Uncle was wondering when 'Two dads' would return - he'd gone up in a tripehound for a change to get the feel of it along with young Will Power but Power had returned to base a short time later with magneto trouble.
Strictly speaking Baz should have still been on the sick list but Uncle had allowed it as it was quiet over the front since the Battle of the Somme had come to a close shortly before Christmas and Baz was an experienced pilot, even if he had yet to make his mark on the scoreboard.
Uncle heard the unmistakable sound of a blipping rotary engine approaching the field and got up from his desk to see if he could make out who it was as it felt still a bit early to be Baz.
As he got to the window he saw the Tripehound stagger over the perimeter hedge, trailing strips of fabric and loose wires in it's wake; as it's wheels made contact with terra firma the undercarriage shed one of it's wheels, dug into the sod and buckling with a crack like a pistol shot slewed the whole machine violently to it's left whereupon it folded into itself becoming an ungainly pile of splintered wood and torn fabric.
Uncle was already out the door as the M.O appeared from his office, bag in hand and running toward the scene along with many other squadron members when Baz stood upright and stepped out of the remains of his cockpit and tottered away from the wreckage, blood streaming from his nose.
Cleaned and bandaged up a pale faced Baz sat before Uncle and recounted what had happened that morning.
"Well sir, it's like this, once Power signalled me he was having engine troubles and turned back I thought I would carry on over the lines and have a peek on the other side to see what was stooging about. I'd flown under some clouds as I crossed no mans land and something made me look over my shoulder and I'm flaming glad I did as sat almost right above me like a hungry Wedge Tail was a flippin' Hun".
"Before I could do anything he was diving on me with his gun blazing and rounds were crashing through the frame damaging my controls"
"I pulled round and up to the left as quick as I could hoping to throw him off but he somehow managed to keep his gun on me as he slid about my tail"
"I kept the climbing turn on and managed to shake off his aim"
"Not being able to carry on to my left I reversed the turn sharply to the right hoping that I might catch him turning after me but the beggar simply reversed direction out of my reach"
"He was clearly a good pilot as he immediately turned after me"
"I turned sharply after him again and managed to catch him with a long range burst as he continued his turn, managing to keep out of his reach"
"I couldn't keep a bead on him but slipped behind his tail"
"I turned in sharply again, catching him a fourpenny one as he reversed -I thought I might have hit him but maybe not - He gave as good as he got though, damaging my engine but I reckon I was still as fast as him so tried to draw him back over the lines "
""Keeping my sharp turn on I whipped behind his tail and I caught him out again moments later"
"As I headed back over the lines he reversed again and chased after me"
"My hope was to draw him in, which I managed to do, but I only managed a glancing blow and my gun jammed for a moment"
(Perfect Aim)
"I gave it one more go but the beggar reversed once more and shot me up good and proper"
(Perfect Aim)
"It was time to take my leave and I dived away, heading for our side of the lines 'toot sweet' "
"I thought I might be away free and clear but I saw he was coming back to finish me off "
"He was closing in fast, then I could hear the gun chattering and I thought I was a goner but luck must have been riding with me and he somehow missed the bit of sky with your truly in it."
Ltn Wilhelm Frankl: RTB 0 kills 1 probable
Skills:
Three (3) compulsory ace skills:
i) Acrobatic Pilot
ii) Perfect Aim
iii) Lucky
iv) Super Ace
v) Bullet Checker
Ltn Wilhelm Frankl: a triple ace at this time & already a recipient of the Blue Max.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wilhelm_Frankl
2lt Barry Fife-Brand: FRTB-E+D 0 kills
Rolled 2+2 = crashed on landing
C/W Rolled 3 +1RTB -1FRTB = 3 - Injured - skip D6 scenarios. Rolled 3 = skip 3
Skill: Inherent Lucky Pilot.
Nice little game fraught with some self made problems - like deleting a photo, selecting a wrong pilot but it's been a while hasn't it!
I randomly selected the aircraft by a die roll N.17/Pup/Tripe for the Bulldog (6), Alb D.III/ Alb D.II/ Halb D.III (5) for our German ace; he started 1 alt higher (5; I rolled for how many turns Baz flew straight before he manoeuvred (1 as it turned out); The two other ace skills selected on roll of a D8 (3 & 4 Super Ace & Bullet Checker). I started a mite closer than given in the BRF as my alt rules work slightly different and due to the discrepancy in speeds involved. Using the Lucky Pilot was rolled for - Frankl used his to ditch the wound but Baz didn't on his engine damage. Turned out the right decision as he had it in hand to save his bacon from the last shot of the game - a close run thing though...
Then he stuffed the landing !
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