BYM Mission 5 - Only if you really help - 5th November 1916 by Baz
“Gentlemen, May I have your attention!” stated the high ranking Officer from German High Command.
“Recently, you have taken your eye off the ball, and a number of lost and irreparable aircraft has been the result, along with the long term injuries sustained by your two squadron leaders, which has resulted in my visit.” In reality, it was the lack of propaganda and good news stories that had prompted the visit that was of concern, but this would not be said.
“We can ill afford to lose any more aircraft. You are the cream of the training schools, so this should not be a difficult request, unless you want to prove the Kaiser wrong! As such, when I arrived here a short while ago, I have been made aware of a missing or late returning 2 seater. More to the point, the pilot of that plane is Vzwbl Overath and the observer is Obltn Haller, so once again two high ranking officers potentially lost. Obltn Tilkowski is due to return from his injuries next week, but I need 3 volunteers to go into enemy territory to report on what has happened to the 2-seater and return safely. For this important mission, I am putting Ltn Horst-Dieter Hottges as lead (Fokker D.I) and he will be accompanied by Ltn Wolfgang Weber (Albatros D.I) and Ltn Willi Schulz (Fokker E.IV). You 3 gentlemen have recently returned to duty yourselves, so I am sure you are all eager to right some wrongs and get out there and accomplish the mission successfully. You will find and escort the Albatros C.III tandem back to base if possible or confirm it has been shot down. You will be provided with the planned flight path, heading and co-ordinates that we were expecting it to take and return. Good hunting gentlemen and look after your birds, there is not a moment to lose.”
The meeting broke up, and so it is that the 3 young eagles in formation follow the planned route to see if they can find the C.III. Soon they see a possible plane in the distance, however, it appears that it is soon to be joined by enemy scouts that are in the area too.
2Lt Frank Blackett - DH2 (CDL tail), Canadian 2Lt Joseph Cameron - Spad VII and Aussie 2Lt Fred Darwin - DH2 (CDL).
Hottges turns to Weber and points to the two DH2’s approaching from the South, and Schulz to the Spad in the Northwest, indicating that he would be heading towards the C.III to establish contact and to see what was up.
Weber turns south and gets the first unreturned fire on the DH2 of Fred Darwin, attacking from height and seeing a row of bullet holes appear to the fuselage.
Meanwhile Hottges closes on the C.III and sees debris hanging from the tail rudder restricting its movement and what appears to be a wound to Haller the observer. Schulz closes with the Spad.
Weber and Schulz pass through the English planes while Hottges manoeuvres behind the C.III but he is in a slower machine and is not sure what he can do. It would appear that from the sound of the engine, the C.III has misfiring issues and appears to be flying in circles!!
Schulz and Darwin, close to long range ineffectual long range shots, but the DH2 jams it’s guns on the burst.
Hottges continues his pursuit of the C.III, while Weber looks to turn to reengage the Brits. Schulz flies right into the mix and gets a short range burst on Blackett which causes major damage. The return short range from Blackett however is ineffectual but the Spad attacking from higher altitude gets a good hit on the E.IV.
The furball breaks up, and Weber immelmanns and gets off an altitude shot against Darwin, but only succeeds in jamming his guns. Luckily Darwin is still unjamming his gun so is unable to return the fire.
Blackett closes on Hottges, but miscalculates and ends up overlapping him, Hottges sails over the DH2 still intent on catching the C.III. Schulz turns into Darwin and hits him with a short range burst which causes rudder damage but also jams his guns. It would seem the fight is over for Darwin who has sustained major damage on his machine.
The next set of manoeuvres decides this once and for all as the DH2 of Darwin and the E.IV of Schulz collide in mid-air. The DH2 can stand no more and bursts apart with the spinning wreckage crashing to the ground, it would seem no chance for the hapless pilot to survive, but the E.IV also sustains major damage and spirals to the ground, surely severely injuring the pilot and risking capture as it is in enemy territory.
With the Spad and other DH2 returning to the fight, Hottges makes a drastic decision that he must attempt to collide with the C.III tail and free the debris without bringing them both down!! This is made all the more difficult as he is approaching from in front and below the C.III so must time it right to climb into the tail. With a wing and a prayer the Fokker turns into the larger C.III …………..
Hottges hits the C.III tail heavily causing some major damage to the tandem, but is satisfied in seeing the debris fall from the rudder (special damage smoke on collision, but 8 damage to the C.III). Miraculously, the Fokker D.I seems to have come out of it unscathed no can now concentrate on the British scouts, leaving the heavily damaged C.III to try to exit the arena.
Hottges gets a long range shot at the Spad but only succeeds in minor damage and jamming his gun.
The Fokker keeps on the Spad while unjamming his guns, while Weber turns his attention to escorting the C.III. Blackett in his DH2 attempts to rejoin the fray, but gets too close to the front guns of Overath in the C.III who gives him a long range burst, damaging his rudder restricting left movement.
Overath and Weber continue to make their way clear, while Hottges tries to get his slow machine back into the fight. The DH2 turns slowly to follow the fleeing tandem while the fast-moving Spad also is trying to get to the tandem.
Weber performs a Split-S and fires at long range on the DH2 from altitude. The bullets hit the fuselage without causing any major damage but jamming his guns. Meanwhile the Spad is rapidly closing on the C.III which is heavily damaged and suffering from engine damage.
Blackett makes for his home barn, too heavily damaged to take further part, but Weber follows sensing a kill, hammering on his guns to free them. The Spad closes on the C.III and the Fokker D.I slowly makes it way back to the fray. Just as Blackett thinks he has made freedom, Weber clears his gun and knows he will have one last shot at long range and altitude. Bullets rip into the DH2 causing it to plummet to the ground, but Blackett is too near escape and manages to nurse the craft into a controlled landing in friendly territory close to home.
The pursuit of the tandem by the Spad continues with the Spad getting forever closer, followed in turn by the Fokker. The Albatros D.I also now turns towards the Spad and home.
With the Spad now in striking distance, Overath and the C.III puts in an evasive dive manoeuvre which allows it to escape by the skin of its teeth. The Spad performs an Immelmann and turns to face its two pursuers.
The Spad and the Fokker are the first to contact each other with long range shots due to altitude. The Spad gets in an accurate shot to hit the Fokker engine meaning it will take no further part in the engagement and is forced to return to base. However, the Fokker also gets in a good shot, seriously wounding Cameron meaning he will also have to get back to base, but will have to face the onrushing Weber on his way back.
Cameron uses all of his skill despite his wounds and overlaps the Albatros D.I preventing any more firing. All planes part to make their way back to their respective bases.
Victory points
Eagles
Tandem returning to base - 6
Enemy scout downed (2) - 8
Enemy scout FRTB - 2
Total - 16 points
Bulldogs
Enemy scout downed - 4
Enemy scout FRTB - 2
Total - 6
Win for the Eagles
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What a bun fight and you managed to ram the tandem without killing them all ! 
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