BYM Mission 4 - Fly by night - 27th October 1916 by Baz
The English were developing night time flying tactics and had set up a temporary lakeside landing strip to practice these dangerous manoeuvres.
3 scout pilots who had just returned to their Aerodrome from previous missions were selected to undertake some R&R and to put in some night time flying training. These were 2Lt Lionel Atkinson, 2Lt William Collins and Lt John Ansell, who had flown down in their respective DH2’s parking up just off the strip and had now sojourned to the mess for the afternoon as their training would not start until tomorrow. As it started to turn to dusk, they watched the other pilots take off ready for their own training, until the mess and strip had emptied apart from the infantry sort who looked after the lights and the two machine gun emplacements along with assorted ground crew. Gradually the Landing lights came on to assist returning pilots along with the landing flares attached to the fronts of the training aircraft. They had been warned in advance of active Hun in the area and it came as no surprise when the strip searchlights were switched on and the faint hum of engine noises could be heard. What was a surprise was when the Squadron leader burst into the mess and ordered the pilots up to defend the strip, so much for any training.
Earlier that afternoon, acting Obltn Franz Beckanbauer (Ltn) had been in the chateau officers mess discussing the successful extraction of the downed pilot from the previous mission last week with a few assembled pilots. In truth, they were there as Franz had been generous with the drinks bill as he had been given temporary command while Obltn Tilkowski recuperated in a field hospital. They all gained more interest however as the junior admin officer rushed in and handed Franz a folded note. He called all the Pilots together and started reading “It would seem we have another extraction mission however to make it more interesting it will take place over Neutral Switzerland at night!” The murmurs grew around the room as the implications of this sunk in. “Not only that, but the small temporary landing strip will be on sand surrounded by water!” That statement focussed the attendant throngs minds and the murmurs grew. “Gentlemen, I will lead on this mission and will be assisted by Ltn Karl-Heinz Schnellinger, we will see if his shooting is as good in the dark! We will rendezvous with Fwbl Helmut Schon over the mainland at a temporary fuelling depot set up by our agents in Switzerland on route and escort him in and out. There is high enemy activity at the moment especially at night for some reason in the area so we will need to keep our wits about ourselves in this near moonless night!! I assume ther are no more questions so I suggest you go and get some rest as I feel it will be a long night.” The chateau emptied as the men realised there would be no more schnapps on offer that night, perhaps they would not need to wait long with a successful mission?
So, the scene is set with the English landing strip on action stations with the three DH2’s taking off. The Roland C.II is first to appear on the map (near to point 4 on the map) having lost the escorts in the dark with Franz in an Albatros D.II (camo) also coming onto the map (point 5 on the map). The agent on hearing the distant thrum of engines has lit the oil drum fires hoping that the English doesn’t spot them.
Franz in the D.II spots the Roland flying beneath him and heading to the coast, but decides to head towards the searchlights due south as he feels this is where the threat will be coming from.
Karl-Heinz appears on the map in front of the Roland (point 6 on the map) whilst Franz proceeds to the searchlights. The DH2’s continue their take-off unaware of what lies ahead. A searchlight from the coast also joins the party alerted by their approach but focussing inland at the moment.
Franz is caught in a searchlight as he glares through the gloom to try to see what is happening but is unable to spot the planes below as he is caught in the sudden glare but too high for the AAMG or ground troops to reach.
Meanwhile Schnellinger links up with the Roland and heads towards the coastal searchlight to ray to knock it out. It has seen something out to sea and is swinging it’s searchlight in that direction.
A training craft, Fe2b returns, low on fuel, at the southern edge of the map (point 8) making its way back to the landing strip. It has got its bearings from the coastal searchlight but wonders at the dim lights in the lake at it’s 10 o’clock.
Meanwhile Franz has put his plane into a dive despite being caught in the searchlight, and at this altitude (level 2) has attracted the attention of the left hand AAMG and Infantry fire. The Infantry fire has no effect but the MG gets a minor hit, but more worrying, fire starts to pour from the fuselage near the engine cowling meaning it is lit up like a firework and in plain view of the DH2’s who immediately turn to intercept
Karl-Heinz dives and fires on the searchlight at long range to try to knock it out, but is unsuccessful. Meanwhile the Roland is lining up his landing and the FE2b carries on to the landing strip unable to intercept the D.I as it has no Pilot armament to launch an attack.
Franz is now desperate, still caught in the searchlight, as his craft takes more fire damage and the DH2’s close on his position.
