OTTBYM Mission 6 - Somme Success - 12th November 1916 - teaticket
Warning signs all pointed to an imminent Entente offensive. The front had been too quiet as of lately and curious rumblings at night were even more intriguing.
A balloon was sent aloft before dawn to have eyes across the lines at daybreak. The Eagles were asked to protect the Drachen so just after dawn a rotation was set up to keep a tandem close to it at all times. A strong patrol was also to be sent to look deeper behind the French lines than the balloon observers could see.
In the briefing room Rudolf Mulzer read his name on the tandem rotation but there was no observer assigned to him. He looked for flight leader Konrad Dahl in the briefing room but he was already off readying for his patrol. Mulzer then went to Onckel’s office and knocked.
“In”, A stern voice bellowed from behind the door.
Rudolf opened the door, “Sorry to interrupt Onkel but I haven’t been assigned an observer”.
“Ah, we have a new observer for you. He came in late last night. I’ll have him meet you in the hangar shortly”. Onkel looked back down at his paperwork.
Rudolf was just about to close the door on the way out, “Pardon Sir, his name”?
Without looking up at Rudolf, Onkel replied, “Winkler, A. That’s all I know, now be off with you”.
After getting his flight gear Mulzer headed over to the hangar. When he entered the hangar there was a dark haired fellow in a leather jacket standing next to Mulzer’s Roland.
“Winkler?”
“Alfred. Alfred Winkler. Got in late last night so haven’t met anyone yet. You are?”
“Rudolf Mulzer. I’m surprised you haven’t met the flight leader yet”.
“No, I’ve only met Onkel. I’m supposed to meet everyone at lunch before afternoon patrol”.
The roar of the Roland’s 160-horsepower Daimler-Mercedes abruptly ended their conversation. The ground crew had started up the Roland and signaled to Mulzer and Winkler to get in.
At the same time Mulzer and Winkler lifted off there also was a corresponding buzz of activity at an opposing French aerodrome.
At the French airfield scouts were being readied, pilots hurriedly getting on their flight suits. One new pilot anxiously watched from inside the mess. A couple days prior Jean Barbaza had his introductory flight with the escadrille. He impressed everyone with his flying and downed two enemy planes. Oncle was very happy to have this excellent new pilot but did not want to lose him quickly to any rash rookie mistake. Barbaza was lightly wounded and this gave Oncle a good excuse to ground him for recuperation.
Barbaza noticed he was alone while watching the activity outside. He wanted to fly again so badly he decided to sneak into the hangar and convince the ground crew to ready his plane. The ground crew had no idea that he had been grounded and did as he asked. When the flight took off he made sure he was the last in line. The excitement of escaping the grasp of the earth filled his veins. Being new to the escadrille he had no idea how observant or strict the Commander would be. He threw caution to the wind and would deal with any fallout later.
Mulzer easily found the drachen they were to protect. The day was mostly clear with a few clouds. Things seemed peaceful as several circuits around the drachen went by uneventful. The peace was shattered when Mulzer spotted a French aircraft streak out between some clouds.
“Scheiss”! Mulzer thought as he recognized an N16, armed with Le Prieur rockets.
He yelled to Winkler to ready his machine gun as he turned to intercept. It was going to be close. Would he be able to shoot down the Frenchman before it released it’s rockets at the drachen? The next few seconds would tell.
As the Frenchman flew straight at the drachen it was easy for Mulzer to line up his first shot. It was almost too easy.
The French pilot slumped in his seat. His plane still flew straight as he fell forward onto the rocket release lever. Mulzer kept shooting, desperately trying to knock the Frenchman off his course.
Mulzer never released his grip on the trigger as the rockets streaked towards the drachen. Somehow his point blank shots had no effect.
The first set of rockets flew above and below the drachen. The second set however had at least one hit home. The drachen burst in a massive ball of flame and then was gone.. Only shreds fell to the ground below.
Mulzer’s rounds finally found the Nieuport again but too late to save the balloon crew.
The badly wounded Dubois was in trouble and knew it.
The Frenchman nimbly reversed under the Rumpler on his tail hoping to get away from it.
Winkler got in his first shot with the Eagles and made it count. Down went the Nieuport leaving a black mark in the sky as he fell.
As Winkler cleared a round from his Parabellum he didn’t notice the flight of Eagles joining he and Mulzer.
With the drachen gone, Mulzer felt compelled to join in the scout patrol and take it to the French.,
Coming out to meet the Eagles were 4 Nieuports. As both sides surveyed the approaching enemy they knew the coming fight would be a tough one.
Schafer and Cordonnier open the braul with with shots taken at extreme range and little effect.
Jean Barbaza had second thoughts about the flight without permission.
Lothar and Hengst get into it trading shots. Ochs deals out some serious damage to ST.Martin’s N17.
