Huzzah 2023.
Friday evening at 7pm.
Balloon Busting at Verdun.
6 pilots began this battle abd one more joined in several turns in.
Three German Drachens spotting for their artillery boys are set upon by the French. The French came on with two Nieuport 11s and an N16 with rockets. The Germans had a protective patrol consisting of a pair of Fokker D.Is and a Pfalz E.II.
Starting positions. French coming in from the north west, The Germans were lingering around the northern most Drachen.
Turn one gets them into long range shooting.
Flying home after its own mission a Rumpler C.I spied the battle around the Drachens and it was drawn in like a moth to a flame. It quickly questioned its decision as it was attacked and the engine started to belch out smoke.
A second smoke next shot and the Rumpler pilot now regretted not keeping to his course home.
The center Drachen takes the first shot from the French.
Crashalot, piloting the N16 jams his Lewis putting a few holes in the balloon. His approachangle made a rocker run impossible so he flew on to reposition for another pass.
The center Drachen survives the first pass by a pair of N11s.
The clock is ticking as the ground crews winch down their balloons as fast as they can.
The Pfalz E.II chases a Nieuport 11 from the center Drachen down to the southern one.
The red N11 keeps on harassing the center Drachen.
Setting up his run to set his rockets free, Crashalot locks on to his target and sets the rockets off before movement.
The yellow N11, chased by the Pfalz E.II has only evading his pursuer on his mind and doesn’t notice Crashalot.
The first rocket smacks into the N11, immediately destroying it.
The second rocket flies through where the N11 used to be and sets the Drachen on fire.
Fire takes out a fragile Fokker D.I.
Another French plane enters the engagement, a Morane-Saulnier P.
The Morane and N11 concentrate on the center gas bag and take it down.
One down, two to go. (from the French point of view anyway)
More attention is paid to the burning southern Drachen.
With a flash the southern balloon is no more.
Brak Morn lines his Fokker up to shoot at the Morane.
The Germans desperately set up to defend their remaining Drachen.
Crashalot’s N16 leaves a smoking line extending closer and closer to the northern Drachen.
Crash threads the needle between the Pfalz and Rumpler, the Drachen looming large in front of him.
Crash’s bullets spark the gas and the final observation platform exploded and crumpled to the ground.
All 3 Drachens went down to complete a French total victory.
(Funny that a month ago at Havoc all 3 Drachens survived.)
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