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, 6 November 2010

54 Sqdrn. 'B' Flight - Artillery Spotting - 13 April, 1917.

Zone A

Sir:

With 2Lt Perry's arrival, B Flt, No 54 Sqdn, was at full strength this afternoon, and I led the entire flight to escort 2Lt Hamilton and Sgt Barnes (piloted by Sgts Steele and Hill, respectively) to spot for our artillery between Vimy and Lens. We maintained an altitude of 1000 feet to conserve petrol, and headed north out of Corbie, passing over the North Advanced Landing Field to minimize our time behind enemy lines.

The weather improved slowly as we flew. The lines were crossed under light cloud, but the ceiling became unlimited soon after Hamilton and Barnes established contact with the battery. Thus exposed, we attracted the attention of a full flight of German scouts, led by the Red Baron in his infamous Albatros D3. At least we were able to see them coming. The 14-machine dogfight immediately broke down into five individual combats, with 2Lt Clark taking on the Red Baron so the less-experienced 2Lt Milford could escape. At great risk to himself, Clark kept the Red Baron occupied until the Germans broke off.

I found myself taking on an Albatros D3 with 2Lt Kerneels-Pépin, although I soon lost track of them and found myself alone. Kerneels-Pépin reports that his gun jammed the second time he got the D2 in his sights, and he was unable to clear the stoppage until the dogfight was over.

Perry tangled with a single Albatros D2, and acquitted himself well for his first operational flight. While he did not damage the German machine, he did at least position himself to fire on it a couple times.

2Lt Carson-Jeffries fought with a pair of Albatros D2s. Like Perry, he did not damage them despite firing several times.

Hill and Steele kept their DH4s together for mutual support against the Albatros D2 that attacked them. Hill eventually hit the Albatros, damaging the engine, then took advantage of the situation to attack again, forcing it to land. Of all the opportunities that were presented to us, only Hill in his two-seater was able gain a victory!

After the Germans broke off, we regrouped and returned to 1000 feet so Hamilton and Barnes could begin spotting. Barnes' and Hill's machine was hit by ground fire, holing the wings, but that did not stop Barnes from successfully bringing our artillery onto the target shortly thereafter, with Hamilton spotting the fall of shot simultaneously.

We returned the Corbie the way we came. Milford's engine spluttered at one point, but he was able to keep it going and we all landed safely.

(signed) Lieutenant Wolfgang Grün
B Flight, No. 54 Sqdn RFC
April 13, 1917

****************
Victory Points
Successful Spotting (Barnes, Hamilton) +20
One German Scout Forced to Land w/ Minor Damage (Hill) +3
Total +23
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