OTT-EYM - Mission 12 - Last Man Home - March 27th 1917 - by Vagabond
I was worried…..ever since I’d been promoted the weight of it pushed down on me. Lt John Vagabond…..it sounded fine, better than 2nd Lt and I knew my family would be proud, but with Biff in hospital the running of C Flight fell to me and I didn’t like it.
Not one little bit.
Plaskitt-Smythe flying a Strutter and his Observer Podgy Pogeson had gone down in no mans land.
Uncle had informed me they were on a particularly dangerous mission and C Flight must meet them on the wrong side of no mans land and escort them home. It was imperative that they get back but he didn’t elaborate why.
We had failed spectacularly.
I’d tasked my friend Taki to lead the mission but it was a make shift affair. We couldn’t put 3 planes of the same type in the air at one time, all I had was a Spad Vll, a French design, fast but as manoeuvrable as a brick, a Pup and a Sopwith Triplane, both were slippery but out gunned by the latest Albatros Dlll’s they’d be up against.
Shortage of planes was one thing but I was short of pilots too and with trepidation I’d sent the Toff, Sir Edward Montjoy, with Taki. He was a bit toffee nosed but showed promise as a Scout pilot, assuming he lived long enough and Douglas.
Douglas had arrived 3 days previously, and I still didn’t know what to make of him. First he was old, 37 years is old…..isn’t it? To me he looked ancient. He’d been a Major in the Artillery until the German gunners got the range of his battery and they’d been blown to hell and beyond. Shrapnel in the leg means he walks with a cane and was de-mobbed as an invalid.
Most men would have called it a day and considered they’d done enough for King and Country. However the men from the Borders are renowned for their life long feuds and it seemed Douglas had a score to settle. He paid for flying lessons, how he passed the medical I’ve no idea, money must have changed hands I suppose, but he enlisted as a Flight Sergeant in the RFC and passed out of the training 2 weeks ago.
Now he was my problem.
When Uncle called me in to his office, he introduced him as Flight Sergeant Douglas and me as Lieutenant Vagabond, I said flippantly we didn’t stand on ceremony in C Flight and he should call me John if he preferred but most people called me Vagabond….well when they were being polite, I added.
He responded “everyone calls me Dougie, Douglas is my first name and Douglas is my last name”. “Douglas Douglas, what were your parents thinking of”, I smiled, “where do you call home”. “Castle Douglas” was the prompt response. Oh **** I thought, he must be the Clan Leader or Chieftain, whatever they call them.
How was I to know that Castle Douglas is a town and almost everyone who lives there is called Douglas, anyway for the last 3 days he’s been familiarising himself, as they say, and I sent him on his first mission this morning.
As I speak, he’s in the hospital.
“It was chaos” said Taki, “we were in the right position to meet P-S and Podgy, but we got into a brawl with 3 Albi’s. P-S was running a little later than we expected but I could see a black spec in the distance and knew it must be him”.
“They were all over us” interjected the Toff, “a Dll and 2 Dlll’s, the Dll took a shot at me but failed to do any damage”.
“Yes the Dll looked new, still CDL” continued Taki, “but he wasn’t much good because he had a crack at me as well, missed us both” he grinned.
“What about Dougie” I asked. “He’d got separated and was slogging it out with a Hun 2 seater. I think it was a Roland but it was hard to tell at that distance. He didn’t look to be getting the better of the scrap but he stuck at it” said Taki.
“Then I got a bit distracted when the CDL Hun flew into me”. “Ha that was a sight” chortled Toff, “the poor Albi came off much the worse from the exchange, there were ribbons of canvas fluttering in his slipstream as he flew away from you”. “Are you sure you didn’t fly into him on purpose” I asked quietly. Taki looked blank and shook his head, “of course not, that would be insane”.
I watched his left eye twitch, always a ‘tell’ when he was bluffing at poker but I didn’t pursue the matter.
He looked a little shifty but recovered swiftly, continuing with his report. “I came round behind him and opened fire. I expect he was a little shaken by the collision because he didn’t try to evade”.
“Well most pilots don’t experience many collisions do they, I prompted “unless they’re slightly insane of course”? He didn’t reply.
“When I continued to fire in to him the nose dipped and he went down. Really a bit of an anticlimax, it happened so swiftly” Taki concluded.
KILL TO TAKI
Toff confirmed, “yes it was a good clean kill Skipper”. “Don’t call me Skipper,” I pulled him up short, “where was P-S at this time”. Taki looked a little shamefaced and hesitated but Toff spoke up. “He was very close, Taki almost ran into him and I had to take avoiding action as well”.
