OTT-BYM - Mission 12 - Run For Home - December 27th 1916 - teaticket
OTT-BYM - Mission 12 - Run For Home - December 27th 1916
Werner Hengst looked around to check on the rest of his flight. Both Hans Pfeiffer and Franz Vogel were still flying and currently forming up on him. Werner felt relieved to see that all three had come through the fight against the RFC boys. For twenty plus minutes they had spun and whirled, gaining and losing position, trading shots with no plane of either side falling. The RFC broke off as they knew better than fighting too deep behind enemy lines with the prevailing wind pushing them even deeper.
Werner was particularly pleased that Pfeiffer and Vogel had held their own in the aircraft they were flying. Wear and tear over the last couple weeks left only a few first line aircraft fit enough to fly combat missions. As mission flight leader Hengst had the honor to fly the Albatros D.I, the best plane available in the unit. Pfeiffer was flying the unit’s last Fokker D.III while Vogel had a borrowed Halberstadt D.III from the depot. Not the best of choices but it was what was available and the missions must be flown.
Werner looked over Hans and Franz’s planes and saw both had been damaged in the fight. His own Albatros had taken less damage, but he was now low on ammunition. Concerned that the others were in a similar state he signaled that they would be heading back home.
The dice show how many bursts each pilot had left. Cards show damage taken in the fight with the RFC.
Halfway back to the Eagles aerodrome Werner spotted a flight heading west. The type of scouts were undiscernible at the distance but the lattice tandem was obviously of French design. Three scouts and a ladder.
Werner signaled Pfeiffer and Vogel they would go in for a quick attack and not linger. Both nodded in agreement. Werner signaled for Vogel to separate and approach the French from the right,
The French were returning from a photography mission behind German lines. They too had been in a previous scuffle and had all taken damage. Their ammunition situation was better on average than the oncoming Eagles. (The Caudeon G.4 had 5 bursts in both forward and rear facing machine guns.)
On the right, Vogel sped towards a Nieuport 11. Cordonnier was a bit more cautious as his Bebe had taked serious damage over the target area.
Werner drew the attention of the other two scouts, N17s. Unknown to Werner one was armed with a second machine gun.
Pfeiffer trailed Werner and once he determined all the enemy scouts were engaged, he headed for the prime target, the Caudron.
The first exchange confirmed Cordonnier’s fears and then some. His Bebe took enough damage to convince him he must get out of the fight as soon as possible. To reinforce his decision his Lewis fouled badly.
Vogel knew his enemy was in trouble as he saw the French pilot frantically working his weapon while struggling with his controls. So absorbed was the Frenchman he unknowingly flew straight at Vogel. Vogel turned away at the last second to avoid a collision.
Upon collecting his wits after the evasive action, Vogel eyed the Caudron.
Off to the left Werner traded shots with Barbaza and gave much better than the Frenchman.
Werner and Barbaza had similar thoughts and both reversed as if on queue.
They quickly closed but this time the Frenchman’s dual machine guns put the hurt on Werner’s Albatros as Werner’s guns jammed.
Taking advantage of the situation, Charbrier in the third French scout got in unseen behind Werner. The sting of a bullet quickly let Werner know he was in a predicament.
Pfeiffer was not going to let the Caudron get off easy and flew to cut off it’s escape route.
He closed in on what he thought would be an easy target but to his dismay he found the observer to be an excellent shot.
Pfeiffer zipped past the Caudron as Vogel closed in from the rear.
(I have the Caudron observer miss one firing phase to change from front to rear mg. (and vise versa))
.
Vogel stays on the G.4’s tail and knocks the observer down into the nacel.
Vogel almost feels guilty shooting down a helpless enemy but knows full well if given the chance the enemy would do the same to him.
Werner knew he had to shake the Nieuport behind him as a bead of sweat formed on his brow.
Little did he know the Frenchman’s gun had jammed and he wasn’t in any immediate danger.
Pfeiffer saw Werner in trouble and turned to help his flight leader.
Charbrier stayed on Werner’s tail and got off one last long range shot before feeling the need to break off. He could see Pfeiffer closing on his port flank and Vogel dead ahead.
Charbrier was sure Vogel was unaware he was behind him. Charbrier carefully gauged Pfeiffer’s approach and was sure Pfeiffer would not be a threat.
Vogel became aware of Charbrier when his controls stiffened and a couple of holes appeared in his canvas.
Vogel cut back towards the charging Nieuport and the aggressive Charbrier lost his chance to shoot.
The Frenchman quickly reverses trying to catch the slower Halberstadt but Vogel sensed the ruse and flies straight on. Vogel had no urge to dance with the Frenchman as he had no bulets left but the Frenchman seemed to have more than his share.
Vogel made off before Charbrier could get him in his sights again.
Barbaza sees he is in a bad position with two Hun closing from different directions. He He heads towards the closest, Pfeiffer and trades a long shot. Damage is minimal bit the effects will be felt by both Pfeiffer and Barbaza.
Barbaza feels his accumulated damage is too dangerous to keep on fighting and maneuvers to disengage.
Pfeiffer, while clearing jis jammed gun, flies too close to Werner and accidentally forces him away from Barbaza.
Barbaza’s retreat is covered by Charbrier and they both cross over to the safety behind French lines..
The Eagles are none too eager to give chase. They head for home with too few bullets remaining if another enemy were encountered.
The Eagles are proud to have kept any photographic information from reaching French HQ. They are a little stung that they could not down any of the French scouts but are content they all are flying home together.
Butcher’s Bill
Boulegogues de la Republique
s/Lt Lucien Cordonnier: FRTB-D 0 kills
FRTB 4 & 5 lands ok
s/Lt Jean Barbaza: FRTB-D 0 kills
FRTB 1 & 6 lands ok
Asp Constant Charbrier: RTB 0 kills
Lt Leo Monet: SD-FLM-ET 0 kills
C 4 -2FLM = 2 KIA
Cpl Charles Buisson: SD-FLM-ET / WIA 0 Kills
C 6 -2FLM -1WIA = 3 - Injured - Skip 1D6 Scenarios, rolled 4 = skip 4.
E 10 -1FLM -1WIA -1WIC -1BEL = 6 In hiding! - Skip 1D2 Scenarios, rolled 5 = skip 2
Kaiser’s Eagles
Ltn Werner Hengst: RTB / WIA 0 Kills
C 10 -1WIA +1RTB = 10, All well when you land well - Merely a flesh wound..
Ltn Hans Pfeiffer: RTB 0 Kills 1 Probable (Barbaza)
Fwbl Franz Vogel: RTB 1 Kill (Caudron G.4) 1 Probable (Cordonnier)
Mission victory points
Bouledogues:
2x 3 planes make it home, 6 points
Total 6
Eagles:
Tandem downed, 3 points
2x scout FRTB, 2 points
Total 5 points
Bouledogue win 6-5!
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