OTT-BYM Mission 8 – “A Thorn in the Side” 27 Nov 1916 {Stumptonian}
Read the full briefing HERE:
Remnants of the 197th Infantry Brigade found themselves stranded in the “Frankfurt Trench” approximately 300 yards behind the German lines.
The 52nd Squadron ‘Bulldogs’ have been tasked with escorting a pair of 57th Squadron RE.8s who are each planning to drop a satchel containing a message urging the men to “Hold on – Help is coming tomorrow”.
Pity they couldn’t have included at least some rations and bandages for the hard-pressed survivors.
The first RE.8 to approach is piloted by 2Lt Lindsay Moore, flying his first mission for the 57th, with veteran observer AM.3 Bill Holder.
Moore has the ‘Frankfurt’ trench in sight and approaches cautiously, holding his arm up to signal Holder when to drop the bag.
Moore is indecisive and Holder is left ‘holding the bag’.
“Sorry lads …” he says out loud, shouting back at Holder “We’ll try another run!”
Across the lines, the Adler have put out a similar sortie.
Luftstreitkräfte FFA 245 pilot Fwbl Lukas Himmel-Spaziergänger and observer Ltn Roland-Reinhart Dietrich-Daimler are escorted by Adler aces Ltn Günther Giesebrecht in a yellow Albatros D.II and Ltn Till Hübner in a camouflaged one, similar in livery to the machine flown by recently downed ace Oswald Boelcke.
The call came to the Adler group from the front line, requesting that they take out the Britishers occupying ‘Frankfurt’ “ein für alle Mal” < once and for all >
To accomplish that directive Roland-Reinhart Dietrich-Daimler (or “R2-D2” as he is nicknamed by the Zweisitzer group) will drop 12.5kg bombs by hand.
(Thanks for the excellent representative pic, Baz)
Now approaching the area Bulldogs 2Lt Duncan Moore (no relation to Lindsay Moore piloting the forward RE.8) and Lt John Moncrieff, both flying Sopwith Pups, are escorting a second RE.8 flown by another newcomer, 2Lt Alfred “Sheepdog” Shepherd, and his observer, AM1 Patrick Francis.
Moore banks his RE.8 hoping to avoid any ground fire from the German units below.
Moore sees the second wave approaching.
Or did he?
Francis sees the other ‘Harry Tate’ closing.
“Watch out ye stupid git!”
His concentration is out the window and he also fails to drop his satchel, like Holder before him.
Moncrieff, flying above the RE.8s can only shake his head …
Both ‘Harry Tates’ will have to circle around for another attempt.
Moncrieff sees an unwelcome machine ahead, as Huebner eyes him warily.
Tikka tikka
Tikka tikka.
Bullets rip through both aircraft, but Huebner’s ‘Sniper’ skill puts lead straight into the Pup’s Le Rhône engine.
Moncrieff curses aloud as the engine makes an uncomfortable racket.
“That’s that then … back home for me, lads.”
Farther below, the action is getting hot ‘n’ heavy as the C.III and D.II get “up close and personal” with the ‘Tates’.
Da da da da
Francis’s Lewis barks and Giesebrecht’s rudder takes some damage.
Not to be outdone, “Skywalker” Himmel-Spaziergänger fires his LMG08/15 at the RE.8 directly in his path.
Tikka Tikka Tikka
First a wisp of smoke, and then a flicker of flame!
Moore and Holder’s day just got a whole lot worse ..
Da da da da
Francis fires another burst at Giesebrecht but sees nothing for it.
The flames from Moore’s RE.8 flare up as he passes behind the C.III
Dietrich-Daimler drops his first two bombs in quick succession.
Moore is too high to get off a shot at Giesebrecht’s yellow Albatros …
Tikka tikka tikka
… but Giesebrecht uses his ‘Sniper’ skill against Moncrieff, albeit to no avail.
[Note: forgoing the 2 damage to avoid the gun jam]
[Forgetting I could have switched to ‘B’ gun if I had taken the other card]
Huebner dives to get down to where the action is.
Da da da da
Tikka tikka tikka
“R2-D2” and “Sheepdog” trade shots.
Shepherd curses his luck as his Vickers jams.
To make matters worse, the RE.8 takes some heavy damage in return.
Dietrich-Daimler is pleased to see bits of wood and fabric flying from the enemy aircraft.
Tikka tikka
Giesebrecht makes up for his earlier attempt on Moncrieff and sees the British pilot jerk in his cockpit.
The fire on Moore’s RE.8 seems under control for the moment.
Moncrieff, bleeding from his left side and with his engine knocking badly, slips his Pup away from the engagement behind some trees.
Da da da
Da da da
Dietrich-Daimler fires at Shepherd’s ‘Harry Tate’ and gets a quick burst back from Francis.
1 – 0 for the Brits.
Da da d …
Francis tries to hit Giesebrecht’s D.II but his Lewis jams.
The flames die down on the other RE.8 and Moore and Holder can breathe again.
But they are not in the clear yet!
Tikka tikka
Giesebrecht’s “Itchy Trigger Finger” gets a Sniper shot into Moore’s RE.8
Da da da
Holder’s return fire does little damage.
