Groovy Gecko's Games

[dunnhd]

Despite dominating the skies, the German attacks near Vauxaillon and Filain were repulsed.

A German patrol of Albatross D.V's piloted by Waldo Fuchs and Stephen von Kursk used the mid-morning sun to ambush an Allied patrol. The DH-4 piloted by the Captain of the 57th RAF squadron, Neville C. C. Thomson, chose descretion over valor and dove for the deck with Waldo Fuchs of Jasta 18 in hot pursuit. The DH-4 though is a solid, fast aeroplane and was able to make good its escape with minor damage.

The same could not be said of a feisty, and some may say insane, French pilot in his Nieuport-17. Guilliaume Petard turned and engaged his pursuer in a dog fight in which he managed to out maneuver the German von kursk but, for unknown reasons, did not decide to save his skin. Instead he continued to fight even after the second Albatross, piloted by Fuchs, joined in the hunt. Petard did manage to wound Fuchs and seriously damage his Albatross but von Kursk finally brought the Frenchman down. Petard survived the crash with serious injuries.
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The next days flight had von Kursk teamed up with Maximilian Vogel both in Albatross D. V's. Their mission was to escort a Roland C-II bomber in its mission to obliterate a well know french brothel frequented by allied officers.

Opposing them were a British SPAD XIII and an American Nieuport-17. The pilots, Andrew Sedleton and Andreas von Antretter respectively, were both new comers to the war but eagerly responded to the call to thwart the bombing run.

The German bomber came straight in at the target escorted by the fighters while the Allied split and came around both flanks. The long flanking maneuver gave the Roland C-II lots of time for its bombing run...and it needed every minute of it. The bomber circled the target no less then four times before finally being able to line up correctly and release its payload. by this time the dog-fight was on and the SPAD XIII, making its debut on the front, proved to be a tough and very fast plane.

In the end, the American Nieuport was shot down when it turned broadside to the guns of Max Vogel's Albatross. The flaming wreckage plummeted to the ground. Mercifully, Andreas von Antretter's funeral was a closed casket affair.

Unable to shoot down the bomber and his wingman turned flambe, Sedleton chose to make his exit. For the second time in as many engagements, the British plane dove for the deck and fled for his life.

The German's laughed heartily.

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Great games again! Jamie got to test the skies with his DH-4, Josh played like a reckless pilot named Murdoch from the A-Team, Andrew got his first game in and promptly signed up for more next week (despite the ignoble feat of having the first pilot KIA in the campaign). So far the German's have had it their way a lot, but there is a number of newer SPADs coming on line and I think next week will be tougher for the Central Powers (plus I hear Charlie is extending summer hours just to play more Wings of War).