OTT BYM Mission 11 – The Turkey Trot - 19 Dec 1916 by Hu Rhu
Earlier in the day Ob Ltn Stefan Koch had given orders for a reconnaissance and escort mission. Fwbl Gerhard Becker found himself in his Roland C.II, on his way with his observer Ltn Walter Kruger to photograph a section of the Tommy trenches, that the ‘Top Brass’ believed to be an area for the next British push. They were being escorted by Ltn Horst Langer in his new Albatros D.III.
What they didn’t know that their Jasta Fuehrer had his own secret mission. Ob Ltn Koch was feeling a little insecure in command of Jasta Adler, having been wounded twice and shot down once and had not yet had a chance to show his leadership, other than to send other pilots out on missions as he recovered from wounds.
He had just come back from hospital to find that not only had Ltn Dieter Roth done a wonderful job of commanding in his absence but had also reached ace, whilst Koch and no kills. He felt he had to do something to re-assert his position of authority.
He had noticed that the commissariat had failed to provide a Turkey for the traditional Christmas dinner. None were now available and it was getting close to Christmas. He remembered an earlier patrol report of a crew which had escaped across No Man’s Land, that just over the lines was a large turkey farm with plenty of birds only a week ago. He decided that he would rectify the shortfall himself and at the same time earn back some admiration from his pilots.
So, he found himself in the strange position of sitting on top of a large turkey and heading back over the lines being pursued by a SPAD VII being flown by Lt Basil Blenkinson, who understandably was ‘slightly miffed’ that a Hun pilot had the temerity to steal the turkey destined for the Bulldogs Mess dinner.
To add to Koch’s woes another pair of SPADs appeared from the South. These were flown by 2lt Robert Davies (Grey SPAD) and 2Lt James Welsh (Green SPAD) and although they hadn’t yet spotted Koch, they had seen Becker on his photo mission and were heading Northeast to intercept him.
Becker has spotted the oncoming SPADs but decides to continue the mission and stalls his plane to allow Kruger to take the first photo.
Welsh and Davies turn to intercept the 2-seater.
Koch is happy that his plan is working although slightly worried about the faster SPAD on his tail. Suddenly, the turkey, who was stunned until now, woke up and started struggling violently. Koch who was sitting on it and hadn’t been able to do up his seat belt, was almost heaved out of the cockpit and stalls the plane. Meanwhile the SPAD closes almost within range.
Another lurch sends the Albatros sharply to the right . Blenkinson, who can’t quite believe what he is seeing, thinks ‘The bloody Hun’s got St Vitus’s Dance’, before taking a shot.
Meanwhile Becker is calmly heading along the line of trenches and Kruger takes the second photo. Langer manoeuvres to intercept the oncoming SPADs, who seem to veer off line.
The turkey gives another violent heave as the Albatros D.II veers wildly across the sky, which puts Blenkinson off his aim.
Langer closes on the SPADS but is still out of range.
Kruger take the next photo, calmly ignoring the onrushing SPADs. Welsh opens fire and scores some minor damage but also jams his gun.
Becker opens fire at Davies who has crossed his path, damaging the SPADs rudder controls.
Blenkinson gets another snapshot against the wildly gyrating Albatros D.II.
Kruger calmly replaces the photo plate as both Welsh and Davies shoot by.
Blenkinson, anticipating another wild swing, was disappointed as his speed carried him temporarily out of arc. Koch takes a moment to stun the turkey by hitting it over the head with his pistol. With the turkey temporarily quiet, Koch regains control of the Albatros.
Having completed his first run, Becker begins the turn to put him in position for his second (and hopefully his last) run, whilst Davies and Welsh swing back round, the speed of the SPAD now their undoing. Langer meanwhile in the D.III struggles to keep up.
At this stage, Koch thinks he has the situation under control but all that changes in a flash. The turkey again springs into life and with another lurch the Albatros flies directly into the path of Blenkinson, who fires at close range, damaging the German’s engine.
Davies and Welsh slowly turn their machines back to the fray.
Langer, not realising that Becker is turning his way, narrowly avoids a collision.
Another lurch from the turkey almost wrests the controls out of Koch’s hands and his plane lurches wildly to the right, allowing Blenkinson to fly right by. ‘Whew, saved by the Turkey’ thinks Koch.
Both Davies and Welsh having completed their turns now line up on the Roland . Becker and Davies exchange shots at close range, with the Roland receiving minor damage but Becker’s shots rip into the SPAD, which explodes and falls into No Man’s Land. Kill to Becker.
Kruger also fires, hitting Welsh’s rudder controls but the Roland takes more damage.