Karl stalls to fire another shot at the light from high altitude, but misses again.
As Franz Immelmanns to get back to the strip, the Fe2b closes on the same direction, the D.I overshoots the light and must turn back and the Roland sets up its approach but it is going to be tight.
Franz is still taking major fire damage, but with a DH2 caught in the searchlight goes head to head. It does him no good as he does no damage but Atkinson has set another fire in the D.II which it will be unlikely to survive. Meanwhile, Karl takes a third shot at the coastal light and takes it out, while Helmut successfully lands the Roland with feet to spare.
The agent loads his equipment and helps Helmut turn the machine on the soft edge sand and jumps in ready for the take-off. He taps him on the shoulder and gives the thumbs up. Meanwhile, the English planes are now joined by the FE2b approaching the landing strip and extremely low on fuel, will only have the one chance to line up and go for the landing. The DH2’s all head back towards the flaming D.II of Franz, whilst Karl in the D.I having knocked out the light heads towards the strips searchlights allowing the Roland a clear take-off and escape.
The English somehow avoid a night collision with each other, dropping in and out of sight, whilst Franz taking more flame damage has to keep heading east and back to the safety of the refuelling depot, still being tracked by the searchlight.
The D.II makes it off the eastern edge of the map but still has fire damage to take, so hopefully can make it back to the refuelling depot. Meanwhile, as the D.I nears the English landing strip it is spotted by the DH2 of Collins who open fires and gives minor damage with slight loss to the rudder controls..
The Roland takes off and starts heading home.
The D.II off map, gets near to the refuelling depot before finally succumbing to flames. The agents rush to the burning wreckage and pull a badly burnt Ltn Franz Beckanbauer from the wreckage. His injuries will need patching up and time to heal before being safely returned back to the barn, but at least the agents will keep him from capture.
Karl’s D.I having lost sight of any EA, flies over the strip after Immelling getting caught up in the searchlight. The infantry fire pours into the machine and smoke comes from the engine area.
He sees the DH2 of Collins in front of him and pours fire into him doing 3 damage. Collins had not seen the D.I after it lost the searchlight so is unable to return fire, but the ground crew catch sight and open up with Infantry fire (Engine damage) and AAMG fire (2 damage). The engine is now spluttering and Karl will need to turn back for home, hoping that the Roland is now well on its way.
Collins spots the D.I as it turns for home, and pours fire into it without return causing 2 damage and a second smoke causing it to catch fire. (No picture of this as it was truly getting dark).
With burning linen dripping from its fuselage, the D.I heads for home, with DH2’s in pursuit, seeing the burning aircraft lit up in the sky. Karl doesn’t realise he is unwittingly leading them towards the Roland!
The FE2b training pilot has managed to successfully land his plane coming to a stop mere feet from the end of the runway.
The D.I fire finally burns out, but with the proximity of the DH2’s the Roland is now in danger. The agent in the rear seat spots the DH2 of Ansell, and although unfamiliar with the firing controls, let’s out a burst which is wide of the mark. Schon is not happy that the agent has now given away their location for the chasing pack while the D.I can do nothing but head off home.
Sure enough, the DH2 of Collins closes in and gives the Roland a short range burst, luckily for the Eagles, only succeeding in jamming his gun and probably now allowing the safe exit of the Roland. The agent gets of a second burst at long range against Ansell and this time does more damage to the fuselage without hitting anything major.
The Roland agent gunner now has his eye in and manages to get one more close range shot at Collins, but does no damage and jams his gun in the process.
The DH2’s lose sight of the Roland now who exits the map on its safe way home. The engine damaged D.I also leaves and approaches the refuelling depot. With engine damage and a night landing this is not going to be easy and the plane upends on the landing strip.
Schnellinger clambers from the plane aided by the agents with minor injuries. The agents will remove all evidence of the plane and see that Schnellinger again makes it back to the chateau. After having looked in on Beckanbauer who is not conscious and bandaged all over due to his burns, he makes his way through the network of agents to the border before returning home.
The Roland returns to base with the agent and his equipment without further incident.
Victory points
Eagles
Extracted agent successfully - 10 points
Bulldogs
Training plane landed safely - 10 points
Scout shot down - 5 points
(Couldn’t see anything for FRTB plane)
Narrow win for the Bulldogs 15-10 although the agent has returned to Germany with his secrets! Beckanbauer seems to be out for the rest of the missions with his burn injuries.
Reply With Quote
Originally Posted by Hu Rhu
Bookmarks