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, 3 April 2011

54 Sqdrn. 'B' Flight - Trench Strafing - April 19, 1917.

Zone B

Sir:

Lt Grün took 2Lt Kerneels-Pépin and myself to strafe enemy trenches between Arras and Mercatel. Except for a brief snow shower, we flew toward the lines under heavy cloud and at 1000 feet. A single Halberstadt D3 was spotted in the clouds above us when we reached the trenches near Arras, but it did not interfere as we began slowly making our way southward, methodically strafing the German positions.

Halfway to Mercatel, a thunderstorm began. Lt Grün signaled that he had engine trouble, and we should accompany him back to the Mercatel Advanced Landing Field. Kerneels-Pépin and I made one final pass over the German trenches, but when we pulled up, the Lieutenant was nowhere to be found. Fearing the worst but hoping for the best, we decided to continue strafing. My chest was grazed by a bullet from the ground on our next pass, but I did not want to interrupt the mission. The machine-gunners along this sector of trench were very good, and on our next pass Kerneels-Pépin's fuselage was holed and his controls damaged. Now we really had no choice but to return. I was escorting Kerneels-Pépin toward the Mercatel Advanced Landing Field, but the gusts from the thunderstorm were too much for his damaged controls, and he was forced down before we reached it.

I returned to Corbie alone, with the thunderstorm ending just before I landed. A message from the Lieutenant had arrived before me, saying that his engine had quit but that he'd set down safely in a clearing, and would return this evening.

(signed) 2nd Lieutenant Gerald Carson-Jeffries
B Flt, No. 54 Sqdn RFC
April 19, 1917

****************
Victory Points
Trench Strafing +57
One Allied Aircrew Slightly Wounded (Carson-Jeffries) -10
Two Allied Scouts w/ Minor Damage (Grün, Kerneels-Pépin) -6
Mission Offset -10
Total +31
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