OTT BYM Mission 10 – Good People! Don’t Shoot! 12 Dec 1916 {Stumptonian}
Prelude
The Bulldogs have been tasked with escorting a lone Sopwith 1-1/2 Strutter on a coastal bombing run.
Prior to meeting up with the Strutter there was very nearly an ‘own goal’ moment as a Sopwith Pup thought he had caught the Germans and dived into an attack.
Luckily his gun jammed after imposing only minor damage to one of the SPAD S.VII escorts.
“Crikey!” shouted Aussie 2Lt ‘Baz’ Hill, waving his fist at the over-excited Pup pilot.
There may have been some adjectives involved.
The Bulldogs were unable to make out any squadron markings on the now scarpering Pup and continued toward their target.
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Hill’s wingman in a second SPAD S.VII is Scottish F/Sgt. Alex David
The Strutter is flown by Lt Douglas Winterbottom with Observer/Bombardier AM3 Frank Wilkinson
The coast is coming into view and Winterbottom scans the horizon for a suitable target.
Not yet in the Englanders’ view is a flight of Jasta 24 ‘Adler’ who are serving a rotation defending the coastal area.
Leading the Adler is Ltn Günther Giesebrecht in one of the new Albatros D.III
On his right is his usual wingman, Ltn Till Hübner in his usual Albatros D.II.
Trailing them is Ltn Felix Eisenhardt in another D.II
He is feeling just a little ‘rostig’ (rusty) having spent the last 6 weeks recovering from injuries suffered on his last mission back in October.
Giesebrecht tilts his wings to draw attention to the incoming enemy.
Winterbottom has seen the Adler and points them out to Wilkinson.
“I hope our escorts have seen what’s coming” ….
Giesebrecht misses his chance to fire on the Strutter and slips past it.
Winterbottom sees a slow-moving freighter entering the harbour and now has his target.
The SPADs have also seen the Adler and circle to attack.
Wilkinson wants to get a shot at the blue Albatros but decides to focus on the upcoming bombing run.
Giesebrecht eyes them warily.
The SPAD pilots select their target and close in.
Tikka tikka
Tikka tik …
David gets some decent damage before his Vickers jams.
Before he can curse his luck he feels sharp pain as a well-placed round creases his head taking all his concentration with it.
Hübner’s Sniper skill has served him well!
Giesebrecht performs a Split-S to get back to where the action is
“’old off, mate.”
Winterbottom realizes he will have to attempt another bombing run.
Baz Hill fires a quick burst at Hübner
Tikka tikka
Total waste of ammunition.
David uses he Weapons Skill to clear his jammed gun but realizes he should head for home to have his wound checked out by the M.O.
Giesebrecht dives toward the ‘Strutter’
‘Baz’ Hill Has a second go at Hübner.
Tikka tikka
“Gotchya this time!”
Hübner spoils Hill’s chances and nips to the right.
Status Update
Tikka tikka
David has a go at Hübner with no discernable damage.
Hill does a Split-S
David ducks under Hübner’s Albatros.
Hübner gets behind David
Tikka Tikka
His Sniper skill needs some tuning, but he does manage to damage the SPAD’s rudder controls.
Tikka Tikka
Giesebrecht’s ‘Itchy’ Sniper shot does a bit of damage to the ‘Strutter’.
Da da da da
Wilkinson’s Lewis Gun return fire messes with Giesebrecht’s controls.
Da da da da
Wilkinson fires at Giesebrecht again but sees nothing for it.
Tikka tikka
Hübner fires up at the SPAD and gives David a second wound!
David blacks out and regains consciousness just in time to plow his SPAD into a wooded area.
“Fünfzehn!”
Hübner has finally got his fifteenth kill!
“Bombs away!” Wilkinson shouts to Winterbottom.
Giesebrecht had hoped to mess with that procedure but is unable to get off a shot.
A Direct hit!
An explosion and flames from the freighter.
Winterbottom turns and finds himself just below Eisenhardt’s Albatros.
Meanwhile ‘Baz’ Hill dives to attack the blau und weiß Albatros but his bullets must have fallen short.
[Note: disregard the +1 - it would have been for altitude advantage from the dive]
Tikka tikka
Another try bears fruit this time.
