OTT BYM Mission 12 Der lange Heimweg (The Long Way Home) - 27 Dec 1916 by Hu Rhu
Whilst VFwbl Wolfgang Kramer piloted the Albatros C.III back to base, ObLtn Christian Muller leaned back in his cockpit, contemplating the last hours action. An aerial raid into the British rear area to photograph a build-up of troops had gone reasonably well, with the photos taken and no losses to the escorts. However, they had been involved in a vicious dogfight, from which they emerged a little battered and very low on ammunition, having driven off their attackers. Both Kramer and Muller had 4 bursts remaining.
He glanced left and was reassured to see Ltn Dieter Roth the joint top ace in the Staffeln in his Albatros D.II, who cheerfully waved back. Roth had taken some damage but was very low on ammo (3 bursts)
Looking right he could see Ltn Horst Langer in his new blue Albatros D.III who had taken some heavy damage and was very low on ammo (3 bursts) and beyond him was Ltn Hans Neumann, who he could see still struggling to clear his guns. He had light damage but was also very low on ammo (3 bursts).
Just then Kramer waggled his wings and pointed out some closing aircraft. Returning after an offensive patrol over the lines, two Nieuport 17s were closing on the Adlers. Closest was 2Lt Douglas Caulfield, who was flying a rare 2 gunned version of the N17. However, he had been wounded during the patrol was aiming to return to base as quickly as possible. He had plenty of ammo (5 bursts).
Behind him was Lt Basil Blenkinson, the Bulldogs CO in an older N.17. He had suffered minor damage but was quite low on ammo (3 Shots).
Closing from the other side was one of the newer SPAD VIIs flown by 2Lt Huw Evans. He had taken extensive damage from a fire, but had lots of ammo left (6 bursts remaining). Fortunately for him the fire was out and he was looking for some pay back.
Caulfield and Roth head towards each other and open fire at long range, scoring no damage as Kramer slips by.
Evans and Langer open fire with Langer’s guns jamming. In return Evans fire must have nicked a fuel line as the Albatros is enveloped in flames. Neumann’s guns are still jammed.
Blenkinson is still a long way off.
Roth and Caulfield hold their course, their wing tips touching but neither plane is damaged. A very lucky outcome for both.
Muller takes a long range shot at Caulfield but also causes no damage.
Langer and Evans also collide but with the Albatros coming off worse.
Langer’s fire is containable.
Roth and Kramer slip past Caulfield and now have only Blenkinson’s N.17 between them and home.
Langer and Neuman also pass by Evans.
Evans and Caulfield circle back with the aim of catching the two-seater.
Roth and Blenkinson exchange fire at long range with both taking minor damage.
Evans in the faster SPAD is closing in on the two-seater.
Neumann and Langer seem to have a free run home.
Roth and Kramer slip past Blenkinson and Muller take the opportunity to put a few rounds into the Nieuport.
Meanwhile Evans misjudges the speed of his SPAD and overshoots the two-seater but lines up on Langer. His damage is telling.
Langer’s fire is getting steadily worse.
Evans continues his attack on the burning D.III and fires and misses.
Muller continues to fire at Blenkinson and scores well. Blenkinson preserves his ammunition. (2 Damage - No photo)
Blenkinson continues to chase the two-seater and gets some hits at long range, jamming the Albatros’ rudder controls. Muller realising that his ammo is almost out takes one last shot at the chasing N.17.
As his gun falls silent, he sees the Nieuport falter, turn over and crash just behind the British trenches. Kill to Muller.
Evans is closing the gap on the blue Albatros but can’t seem to get his gun sights aligned and misses again.
The SPADs speed is again his undoing. Instead of getting in a close range shot, Langer’s machine is just outside his arc. All langer has to do now is nurse his machine over the lines and he is safe.
Sadly, it was not to be as the fuel tank explodes and the blue Albatros crashes in flames in the middle of No Man’s Land. Kill to Evans.
Having turned back towards the exploding Albatros, Evans realises he is too far away from either the two-seater or Neuman and after a few more minutes flying it is obvious that the German aircraft will escape.
Butcher’s Tally
Adlers
Pilot - Fwbl Wolfgang Kramer: Alb C.III - RTB 0 Kills
Observer - ObLtn Christian Muller: Alb C.III - RTB 1 Kill (Blenkinson)
Ltn Dieter Roth: Alb D.II (Light Cam) - RTB 0 Kills
Ltn Horst Langer: Alb D.III (Blue) - SD-FLM-NML 0 Kills
C&W Rolled 5 -2FLM -1NML = 2 Dead
Ltn Hans Neuman: Alb D.II (Dark Cam) - RTB 0 Kills
Bulldogs
Lt Basil Blenkinson: N17 #1 - SD-FT 0 Kills
C&W Rolled 7 -1SD = 6 - Injured - skip 1D3 scenarios. Rolled 1 = Skip 1
2Lt Douglas Caulfield: N17 #2 - FRTB-W / WIA 0 Kills
Rolled 6+3 = Stuck the landing !
C&W Rolled 3 -1WIA +1RTB = 3 Injured - Skip 1D6 scenarios. Rolled 1 = Skip 1
2Lt Huw Evans: SPAD VII - RTB 1 Kill (Langer)
Victory Points
Adlers
3 aircraft making it home - 6pts
Enemy scout downed - 2 pts
Enemy scout FRTB - 1 pt
Total 9 pts
Bulldogs
Enemy scout downed - 2 pts
Adler Victory 9-2
Reply With Quote
for his service & victory for the Kaiser 
Originally Posted by flash
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