Valley Flight AAR - raid on Black Jack

[Albert Ross]

Herr General, it is my sad duty to report the loss of three of our aircraft over the Meuse-Argonne sector. Reports from our agents and sympathetic French civilians alerted us to the presence of the new American commander, General Pershing conducting an inspection tour in the area. He was known to be staying at a small manor house several miles behind the lines, so an offensive patrol was mounted with the object of bombing his temporary HQ

The only aircraft available were an obsolete Roland CII, a Rumpler CIV and a solitary Pfalz to act as escort. These machines took off at 19:00 hours and headed east, but were soon intercepted by three SE5a scouts, led by the British aristocrat Major Richard "Count" Yount, a formidable opponent.

The British fliers concentrated initially against the Roland and while Lt. Klein's Pfalz fought manfully to hold them off, one managed to break away and get into a tailing position behind the Roland. It was then that a critical burst fouled the 2 seater's rudder and the observer's MG also jammed; unable to turn away or return fire, the Roland's fate was sealed and it crashed within 1 km of the objective.
Lt. Klein had managed to set one of the other SE's on fire, but it's squadron mate closed in on the Rumpler and a telling burst severely wounded the observer.

The burning British scout managed to survive the flames and turned again to attack the besieged Rumpler Lt. Klein tried to intervene but was hit by fire from the third British scout and his machine exploded in mid air. The Rumpler pilot tried to turn back for German lines, but suffered a jammed rudder just as the three British pilots closed in for the kill; unable to escape it succumbed to damage and was last seen going down over No Man's Land.

Germany mourns the loss of five gallant airmen on this terrible day.

[Flying Officer Kyte]

A sad day for the Central powers indeed. but a great one for the Allies
You can, however, console yourself in the knowledge that your report was so good as to draw attention to you in the highest quaters. The officers' Mess.

Kyte.

[Count Yount]

I say! The blighters never stood a chance. We gave them a jolly good thumping, say what? (Guffaw, guffaw) Draw me another pint, beertender!

lol.

In fairness to Stuart and my other esteemed opponent, the S.E.5a's, I'm sure, were more than a match for the tubby Pfaltz and the 2 2-seaters they chose to fly. I felt from the beginning that I had an advantage. The SE5a's were faster and better armed and, I think, more rugged than the german planes.

I am fast becoming a big fan of the S.E.5a.

And of course there is the luck factor. Stuart drew the 'big bang' card and this was the first time I'd ever seen a plane survive drawing the fire card (2 pts damage) and burning for 3 turns (only an additional 4 pts damage). Lucky!

We'll see if my luck holds next week when we will be doing a 4 player / 12 plane dogfight and there will be this big red target on my back.

All the best,

The Count

[Albert Ross]

I should add that two moves short of the target the LFG got the worst of all luck, with an SE5a on it's tail and the rear gun and both left and right rudder jams simultaneously!

[gully_raker]

I should add that two moves short of the target the LFG got the worst of all luck, with an SE5a on it's tail and the rear gun and both left and right rudder jams simultaneously!

Yes Stuart thats what happens when ones luck "Runs Out"!

S*** Happens!