von Freitag Gets Kill #6!

For Tuesday's weekly remote game, Richard hosted a return to the skies over the war-torn landscapes of WWI.  Once again, I reprise my role as Ace Rittmeister von Freitag as the outnumbered German patrol attempts to intercept a larger British sortie.  Rumors quickly drift down to German command that a flight of four allied aircraft are flying over German lines.  The mission seems to be focused on the rescue of downed Allied pilots, lost in previous missions.  Regardless of the allied mission, the German mission is to stop these intruders.  As von Freitag lifts off from the airfield in his DR1 Triplane with his two wingmen flying DV Albatrosses, let's see how the action unfolds.

With a flight of four Allied aircraft coming into view, von Freitag's squadron prepares for action.  The enemy are flying a pup, a camel, and two strutter two-seaters.  On the ground, can be seen two planes.  German infantry are advancing toward these aircraft.  

Von Freitag pounces upon the pup as the enemy plane banks hard left to evade the German squadron.  The triplane puts a burst into the pup as tracers fly into the wing.

The pup tries to evade but the triplane keeps the pup in its gunsights.  Another burst goes into the enemy plane.  The two strutters are beginning a slow descending circle over the downed aircraft.  A flare goes up signaling the location of the downed enemy pilot. The two Albatrosses close in on the strutters and deliver a few long range bursts.  Neither strutter is carrying an observer!  This must be a rescue mission.  

While the two strutters fly in tandem, both descend to a very low level.  Are they planning to land?  The pup cannot shake von Freitag and the German ace puts two more bursts into the pup.  The pup's wing disintegrates and the plane crashes to earth.  Kill #6 for von Freitag!  

Seeing the enemy go down, Freitag sets his sight on the camel in the distance.  Let the wingmen take care of the strutters, the ace goes after the camel.  On the horizon, another pup is seen approaching the dogfight as the strutters prepare to set down in the field.

As the triplane swings around to get into a tailing position on the camel, the pup dives onto the triplane and sends a long burst into the ace's craft.  Structurally weakened from enemy fire, the ace watches helplessly as a freak accident causes the upper wing on his triplane to bend and then tear away.  My God! The upper wing is gone!   

With the pup still on his tail, the hunter has become the hunted!  Is this effort focused on avenging the death of his comrade?

With both the camel and pup on his tail, von Freitag skirts the mountain and comes up behind the strutters as they lift off.  The observer seats are now occupied in both crafts and they begin manning their guns.  This is a congested and complicated situation.  Where are Freitag's wingmen?

Flying passed the two strutters, the ace puts himself into a dangerous position.  Both strutters are pouring bursts into the triplane.  Besides missing the upper wing, the ace's airplane is taking a lot of damage.   

Von Freitag banks hard left hoping to evade his pursuers.  The ploy works!  The strutters break off and head toward allied lines. 

Unfortunately, not before the allies manage to force both albatrosses down to the ground.  Von Freitag limps back toward base while his wingmen have successfully set their planes down without serious injuries to themselves.

The Germans picked up two kills but this was another hard day at the office, for sure.   

Friday sees another playtest of Rein-Bow Warriors with the Egyptians and Hittites locking horns once again.

My Little Fokker in Action On the Front

Having been away on leave, ace pilot, Rittmeister von Freitag missed his Jasta's initial deployment of the new Fokker DR1 Triplane.  That initial combat trial ended in mishap as Heinrich Manove' narrowly escaped destruction in the new fangled aeroplane (see A Brief Update for details).  As luck would have it, von Freitag would return to his Jasta on the frontlines flying one of these new contraptions.

The German squadron takes to the skies

As Rittmeister approaches his airfield, he witnesses three DV's arising from the field.  Even from this distance, he can make out that Manove' is leading the sortie in his trusty, steel blue aeroplane.  Looking around, a trio of enemy aircraft is seen approaching in the distance. Without hesitation and without knowing the mission, the Baron banks hard to the right to join in the hunt.

First contact!

Before he can make contact with his comrades, action is already heating up over the river below.  Still a distance out from the fight, the Baron can just make out a two-seater on a possible recon mission escorted by two fighters.  Surveying the dogfight, only two German DVs are engaged.  Was the third already shot down or had it returned to base?  No time to waste!  The Rittmeister must come to the aid of his countrymen while trying to figure out how to handle his new steed.

Lt Manove' gives chase

Lt. Manove' signals that he is giving chase to the two-seater as the recon plane descends from the clouds.  The Rittmeister acknowledges and turns toward the action to engage the two enemy escorts and even the odds.  With a young pilot in the cockpit of the DV, against two pups, Lt. Schneckeneichener could use a hand.

Nice maneuvering, Manove'!

As Lt. Manove' lines up his initial attack on the two-seater, the two escorts dive to the strutter's rescue.  With both German fighters higher and out of position, the Germans must act quickly before Manove' becomes the hunted rather than the hunter.  

The Baron tailing the enemy

The Baron swings his triplane about and dives to get upon the enemy's tail.  He succeeds in positioning himself on the tail of one of the pups and sends a burst into its tail.  At long range, it is difficult to see where the bullets hit.

Hard to tell friend from foe

Unfortunately for the Baron, his momentum and unfamiliarity with the characteristics of the DR1 carry him through the enemy aircraft.  Curses!  Manove' has the bit between his teeth and continues tailing the strutter as it peels off and begins a steep climb.  Has the strutter completed its recon mission?

The two-seater spins out!

While still on the tail of his adversary, the Baron sees the strutter go into a spin.  Lt. Manove' may get his third kill!  Manove' follows his prey watching as it crashes lands into the field.

The duelists

With the two-seater down, time to put away these fighter escorts.  Positioning himself to face an enemy pup, the Rittmeister leads Schneckeneichener into the fight.  The Rittmeister pumps a burst into the engine of the opponent and then passes overhead.

The pup's engine conks out

Following up in the second attack, Schneckeneichener pumps two long bursts into the pup.  The pup's engine coughs and then stalls.  She is smoking!  Sputtering, the pup pulls away and begins to descend, the pilot frantically trying to restart the engine.  It is no use.  The pup glides to the ground as the second British escort breaks off.  A kill for Schneckeneichener!  Hooray!

Stoked with adrenalin, the young Schneckeneichener follows his adversary too close to the ground and clips a tree with his wing.  His DV crashes not far from the spot where he brought down his adversary only moments before.  

The Baron and Manove' return to base as Schneckeneichener is fetched from the field.  The young pilot will have some explaining to do during the debrief, of course, after a suitable convalescing period to recover from his injuries.

For Lt. Manove's account of the action, please visit Graham's blog at Back up in the air.

Very fun!  Thank you Richard for hosting another entertaining session.

Oh, and the purpose of the recon mission was to photograph the Fokker DR1 Triplane downed on the previous day's sortie.