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

Monday, 1 November 2010

19 Sqdrn. 'B' Flight - Photo Reconnaissance - 13 April, 1917.

(Zone “B”)

Taking Part:

Pilots:

Lt. Henri LeMaris

2nd Lt. Wendell Austin

2nd Lt. Michael French

2nd Lt. Peter Burnette

2nd Lt. Robert Swann

Two-Seater Aircraft (5 Sqdrn.):

Sgt. Owen Cadell / 2nd Lt. Max Faraday

Sgt. Brian Cornell / 2nd Lt. Paul Pressing

Comments:

• We had gotten as far the lines when the heavy cloud changed to snow and sleet and it remained as such for the entire mission until just before regaining Amiens. Crossing into Hun-land near the northern emergency field Cornell/Pressing had to land there because of a serious engine problem leaving us with only the one DH-4 for photographing, a fact which further diminished our hopes for success.

• We stayed at a thousand feet to avoid archie but paid with some vicious MG fire. Burnette had his fuselage shot up as did the DH-4. The snow and sleet were terrible - continuous, coating the wings, covering us and numbing our hands and faces, penetrating even the smallest opening in our flying suits; especially bad were the goggles which had to be cleaned continuously.

• In this swirling white hell Richthofen and two Alb. D-II’s somehow spotted us and attacked just short of the objective. During a very brief combat Lt. DeMaris shot down one of the Abatrosses. Richthofen, apparently not wanting to fight us and the weather, soon led the remaining fighter back into the clouds and we finished the assignment, but with little hope of having any decent photos.

• The only adversary we faced returning was the weather as we had to withstand the icy conditions while trying to stay together and not lose our way. Once on our side we were aided in this by following what had been the Arras - Amiens rail line.

(Signed) Lt. Brandt, ‘B’ Flight, 19 Sqdrn.


Mission Points:
Photos: 0

One non-Jatsa a/c shot down (LeMaris): + 20

Mission Deduction: - 10

Mission TOTAL: +10

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