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, 4 September 2010

54 Sqdrn. 'B' Flight - Balloon Bursting - 11 April, 1917.

Zones C & B

Sir:

With only three scout pilots (2Lts Carson-Jeffries and Wilner, and myself) available for this afternoon's mission against balloons in the south and central portions of our sector, I knew that we'd need to maximize our chances of destroying balloons quickly when they were found. To that end, Wilner's machine was equipped with Le Prieur rockets (an unusual introduction to the front) and Carson-Jeffries gun was loaded with Buckingham ammunition.

We made our way to the lines at 1000 feet, crossing them at the extreme southern limit of our sector. Two HA from Jasta 11 attacked us as we passed over the trenches, and Wilner went down immediately, smashing into the ground. Carson-Jeffries tangled with a Halberstadt, while I focused on an Albatros. Soon, the Germans broke off.

A balloon was spotted shortly thereafter. Carson-Jeffries and I both hit it, and he finished it off. My machine was hit by ground fire in the process, getting a few holes in the fuselage. Making our way north behind the lines, we found a second balloon. Once again, Carson-Jeffries and I both hit it, but this time I finished it off. And once again, my machine was hit by ground fire, holes now appearing in the wings.

Southwest of Cambrai, two Albatros D2s dove on us. The pilots seemed relatively inexperienced, but two Albatros D3s with veterans at the controls soon joined in. My engine was hit, severely affecting my machine's performance. Carson-Jeffries' machine was also hit, and I lost track of him. The four HA attacking me all seemed to be having problems with their guns, and I dodged them for longer than I would have thought possible. Eventually, they gave it up as a bad job and headed west. Carson-Jeffries re-appeared and escorted me toward the South Advanced Landing Field. As we crossed back into Allied territory, my engine started showing signs of quitting completely. I managed to keep it going until we were behind the reserve trenches, and then set down, roughly, in a clearing. Carson-Jeffries returned to Corbie alone.

Wilner never even had a chance to unpack his kit.

(signed) Lieutenant Wolfgang Grün
"B" Flight, No. 54 Sqdn RFC
April 11, 1917

****************
Victory Points
Two Balloons Destroyed (Grün, Carson-Jeffries) +50
Allied Aircrew Killed (Wilner) -30
Allied Scout Destroyed (Wilner) -10
Allied Scout w/ Minor Damage (Grün) -3
Mission Offset -20
Total -13
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