I looked at them both……consideringly, I’d known Plaskett-Smythe for a long time and a steadier pilot wasn’t to be found. I’d known Taki for almost as long and a more impetuous pilot wasn’t to be found.
“OK, carry on” I replied.
“Well Dougie was turning to get on the tail of the Roland”.
“But one of the Albi’s was coming to his rescue”.
“Just a minute, let me get this right” I asked, “you let Dougie take on 2 enemy planes….on his own. He’s only been here 3 days and this was his first flight”!
“Well he seemed to be doing well” Toff spoke up, “I saw his bullets bore into the Roland and he was obviously hitting it because it started to smoke, although it didn’t catch fire he went on lamely”. Taki, still looking a little uncomfortable, said nothing.
The Toff continued, “the return fire from the Roland must have been pretty accurate because I think that’s when Dougie got hit, he ended rather awkwardly”.
“He did well for his first fight” Taki said quietly, “he stuck to it, tailing the Roland and continuing to attack, even if his wound must have been distracting him somewhat”.
“Anyway that’s when he turned for home. The Roland Observer put some more lead in his direction, I could see the gun flashes but as the distance between the 2 planes opened he escaped further damage and as you know he made it back” he finished defensively.
Taki went on, “I lost sight of Plaskitt-Smythe when I turned to chase the other Albatros, a white tailed Dlll, he’d been headed in our direction but veered off when the CDL plane went down. It must have been a bit disconcerting seeing his wingman crash and 3 enemy planes right in front and ready to engage, so you can’t really blame him”.
“P-S seemed to be flying a little erratically” The Toff said, “we almost collided as well”. I looked at him sharply, “are you sure it was P-S who was erratic?” He went silent.
Taki cut in to the silence, he could see I was annoyed and said, “you know this fetish you have with checking every bullet before you let the armourer load them”. “Yes” I responded slowly, it wasn’t the first time I’d been the butt of jokes about this subject. “Well I think I’m going to have to do the same” he grinned. “I got into range of my intended victim and the blasted gun jammed, and not for the last time in this scrap either”.
“Tell me what happened to P-S and Podgy I cut in”. “I didn’t see it” said Taki “I was flying away, chasing my Hun but Toff had a better view”.
“Well” Toff said reluctantly, “he was making for the lines then the Roland turned towards him and so P-S matched his turn, they flew straight at each other”.
“Both of them opened fire at the same time and almost immediately the Strutter dove for the ground. P-S got her down but it was in no mans land”. “You know what it’s like”, and I just nodded. “Well the plane hit hard, flew up in the air, crashed back down and cartwheeled along before coming to a halt, a mangled wreck”.
“I didn’t see anyone climb out I’m afraid”.
So this was why Taki was looking so uncomfortable, he’d left Dougie on his own and failed to escort P-S across the lines as I’d briefed him to do.
I was for the high jump when Uncle found out about this debacle.
“OK what happened next” I asked heavily. “Well, we chased after the white tail chap”.
“The Toff stuck with me, as you told him to”, Taki said defensively, “I couldn’t fire because of the damn jam”, he continued “but I’d got into a good position to take advantage when I’d cleared it”.
“That’s right” said Toff supportively, “Taki was right on his tail, I could see him beating on the cocking handle with the mallet”. “I wonder if there was something wrong with the Hun pilot’s neck” he mused. “I didn’t see him look over his shoulder at all which is most unusual. He was dead meat flying like that”.
I was trying to find a joke about flying against Daves AI system and the fact that he has a bad neck at the moment, so might not be able to look over his shoulder as I closed in on him but it wouldn’t come. So you’ll have to make up your own funny line and maybe insert it in the comments.
“As it turned out he must have known I’d jammed my guns and was the coolest of customers, because just as the round slipped free he did an Immelmann turn and flew right back at me, guns blazing and I can’t tell you how frustrated I was when my gun jammed on the next round.
Well frustrated is one word and sh*t scared is another”, he said.
“To cap it all, as I passed white tail, the blinking Roland driver got a free shot at me as well, it’s a good job the Triplane is so tough or who knows what could have happened”.
“Mind you, it’s a lovely plane to fly and just so manoeuvrable, if only it had twin guns and didn’t jam so easily” he said thoughtfully.
Toff took up the story saying, “in the mean time White Tail had done another Immel and caught me napping as well. The Pup didn’t take much damage and I figured it was only a question of time before we would get him. Odds of 2 to 1 usually work out in the end” he smiled.
“You’re right” said Taki “because as soon as I’d got my second jam cleared I was able to put a long burst into him from close range, flames erupted immediately and I thought that must be the end for him”.
