OTT BYM Mission 8 - “A thorn in the side - Redan Ridge” - 27th November 1916 by Baz
At the German chateau Aerodrome, Obltn Hans Tilkowski and Fwbl Uwe Seeler addressed the attached throng in the makeshift operations room that had a large snooker table in the centre, now used to show operations on. “There is an English presence to the rear of the German front line trenches that has provided stubborn resistance, not to say, hijacked and missing water and rations needed by our men in Munich trench. We have been requested by the Army chiefs to send in a small two seater loaded with hand bombs which is all that can get into the confined space, this will be flown by Fwbl Seeler and Ltn Held as his observer and bomber. The besieged men are holed up in a large dugout in the centre of Frankfort trench and German infantry have flooded two communication trenches either side that run between Munich and Frankfort trenches, including AA machine gun posts in both. There has been a high level of activity of enemy aircraft in the area so Ltn Hornig and I will provide escort.”
Meanwhile, at the English HQ a different story and mission was being held. Hasty plans had been made to send in the best (and closest) available aircraft at short notice to drop a bagged message to the men, indicating a forthcoming rescue attempt and also to provide as much air protection as possible. Orders were to drop the message and then to harass the massed German Infantry surrounding the position including taking out the two AA machine gun posts that had been set up. Two ageing two-seaters and two DH2 had been allocated with multi-national crew assigned to make it a morale-boosting sortie.
A lone Be2c (tail roundels) sets off piloted by Canadian 2Lt Henry Foot with American AM3 Ernest “Piggy” Gammon as his observer, to undertake the message drop.
Flying over Munich trench without attracting any fire, they approach the dugout, lining up for the drop.
Henry stalls the plane while “Piggy” makes the drop, bang on target.
Three English support craft reach the German Lines (top to bottom)
DH2 (CDL tail) - Irishman 2Lt William “Billy” Collins
Be2c - South African 2Lt William Herbert (pilot) and New Zealander AM3 Robert Hughes (observer/gunner)
DH2 - English 2Lt Lionel Atkinson
…and three Adler craft make the scene too (left to right)
Albatros D.II (brown body) - Obltn Hans Tilkowski
Albatros C.III - Fwbl Uwe Seeler (pilot) and Ltn Siegfred Held (observer)
Albatros D.II (yellow body) - Ltn Heinz Hornig
A view from the German side
The three English planes close on the dugout with Henry’s Be2c heading off towards the top AA Machine gun position.
The Germans close on the trench line adjusting altitude to match their opponents
The English split up as agreed to hit both AAMG positions
…the German two seater gets in position to start its’ bomb run, getting a bit close to the escort
Collins gets to the AAMG post first and fires at long range (altitude 2) whilst receiving AAMG fire which does no damage, but the infantry must hit a fuel line and smoke starts to pour from the DH2.
“Piggy” gets his chance next after Henry puts the Be2c into a dive and sees the infantry scatter as his rounds score (2) on the MG post. The infantry fire is ineffective as it returns fire due to the disruption.
The German aircraft see the commotion and the escorts split off to help out the infantry while the C.III heads towards its bomb target, which is guarded by the Be2c of 2Lt Herbert.
Atkinson attacks the lower AAMG post but just succeeds in jamming his guns. The Infantry again are on target and set his crate smoking. Hornig watches on from a higher altitude, waiting his chance.
At the top AAMG position, Henry keeps up his attack and “Piggy” gets in a consecutive shot but with no damage, but likewise the infantry pop away to no effect.
Herbert/Hughes defend the trench and get a long range shot against the C.III of Seeler who takes a flesh wound
All the aircraft are now centred on the map trying to get best position.
Seeler and Held drop two of their bombs on the target to devastating effect taking out some of the encircled infantry, remaining out of arc of the defending Be2c.
It comes at a cost though as Tilkowski gets a short range shot using his perfect aim skill (+1) on Collins’ DH2 doing minor damage to the left rudder and sets the plane on fire. The return short range fire from is deadly accurate and scores a 3 and hits something major causing the D.II to explode and spiral to the ground. Meanwhile Piggy gets a good shot at the top AAMG scoring two damage with Henry having to struggle with Right rudder damage from the infantry.
In the next moment, Piggy gets his chance and pumps another 3 points of damage into the AAMG destroying it and the surrounding infantry which is unable to score any damage. Collins’ flaming DH2 gets a long range shot at Seeler’s C.III with the same return fire doing 3 damage to each.
