MVR AAR 1 - Manfred’s First (Official) kill - 17th September 2016 by Baz
NB I am not trying to re-create exactly the historical events that happened, but trying to see what happens in the game subject to the models (or substitutes) I have available. Also, there are many versions and ‘facts’ that are varied by WW1 historians, even surrounding someone as infamous as the Red Baron, and it is not my intention to add to these, but play with the most likely scenarios.
Historical account
On 16th September 1916 at Izel-le-Hameau Aerodrome, Captain David Benjamin Gray read out the orders for C flight, No. 11 squadron, for the morning of 17th September 1916. Their mission: to escort the bombers of No. 12 squadron. The target: Marcoing railway station.
On the same day, in the evening, Armee-Flug-Park 1 delivered a prototype Albatros D.II (386/16) and five pre-development D.I’s to the Royal Prussian Jagdstaffel 2 (abbreviated to Jasta 2) to replace the ageing Fokker D.I-D.III’s and Halberstadt D.II’s being provided to the unit up to now (Offizierstellvertreter Leopold Rudolf Reimann had also brought over an Albatros D.I from his transfer from Jasta 1).
Since its formation on 10th August 1916, Fliegerhauptmann Oswald Boelcke had selected his pilots and had given instruction to his men in the limited aircraft available.
On 17th September 1916, the Be2c’s & d’s of No. 12 squadron set off from Courcelles-le-Comte Aerodrome at 6am to reach their target. However, once altitude had been gained (an hour later at 6000ft) the leader lit a green flare signalling that due to the thin ground mist, the flight was abandoned and they returned to their home base. To enable the bombers to carry heavier bomb loads, no observers were present, the escort to be provided by the Fe2b’s of No. 11 squadron. By 9.05am the mist had cleared and both squadrons had set off for the second time and joined up.
At the same time, at Bertincourt, Velu Wood Aerodrome, 4 pilots from Jasta 2 had received a thorough briefing by Boelcke and left with him for their first hunt as a complete squadron. Boelcke had seen the enemy in the distance (or the AA fire) and had manoeuvred his Jasta into an advantageous position to attack the bomber/escort group on their way back.
The bombers had all dropped their loads on the Railway station and were on their return journey when they were surprised by Jasta 2. Boelcke was in the lead position followed by the other 4 in a loose V formation. (Leutnant de Reserve Edwin Bohme, Leutnant Manfred Freiherr von Richthofen, Offizierstellvertreter Leopold Rudolf Reimann and Leutnant Otto Hohne).
Originally 8 x Be2’s from No.12 squadron set off, initially escorted by 6 x Fe2b’s from No.11 squadron (C flight) and joined by a further 2 x Fe2b’s from No. 11 squadron.
The Albatros D.II and 4 x D.I’s from Jasta 2 intercepted and were joined by pilots from Jasta 4 flying Halberstadt D.II’s from Vaux (Roupy?) Aerodrome.
No. 60 squadron Nieuports joined later to help home the fleeing Be2’s.
The game
I am using Dave’s D8 solo rules for all the plane movements, adding in climbs/dives/turns/restrictions where necessary. Boom damage cards are full damage, and any collisions are pegs (both) over bases.
For Jasta 2, Boelcke is in the bright yellow fuselage D.II, Bohme in the dull yellow fuselage D.II (treated as D.I), MvR is in the brown fuselage D.II (treated as D.I), Reimann in the purple D.I and Hohne in the green D.I.
No.12 squadron are represented by 5 x Be2’s (3 x Be2c and 2 x Be2a), escorted by No.11 squadron 3 x Fe2b’s. The Be2’s do not have observers and are therefore unable to fire. The Fe2b’s had 2 guns for use by the observer, the rear gun is only able to target planes at a higher altitude.
Jasta 4 is represented by 2 aircraft approaching from the NW, 1 x Halberstadt D.III (CDL - treated as a D.II) piloted by Leutnant de Reserve Wilhelm Frankl and 1 x Halberstadt D.III (Camo - treated as a D.II) piloted by Oblt Rudolph Berthold.
Jasta 2 are on the tails of the bomber group at a higher altitude. The Fe2b’s are higher than the BE2’s.
Boelcke already has 26 kills by this time so has been given 4 x Ace skills (Perfect Aim, Sniper, Lucky Pilot and Sneak Attack), Frankl has amassed 11 kills so is given 3 x Ace skills (Acrobatic Pilot, Bullet Checker and Sharp Eye).
So it begins…..
The bomber group begin their return across the French countryside with their escort at the rear.
