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, 28 March 2010

54 Sqdrn. 'B' Flight - Bombing Raid - 5 April, 1917.

Supply Dump (Zone C)

Great War Oral History Project Transcript G0175670633b

Orville Reed: Orville Reed with the Great War Oral History Project, it's May 17, 1967, and I have Hauptmann Nikolaus Burkhard here with me again. Last time, Hauptmann Burkhard, you were telling me there was a particular action that made quite an impression on you. Would you like to elaborate on that?

Nikolaus Burkhard: Yes, well, it was April, 1917. I was a Leutnant at the time, flying a Halberstadt D3 from Douai airfield. The English were making a big push around Arras, and I'd taken to patrolling alone over their emergency landing fields, thinking I might catch a machine coming back damaged or low on fuel. This time it worked. The afternoon had started off cloudy, and I'd climbed when it cleared, and then when the clouds came in again, I almost missed it, a two-seater, DH4 I think, coming in to land and trailing smoke.

OR: I've done some research, and I believe this was April 5th, and it was a DH4. Did you know the machine had been attacked by von Richthofen and two new pilots he was taking on an orientation flight earlier in the afternoon? Both of von Richthofen's guns jammed, and Air Mechanic McLean, the observer, damaged one of the other aircraft.

NB: No, all I knew was that the DH4 was already damaged. But the rear gunner was good. I made a succession of head-on passes to stay out of his sights. But of course he fired at me every time as I went by. On my last pass — I was going to have to break off if I was going to get to Douai on the fuel I had left — flames just shot out of his engine. We were barely above the treetops, and in the few seconds it took for the aircraft to hit the ground, it was completely engulfed. When it hit, it smashed and scattered flaming debris everywhere. I hope they had their identity disks, because I doubt they could be recognized. It was a horrific crash … simply horrific.

OR: Thank you, Hauptmann — perhaps it would be best if we continued tomorrow.

NB: Yes, thank you … simply horrific.

****************
Victory Points
Two Allied Aircrew Killed (McLean, Provost) -60
Allied Two-Seater Destroyed (Provost) -15
German Scout Damaged/Aborted (McLean) +3
Mission Offset -10
Total -82
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