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, 13 December 2009

54 Sqdrn. 'B' Flight - Photographic Reconnaissance - 2 April, 1917.

Advance HQ

Sir:

Lt Colwell and I conducted a photographic reconnaissance of the enemy Advance HQ this morning, with Sgts Inches and Shoemaker as our pilots. Colwell led us directly to the objective at 20,000 feet, above the light rain and overcast. At such an altitude, no escort was necessary, but of course we could not expose our plates from that height.

We descended through the clouds over the HQ and were greeted by increasingly intense but ineffective Archie. At 5000 feet, we each had two plates exposed when two Albatros D3s dove on us. When three more D3s, mostly red, joined in, things started looking bad for us. Shoemaker managed to get us away, but even though Colwell drove one of the D3s off, four were too much for Inches, and we saw them go down in flames.

The Germans must have thought they'd done their job, as they left the area, giving me the opportunity to expose one more plate before heading home. Shoemaker returned to 20,000 feet to bring us back to Corbie without further incident.

(signed) 2nd Lieutenant Bernhard Hight
No. 5 Sqdn RFC
April 2, 1917

****************
Victory Points
Two Allied Aircrew Killed (Colwell, Inches) -60
Allied Two-Seater Destroyed (Colwell) -15
Average Quality Photographic Plate (Hight) +20
Total -55
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