OTT EYM Mission 2 - Hunting and Hunted in the Clouds - 12 January 1917 - by malachi
“The Kaiser is in need of a volunteer.” Obltn Krallen spoke evenly and surveyed the men seated before him. The room grew quiet, and most pilots avoided eye contact with the Jasta leader – no doubt, many were thinking similar thoughts: a single volunteer meant this was obviously not an offensive patrol and going up alone was risky. The empty chair where relative newcomer Ltn Torben Kass usually sat served to emphasize the danger. Shot down just after Christmas, at least there was the recent good news that he had managed to evade capture and was recovering in hospital.
Wilhelm Schnecke found himself standing and responded, “I volunteer, sir.” He immediately had second thoughts.
“Excellent.” said Krallen. “Come.”
As they walked slowly toward the hangars, Krallen explained that confirmation was required for claims of the flieger abteilung that significant damage had been done the day before to 3 British targets which he pointed out on Schnecke’s map. “Clouds and high winds will make this difficult. Be careful.” Schnecke saluted smartly then proceeded to check on preparations for his trusty Albatros.
Sometime later, as Schnecke battled the winds and struggled to identify landmarks over enemy territory, he spied two approaching planes to his left. The Sopwith Pups piloted by Anthony Asbury and the Aussie ‘Baz” Downton had also seen the interloper and set off in pursuit.
Schnecke sees yet another Pup emerge from behind a cloud to his left. Its pilot, the South African Philip De Roeper turns toward the Albatros. Schnecke is amazed at how tightly the Pup wheels around and feels his machine shudder as bullets tear through it. He remains focused and squeezes the triggers to return fire – nothing.
As he tries to run the gauntlet, Schnecke takes even more damage from De Roeper as Asbury and Downton lose contact.
De Roeper puts on a flying clinic as he skirts the clouds and scores again from long range.
Schnecke locates his first target between the clouds as De Roeper momentarily loses sight of the Albatros through the clouds. Asbury and Downton resume patrol.
The Albatros dives into a nearby cloud as the hounds give chase.
Schnecke emerges from the cloud for a momentary reprieve but is spotted from a distance.
Baz gets discombobulated and completely turned around in a cloud as Schnecke tries to find his second target.
Schnecke stalls his crate as he struggles to find the target. De Roeper and Asbury close in and Baz continues his patrol.
The clouds suddenly clear as Schnecke stalls again and finds the second location. [Daredevil skill used]
Schnecke banks as another Pup struggles to emerge from the cloud behind.
Baz reverses direction.
Asbury frees himself from the cloud but another large one has rolled in and De Roeper decides to check it out.
Schnecke attempts to skirt the clouds and find his third target as De Roeper catches a lucky break to get out of a large cloud as Baz finds himself flying in the fluffy stuff.
A Pup surprises Schnecke as it pops out of a cloud obscuring the target. He gets off a quick shot but once again – nothing.
Schnecke searches for target 3 when it suddenly appears below.
[missed a photo here. Schnecke turned right ending in the cloud but caught a break when his exit was 2:00 o’clock]
The injured Albatros makes a break for friendly lines as Baz gives chase, but ultimately Schnecke makes his escape.
Eagles Victory – all locations and damage confirmed.
Butcher's Tally:
Eagles
Ltn Wilhelm Schnecke: Albatros D.II yellow : RTB / 0 kills / 0 probable
Bulldogs
A/Lt Anthony Asbury: Sopwith Pup ‘P’: RTB / 0 kills / 0 probable
2Lt Philip De Roeper: Sopwith Pup ‘BABY MINE’: RTB / 0 kills / 0 probable
2Lt Barry ‘Baz’ Downton: Sopwith Pup ‘5’: RTB / 0 kills / 0 probable
Thanks, John, this mission was quite a ride! I played it as peg-in-cloud and peg-to-peg for line of sight and determining when to roll a D12 for planes exiting. I rolled to see which “row” (1-3) a cloud would go in after traversing the map. Many close calls but the Daredevil skill turned out to be key, allowing Schnecke to stall again when the cloud was going to move. I don’t think he could have survived trying to circle back to it. Cheers
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Originally Posted by Teaticket
Glad to be back 
Didn't expect the Pup to wheel around on him so quickly. I rolled a D4 and moved all clouds the same and so many scary moments not knowing if the target would uncover, a line of sight would open to an enemy, etc. The early rolls were all 1s, the later ones mostly 3s and 4s. I think I rolled a 2 once 
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