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

Saturday, 23 January 2010

19 Sqdrn. 'B' Flight - Artillery Spotting ('B' & 'C') - 3 April, 1917.

Taking Part:

Pilots:

Capt. Everett Hopewell

Lt. Harry Brandt

2nd Lt. Wendell Austin

Two-Seater Aircraft (5 Sqdrn.):

Sgt. Harold Price w/ 2ndLt. Carlton Foxx

Sgt. Owen Cadell w/ Lt. Max. Faraday

Comments:

• The flight was no sooner airborne when snow and sleet enveloped us; we managed to find our way by staying at a thousand feet; by the time we crossed northwest of Cambrai the snow had changed to rain.

• Suddenly out of the clouds and mist we were set upon by the Baron and five Alb. D-II’s. On that cunning killer’s first pass he shot down Sgt. Price’s DH-4. Both Price and his observer Lt. Carlton Foxx were killed as the plane exploded on contact with the ground. The fight then broke up with the remaining four of us each involved in individual dogfights - fortunately without the participation of Richthofen - and nothing more occurred. Lt. Austin and I stayed high to be certain the Boche had left while Lt. Brandt and Sgt. Cadell circled low over the crash site to determine if anyone lived. Accepting the fact that no one could have survived the crash and subsequent fire we continued on to the spotting area.

• Throughout the remainder of the mission the wet weather continued which was generally to our advantage in that it was more difficult for the enemy to see us; however, we had also just experienced what can happen when one is spotted from above through a cloud layer.

• Zone ‘C’ spotting was trouble-free in that contact was made almost immediately, but at ‘B’ we were necessitated into circling for too long a period. Undoubtedly the vagaries of weather contributed.

• I had kept us low for the entire flight and now, on the return, nothing more occurred other than we repeatedly encountered Hun machinegun fire in its full fury. Twice I believe I glimpsed enemy aircraft above us; apparently they were too high to see down through the mist and clouds. Return flights are often the worst of times when there have been deaths. But with this kind of weather there was little time for that for it was necessary to mind the piloting, navigating within sight of the land just below, watching for landmarks while avoiding bringing the flight down too low. Thus, I had little time to dwell on our unfortunate losses and how things might have been done differently. The snow storm was finally abating as we arrived back at Amiens.

(Signed) Capt. Everett Hopewell, ‘B’ Flight, 19 Sqdrn.

Mission Points:
Both zones spotted: + 40

1 DH-4 destroyed: - 15

1 two-seater pilot KIA (Sgt. Price): - 30
1 observer KIA (Lt. Foxx): - 30

Mission Deduction: - 0
Mission TOTAL: - 35

[5-Tops Rule - effective twice]

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