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

Sunday, 6 March 2011

54 Sqdrn. 'B' Flight - Bombing Raid - 17 April, 1917.

Marshalling Yard

Sir:

Corps Intelligence must have seen something worrying in the photograph Sgt Barnes obtained this morning, as I'd barely found my billet when I was detailed to bomb that same marshalling yard. Sgt Woollacott was my pilot, and Sgt Barnes accompanied me, piloted by Sgt Hill. As all the scouts of "B" Flt, No. 54 Sqdn, were down out of petrol around Mercatel, we had no escort and I chose altitude for our protection. We climbed to 20,000 feet through slowly dissipating cloud, and followed the route Barnes had used this morning. Formations of hostile aircraft were seen far below us both immediately before and after crossing the trench lines, but of course we declined to attack. We approached the yards from the south, successfully avoiding the defences as Barnes had done this morning.

By this time the cloud cover was light, but we still had to descend to drop our bombs. Passing through 13,000 feet, a single Albatros D2 appeared 2000 feet below us. Thinking that an attack would give us the advantage of surprise, we dove on him. The pilot was wary, and we circled for a bit, Woollacott and Hill keeping him occupied until he'd had enough and broke away. The fight had taken us to 7000 feet, so we descended another 1000 feet to improve our accuracy, and dropped our bombs in two passes, scoring several hits on buildings and equipment.

The skies had cleared, and I was concerned that we would still be vulnerable to Archie even after we'd gotten above most German patrols by returning to 20,000 feet, so I had Woollacott take us northwest, passing over Lens, in a route home that was longer overall but spent less time over hostile territory. Numerous German patrols were seen below us, but we ignored them and arrived safely at the aerodrome.

(signed) 2nd Lieutenant Erskine Ford
No. 5 Sqdn RFC
April 17, 1917

****************
Victory Points
Six Bombs on Target +60
Mission Offset -10
Total +50
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1 comment:

Eric M. said...

2Lt Erskine spotted nine German patrols below him, and there were an additional three he couldn't see because of the cloud cover. That's 12 encounters avoided!

6 March 2011 at 15:24

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