Becker now turns his machine back to the main task and Kruger takes the fourth photo as Welsh tries to follow him round.
Another attempt by Koch to stun the turkey seems to have been successful and he attempts an Immelmann, praying that the turkey behaves itself.
Welsh now swings back and lines up on the Roland. His shots hit Becker, who is badly injured and decides to run for home. The good news is that his course takes him over the British trenches and there might be a chance to take the final photos.
The Immelmann seems to have caught Blenkinson unawares and he and Koch pass each other.
The SPADs speed now takes Welsh very close to the Roland and they narrowly avoid a collision.
Koch continues to head away from Blenkinson but the turkey now re-awakens with a vengeance and Koch struggles to keep the plane on course.
Welsh Immelmans and opens fire at the Roland at long range setting it alight. Kruger returns fire and also sets the SPAD alight.
As Welsh powers out of the Immelmann, he gets a close range shot at the Roland scoring minor damage but jamming his gun in the process. Kruger returns fire badly damaging the SPAD.
Fire damage on the SPAD and Roland is minimal.
Welsh now finds himself sandwiched between the Roland and the Albatros D.II However Kruger misses and the turkey puts Koch’s aim off (draw 2 cards and use the lowest).
Becker lines up the next photo as Welsh tries to clear his guns.
Langer is off to who knows where and Blenkinson is still a long way away from the action.
Welsh’s fire seems to be mostly out, but Becker’s flares up badly.
Kruger takes his last photo and puts away the plate. Now the Roland must get away before Welsh returns or the fire causes too much damage.
Welsh closes the distance and fires hitting Kruger, who also returns fire and hits the SPAD. With the Roland now on fire and with both pilot and observer wounded, the Roland seems doomed to fail.
However, all is not lost. Becker’s fire is out!!! – he just needs to nurse the Roland home. Welsh is not so lucky as his fire flares up and it is too much for the Englishman, who falls in a fireball into No Man’s Land below. Kill to Kruger.
A couple of uneventful turns later Becker nurses his badly damaged machine back to base.
And as Koch escapes across the line with the turkey, once again Blenkinson finds himself the only Entente aircraft in the sky.
Butcher’s Tally
Adlers
Fwbl Gerhard Becker: (P2)Roland C.II – FRTB-W / WIA 1 Kill (Davies)
Rolled 6+2 = Stuck the landing
C/W Rolled 8 -1WIA +1RTB = 8 - Injured - Skip 1D2 Scenario. Rolled 6 = Skip 2 scenarios
Ltn Walter Kruger: (O) Roland C.II – FRTB-W / WIA 1 kill (Welsh)
C/W Rolled 6 -1WIA +1 RTB = 6 - Injured - Skip 1D3 Scenarios. Rolled 1 = Skip 1 scenario
Ltn Horst Langer: Albatros D.III – RTB 0 Kills
ObLtn Stefan Koch: Albatros D.II – FRTB-E 0 Kills (Brought home the turkey)
Rolled 5+5 = crashed
C/W Rolled 7 -1FRTB +1RTB = 7 - Injured skip 1D2 scenarios. Rolled 1 = skip 1
Bulldogs
Lt Basil Blenkinson: Yellow SPAD VII - RTB - 0 kills, 1 Probable (Koch FRTB-E)
2Lt James Welsh: Green SPAD VII – SD-FLM-NML 0 Kills
C&W Rolled 11 -2FLM -1NML = 8 - Injured - Skip 1D2 Scenario. Rolled 1 = Skip 1 scenario
E&E Rolled 7 -1FLM -1WIC +1NML = 6 - Skip 1D2 Scenarios. Rolled 6 = Skip 2 scenarios
2 Lt Robert Davies: Grey SPAD – SD-EXP-NML 0 Kills
C&W Rolled 10 -3EXP -1NML = 6 - Injured - Skip 1D3 Scenarios. Rolled 2 = Skip 1 scenario
E&E rolled 2 -1EXP -1WIC +1NML = 1 Captured. The war is over for this pilot !
Victory Points:
Adlers:
Bringing home the Turkey = 20 Pts
Photographing all 6 trenches = 15 points
Shooting down enemy scouts = 10 pts
Total 55 pts
Bulldogs:
Enemy plane FRTB = 2 Points
Clear Adler Victory
Caveat to the story - As you will see in the AAR there were a number of times that cards dealt to pilots, had a material effect on the game. Those in my own Wings Group know, that where two cards are available to be drawn, I always choose to draw the second card and have applied that same method to all my Adler pilots in the OTT games.
Wow, that was a close run thing. Becker managed to get home with just a single point of damage remaining and both himself and his observer wounded.
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Originally Posted by Stumptonian
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