Watch Your Six! AAR June 12, 2009
It's incredible, it's just incredible they put that idiot Schreiber in charge! What's worse is that Schreiber has been lecturing us on aerial tactics. This is the man that four weeks ago was a clerk in a bank who taken a couple flying lessons before the war started. He's never been to basic training he's never served at the front, in fact I don't think he's ever been in a fight.
We have two new recruits assigned to the unit. The two men could be brothers they look so much alike they call themselves Hengst and Horsa. I've never seen pair of fire eaters like these two. If that isn't bad enough, this pair can fly! They can really fly! Each constantly tries to out do the other.
When the two men arrived I tried to take them under my wing and tell them about Schreiber's shortcomings. The fools not only ignored my advice, but they actually listen to Schreiber. Needless to say, the KEK has evolved into two groups: Schreiber, Hengst, and Horsa have become relatively close associates. Laraud, Pippart, and myself primarily associate with each other. These groupings have also extended into our flight operations.
Two days ago, the British paid us yet another visit. On that day, there was a lot of ground fog. This seems to be a common weather pattern on the North Sea coast in January. Observers along the coast telephoned us and warned us of aircraft in the area, even though they couldn't see what they were. Given our recent experiences, we had to send up a patrol to confront the intruders. Because of recent losses and mechanical problems, only three aircraft were available.
In addition to our own KEK, a new KEK is being formed at Tondern. Like ourselves, KEK Hähnchen. is equipped with Roland C. II aircraft (Ed). That outfit is headed up by an experienced aviator but otherwise is composed of newly graduated pilots.
Schreiber naturally tabbed Hengst and Horsa to fly the interception mission with him. Unlike our recently departed commander, Schreiber is a coward! In a recent meetings Schreiber commented repeatedly on the inability of the pilot of a Roland C. II aircraft to spot enemy aircraft flying in and out of ground fog. In essence, Schreiber thinks it takes a much more experienced and perhaps much better pilot than we to attack the British in the fog. Accordingly, the plan was for Schreiber and his two protégés to climb to at least 6000 feet, form up, and only then, go in hunt of the enemy.
Schreiber was the first off the ground. Hengst and Horsa followed closely after him. From my vantage point on the ground I could see very little. So much of this narrative is based on conversations or later overheard between Hengst and Horsa. Both of these men followed Schreiber and quickly climbed to 6000 feet. They had little trouble locating each other but were unable to locate Schreiber. As it turns out, that cowardly worm was hiding in the fog! Of course, he claimed he had engine trouble. Isn't it convenient that the man who is supposed to lead the attack develops engine trouble and can climb no higher than a few hundred feet – allowing him to hide from enemy aircraft in the fog!
Hengst and Horsa spent a great deal of valuable time just looking for Schreiber. This allowed the British aircraft to make several passes over the area where the burnt out Zeppelin sheds are located. The fog was so thick that our ground defenses held their fire in fear that they might be firing on our own aircraft. Indeed, the only interference British encountered was from the experienced aviator in KEK Hähnchen. This crafty veteran that only managed to track one of the British Sopwith Strutter's through the fog but actually shot it up. There were other encounters between KEK Hähnchen aircraft and the British, but none of these resulted in any serious damage to the aircraft involved.
The fog broke briefly as a British aircraft began pulling off and heading back to their naval vessels at sea. About the same time, Schreiber managed to get his aircraft up above the fog, only to develop relatively serious engine trouble. Now the jumped-up bank teller conveniently gained enough altitude to allow the British aircraft to fly beneath him without having to engage. This left the inexperienced Hengst and Horsa to pursue the crafty British two seaters.
Any other pair of inexperienced pilots would've broken off and called it a day, but these two continued their personal rivalry. Not only did they pursue the British aircraft but they chased them well out to sea. Before breaking off Hengst managed to maneuver his Roland into position to allow his observer to fire at the British Strutter that was previously damaged. As it turns out, it was fortunate for the pair that the British aircraft then disappeared into thick fog, otherwise, I fear the two of mad men would have pursued until their fuel ran out over the ocean!
ANALYSIS:
This was the last of our ground fog scenarios. In this game we used a simple device to allow the ground fog to clear intermittently. The British were conducting a reconnaissance mission to determine the effects of their recent bombing mission. As it turned out, will all the luck was with the British again. Ground fog greatly hindered the numerically superior but inexperienced German aircraft. Only the experience flight leader from KEK Hähnchen possessed the skill to locate and fire upon the British aircraft. The remainder of the German aircraft were piloted by men who lacked the ability to even find the British aircraft unless the fog cleared.
This is one of those games where there was all kinds of maneuver, any number of ploys, and for one reason or another very little combat. This is not for want of trying by either the British or the Germans. The British are looking to feast on inexperienced German pilots. The Germans attempted to utilize their superior numbers and isolate or pick off individual British aircraft. Both sides had their opportunities and in every case except one, both sides were ultimately frustrated.
Our next series of games will focus on operations being conducted late in the day along the German held coast line. German destroyers would sometimes raid into the English Channel. These scenarios will center on the efforts of the British to hinder and spot these raiders. The Germans will be engaged in operations to ensure the seas remain free of mines and attempting to gain control of the skies to allow their destroyer raiders to achieve surprise. Naturally, the British operations will focus on missions designed to hinder the German efforts. These will be hypothetical scenarios, set in February of 1917.
mjc