St. Martin takes some control surface damage from Winkler’s well aimed shot.
Schafer turns to avoid the like-minded Cordonnier. Turning away from Cordonnier gave Barbaza an opportunity he did not miss to take advantage of.
Cordonnier takes a hit from Winkler. Another well aimed shot to lessen the N17’s nimbleness.
Schafer can’t throw Barbaza as he regains a position on his tail.
Ochs uses his stuntman skill to twist his plane into a shooting position on Charbrier. Rounds damage the Nieuport’s engine but the guns quickly fall silent.
St. Martin and Charbrier quickly turn the tables and reverse behind Hengst and Ochs. Their position allows them to torment the Eagle’s pair with no response.
Even with a sputtering engine, Barbaza keeps in range of Schafer to cause a most feard damage, fire!
Schafer knows he has to get Barbaza off his tail and Immelmanns to face him. Schafer’s surprised to find Cordonnier also closing in. On top of the fire Scxhafer’s Fokker takes a beating from the two Frenchmen.
At least Schafer knows he returned some damage to Barbaza’s Nieuport.
Schafer dips below the French just getting out of the guns of Cordonnier.
Ochs also feels the pressure of an enemy on his tail and Immelmanns to face him. The move may have surprised St. Martin and his shots miss. Ochs though rips into the Nieuport’s center doing serious damage and badly wounding St.Martin.
Hengst also Immelmanns but with too much smoke in the cockpit he can’t see clearly and misses Charbrier.
Konrad and Mulzer get to the French lines and spot the gathering tanks behind them. Word must get back as soon as possible to warn HQ of the build up.
Schafer’s fire takes a small bite out of his Fokker.
Schafer quickly assesses his damage. He realizes the fire will destroy him if he does nothing. He immediately goes ingo an overdive hoping to blow out the flames.
Schafer’s dive seems to have helped in dampening the fire as it goes out with a wimper. (overdive removes 1 fire chit) Schafer then makes for home with his crippled Fokker. (1 point remaining!)
Barbaza signals to Cordonnier he is heading for the barn. Cordonnier clearly sees the sputtering engine and follows Barbaza a short way.
St. Martin signals Charbrier he’s heading back. Charbrier returns the same signal.
Ochs Immels hoping to catch the retreating French planes. He tries but when he sees the tanks behind the lines, he remembers his mission. It is more important to return with the information than to shoot down a French plane.
Konrad signals to Hengst to look down. Hengst sees what he is supposed to and gives the thumbs up to Konrad. The four circle above for a few minutes to confirm what they see and the location before heading home.
St. Martin and Charbrier make their getaway surprised that they are let go so easily.
Cordonnier turns away from Barbaza looking to re-engage, but upon seeing he would be alone vs four German machines he decides the smart thing to do is leave.
Butcher’s Tally
Bouledogues de la Republique
Lt. Remy St. Martin: FRTB-W WIA 0 Kills
FRTB 2 & 3 lands ok
C/W Rolled 7 +1RTB -1WIA +1ACE = 8 - Injured - Skip 1D2 Scenario. Rolled 1 = Skip 1
Asp. Constant Charbrier: FRTB-E 0 Kills
FRTB 3 & 5 = lands ok
s/Lt. Lucien Cordonnier: RTB 0 kills
s/Lt. Jean Barbaza: FRTB-E 0 kills 1 Probable (Schäfer FRTB-F)
FRTB 1 & 6 = lands ok
Sgt. Marie Dubois: SD-ET / WIA 1 Kill
C 5 -1SD -1WIA = 3, injured, 4 = miss 4 Missions
E&E 2 -1WIA -1WIC -1BEL = -1 Captured, the war is over for you son.
Kaiser’s Eagles
Ltn. Reinhold Schäfer: FRTB-F 0 Kills
FRTB 2 & 2 crash on landing
C/W Rolled 4 -1FRTB +1RTB = 4 - Injured - Skip 1D6 Scenarios. Rolled 6! Skip 6 Missions
Ltn. Rudolf Mulzer: RTB 0 Kills
Ltn. Alfred Winkler: RTB 1 Kill
ObLtn. Konrad Dahl: RTB 0 Kills 1 Probable (Barbaza)
Ltn. Lothar Ochs: RTB 0 Kills 2 Probable (Charbrier and St. Martin)
Ltn. Werner Hengst: RTB 0 Kills
Balloon destroyed
Victory Points
French
Balloon fails to spot tanks - 5 points
Downed Balloon - 10 points
1 scout FRTB w/o spotting tanks – 5 points
Eagles
1 enemy scout downed – 5 points
4 planes spot tanks and returned to base – 40 points
French 20
Eagles 45
Eagle victory!
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Good thing HQ had the insight to send out a scout recon patrol to back up the observation balloon.
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