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

Tuesday, 24 August 2010

19 Sqdrn. 'B' Flight - Dawn Patrol - 11 April, 1917.

Taking Part:

Pilots:

Lt. Harry Brandt (acting flight leader)

Lt. Henri LeMaris

2nd Lt. Darren Bayliss

2nd Lt. Wendell Austen

Comments:

• Twelve miles out of Amiens both Lt. Brandt and Lt. Austin had engine problems and had to return to the aerodrome. I took over leadership of the patrol from Lt. Brandt and Lt. Bayliss and I continued on. We crossed over north of San Quintin with Austin taking hits from machine fire. (I kept us at 2,000 feet to avoid archie.)

• We spotted all of “C” and then as we were crossing over to “B” we were jumped by an Alb. D-III and two Halberstadts. Little came of the combat and it was short-lived; the Huns made off into the clouds.

• We had finished Spotting “B” and “A” and were making our way back when west of Armentieres we encountered two Alb. D-III’s accompanying a Roland C-II. Lt. Bayliss immediately was into dog fight with one of the Alb.’s while I was trying to get past the other for a shot at the two-seater. Bayliss was hit in his fuel line and made off into the clouds; the Germans inexplicably turned for the east. Shortly after I saw Bayliss attempt a crash-landing; the ground was strewn with bomb craters and his machine crashed. He managed to crawl out of his plane, but obviously seriously injured, and while I was looking for a place to land Canadian infantry came up and helped him into a lorry. Not far from base my engine started acting up but I made it back in flurries.


(signed) Lt. Henri LeMaris

(Spotting report attached)


Note: we received a call from the infantry unit that picked up Bayliss; their M.O. says he has multiple fractures to both legs and the war for him has ended.

Mission Points:
All zones spotted: 120

Scout pilot, 2nd Lt. Darren Bayliss seriously injured: - 20

Sopwith Pup (Bayliss) destroyed: - 10

Mission deduction: 80

Mission TOTAL: 10

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