[Overlap = No Shot]
Giesebrecht flies a Split-S
Tikka tikka
Hill is out of arc but the Adler gives Hill some smoke in return.
Status overview.
Hübner is out of frame.
Tikaa tikka
Winterbottom fires and Eisenhardt's D.II starts to stream smoke.
Giesebrecht set his sights on the ‘Strutter’.
‘Baz’ is far removed from the current action …..
… as is Hübner.
Tikka tikka
Giesebrecht’s ‘Itchy’ Sniper shot damages the Strutter’s rudder at an inopportune time.
Da da da d…..
Wilkinson’s return fire does equal damage but then his Lewis jams.
Tikka tikka
Giesebrecht must be squeezing his stick too hard ….
[Canajan Paul will understand that statement]
Tikka tikka
Eisenhardt uses his own Sniper skill against the ‘Strutter’ and hits pilot Winterbottom.
Things are turning dark indeed.
Some juicy targets (if only Wilkinson’s Lewis wasn’t jammed…)
Tikka tikka
Hübner’s turn for a go at the Zweisitzer.
Flammen!
Could things be any worse for the ‘Strutter’ ?
Cutting to some other action …
Tikka Tikka
Eisenhardt is sure he sees a flash!
But it was only a reflection off the water, apparently …
[Baz’s inherent Lucky Pilot saves his day yet again]
Hübner is getting serious now.
Tikka tikka
Wilkinson stops his attempt to clear the Lewis when he is riddled with bullets.
Some of that lead hits the ‘Strutter’s namesake …
… and the Sopwith’s day is done!
Eisenhardt still can’t believe the SPAD is still flying, but Hill nips close by him to remove any doubt.
The plucky Aussie realizes he is badly outnumbered …
.. and turns away from the Albatros pair.
Giesebrecht has flown another Split-S but will likely be zu wenig zu spät <too little, too late>
Eisenhardt also does a Split-S but realizes he is far from his target.
Tikka tikka
Hübner fires a burst in frustration, perhaps willing his bullets to travel just a little further.
Hill stays just out of Hübner’s grasp.
The SPAD’s superior climb rate makes any further pursuit futile.
The last thing the Adler see is the SPAD disappearing into some clouds.
Eisenhardt leads the Adler trio back to base, where at least two rounds will be on Hübner’s tab.
Butcher’s Tally
Bulldogs
SPAD S-VII
F/Sgt. Alex David: SD FT / 2WIA 0 Kills or Probables
C&W: 12 -1SD -2WIA = 9 : All well when you land well !
Sopwith 1-1/2 Strutter
Pilot
Lt. Douglas Winterbottom: SD FLM FT / WIA 0 Kills or Probables
C&W: 7 -2FLM -1WIA = 4 - Injured - Skip1D6 scenarios. Rolled 6 = Skip 6 Missions
This campaign is over for Winterbottom
Observer
AM3 Frank Wilkinson: SD FLM FT / WIA 0 Kills or Probables
C&W: 3 -2FLM -1WIA = 0 - KIA
The Strutter crew did manage to destroy their target.
SPAD S.VII
2Lt. Barry 'Baz' Hill: RTB 0 Kills or Probables
‘Lucky’ Baz escaped catastrophe yet again!
Adler
Albatros D.III
Ltn Günther Giesebrecht: RTB 0 Kills or Probables
The leading Adler ace’s kill streak stops at six.
Albatros D.II
Ltn Felix Eisenhardt: RTB 0 Kills or Probables
But “one that got away …”
Albatros D.II
Ltn Till Hübner: RTB 2 Kills (SPAD S.VII and Sopwith 1-1/2 Strutter)
Hübner finally has his 15th (and 16th) kills and is now a Triple Ace.
[For his third skill he will select ‘Lucky Pilot’, Onkel.]
Victory Conditions
Entente
Direct Hit of Target : 5 points
Central Powers
Tandem Shot Down : 6 points
Scout Shot Down : 5 points
Total : 11 points
Adler Victory!
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P.S. I cocked up the photo order about midway through posting. I think I have caught all the errors.
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for his fifteenth & sixteenth victories for the Kaiser un the Fatherland 
Originally Posted by flash
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