No it wasn’t, 2 points of fire damage from 3 A draws was as frustrating as the gun jams.
“We all jinked around for a while, neither of us could get back at White tail and eventually a yellow Albi joined the fight, White Tail was distracted by the flames and flew into the new arrival but it was just a glancing blow and didn’t seem to cause much damage”.
“I couldn’t believe it when I opened fire on the new Hun and my gun jammed for the 3rd time” Taki said. “Luckily his seemed to jam as well which got me out of a sticky situation”.
“The Toff had done a good job sticking with me” Taki continued “and he was able to take advantage of the yellow planes jam and cause some real damage at close range”.
This was the second time Taki had mentioned the Toff’s flying capability and I wondered why!
“The Hun’s looked as if they might be going to break off and run for home, which would have probably been a wise move at this point in the fight” he continued.
“But they didn’t and neither did we” he added defensively. We both knew that had been the wrong decision on his part but again, I let it ride, he’s just too aggressive in the air, it’s going to get him killed.
“The fire had gone out on Mr White Tail and he was still spoiling for a fight” Taki continued, “it didn’t seem to have affected his shooting either, my Tripe shuddered with the impact of the bullets when we exchanged fire, but she held together like a good un”.
“The yellow plane had also turned back, I’m pretty sure I winged the pilot but like white tail it didn’t stop him either”.
The Toff had been quiet for a while and I soon realised why.
Taki carried on swiftly, “it must have affected his concentration because he flew straight into me, I couldn’t avoid him, he was so close”.
His left eye twitched when he said this.
“There was a bit more jinking about before I got a clear shot at the yellow plane and his engine started to smoke and he had every appearance of bugging out of the fight”.
“But before that could happen his plane folded up and dropped like a stone, hitting the ground far below and on their side of the lines”.
KILL TO TAKI
Just before the yellow Albi goes down, White Tail views the situation and it’s not very encouraging. I decided he’d make a run for home.
He almost collides with the Toff in the Pup, too close even to fire on each other.
Then the Toff Immel’s and again they avoid colliding by a whisker.
In spite of my best efforts he escapes.
“So he got away then”, I summarised looking hard at both of them. “Yes” said Taki.
“And you collided with 2 Hun planes”? “Yes” said Taki.
“Accidentally”? “Yes” said Taki and his left eye twitched.
“And you almost collided with P-S”? “Yes” said Taki.
“And you failed to escort P-S home”? “Yes” said Taki.
“And Montjoy followed your instructions in the air”? “Yes” said Taki and his left eye twitched again.
Montjoy just looked uncomfortable but said nothing.
“And you got 2 kills to day”? “Yes” said Taki.
And then the phone rang. Replacing the receiver I turned back to Taki and Montjoy, “well we’ll be celebrating in the Mess then, your 2 kills and the fact that both Plaskitt-Smythe and Podgy are back on our side of the lines. They’re pretty badly beat up, apparently they were both captured after the crash but it coincided with a push by the 5th Northumberland lads and the Hun retreated so fast that they were left behind. The Fusiliers got them back to a field hospital, they’re stable but won’t be flying for a while so we can celebrate that as well. The first rounds on me but the rest are on you” and I looked at Taki, who looked relieved.
The following night Taki and I were in the Mess having a quiet drink as the usual horseplay went on all around us.
“I’m not sure you should have covered for him yesterday” I said. “He’s still raw”, was Taki’s reply, “it was an honest mistake, he should have escorted P-S back while I held off the Hun but I guess he got excited at the thought of a fight, not realising what the consequences would be”. “Humm” I replied…”and what about you”? “What do you mean” he asked slyly. “Most pilots use their machine gun as an offensive weapon; you use your plane as one”. He looked blankly but didn’t reply. “Tomorrow I’ll show you about this bullet checking thing, maybe with a functioning machine gun you won’t feel the need to ram them first”. “Maybe” he grinned, as I reflected that at least he’d stopped carrying his fathers Katana in the cockpit so perhaps I was making some progress with him.
“Ok…..it’s your round I believe”, he smiled and I realised there was still a long way to go.
BUTCHERS TALLY:
Lt Charles ‘P-S’ Plaskitt-Smythe: (P2) Strutter: SD-NML / WIA / 0 Kills
C&W Rolled 7 -1SD -1WIA -1NML = 4 - Injured skip 1D6 scenarios. Rolled 5 = Skip 5.
E&E Rolled 5 -1WIA -1WIC +1NML = 4 - Captured and escaped, skip 1D3 scenarios. Rolled 6 = Skip 3.
