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

Friday, 5 November 2010

54 Sqdrn. 'B' Flight - Long Reconnaissance - April 13, 1917

Zone B

Sir:

With Sgt Steele as my pilot, I set out to photograph an enemy installation deep behind the centre of our sector. Sgts Hill and Barnes of No 5 Sqdn remained at Corbie so there would be someone to spot for our artillery this afternoon should we fail to return. The distance to our objective made an escort from No 54 Sqdn impossible.

We took off and climbed to 20,000 feet through an overcast that soon became a mist. Arriving over our objective, I had Sgt Steele descend to 13,000 feet and wait for the mist to change. I knew that getting a useful photograph through the mist would be highly unlikely, so almost any change would be an improvement. After 10 to 15 minutes, the mist gave way to a heavy cloud and Sgt Steele took us down to 5000 feet to get below it.

Archie found our range and became more and more intense as I exposed plate after plate. Only once did a burst come close enough to interrupt the process, but I was able to continue and expose all five plates. Sgt Steele then climbed back to 20,000 feet for the return flight. Thunderstorms moved in shortly thereafter, so we were very lucky to have been over our objective in the short time between the mist and the storms. By the time we reached Corbie it had begun to sleet.

My first plate was adequate, while the next two were useless. The final two plates had been damaged, probably by Archie. If I'd known the first plate would be the only good one, we could have saved ourselves a lot of trouble.

(signed) 2nd Lieutenant Cameron Hamilton
No. 5 Sqdn RFC
April 13, 1917

****************
Victory Points
Average Quality Plate (Hamilton) +25
Total +25
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