OTT-FYM Mission 3 : Bloody April - 19 April 1917
The RFC's commanding officer, Hugh Trenchard, believed in the offensive use of air power and pushed for operations over German-controlled territory. It was expected the large numbers of aircraft assembled over the frontlines in the spring of 1917 would fulfil this purpose. However, the aircraft were, for the most part, inferior to German fighter aircraft.
Crucially, British pilot training was not only poorly organized and inconsistent, it had to be drastically abbreviated to keep squadrons suffering heavy casualties up to strength.
This was self-perpetuating, as it resulted in most new pilots lacking sufficient practical flight experience before reaching the front.
The worst carnage was amongst the new pilots – many of whom lasted just a day or two.
German pilot training was, at that time, more thorough and less hurried than the British programs. After the heavy losses and failures against the French over Verdun in 1916 and against the British at the Somme, they had reorganized their air forces into the Luftstreitkräfte by October 1916, which now included Jastas, specialist fighter units. These units were led by highly experienced pilots, some of them survivors of the Fokker Scourge period, and had been working up with the first mass-produced twin-gunned German fighters, the Albatros D.I, D.II and D.III.
During April 1917, the British lost 245 aircraft, 211 aircrew killed or missing and 108 as*prisoners of war. The German Air Services recorded the loss of 66 aircraft during the same period.
Under Richthofen's leadership,*Jasta 11*scored 89 victories during April, over a third of the British losses.
In casualties suffered, the month marked the nadir of the RFC's fortunes. However, despite the losses inflicted, the German Air Service failed to stop the RFC carrying out its prime objectives.
The RFC continued to support the army throughout the Arras offensive with up-to-date aerial photographs, reconnaissance information, effective contact patrolling during British advances and harassing bombing raids.
During ‘Bloody April’ , as it came to be known, Richthofen himself scored 20 victories – a full quarter of his overall total.
The following is a summary of MvR’s kills during the month of Bloody April.
2-Seaters Count
Sopwith 1-1/2 Strutter 2
B.E.2c 6
Bristol F.2A 2
R.E.8 1
Scouts
F.E.2b 5
N.17 2
SPAD S.VII 1
Sopwith Tripe 1
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Mission Setup
2 Ares mats (or equivalent) placed side-by-side on the long edge.
The left side will be No Man’s Land and the right side will be German territory.
The Entente will have two groups, one consisting of 2 Recon aircraft and 2 Scouts and the other 1 Recon and 2 Scouts.
Group One will be 'heading out' and the other 'heading home'.
Roll once for each aircraft type (Recon / Scout) for each group as per the following chart, but at least one group should contain B.E.2c.
[This table is based on the percentage of aircraft von Richthofen shot down in April 1917]
Entente
The outbound group should be placed at the edge of the No Man’s Land mat, heading east toward German-held territory.
Groups should be aircrew from your roster, but if you are short of pilots (or do not want to 'risk' them) they can be filled out with unnamed extras – especially those in Group 2.
Any ‘unknowns’ will be considered rookies in keeping with the short life-expectancy of the RFC crews.
[Note: For photo purposes I am showing a mixture of British scouts, but both in a group should be of the same type]*
* Of course if you do not have the particular aircraft, or only have one, you can mix’n’match.
Place a target of your choice in the corner of the German territory mat as shown.
Group 1 recon aircraft should fly to within half a ruler of the target, play a 'stall' to get a quick photo and then head back across No Man’s Land and exit from the long edge.
FRTB aircraft can exit from any edge of the No Man’s Land mat.
Adler
The Adler will also have two groups. The first should consist of 4 Albatros D.III or D.II (or a mixture of your choosing) with pilots from your roster.
They will be placed near the join of the two mats, spaced out from the left side toward the center.
Any German FRTB should try to exit from any edge of the German territory mat, if possible, but may exit from No Man’s Land if necessary.
The ‘returning’ group of British aircraft will be placed on the long edge of the German mat.
As noted earlier, this group can be comprised of unknown aircrew.
If you are feeling up to it you can add a second 2-seater to this group.
German Group 2 will be Manfred von Richthofen and an unknown Jasta 11 wingman placed near the mat join facing the returning Brits.
Manfred von Richthofen will have ace skills as per his Level 4 card:
Acrobatic Pilot
Itchy Trigger Finger
Sniper
Super Ace
He will also be a “Lucky Pilot”
If that skill is used MvR will try to exit the mission from any edge of the German mat during the next planning phase (and his wingman should follow him).
Overview of the German mat.
Overview of No Man’s Land.
This could very well be a brutal mission for the Bulldogs and Bull Terriers, hence the option to have some aircrews be unknown rookies.
Victory Points
5 points for a photo that makes it back to base.
3 points per scout shot down.
5 points per recon shot down.
2 points for any aircraft FRTB
10 points if MvR is FRTB*
*MvR is immune to being shot down. If he somehow manages to use his “Lucky Pilot” and then takes some other catastrophic hit he will be considered to have spun away and exited the mat.
Reply With Quote
Originally Posted by Teaticket
Add it to the list of scenarios to be played
I'll make it work though as I have enough pitiful planes for the French to fly so the Germans can have fun. 
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