Jasta 4 are approaching on their front, crossing an old front line….
….while Boelcke and Jasta 2 approach from the rear in loose V formation.
Jasta 2 all dive apart from Boelcke who watches on and closes.
The bomber group are unaware of their danger from the rear, but see Jasta 4 on their front and start making evasive moves.
Berthold from Jasta 4 dives to the bomber level, while Frankl keeps a watchful eye.
Jasta 2 close the gap ready to strike from out of the sun, with Boelcke now diving too.
Frankl dives and both close the distance seeing the unprotected bombers in front.
The trap is set and all the Germans are in position.
With the Fees moving forward to protect from the oncoming Jasta 4, Boelcke strikes with Perfect Aim and Sniper skills, but surprisingly does no damage.
Both Jasta 4 Halberstadts dive to attack targeting the same Be2c bomber for a lot of damage and flesh wounding the pilot. Frankl guns temporarily jam but comes free (Bullet Checker). The Top Fee gets a long range shot back at Berthold from altitude causing some minor damage to the rudder controls. (Ignore the 0 damage to Frankl as the BE2 has no gun or observer that could get him there).
Boelcke presses the attack against the Fee and this time is satisfied to see his shots cause damage to the fabric and struts. The other young pups are closing too and picking their targets, Reimann diving to get to bomber level. The top Fee presses on with the attack against Jasta 4 and hits Frankl in the fuel line causing smoke to come from his machine.
Boelcke follows up and hits the Fee again, while Berthold Immelmanns to get back on the bombers. Bohme and Richthofen are closing while Hohne dives to bomber level. (card is reading 2+1 damage)
Boelcke guesses wrong for once and is out of arc, but the Fee (Green) has a shot and seems to hit something. Boelcke sees a small flare up as bullets ping off his engine casing but it must be his lucky day as no fire starts (Lucky Pilot skill). Frankl performs an Immelmann to chase the bombers, but Bohme is still out of range.
By now, the bomber group has scattered and the escorts are unable to close with each other to perform a defensive circle. Bohme finally gets into range and uses his sharp eyes to wound the observer/gunner. The Be2’s are scattering to make targeting difficult.
Boelcke Immelmanns, overlapping Hohne, pumping bullets into the closest Fee. Smoke starts billowing from the Fee engine as he has hit something vital. Richthofen, who is overlapping Reimann, adds to the damage getting into action for the first time, but receiving return fire causing his engine to start smoking, while Bohme continues to pump bullets into the top Fee from long range, this time wounding the pilot and getting no damage in return from two Fees within his range.
Jasta 4 are now on the tails of the unprotected bombers and intend to cause havoc. Berthold hits the wounded Be2 for minor damage while Frankl climbs to get an advantage but overlaps Berthold. Bohme is out of arc of the fleeing Fee and overlapping both Halberstadts.
Boelcke sets his sights on the short range Fee and fires a controlled burst. He is satisfied to see the propeller stop and the Fee glide down to attempt a forced landing, kill to Boelcke! The Fee observer manages to return short range fire at Boelcke for minor damage. Richthofen buoyed by this fires at the Fee which has emerged from beneath the stricken Fee to score minor damage, but the return fire form the observer hits his rudder control cables damaging the right turn for a while. The other Fee also has a long range shot at Boelcke but misses.
Richthofen now has a short range shot at the approaching Fee causing it to have minor rudder damage (no picture of this - damage was 1 & 1+left rudder). Berthold climbs and fires at long range on the stricken Be2 with the wounded pilot bringing it down (3+1 damage). Kill to Berthold!
Richthofen, who has ignored Boelcke’s previous instructions and now hit all three Fees fires a consecutive short range shot at the rear of the Fee in front of him and sees smoke coming from the engine as the propeller slowly stops and it turns to glide towards the earth, which will be difficult with a wounded pilot. No return shots come from the seriously wounded observer position.
Both Jasta pilots get shots at the retreating Be2 causing left and right rudder damage. This plane will only be flying straight for now!
With Bohme chasing the remaining Fee, the others turn towards the departing unprotected bombers.
Frankl gets close to the struggling Be2 and brings it down with shots at long range from the rear, riddling the engine, moments after the attack from Berthold also hits home but jams his guns. Kill to Frankl!
Bohme is still chasing the last Fee, trying to get an advantageous position.
Hohne finally gets in range but his shots gone wide of the target.
Bohme gets closer but both are still out of range.
Bohme misjudges the flight of the Fee who gets a shot at him with bullets holing the fuselage but not hitting anything vital.