Meanwhile “R2-D2” drops his remaining bombs into the trench.
Moore has moved Giesebrecht’s original target out of arc, but Shepherd has slipped into his sights.
Tikka tikka
And the Royal Aircraft Factory V-12 starts to howl …
Near the ‘Frankfurt’ trench Moore dives to meet Huebner head on …
Tikka tikka tikka
… and soon comes to regret his choice of action as hot lead rips though his shoulder.
Not to be outdone by his wingman Giesebrecht, Huebner has been honing his own ‘Sniper’ skills ….
Lindsay Moore had one last chance to get Holder back to ‘Frankfurt’ to drop his satchel when Dietrich-Daimler seized an opportunity.
Da da da
With a quick burst that must have found a fuel line the RE.8 takes catastrophic damage!
The ‘Harry Tate’ meets its fate, taking Moore and Holder to the cratered ground below.
Not long after, Shepherd’s RE.8 flies right in front of Giesebrecht …
Tikka tikka tikka
… and takes some serious structural damage!
Shepherd tries to get around the Albatros, but Giesebrecht fires another burst at close range.
Tikka tikka tikka
With a second direct hit to the engine the V-12 seizes and the RE.8 is knocked from the sky.
"Zwanzig!"
Giesebrecht has his 20th victory!
The air is eerily quiet.
In just a matter of minutes the Englanders have lost both RE.8 and Moore’s sole remaining Pup will not be caught.
The Adler have succeeded in driving all their enemies from the field!
Butcher’s Tally
Bulldogs
RE.8
Pilot 2Lt Lindsay Moore: EXP-NML 0 Kills
C&W: 6 -3EXP -1NML = 2 : KIA
Another promising pilot killed on his first mission.
Observer AM3 William Holder: EXP-NML 0 Kills
C&W: 7 -3EXP -1NML =3 Injured - Skip 1D6 Scenarios (4) = Skip 4 missions.
E&E: 10 -1EXP +1NML -1WIC = 9 : They didn’t even see me!
Total: Skip 4 missions. This campaign is over for Bill Holder
RE.8
Pilot 2Lt Alfred “Sheepdog” Shepherd: SD-NML 0 Kills
C&W: 11 -1SD -1NML = 9 : All is well when you land well
E&E: 9 +1NML = 10 : “They didn’t even see me!”
Observer AM1 Patrick Francis: SD-NML 0 Kills
C&W:2 -1SD -1NML = 0 - KIA
Amazing the difference – one escapes without a scratch and the second is dead on arrival.
The RE.8 was just one damage point away from destruction when the second Engine Damage card was drawn.
Sopwith Pup
2Lt Duncan Moore FRTB-W / WIA 0 Kills
Roll 3 & 4 = landed ok
C&W: 7 +1RTB -1WIA = 7 - Injured - Skip 1D2 Scenario(3) = Skip 1 mission.
Sopwith Pup
Lt John Moncrieff: FRTB-E / WIA 0 kills
Rolled 3 & 5 = Landed safely
C&W: 5 +1RTB -1WIA = 5 - Injured - Skip 1D3 Scenarios(3) = Skip 2 missions.
Adler
Albatros D.II
Ltn Günther Giesebrecht: RTB 1 Kill (RE.8 - Shepherd)
Giesebrecht has his 20th aerial victory!
Albatros D.II
Ltn Till Hübner: RTB 0 Kills 2 Probable (Moore & Moncrieff)
Albatros C.III
Pilot Fwbl Lukas Himmel-Spaziergänger ‘Skywalker’: RTB 0 kills
Observer Ltn Roland-Reinhart Dietrich-Daimler ‘R2-D2’ : RTB 1 Kill (RE.8)
Dietrich-Daimler has his first confirmed kill!
The C.III crew also successfully dropped 4 12.5 Kg bombs on the ‘Frankfurt’ trench. (they really didn't !)
Victory Conditions
Bulldogs Starting Points : 50
Direct bomb hits: 4 x -10 = -40
Planes shot down:
Planes FRTB:
Successful bag drop = 0
Total : 10
Adler
Aircraft shot down : 2 x 10 = 20
Aircraft FRTB : 2 x 5 = 10
Bag drop failed : = 10
RFC points wiped out : = 15
Total : 55
Resounding Adler Victory!
==============================================
Well that certainly turned in the Adler favour!
Three Engine Damage in one game – two to the same aircraft! Never had that happen before.
The Boom! was icing on the cake.
Both escorts FRTB – the Bulldogs never had a chance.
I am just hoping Lady Luck doesn’t come back at me with a vengeance in an upcoming game.
Giesebrecht has been on a roll and has his 20th victory.
I think my next choice for a skill will be either Daredevil or Super Ace
Huebner came close to seeing his ‘odometer’ click over to a third ace skill as well, but will have to be satisfied with two ‘probables’. Not bad for two shots fired.
I wonder if the slower BE.2c suggested for this mission might have let the Bulldogs hit their targets.
The sturdier RE.8 I chose is not so maneuverable when you misjudge the distances ..
Thanks, Baz, for an interesting scenario.
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Originally Posted by Baz
on attaining his 20th victory and significant contributions to the war effort for the Kaiser 
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