Bloody April - 1917 is a campaign game from Terry Goodchild’s ‘Wings over France’ rules for solitaire play of WWI aerial combat during the Battle of Arras. Like all the combat of the war the offensive took a terrible toll, but in the air the Allied losses were especially heavy compared to those of Germany. This campaign attempts to recreate that bloody month . . .

ASSIGNMENTS & REPORTS


To the Men of the Amiens Sector:

We are about to undertake a great offensive. It will prove to be a challenge for all of you and your aircraft. Because of the defensive nature of the Hun air strategy we must take the battle to him, which we will do with the utmost vigor. Remember always our primary responsibility is to provide assistance to the ground forces; this is the highest priority, and to do so, we must do everything possible to protect our reconnaissance and observation aircraft. Set forth and do battle knowing that with you are the confidence and heart-felt appreciation of a grateful nation.
Colonel J.B. Wagner-Stowe DSO
Commanding Officer, Amiens Sector

Sunday, 15 November 2009

19 Sqdrn. 'B' Flight, 1 April, 1917

Offensive Line Patrol (Zone “C”)
Participants
Captain Everett Hopewell
Lt. Travis Goodnight
2nd Lt. Gabriel Call
2nd Lt. Wesley Holt

Comments:
• I decided it was a good opportunity for the new pilots, Lt.s Call and Holt to get in some combat experience - because of the overcast there wouldn’t be too many Huns about, I hoped.
• We climbed to 8,000 ft., but nearing the lines due east of Corbie the overcast changed to mist and we had to drop down to 3,000. The first target was a long column of troops. I stayed high until the three lieutenants made their attacks and then dove. (Ironically, the three of them scored well and I came up with nothing!) The next target was a supply convoy on the road. We reversed our outcomes and I was the only one to do any damage. The third target was a truckload of troops and I was able to get in some hits on it. By now we were flying in light rain and having difficulty in our search for targets.
• The rain apparently caused little problem for three Alb. D-III’s which dove at us. On their first pass they caused Holt to abort (engine trailing smoke), and Goodnight was driven off; Call escaped out of the melee. That left me trying to keep the Huns off my tail. They were very aggressive and after a few more minutes of a dogfight with two of them I was driven off. I don’t know if because of the rain they couldn’t spot me, or what, but they did not pursue.
• I made for the southern emergency field where I had instructed the new pilots to go if they had problems. I saw that Holt had landed, and Goodnight and Call were circling over him. We joined up and made off towards Corbie.
• We saw no E/A until a few miles west of Peronne; above us we spotted one Albatros D-III, a D-II, and a C-V two-seater headed east. It was a great opportunity. But in spite of the fact that the D-III developed jams in both its guns, nothing came of it except all three were driven off which is exactly what they wanted anyway.
Summary:
• Seeing the troop movement and re-supplying I imagine the Germans are sensing something and reinforcing their front in response to our increased activities. The two new pilots performed well in their first experience with the enemy. The only negative was that because of our very poor shooting we didn’t at least bag the two-seater. Call will be flying again tomorrow.

(Signed) Capt. Everett Hopewell, ‘C’ Flight

Mission Points:
Troop column 9
Supply convoy 2
Troop truck 3
Combat:
1 Pup aborted -3
Mission Reduction: -0
Mission TOTAL: 11
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