Lt Bill Foldes was quietly pleased to be off the ground alone again, it had been a while as solo missions were generally frowned upon but this time Uncle had sought him out for special run to take a look to see what, if any, damage had been caused by yesterdays bomber mission.
The weather was bloody cold, as you'd expect at this time in the new year and visibility was good other than the clouds marching east on a reasonably fresh breeze.
He made his way to Mauberge as he knew one of his target's was just north east of the town, the clouds appeared to thicken toward the east, not a good sign as that's where the other targets lay.
Foldes skirted between the town and a cloud off to his left - he was surprised when a white nosed Albatros appeared in front of him from the other side of the cloud - guns already charged he had only to squeeze the triggers to send a burst into it.
Unbeknownst to Foldes there were other foes amongst the clouds - to this right coming from the south Ltn William Pozner in an Albatros D.III with blue trim was feeling his way round and through thick clouds; ahead of him coming out of the west was Ltn Hugo Stark in an Albatros D.III with green trim - He'd just made his presence known to Ltn Franz Theiller in his Albatros D.III with white trim who'd come out of the north to his left.
Jinking wide left to the edge of the cloud Foldes watched as the startled Theiller broke left - Choosing his shot Foldes unleashed a close range barrage - one of the Lewis guns stuttered to a stop but the Albatros burst into flame.
Foldes rolled left through the edge of the cloud as the stricken Albatros continued it's left turn
As he broke cover toward the objective Foldes gets another close range effort on the Albatros with his remaining gun. (shouldn't be a +1)
As Foldes gets that third burst in the other Albarii are fast closing on the scene - Stark in the open, Pozner into another cloud.
Stark gets a shot off but Pozner, revealed now by a moving cloud doesn't get the opportunity, Foldes returns the compliment but neither scores any significant damage. Theiller's fire gutters momentarily but the damage is sufficient to see him head for home.
Foldes slips between the onrushing Eagles who somehow manage to avoid a collision in the next moment. Theiller leaves the battle area trailing smoke & fire. His machine is subsequently engulfed with flame and plummets from the sky.
Foldes realising he'll struggle to make the cloud turns right to make his way around it
Pozner Immels his machine as Stark rolls left to avoid any further risk of a collision
They set off in pursuit of Foldes as he skirts the large cloud to his left
Foldes locates the second objective and spying his pursuers turns right toward the next cloud to give them the slip; Pozner finds himself in amongst another cloud as he attempts to close the gap.
The cloud in which Foldes had flown reveals him with the next objective beneath his nose but a large following cloud obscures much of it and he can't make out any detail before it engulfs him too. Pozner and Stark spot their quarry as he scoots across the gap
The Eagles plunge into the cloud after their prey
Foldes could swear he'd flown straight and level in the white mass so was most surprised to find he emerged not too far from where he went in !
(the cloud moved 3" & rolled 2 for exit )
He was even more surprised as the two Hun's popped out of the cloud both in front and behind him moments later - He took a long range snap shot at the one before him - was that pink mist ?
(rolled 2 & 8 for the Eagles)
Holding his turn, Foldes headed back to the safety of the cloud
Wounded, Pozner loses altitude and heads for the barn
Foldes flies straight and level through the cloud again as Stark enters behind him in pursuit
Or, does he ?!
The cloud moves and Foldes breaks into clear sky out of the battle area, looking back at the large cloud over the last objective he cuts his losses and heads home.
Butchers Tally
Bulldog:
Lt William Foldes: N.17 #4 - RTB 1 kill, 1 probable (1FRTB-W). Two observations.
Eagles:
Ltn Franz Theiller: Albatros D.III white trim- SD-FLM-FT 0 kills
Rolled 4 -2FLM = 2 KIA
Ltn William Pozner: Albatros D.III blue trim - FRTB-W / WIA 0 kills
Rolled 4+3 = stuck the landing
Rolled 8 +1RTB -1WIA = 8 - Injured - skip 1D2 scenarios. Rolled 2 = Skip 1
Ltn Hugo Stark: Albatros D.III green trim - RTB 0 kills
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