OTT-EYM Mission 2 – Hunting and Hunted in the Clouds - 12 January 1917 {Stumptonian}
The New Year’s weather may not be quite as cold as the previous week, but it still chills the bones of the airmen covering the Western Front.
Acting Jasta 24 Commanding Officer Oberleutnant Günther Giesebrecht has called for Leutnant Till Hübner to meet him in his marginally-warmer-than-outside tent for a quick briefing.
Offering a small brandy he welcomes his closest competition for leader in the tally for highest ‘kill’ rate (although his lead of 26 to 16 will be hard to catch.)
“Ah, hier Hübner- nehmen Sie etwas von der Kälte ab.“
< ... Take some of the chill away ...>
Giesebrecht never expected to be in this position. He would much rather be in Hübner’s spot than the one handing out orders.
He had hoped to keep flying until Oberleutnant Wienand returns from medical leave.
Headquarters has asked that we confirm some claims that were made after the latest bombing mission.
Three targets were claimed as destroyed but they want to be sure of that result before handing out commendations.
Drawing his finger across a map laid out on his flimsy little table he points out the locations to be verified.
“Hier … hier … und dort.”
< Here, here and there >
The three points were relatively close together, so the mission should be a quick one.
“Die Meteorologen raten, dass es später heute Wolken geben könnte, also ist es am besten, schnell dorthin zu gelangen.“
< The meteorologists advise there may be clouds later today so it's best to get there quickly. >
“Jawohl”.
Hübner salutes and turns about smartly.
It seems a little strange to be saluting his long-time wingman this way.
Giesebrecht feels it as well.
A short time later, Hübner is approaching No Man’s Land, heading West toward Entente territory.
“Später können Wolken aufziehen ….”
< There may be clouds later they said >
“Dann muss das 'später' sein.“
< Then this must be 'later' >
It appears that Hübner will not be alone as he makes his way through the clouds.
A lone Sopwith Pup approaches from the south.
Australian Barry ‘Baz’ Hill is looking for action.
With any luck he will soon find some ….
Another Pup is heading West, almost straight at Hübner, although the clouds block almost any chance of spotting the enemy.
Flight Sergeant Alexander David is feeling out the controls of the Sopwith. It has been a while since he last flew a Pup.
A third Pup, flown by 2Lt George Whitney, one of the last Bulldogs to get a chance to fly one, approaches from the north.
It looks like Hübner may have his work cut out for him ….
Target No. 1
Target No. 2
Target No. 3
Whitney enters into the first cloud, just above one of Hübner’s targets
Baz skims along the edge the cloud bank and spots Hübner, who doesn’t seem to have noticed the danger approaching from his right.
With no sun to guide him, Whitney drifts a bit as he flies through the cloud.
Tikka tikka tikka
Hübner is startled as bullets pass through his wing.
This might not be an easy flight after all.
Meanwhile, Whitney gets himself totally turned around …
… and heads straight into another patch of cloud.
Hill wills his aircraft to the left but cannot get the Albatros in his sights.
Hübner flies a quick Immelmann but is unable to return fire.
The opponents get a good look at one another as they fly past between the clouds.
Whitney is apparently alone in his ‘cloud confusion’ as David keeps his aircraft flying steady.
David makes his way through a large cloud bank while Hübner and Hill prepare their next moves.
Whitney is heading into another cloud.
Luckily for Hübner, David is unable to fire, having just come out of a cloud. This would have been a very opportune shot.
Whitney has been turned almost completely around and is heading back to where he came from.
[Note: At this point I decided to change the way I had been handling movement though clouds. Instead of the 12-digit dial when the aircraft exits a cloud I will now roll a D6 before placing the card any time an aircraft is in a cloud and will use the lines of the firing arc to determine placement. 1 or 2 will be along the left arc, 3 or 4 will fly straight, 5 or 6 will be along the right arc.]
Hübner dives toward a small cloud.
And, luckily, that small cloud prevents Baz from spotting him.
Baz has turned away, but David sees Hübner entering the cloud.
Hoping to elude his pursuers, Hübner climbs while inside the cloud …
… and, luckily for him, the cloud moves with him.
David dives but cannot see the Albatros.
But Hübner misses spotting the first target!
Hübner banks to the right and stays in the cloud.
David spots Hübner, as does Whitney, who is finally getting his bearings.
Baz has lost sight due to clouds.
Hübner flies over the town, looking for one of the targets that should be close by.
