OTT BYM Mission 10 - “Good people * don’t shoot!” - 12th December 1916 by Baz
A number of strategic bombing raids had been carried out by the Germans into France against recognised military installations. This mission was for a light bomber to undertake a bombing run against Dunkirk port and shipping. It would require escorts and as of late, a number of friendly fire situations had occurred leading to some tension between the infantry HQ and the airforce.
Schnellinger had just returned to active duty and was sitting to the mission brief given by ObLtn Hans Tilkowski. He had been shot down in flames in Mission 7 and had been hospitalised for a couple of weeks having been recovered from No Mans Land by the German infantry. He already had 3 kills to his name and was one of the top student recruits of the Jasta, someone who the others could rely on. He was broken from his reverie by the words of Tilkowski………
“……so we will be required to provide two escorts to the light bomber. It will be a long trek so we will refuel near to the front line before continuing on to our target, which is the coastal town of Dunkirk. It is expected that the English will use their new machines to provide defence, and we are to provide close escort until the bomber has a chance to drop bombs on the port and any associated shipping at dock. It should be straightforward but the target will be a short way out to sea as they are currently using temporary docks while undertaking repairs from previous incursions, so the flight will be over the water when we get to the target.”
Schnellinger had only been half listening up to that point but suddenly a cold sweat and panic had started to rise in his stomach. The reason for this is that during training he had crashed in a lake at the end of the runway and had been trapped underwater locked in his harness. He had barely come away with his life and had panic attacks now whenever over water especially at low altitude. Most flyers hated the thought of flames but to him it was the opposite, water! He just knew that Tilkowski would choose him for the mission and he felt sick to his stomach.
“…….and accompanying myself will be Ltn Karl-Heinz Schnellinger in the Albatros D.II’s,” continued Tilkowski. “We will pick up the bomber boys at early light tomorrow and they will be flying an AEG G.III loaded with bombs. The pilot will be Ltn Helmut Scon with front gunner Ltn Lothar Emmerich and rear gunner Ltn Siegfred Held. That will be all.”
Schnellinger had not heard anything past when his name had been read out and was the last to stand from the gathering. Whether anyone had spoken with him he didn’t know as he stumbled to his room and emptied the contents of his stomach in the latrine. This was going to be difficult.
They had met up with the bomber as planned and refuelled on route. As suggested when crossing the lines they had been fired upon by their own side, and Tilkowski had received minor damage (B card 2). He would be having words upon his return!
As they approach the coastline they are in formation, with Tilkowski behind the bomber to the right and Schnellinger behind again to the left.
As expected, the ships were at dock in the temporary port and were being covered by a Defensive formation of Sopwith Pups. Lt John Ansell in Pup (Nr.1), 2Lt Charles Harrup in Pup (Nr.2) and 2Lt John Fern in Pup (Nr.3).
The scouts turn towards each other, except Schnellinger who seems transfixed by the water! The bomber must first get its range and sight it’s targets before dropping the bomb load to be successful.
Tilkowski is not sure that Schnellinger has seen the enemy as he continues on straight and frantically waves and points to where the enemy formation is closing but Schnellinger continues on a straight course and in fact, climbs. The bomber has dived to Altitude 3.
Seeing the bomber dive the lead Pup dives to make contact leaving the other scouts to engage with the escort, as does Tilkowski.
Ansell, in Pup 1, gets off a long range shot against the bomber (due to higher altitude +1) but receives return fire both at long range from the front and rear guns of the AEG. The shots rip along the fabric of the bomber causing some damage but the return fire from Held in the rear gun hits the engine area causing it to splutter and misfire. Ansell leans out of the side of the cockpit to see what the issue is and at that moment, Tilkowski pulls the trigger at long range and hits Ansell and the cockpit area causing serious damage. Ansell and Pup 1 is out of the fight.
Schnellinger is directly above Tilkowski and too high to do anything (Altitude 5), even if he wasn’t frozen in his seat.
