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, 3 July 2010

54 Sqdrn. 'B' Flight - Balloon Bursting - April 9, 1917

Zones C & A

Sir:

I led the full strength of B Flt, No 54 Sqdn, against enemy balloons at the south end of our sector. My orders included the north end as well, but after the entire flight got stranded out of petrol while operating against balloons there on the 6th, I thought it best to restrict our patrol to the south to insure a strong escort would be available for this afternoon's bombing raid. 2Lt Clark's machine was loaded with Buckingham ammunition, and 2Lt Stramel's gun was removed and his machine was outfitted with Le Prieur rockets. 2Lts Carson-Jeffries, Barrington, and Grün carried conventional ammunition, as did I.

With heavy cloud and thunderstorms in the area, no HA were spotted. Unfortunately, even though we swept the entire south end of the sector, only one balloon was detected, southwest of Cambrai. Barrington attacked first, but missed. Stramel went in next, firing half his rockets. One of them hit, igniting an explosion. We were relieved to see him emerge from the fireball unscathed.

Upon reaching the southern limit of our sector, we returned to Corbie. Stramel and Carson-Jeffries found that their fuselages had been hit by groundfire, but patching will be enough to repair the damage. Although we did not destroy as many balloons as I had hoped, we did destroy 100% of the balloons we found!

(signed) Captain Matthew Edeline
"B" Flight Leader, No. 54 Sqdn RFC
April 9, 1917

****************
Victory Points
One Balloon Destroyed (Stramel) +25
Mission Offset -20
Total +5
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