a drink in the mess.

"When will Bob's voice break?" - enquiring minds want to know.

[Stumptonian]

Nice one, John.
Really enjoyed that.


REP has been dispatched.

It took hours to find a photo that I was happy with, a chap from the Australian Light Horse and a Koala Bear seemed just about right.

I know that feeling. Went through several 'possibles' before choosing the one I finally went with for my 'Baz'.

[flash]

Super story line John, you chucked "Bob" & "Dusty" right in at the deep end ! Glad they all made it back, shame about the mission fail but you can't odds him stopping a bullet !

Uncle says:


Bloody good effort from a scratch flight chaps. Pity we couldn't get the poor chap home alive but you can't win them all. At least everyone made it home eventually and we have a couple of new bods on the roster.

When you have someone FRTB you need to note what it is and roll for the landing before anything else - It's not part of the C/W roll - that comes after but only if you have someone wounded, which you did.
Only one pilot is credited with a probable, that is the one who causes the FRTB so although they might not know it we do & it can be listed. Uncle has been at the report with his red pen !

Following a query from someone else I have clarified in the rules today that the ace modifier is for full skills not inherent ones, this may be a change but I honestly can't remember !

[Vagabond]

Chris - thanks for the thumbs up on the mat. I keep looking at the Deepcut mat but I'm not sure if I like the clouds on it. I've thoight about making another with a trench system on it.

Paul - Bob usually talks with a gruff manly voice but when he's excited it goes up a couple of pitches. No one knows why, and some of the less kind members of the flight call him "Squeaker", well everyone really.

Pete - I see we both went for the bush hat, I wanted to find one with corks round the brim but they all looked ridiculous.

Thanks Dan a good scenario. I'm not keen on sending my Chap's off on difficult missions because I'm a bit attached to them all, so I was happy to get them home in something like 1 piece after my bad start.

Cheers

[Vagabond]

Super story line John, you chucked "Bob" & "Dusty" right in at the deep end ! Glad they all made it back, shame about the mission fail but you can't odds him stopping a bullet !

Uncle says:


Bloody good effort from a scratch flight chaps. Pity we couldn't get the poor chap home alive but you can't win them all. At least everyone made it home eventually and we have a couple of new bods on the roster.

When you have someone FRTB you need to note what it is and roll for the landing before anything else - It's not part of the C/W roll - that comes after but only if you have someone wounded, which you did.
Only one pilot is credited with a probable, that is the one who causes the FRTB so although they might not know it we do & it can be listed. Uncle has been at the report with his red pen !

Following a query from someone else I have clarified in the rules today that the ace modifier is for full skills not inherent ones, this may be a change but I honestly can't remember !

Dave sorry for the confusion, I need to reprint the rules again, I'm working off old ones with pencil notes and they probably aren't up to date. I'll try and catch that before the next game.

I'm not sure though that I'm clear on the skills, eg Lucky Pilot. Now both Biff and Dusty have Lucky Pilot are you saying Dusty has inherited it and doesn't count it in the Butchers Bill but does count it in the game and because Biff has earned it and so does count it in the Butchers and in the game?

I think Vagabond has Bullet Checker from the original campaign listing and Acrobatic Pilot once he became an Ace. Is Bullet Checker still inherited or has it become a proper Ace skill?

I've never really used these in the past and so not paid too much attention to them but I'm thinking I might try and give my Aces a bit of an edge in the future and so use the skills because they are more experienced pilots now. In the past I've used Flying Helmets Rooky rules to give inexperienced pilots a disadvantage until they've flow 5 missions and I quite like that idea so it makes sense to boost Ace's.
Cheers

OK I've gone through the rules and am fairly certain I understand the Ace question, I'll find out with the next AAR.

[Baz]

Hi John

Enjoyed the story, enhanced by the scenery planes and photos, a nicely rounded story tied in well with your group’s history.

Hard luck to the Bulldogs but a great interception by the Eagle to stop the pilot getting home. Without that was always going to be difficult to get a win, especially after the early bath for Biff. Bob did well to get home and good to see no fatalities.

REP awarded if gun not jammed.

[Hu Rhu]

A great AAR from a master Storyteller, enhanced by the photos and backstories. Loved the planes and nice to see the FEE getting another outing. Pity about the outcome but at least you got all your fellows home if not all in one piece. Rep to follow.

[flash]

..I'm not sure though that I'm clear on the skills, eg Lucky Pilot..

Yes, Biff has full Lucky Pilot skill, Dusty has inherent Lucky Pilot skill (as do all the Baz's); Vagabond has full Bullet Checker & inherent Acrobatic pilot. On the roster inherent skills are in grey, full skills in black. Full relevant ace skills get the modifier in the C/W, inherent skills do not.

[Vagabond]

Thanks Barrie and Gary the Rep is appreciated as well as your kind comments.

Dave I think I've got it, thanks for the explaination.