Hohne follows up his attack on the bomber but again his bullets go astray from long range, he must get closer. Frankl does no better on his long range attack, whilst Berthold battles to unjam his gun.
Bohme Immelmanns to get back in touch with the Fee who turns away from him.
Hohne follows up and hits for major damage on the engine. Reimann is still out of range as is Frankl after stalling. Berthold finally clears his gun.
Hohne switches his attention to the Be2 to his left but misses the target, while Frankl and Berthold attack for negligible damage.
Bohme finally gets the last Fee in his sights and pulls the trigger at long range. The bullets must strike the petrol tank as the Fee explodes and spirals to the ground. Understandably, the return fire form the observer misses. kill to Bohme!
Hohne fires again but misses and jams his guns. Frankl and Berthold both fire on their target for minor damage and Berthold jams his gun again.
With all the escorts down the bombers must try to make their own lines and hope that there may be a passing patrol to help otherwise they are sitting ducks.
Richthofen closes the gap while Boelcke and Bohme look on, content with their work for the day.
Hohne and Berthold unjam their guns with Hohne blocking the shot of Reimann.
Hohne still blocks Reimann’s shot. Manfred gets closer, now with adrenaline pumping having got his 1st kill.
Reimann finally manages to get in a short range shot causing rudder damage to the Be2.
Manfred dives to get to the same altitude while Hohne hits again for minor damage. Reimann and Frankl hit the same Be2 for negligible damage.
The Be2 with engine damage falls in front of Reimann’s plane at long range and with a controlled burst he brings it down. Kill to Reimann! Frankl inexplicably misses the other Be2 as it turns into his gun at short range and jams his gun.
Manfred finally catches up after a long chase and with a long range burst sees the Be2 explode in front of him. Kill to Richthofen but glides to the English side (so not official!).
Meanwhile the last Be2 leaves the map to the safety of waiting No 60 squadron Nieuports. Jasta 2 and 4 planes break off and return to their respective bases to celebrate the overwhelming victory.
Game summary
Boelcke - shot down Fe2b
Richthofen - shot down Fe2b and Be2c
Bohme - shot down Fe2b
Reimann - shot down Be2c
Frankl - shot down Be2c
Berthold - shot down Be2c
Hohne - 0 kills
1 x Be2c made it to safety.
Historical facts
Boelcke (27th Kill) - Shot up controls and fuel tank of Fe2b (7019). Had gone into a spin but then Aircraft landed under control and under ground fire near Nurlu and then pilot and observer set fire to aircraft before being captured.
Pilot - Captain DB Gray captured and taken as a POW to Germany, initially to Osnabruck. Headed an escape from Holzminden POW camp on 23-24 July 1918 and reached Holland and freedom. Killed whilst on service with the Home guard in 1942.
Observer - Lt LB Helder wounded in the arm by splinters of bullet casing, captured and taken as a POW to Germany.
Richthofen (1st kill) - Fe2b (7018) aircraft came down under control near Villiers-Plouich despite Pilot having wounds to left leg and both arms.
Pilot - 2Lt LBF Morris - either died on way to dressing station or at Cambrai military hospital the following morning.
Observer - Captain T Rees - killed in the air during the fight.
Reimann (2nd kill) - Fe2b (6994) spinning nose dive but then seen to be in control near Trescault.
Pilot - 2Lt H Thompson (Canadian) - taken from scene, seriously wounded, as a POW but died of wounds on 18th September 1916.
Observer - Sergeant JE Glover - Killed in action.
Frankl (12th kill) - Fe2b (4844) - Engine hit forced to land at Etricourt (Equancourt(?))south of Cambrai, landing ok and burnt aircraft on landing.
Pilot - 2Lt TPL Molloy taken as a POW.
Observer - Sergeant GJ Morton - wounded in leg - taken as a POW.
Berthold (7th kill) - Be2d (5873) - shot down and crashed, wrecked.
Pilot - 2Lt AFA Patterson - hit in the base of the spine, taken to Cambrai military hospital and died of wounds 25th September 1916.
Anti-Aircraft fire - Be2c (2741) - ‘Bottom of engine carried away’, forced to land and crashed, wrecked.
Pilot - Lt RR Money slight wound taken as a POW.
NB Hohne had claimed an Fe2b kill (6999) the night before and Bohme had claimed a Sopwith Strutter 1 1/2 (A1913) earlier on of the morning of the raid.
Two Fe2b’s from C a flight made it back to Le Hameau, Sgt Thompson/Sgt A Clarkson and (4296?) 2Lt HH Turk (Australian)/Lt DH Scott
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Originally Posted by Flying Helmut
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