David is tempted to shoot but determines he is probably out of range.
Hübner loses sight of his original target when the clouds move, but, luckily spots another just to his left.
Flying close by he notices the building is heavily damaged.
“Einer für die Bomber …”
< One for the bombers >
Hübner ducks into another cloud.
David follows Hübner into the cloud, with Hill not far behind.
Hübner exits the cloud and spots Whitney. The Pup pilot has seen him as well.
Tikka tikka
Tikka tikka
Shots are exchanged.
Hübner’s Sniper skill gives him the same result as the young Brit, although Whitney’s rudder control is damaged.
David exits the cloud where he expected to be, but Baz is lost.
Whitney’s Immelmann puts him up to Altitude 4 and thus out of range.
Hill finally exits the cloud bank.
Hübner sees the target that he missed earlier ahead.
Once up close he see that this, too, is heavily damaged.
“Die Bomber haben ihren Job gemacht ....“
< The bombers did their job >
Looking to the right, Hübner sees that the cloud bank has moved and the target he was trying to spot earlier is now uncovered.
“Wage ich einen weiteren Versuch?“
< Do I dare risk another attempt? >
Whitney skirts the cloud but does not see the Albatros.
[Note: Pay no attention to the D4 in the mud above the cloud. It’s the die I use to determine cloud movement]
Glancing to his right, David spots the Albatros.
Hübner has indeed decided to head back to the previously missed target. Will that decision come back to bite him?
“Wolken sind meine Freunde…”
< Clouds are my friends >
The Pup pilots all ponder their next moves …
… and all turn back.
Hübner, in the cloud, is unaware of what’s coming ….
Hübner has lost his cloud cover!
[Luckily, Hill is out of range due to altitude difference]
Hill has dropped to Altitude 2!
Tikka tikka
His bullets hit nothing but air ….
Hübner spots his final target and notes massive destruction.
“Drei für drei!”
<Three for three >
Headquarters will be very pleased.
Now to get back to base with the information ….
Hübner heads for another cloud with the ‘hounds’ in hot pursuit.
(Did I hear the sound of a hunting horn?)
In his eagerness, Whitney slams right into David.
Both Pups suffer heavy damage in the collision, but Whitney takes the brunt of it.
He must get his Pup home right away …
… but not before one last shot! (Not to mention another near collision)
Tikka tik …
“Blast it!”
His Vickers has jammed!
Tikka Tikka
David fires simultaneously but sees nothing for it.
Hübner dives to near treetop level hoping to evade what he knows is coming.
David is Obscured By Clouds* and doesn’t see the maneuver.
[* Pink Floyd reference for tikkifriend]
David comes out of the cloud and doesn’t see his target, but then spots the Albatros entering yet another cloud.
Baz enters the cloud that David just left while Whitney spots a landmark (a destroyed one, no less) to aid him with his navigation back to base.
David loses sight of Hübner but knows where he was headed.
The chase is on!
(There’s that hunting horn sound again)
Whitney exits the area hoping he can hold his Pup together.
Hübner exits the cloud and sees another huge mass ahead.
Perhaps he has a chance after all …..
David makes his way through the first cloud.
The clouds are moving toward them and all end up inside one or another.
Exiting the last large cloud group, Hübner manages to lose his pursuers and head home with good news.
“Vielleicht wartet ein Schnaps auf ihn ...“
< There may be some schapps waiting for him >
Butcher’s Tally
Adler
Albatros D.III
Ltn Till Hübner: RTB 0 kills 0 probables
3 Targets confirmed damaged
Bulldogs
Sopwith Pup
2Lt George Whitney: FRTB-D 0 kills 0 probables
Rolled 3 & 4 : Landed Safely
Sopwith Pups
F/Sgt Alexander David: RTB 0 Kills 0 Probables
2Lt Barry 'Baz' Hill: RTB 0 Kills 0 Probables
Victory Conditions
Hübner returned with three targets confirmed : Adler Victory!
==========================================
Well, as you can see, I did use 3D clouds after all.
Forgot I had a bag of ‘stuffing’ that I purchased several years ago but never used.
An interesting mission, John.
I think this is the only one in a long time for me where no one on either side has been downed.
I was sure Hübner was toast several times, but the cloud movement saved him.
Site stalled 7 or 8 times while I was posting.
Hopefully all pics loaded correctly.
P.S. Just two annoying blue frame pics to deal with
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Originally Posted by mikeemagnus
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