Hornig dives to get nearer to the action whilst the lower Infantry are unable to hit the smoking Atkinson.
Collins fires at long range on the C.III and the Albatros starts smoking. The DH2 fares worse however, having taken 3 damage from the fire, Held in the rear gunner position homes in at long range and scores a 2 plus further fire which brings down the DH2, a kill to Held.
Hornig Immels back towards Atkinson.
Atkinson returns the favour and Immels back towards Hornig to get in a long range shot which strafes the engine compartment, this is the end of the engagement for Hornig who will need to head back to the drome suffering Engine damage. He fires back on the Herbert/Hughes Be2c causing minor left rudder damage. This leaves Seeler/Held alone in the air with no support and another bomb load to drop!!
Hughes then fires on the retiring Hornig at long range causing minor right rudder damage.
…to add insult to injury, Hughes gets in a consecutive shot and scores left rudder damage. Hornig is now unable to turn left or right, but as he is heading straight off the mat this is no disadvantage.
Atkinson sees his smoke dwindle to nothing and aims to get at the last AAMG but flies too close. The infantry fire but do no damage. The C.III gets into position to undertake the last bomb run with Foot’s Be2c closing in.
The trench infantry fire again on Atkinson but with no joy. Both Be2c’s now hone in on the AAMG and Piggy scores a 1 damage.
Piggy gets in a second shot causing more damage but not destroying the post and jamming their gun. The infantry fire on Herbert/Hughes to no avail and the machine gun fires on Foot/Piggy but goes wide of the mark.
Hornig, with engine trouble now leaves the engagement.
The infantry fires on Herbert/Hughes but miss and Seeler/Held successfully drop their second two bombs on the target.
The trench then fires on Herbert/Hughes with both machine gun and infantry as they stray in direct front of the position, but both miss. Seeler is in position to also fire at long range and does minor damage. foot and Atkinson try to get in position to attack the C.III, it isn’t looking good.
Hughes then fires at long range on the Albatros C.III and does minor damage to the right rudder, but despite his minor wound, Seeler manages to keep a firm hand and avoid problems. The return shot from Held causes damage to the right rudder of Herbert.
Atkinson performs an Immelmann and gets in a long range shot at the C.III which does no damage. Not so for the C.III, as Seeler fires on Atkinson causing damage to the rear pusher engine of the DH2! Atkinson will need to return to the barn to undertake repairs.
As he passes the C.III for the final time Atkinson uses all his skill and performs a stuntman side sliding to get a short range shot causing minor damage to the left rudder. Seeler fires on Herbert at long range causing minor damage, and Held fires on Atkinson at short range causing the DH2 to take damage and catch on fire. Herbert is out of arc or would have joined in too.
The fire takes hold and causes further damage to the DH2
Piggy gets off a long range shot on the C.III, accompanied by Hughes who also gets in a short range burst, no damage is taken however and Hughes jams his gun.Seeler fires on Herbert/Hughes at close range doing 3 (+1) and 0 (+1) and brings down the Be2c, evening up the odds, a kill to Seeler. Held in the rear fires at long range on the retreating Atkinson causing minor damage (+1) and further fire.
Piggy gets off another shot at long range (+1) but again no damage is taken. The C.III is out of arc to fire back on anyone.
Atkinson decides that he can try to take out the trench machine gun on the way home so closes on it.
Foot overlaps with Seeler as they both try to get in a shot and the DH2 ends up out of arc on the trench. Disaster however as the trench infantry and AAMG open up on Atkinson with the MG doing minor damage and jamming but the infantry fire hits the rear engine for a second time bringing it down before it can escape.
As the two remaining planes part they each get off a short range shot. Piggy can’t seem to hit anything now and gets a double 0, while Held gets a 4 and a 2 and smoke starts pouring out of the Be2c.
As they are both facing their way out of the engagement and both with some serious damage both exit the map to return to respective bases without further engagement.
Victory points
Bulldogs
Infantry 50 - (4x10=40) bomb direct hits = 10pts remaining
AAMG destroyed = 5pts
Enemy plane shot down = 10pts
Enemy plane FRTB = 5 pts
Successful bag/message drop = 10 pts
Total = 40pts
Eagles
Infantry - 40 points removed = 15pts
Enemy plane shot down 3x10= 30pts
Total = 45 pts.
Narrow victory to the Eagles 45-40
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for his victory and service to the Kaiser today 
Such a close tug-o-war. The Bees are excellent and the backdrop is a knockout 
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