F/Sgt Raymond ‘Podgy’ Podgson: (O) Strutter: SD-NML / 0 Kills.
C&W Rolled 6 -1SD -1NML = 4 - Injured, skip 1D6 scenarios. Rolled 5 = Skip 5.
E&E Rolled 4 -1WIC +1NML = 4 - Captured and escaped, skip 1D3 scenarios. Rolled 1 = Skip 1.
F/Sgt Douglas ‘Dougie’ Douglas: SPAD VII: FRTB-W / WIA / 0 Kills.
FRTB rolled 5+3 = Stuck the Landing.
C&W Rolled 8 -1WIA +1RTB = 8 - Injured, skip 1D2 scenarios. Rolled 5 = skip 2.
2Lt Ichiro ‘Taki’ Takahashi: CDL Tripe: RTB / 2 Kills (Braun and Krause)
Uncle this should give him 10 kills and I’d like to take Bullet Checker as his skill please.
2Lt Edward ‘Toff’ Montjoy: PC10 Pup: RTB / 0 Kills
Vzfwbl Wilhelm Heinrich: (P2) Roland C.II: RTB / 1Kill (Plaskitt-Smythe)
ObLtn Bertram Hohendorf: (O) Roland C.II: RTB / 0 Kills.
Ltn Fritz Krause: CDL Albatros D.ll: SD-FT / 0 Kills
C&W Rolled 8 -1SD = 7 - Injured, skip 1D2 scenarios, rolled 1 = Skip 1
Ltn Johannes Braun: Yellow Albatros D.lll: SD-FT / WIA / 0 Kills, 1 Probable (Douglas FRTB-W).
C&W rolled 6 -1SD -1WIA = 4 - Injured, skip 1D6 scenarios, rolled 2 = Skip 2.
ObLtn Fritz Lieber: White Tail Albatros D.lll: RTB / 0 Kills.
Well C Flight has completed another campaign, with 20 kills against only 2 pilots lost S/Lt Jerome Dupont KIA and F/Sgt Richard Cross POW. Admittedly many of the Kills got up and walked away but we’re celebrating in the Mess tonight.
Biff, Taki and Vagabond are the Old Guard in C Flight and mostly lead the missions. Taki still has a long way to go before he becomes reliable, but he’s stopped flying with his fathers Samurai sword in the cockpit, which is something, although it still seems as if the killer instinct is too strong.
Dusty missed out on a few missions in the middle of the campaign because I hadn’t created a name tag for him, that’s been rectified and I’m hoping to see him do well in the future.
Very much the new boys Toff, Butcher and Dougie have a lot to prove, although Sir Edward Mountjoy has amassed 3 kills in 4 missions this campaign which is a very high scoring rate for my chaps.
The Tandem crews seemed to have been getting a lot of successful airtime this campaign, with Podgy and Joe becoming Ace Observers as well as deadly killers. They’re also highly decorated for gallantry even if their bomb aiming skills are pretty lacking.
The Scots element of the tandem crew are working well together, I was gutted when I lost Jock 1 last campaign and thought about retiring Jock 2 because I couldn’t see how I could integrate another crew into such a tight duo but Jock 3 or Young Jock are making a great pairing. Old Jock is trying hard to catch up with Joe and Podgy to become the third Ace Observer.
It will be interesting to see how the P2’s come on now they have a gun of their own, so far there’s only Jack Cowan hit anything but I have high hopes for them all.
Lastly the two lost souls, missing from the Rota.
They were another cause for celebration in the Mess in that I had no great attachment to the 2 lost pilots, unlike the previous 2 campaigns where in total I lost 6 crew, all of whom I had developed an affection for. DuPont swiftly fell out of favour when he continually refused to engage the enemy and Cross only flew two missions and didn’t have time to develop a personality in the on going saga that is OTT.
I’m driving up to Scotland tomorrow, Mrs V has promised me sunshine and snow so we’re going to see if our old legs will get us up a hill or two. We’re staying in a Pod in the middle of nowhere and I’m not expecting to have internet so may not respond for a few days, if there are any kind comments to respond to, of course.
And No, I’ve no idea what a Pod is, but it was the cheapest accommodation we could find so I’m not expecting much and we’ve packed thick sleeping bags in case it’s draughty.
Dave thanks for the Scenario and for all the work you put into this, count me in for the next season.
Cheers
F.O. Lt. J. Vagabond. MC. Bar & Bar (I wonder how that happened, although I understand the Bar)
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Originally Posted by Stumptonian
for his ninth & tenth victories for the King 
Another splendid and amusing 
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