OTT BYM Mission 12 - Run for Home -December 27th 2016 by Baz
After feasting on a succulent turkey roast over Xmas the Jasta had to undertake an escort and reconnaissance mission before some much needed R & R. After an eventful flight over France and new photos of the forward positions of the English, the two seater piloted by Fwbl Uwe Seeler with Ltn Siegfried Held as Observer/gunner were returning to provide German High Command with the intelligence for a safe withdrawal in the new year to the newly built Hindenburg Line. Both they and the fighter escorts had come under heavy fire and were suffering damage and were low on ammunition, so were hoping for an uneventful journey home.
Earlier that morning, Obltn Tilkowski had been looking at the pilot roster to see who was available. “My God,” he exclaimed to his Putzer, who was busy readying his flying gear, “We have a lot of pilots injured or missing. God forbid, we will have to resort to start using the women admin officers soon for pilots! Whatever next, they will be wanting to play football in their own team!”. He had selected himself, Schnellinger and Hornig for the escort.
Unfortunately for the returning pilots, they encountered a pair of French pilots (SPAD VII - 2Lt John Fern and Nieuport 17 - 2Lt John Smith) who had undertaken an earlier offensive patrol and were also damaged and low on ammo. What is more, Smith, who was on his first mission having amassed 14 hours flying time, had a serious wound that needed attending to. Along the northern side of the trench line was also another English straggler. 2Lt John Harker in a badly burnt Sopwith Pup, was struggling with the controls. He had lost touch with the rest of his flight having fought and put out a serious fuselage fire, and much of the linen and timber was in tatters and was barely aloft and needed to return to the Aerodrome as soon as possible.
The German fighters enter the scene from left to right, Obltn Tilkowski - Albatros D.II (Red tail), Ltn Heinz Hornig - Albatros D.III (White tail) and Ltn Karl-Heinz Schnellinger - Albatros D.III (Red striped tail)
The Albatros C.VII piloted by Seeler was to the south of them.
The French Nieuport 17 (silver) was nearest the German Tranch Line with the yellow SPAD VII to it’s west.
The Pup was on its own to the north of the Trench Line.
The Two-seater turns north seeing the two French fighters hoping to gain cover from Tilkowski and Hornig. Schnellinger turns his attention to the stricken Pup.
The two French fighters turn towards the 2 seater.
The Albatros C.VII and the Nieuport close to within firing range, do they fire due to the low ammo?
They both can’t help it seeing the enemy and pull the triggers, resulting in minor damage to the N.17 and a miss.
Meanwhile Schnellinger and Harker in the Pup pass each other. The Eagle is hoping for a kill seeing the poor condition of the Sopwith, but will need to fly hard to get to it as it has greater manoeuvrability.
The N.17 gets into a great firing position, but due to his wound is unable to take advantage (stall-steep manoeuvre) but is also out of arc for both guns on the Albatros. The other fighter escorts are closing.
The Pup turns sharply right to avoid being tailed by the D.III who has a slow turn.
In the next moment, the N.17 overlaps Hornig and is under fire from the Albatros C.VII who can hit both N.17 and the SPAD with front and rear guns, doing major damage and setting the SPAD on fire. Tilkowski in the D.II fires at long range on the N.17 whose machine just seems to disintegrate in the air and falls to the ground in pieces. It is unlikely that John Smith will survive a fall like this. The SPAD returns fire and Seeler has to use his firm hands to control the rudder which is hit. Smoke does start to pour from a hit fuel line.
Schnellinger tries to catch up with the tattered Pup but cannot make any headway who seems to be able to escape the area to safety.
The smoking Alb. C.VII climbs to get to safety and overlaps with the flaming SPAD whilst Tilkowski and Hornig do the same.
The Pup makes for the edge of the map and Schnellinger realises he cannot catch up so turns to join the melee.
Luckily the fire is minor on the SPAD doing no lasting damage and starts a wide right sweep.
The combatants jockey for position with Tilkowski and Hornig only avoiding a collision due to the slight height advantage (climb counters) of Hornig.
Tilkowski gets off a shot at the SPAD but with no damage, whilst Harker and the Pup leave the sector.
Tilkowski can’t seem to shake Hornig and Fern in the SPAD continues his turn.
The fire sparks up, again in the SPAD.
The SPAD gets within range of Hornig and he feels a minor wound as a bullet grazes his brow. (Light is on photo but this is a 1 + pilot wound). The two seater has a safe passage now to the edge of the map and leaves intact with important photos.
Next move the SPAD overlaps Hornig but avoids the collision as he is slightly lower. However, Tilkowski fires at long range and causes 2 damage meaning the SPAD will need to return home as it is still on fire.
Tilkowski overlaps Fern and the other escorts close in. It’s not looking good with 3 on 1 and hopefully he can escape.
Luckily the fire burns out without further damage, now to escape.
The SPAD Immels to turn towards home and the enemy!
Tilkowski fires on the SPAD who in turn fires on Schnellinger, both blows miss. Fern gets a gun jam.
The SPAD climbs to get out of danger, with Tilkowski using up the last of his ammo at long range due to altitude difference which has no impact.
The fighters all break up and with the SPAD’s greater air speed all return back to their own lines with no further skirmishes.
Victory points
Eagles
Scouts returned safely - 3 x 2= 6 pts
Enemy scout downed - 1 x 2= 2 pts
Enemy scout FRTB- 2 x 1= 2 pts
Total = 10 pts
Bulldogs
Total = 0 pts
An emphatic win for the Eagles with Tilkowski gaining his Ace status (unlike the football result!)
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for his victory & continued service to the Kaiser 
Originally Posted by flash
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