OTT-BYM - Mission 9 - Flash's Death of Chivalry - 5th December 1916
Most recent events had included the fall of Ltn Hans Shilling at the hands of the French ace Charles Nungesser and as a foe well known to the Bulldogs it was decided they would pay their respects by dropping a wreath on his home airfield shortly after dawn the following day.
There being no shortage of volunteers lots were drawn in the Mess that evening and the lucky chap selected for the task was our Aussie mate Baz Fife-Brand, or, two dads as the chaps had recently started to call him, much to his annoyance.
So it was that Baz found himself behind the lines just as the sun cleared the horizon, fast approaching the airfield of Shilling's Jasta at low altitude.
He blipped the throttle and launched the wreath over the side as he crossed the perimeter then turned sharply right in a climbing turn (randomly selected)
He spots a German Fokker below to the south and it turns toward him as he climbs to gain some altitude before crossing back over the lines. 'He's showing more flamin' interest than I'd like' muses Baz.
Unbeknownst to Baz Ltn Stefan Loerzer, recently back from injury, is out in the squadron hack re-familiarising himself with the area before his next mission. He's spotted an intruder over his landing field but is frustrated that he can't bring his guns to bear as the Sopwith passes overhead.
Baz sees the German reverse his course to give chase - thinking he might, and being an obliging type when it comes to a fight, Baz has already whipped his Pup into a sharp right turn..
Baz continues to circle right and drops his nose toward the Fokker. He unloads his Vickers into it for little return.
Baz clocks a brace of Albatrii arrive above them both from the north. The red one looks a bit different from the other. He's not to know that Obltn Hans Jörke is trying out the latest offering from the Albatros works on patrol with Ltn Raven Busse in a DII.
Discretion being the better part of valour Baz turns sharply toward home as Loerzer climbs away & the newcomers snake their way toward the action.
Baz climbs toward the lines as the Albatrii dive toward them. 'That might throw them off' he thinks
At this point a pair of Bulldogs are heading across the lines, Lt Bill Foldes on the left in the new Sopwith Tripe and 2lt Evan Keel on the right in Foldes' old Nieuport 17 #4, noticeable for it's twin Lewis guns mounted above the wing. Foldes had been tinkering with the Tripe and was out to test it with a second Vickers aboard.
They rush toward the developing scrap ahead of them and to bale Baz out of the mire !
Busse shows his tactical skill, turning toward Baz, then firing as he climbs sending an accurate burst clattering through the Pup's frame
Maybe he felt threatened by the onrushing Bulldogs but Busse breaks to his left as Baz throws his Pup round to face the challenge, only to find no target - one will be along in a moment !
Baz hold the turn and manages a long range effort on Busse's Albatros, damaging his rudder but takes fire from the other Huns rushing in to help their comrade. Jörke's aim is on and the pup suffers but Keel's long range shot as he enters the fray clips Jörke's tail.
Baz' gun seizes on the next shot; Keel pummels Jörke's Albatros and wounds the pilot severely as Foldes joins the fight but can do no damage to Loezer's Fokker
Baz looks for a way out as the battle rages about him. Loerzer reverses but does little more than punch a few holes in the Pup's fabric; Keel & Foldes double team Busse who gets a shot into the Tripe, both planes take some damage
Baz takes avoiding action so as not to end up with the remaining Albatros on his tail as he breaks for home, things get a little tight for a second and Keel gets hammered at close range by the Fokker which damages his controls
Barely clinging to consciousness Jörke turns for home losing height as he does so
Baz breaks from the crowd and points his nose toward home; Foldes reverses but doesn't get a shot on the troublesome Fokker, or, the Albatros who heads for his leader who is clearly in some strife.
Foldes sees Baz safely on his way before turning back to the fight, it seems Busse has done the same for his flight leader. Meanwhile Keel does his utmost to avoid occupying the same air space as the Fokker
Finally breaking free of the Fokker, Keel throws in a reversal hoping to get on the beggar's tail but to his horror is met by the Albatros with it's guns blazing .. He feels a stunning blow to his arm
Jörke, still struggling, leaves the battle space and makes for his home field
Keel waves his intention to Foldes as he passes his nose toward the lines, the Germans turn back to sandwich the Triplane if they can
Baz makes it safely back across the lines & heads for the barn
Keel glances astern and has a moment of concern as the Fokker turns after him
Foldes pumps a long range burst into the Albatros and sees some splinters fly
The Albatros reverses, guns blazing, but neither man finds the mark, even at close range
Realising the Nieuport has too great a lead on him the Fokker turns back to assist his comrade againt the 'drei decker'
His instinct was correct and the Fokker laces the Triplane with a solid long range burst that shakes it to it's core.
Foldes is on target though and manages to damage the Fokker's controls as the Albatros reverses behind him. 'This could get tricky' he thinks to himself
Glancing over his shoulder Foldes sees the German's turn back toward him
Keel makes it back across the lines intact
Foldes reverses and trades blows at close range with the Albatros, taking another heavy blow. He'll have to finish this quickly or they'll take him down.
Using his turning ability Foldes reefs his machine tightly round behind the two Hun machines - he can see the worried glances of the pilots as he gets the position he seeks
Opening the turn out he catches the Albatros at long range as it reverses it's turn, damaging it's tail.
Slipping right he gets a second shot that crashes through it's structure and it almost seems to sag in the air
Narrowly dodging the turning Fokker, Foldes reverses once more, meeting the turning Albatros with another burst which apparently does enough to send it on it's way
Turning rapidly he gets a long range burst into the Fokker, momentarily jamming one of his guns
Continuing the turn he catches the Fokker mid air as once again he reverses his course - it's a solid shot an smoke streams in it's wake as it plummets from the sky . Sky clear of the enemy Foldes heads for home
Victory Points:
Bulldogs:
Wreath dropping plane exits its own table edge = 15 pts
For each enemy scout shot down x1 = 10pts
For each enemy scout FRTB x 2 = 10 Pts
Total 35pts
Eagles:
For each enemy scout FRTB x 2 = 10 Pts
Total = 10 pts
Bulldog Victory !
Butcher's Tally:
Eagles:
Obltn Hans Jörke: Alb D.III - FRTB-W / WIA 0 kills
3+3 = Crash lands.
Rolled 3 -1FRTB +1RTB -1WIA = 2 Dead !
Ltn Stefan Loerzer: Fokker D.III - SD-FT 0 kills, 1 Probable (Keel FRTB-W)
Rolled 11 -1SD = 10 - All well when you land well.
Ltn Raven Busse: Alb D.II - FRTB-D 0 kills
4+5 = Landed safely
Bulldogs:
Lt Bill Foldes: Tripe - RTB 1 kill (Loerzer), 1 Probable (Busse FRTB-D)
2Lt Barry Fife-Brand: Pup - RTB 0 kills (Gun jammed)
2Lt Evan Keel: N.17#4 - FRTB-W / WIA 0 kills, 1 Probable (Jörke FRTB-W)
Rolled 2+3 = Stuck the landing.
Rolled 7 +1RTB -1WIA = 7 - Injured - Skip 1D2 Scenario. Rolled 5 = Skip 2
Nice scenario, thanks Gary. I flew as Baz & played the alternate gun jam rules as you saw as well as my alt rules & usual stuff.
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Originally Posted by Baz
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