The bomber dives again to Altitude 2, and Tilkowski follows while Fern in Pup 3 also dives to get in on the action (Altitude 4). Fern fires at short range on Tilkowski and does some minor damage .Tilkowski fires at long range on Pup 1 doing minor damage to the rudder controls. Schnellinger fires with altitude advantage at Fern but due to his panic as he is now over the water and unable to concentrate, he does minor damage.
Schnellinger Immels to head back to land and gains altitude (6) while the AEG turns left to ID and target the port and shipping. The Pups try to get back on the targets whilst Pup 1 must head home with engine damage and a wounded pilot.
Having ID’d the target the bomber circles left to begin his approach and line up with the target. The scouts adjust altitudes to try to get into a firing position. Tilkowski Immels and briefly wonders where Schnellinger is wondering if his aircraft has problems?
Schnellinger is well inland and thinking of returning to the Aerodrome, but cannot leave his companions in this predicament.
Ansell and Pup 1 leave the action. Pups 2 & 3 dive to altitude 3 trying to stop the bomber. held in the AEG rear gun gets off a long range shot at Pup 2 to no effect, while Tilkowski fires at long range on Pup 2 and sets it on fire.
The next shot at Pup 2 adds more damage to the flaming plane. Where is Schnellinger?
His conscience gets the better of him and he Immels to get back into the action and help Tilkowski.
Pup 2 takes extensive fire damage (4) and Tilkowski adds the coup-de-grace with a long range shot (aim +1) which brings Harrup spinning to the ground.
His plane just misses the water and crashes into rocks. Tilkowski flies over and sees the young pilot dragging himself up onto the land awaiting infantry and medical help.
Schnellinger is still not sure and turns parallel to the coast.
Pup 3 dives (altitude 2) and fires at short range on the AEG but misses. Held in the AEG rear gun returns fire at short range and scores 1 plus right rudder damage and 2 plus starts the Pup smoking (NB photo was taken with only one damage card each, the extra cards were taken before next move but no photo taken).
Schnellinger closes on the battle (over the water) now gathering his wits and nerves whilst Tilkowski begins Immel move.
Held, on the AEG rear gun, hits the Pup for more damage but receives some back before the gun jams on the Pup. Schon lines the bomber up for the bomb drop.
2Lt John Fern and Pup 3 must now return to base having taken extensive damage. Held in the AEG rear gun position has different ideas however and gets a last long range shot with a second smoke damage causing the Pup to burst into flame and spin down into the murky water of Dunkirk temporary harbour. However the AEG has overshot the mark again and will need to circle around, but should be easier with the sky clear of enemy aircraft.
The two scouts keep an eye out in case as the bomber lines up.
…..and bombs are dropped
…to a successful conclusion.
Victory Points
Central
Direct hit (bombing) of shipping/port - 5pts
Enemy scout shot down 2 x 5 - 10pts
Enemy scout FRTB 1 x 2 - 2pts
TOTAL - 17 pts
Entente
TOTAL - 0 pts
Win for the Adlers 17-0
Addendum.
Once back at the Aerodrome, Tilkowski called Schnellinger into his office, he was expecting the worst. Tilkowski told him to close the door and sit down. “So,” he began “where were you during the heat of the battle? I am hoping you have not lost your nerve following your recent mission crash?”
Schnellinger was quiet and then opened up, “Nothing of the sort Oberleutnant. I am as eager to fly as ever. However, you should know that I did panic once over the sea due to a historic training accident. I cannot confirm it will not happen again so you must do what you deem fit.”
Tilkowski raised a brow and then said “ I wish you had spoken of this earlier. However, I cannot afford to lose my best pilot, albeit over solid ground, in the squad. We will say nothing more of this and I will ensure that no more ‘water’ missions are given to you! This mission was a great success and nothing more will be said of the incident.”
Schnellinger rose from his chair not quite believing what had just happened and stammered “Thank you Oberleutnant, you will not be disappointed.”
Tilkowski said “I had better not be” in reply, then smiled to himself as Schnellinger left the room.
Reply With Quote
for his second kill & skilled service to the Kaiser 
and we still have a full roster for the next outing. 
Originally Posted by RJG173
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