OTT BYM Mission 10 - Good People * Don't Shot, 12 Dec 1916 by ShadowDragon
OTT-BYM Mission 10: Good People * Don’t Shoot – 12 Dec 1916 by ShadowDragon
Original scenario by malachi:
https://www.wingsofwar.org/forums/sh...916-by-malachi
The Royal Navy was having one of its bombing and naval bombardment campaigns against the High Seas Fleet facilities in Belgium. The SMS Stralsund had been slightly damaged and was undergoing repairs before a run past the RN ships to a dockyard where more extensive repairs could be undertaken. This is an opportunity to show what naval air power could do, so X Squadron – or as some called it the ‘Colonial’ Squadron, RNAS, was temporarily assigned to coastal operations.
The bomber, a 1 ½ Strutter, would be crewed by the Americans (former colonials – in case one wondered) on ‘volunteer’ services from the USN. The two escorts would be led by the acting Flight Leader, Jock MacDonald, with the Aussie, FSL Bruce Dundee as his wingman.
Feldwebel Joachim Büttner was the sole scout pilot in the jasta fit for service. No less than six pilots were recuperating from injuries, including the oberleutnant. Joachim wondered if that meant he’d have a few days reprieve from missions, but his musing was cut short by the arrival of two replacements – Leutnants Theodor Hausmann and Rudolf Beckhardt – as green as one could expect with recent losses.
The British were having a go at naval facilities in Belgium so the three scout pilots, led by Theodor Hausmann, were assigned to provide air cover for the Imperial Navy.
As the X Squadron planes approached the Belgian coastline, they spied the trio of Hun aircraft. Jock hoped they’d not all be the new Albatros aeroplanes. Jock signalled to Bruce that they’d intercept the enemy scouts while the Yanks set up their bombing run.
At about the same time Joachim noticed the incoming British aeroplanes. After warning their leader, Theodor, the three Albatros turned to intercept the enemy.
One of the British aeroplanes was a zweizitter. It would be the bomber while the other two were escorts. Despite being only a feldwebel, Theodor was willing to take directions from the experienced pilot. Joachim would intercept the bomber while Theodor and Rudy would entertain the bomber’s escorts.
As the X Squadron escorts and the two Albatri closed, Theodor closed his eyes and fired….hoping that he would not collide with the approaching enemy triplane. {Jock’s Firm Hand skill was used to ignore the rudder hit.)
Fortunately, Jock wasn’t about to end his flying career in a collision and side-slipped to the right to avoid Theodor. Rudy wasn’t so lucky as Bruce Dundee was wily and slipped off to the left before spinning the Sopwith to the right to catch Rudy at close range (note: sniper skill was used). Things did not go as Joachim planned – the Strutter suddenly went into a dive as it approached the helpless Stralsund. Too low for Joachim to get a decent shot at it.
Meanwhile Theodor had flown on past the Britishers while Rudy was sweating profusely with the light blue triplane on his tail.
An Immelmann turn allowed Rudy to shake Bruce. More good fortune – Jock’s triplane had ended up in Rudy’s sights. It was a long range shot but Rudy was the hunter and not the hunted. Load explosions were heard as the Strutter dropped its bombs right on target. The bombs weren’t large enough to destroy the Stralsund but hopefully it would delay the ship escaping to a more secure anchorage. Joachim shook his head….there was nothing for it now but to make the Englanders pay for their success.
Rudy continued to tail Jock but not with much success in terms of damaging the triplane. Meanwhile Bruce had decided to go after the while Albatros that seemed to be aimlessly flying about. Joachim finally jerked his attention away from the stricken Stralsund to what as in front of him…..Bruce Dundee’s light blue Albatros. Surely this couldn’t be the same pilot know for flying a light blue aeroplane and bedevilling their Jasta putting several of its pilots in the infirmary?
Joachim was filled with rage at the thought that this could be that same pilot. Fortune had rewarded him after failing to intercept the zweizitter with notorious light blue plane in his sights. Boom – a bullet had found something vital on the triplane and it plummeted towards the sea. Perhaps their Jasta’s nemesis would drown or be picked up by one of their patrol boats.
Jock was aghast. Not another one of their aces downed. Teddy and Jim had finished their mission and were heading for home. With three of the new enemy aeroplanes facing him, Jock decided discretion was in order. With an Immelmann his triplane headed back to escort the Strutter. Oh! There was that plane that had been tailing him at a distance. Jock had forgotten about it. He shook his head. That wasn’t something one did in aerial combat. He fired as the dark green Albatros fired back. The enemy plane sputtered. An engine hit – that was one of the enemy out of the action.
Flushed with his victory over the hated Bruce Dundee, Joachim signalled to Theodor that they should head off the two remaining British planes. It would be up to just the two of them as Rudy was returning to their base.
Joachim choose the Strutter which he had failed to intercept earlier. Perhaps he could get his vengeance on the enemy bomber. Seeing this Theodor paired off against Jock – the enemy he had encountered initially. Maybe this time he wouldn’t close his eyes.
The X Squadron pilots were no fools. Joachim found himself in front of the Strutter while Jock was having a go at taking apart Theodor’s Albatros. Theodor wondered if he should have closed his eyes.
Jock used the manoeuvrability of the Sopwith get behind Theodor while the Strutter, having slipped past Joachim, continued its escape.
As the Strutter passed the Albatros, Jim Haviland made the most of his brief opportunity. Boom – Joachim discovered that vengeance can work both ways. Still enough of the Albatros held together that he hoped to set down the wreck of his aeroplane on the sea. Patrol boats were circling about looking for the pilot of the light blue aeroplane. If he was lucky he might not even get wet. But luck was not with Joachim. The landing was rough and the patrol boats were not Germans but Royal Navy ones.
Jock had the number of the inexperienced Theodor. He continued disassembling the white Albatros.
Finally the white Albatros could take no more and it glided into the sea with the landing that Joachim had hoped for his aeroplane.
Jock and the Yanks had an uneventful return to their RNAS station. Expectantly they approached the station crew for news on their downed comrade, but the station crew shook their heads. There was no word on Bruce’s fate.
Scenario Results
Sea Dog Score
Direct hit on the ship = 5 pts
Enemy scouts shot down = 2 X 5 pts = 10 pts
Enemy scout FRTB = 2 pts
Total = 17 points
Adler Score
RNAS scout shot down = 5 pts
Total = 5 points
A RNAS victory. Yay!
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Originally Posted by malachi
for his victory and service to a grateful King and Empire 
but apart from that bit of confusion an enjoyable and entertaining story. 
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