Thee had been terrible weather since the last mission on 27th December 2016, grounding the eager pilots, and no real flying had been undertaken. The men (as that was what they were now, despite their age and experiences) had enjoyed an extended Christmas break into the New Year and had celebrated in style at the chateau, especially with the award of the Iron Cross 1st class to Obltn Tilkowski for his fifth kill.
However, there was only so much celebrating that could be had before the boredom set in amongst the “edgy” young men. Although von Richthofen had taken most of the headlines in the recent German propaganda machine, thee had been an undercurrent of discussion about an up and coming Australian pilot called Robert Little who had shown great flying skill and downed 4 machines in the area since October, using the new agile Sopwith Pup (flying for No. 8 squadron RNAS) and all at relatively close range. The latest victim was over Grevilliers and was an Albatros D.II machine, the same as that used by the Jasta, although they were awaiting replacement D.III machines. As always, drunken talk and bravado had led the bored pilots to exclaim what they would do if they came up against Little in a one to one situation, and how they would be more than a match for him. “Little” did they know that one of them was going to find out for themselves sooner rather than later.
As a recent addition as replacement, Ltn Jurgen Grabowski was as eager to prove himself as any other pilot and to break his ‘duck’. As the only fighter pilot on the roster with no kills to his name he was keen to remedy that position. So when the weather finally broke on a cold, damp January day, Grabowski was the first to volunteer for a defensive patrol over the lines to establish enemy positions and strength. Schnellinger had originally set off with Grabowski but had to turn back due to a misfiring engine probably caused by damp or water in the fuel lines. Having indicated his return with a waggle of his wings, Grabowski had continued alone on the German side of the lines. After a while, he found himself just southeast of Lens and as he crossed the English trench line at a low height had intended to see if anything was about that he could report on. As he looked over his shoulder on a bank at the ground a silhouette in the distance caught his eye. A plane was closing straight on his six but at this range he could not determine whether it was friend or foe. Coming from the German side his first thought was that it was friendly and was a replacement wingman sent once Schnellinger had landed, but as it came closer he was not so sure, and he prepared himself for an engagement just in case, with triggers set.
Ltn Jurgen Grabowski - Albatros D.II - Altitude 4.4
Robert Alexander Little - Sopwith Pup - Altitude 4.2
The initial position….
Grabowski banks to the left over enemy territory with Little closing.
Little fires at long range using Perfect Aim and Sniper skills, but to no avail as he has to select 0+ gun jam (having discarded an identical card)
Little performs an Immelmann, Grabowski is now close enough to see that this pilot is flying a new Sopwith Pup and it dawns on him that this could be the English Ace.
Stalling his machine, Grabowski is able to get a short range shot to the right hand side of Little’s plane but causes no damage and jams his own guns too.
The pilots overlap, narrowly avoiding a collision, and both are furiously trying to unblock their jams.
Grabowski tries to stay on the tail of Little to gain advantage, but the Aussie pilot uses the Pup’s sharper turning to avoid this.
Grabowski, Immels and gains height advantage but must now try to close on his enemy who has undertaken a wide right turn to close again.
Grabowski dives, losing height and gaining speed, but the Pup stays out of range and performs a Split-S to lose some more altitude.
Grabowski follows suit losing more height but still just out of range.
With a wide side slip, the planes overlap at different altitudes.
Little Immelmanns, and Grabowski climbs so both planes are now at the same altitude, but still out of range.
Little performs a tight turn and a wide side slip, to get a long range shot using Perfect Aim and Sniper skills, causing minimal damage and again jamming his gun (better option than the 0).
The planes dance around each other for a while, before Little again gets in position for a long range shot using both skills. This time the shots have no effect.
A follow-up attack from Little at short range does a lot more damage, with both shots gaining from +1 for Aim.
Both aircraft are now low on fuel, and with final Immelmanns from both and a wing waggle and wave, each makes their way home.
Grabowski has a tale to tell in the mess of the day he went one to one with Robert Little, albeit he only managed to get off one burst which jammed his guns!!
No outright victory, honours even for both sides.
Butchers Tally
Lt Robert Little: RTB / 0 kills or probable's.
used two skills on each shot (Perfect Aim and Sniper) except follow up due to recovery tokens. Did not need to use other skills
Ltn Jurgen Grabowski: RTB / 0 kills or probable's.
The end of the 12 turns came so both returned to bases ‘low on fuel’. I intended to use a Sopwith Triplane for Little but found out that No.8 squadron did not receive these until April 1917. At this point in time, Little did indeed have 4 kills using the Pup having joined 8 squadron in October 1916. His kills accelerated once he started using the Tripe from April.
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