Baz

Congratulations on your deserved promotion

Great AARs/photos and a good day overall, looking forward to the next one.

Thanks Dave

Here, but only just got permissions from Keith to see everything.

Thank you Keith also.

Well done everyone, I usually make this one but couldn’t get there this year. Seems a lot of new customers left happy, well done all.

Thanks to those who replied

Hi, I have seen this used for a number of models used and looked for a definition. I have found two that could apply: 1 best in slot 2 second variant Can someone confirm which is applicable (I assume number 2?) Thanks

Donated. More than happy to help out with all the useful files and community at stake.

Nice work Dave on a protracted game due to the long search period. Still at least you found him on the last search pattern and to think he kept his helmet on too while entertaining one of the local lasses. Fun story and good pictures.

Thanks Pete, it was all I had in a German two-seater seaplane painted up. Have also got a Friedrichshafen FF33 in the ‘to paint’ pile.

Tilkowski had received the call from German Command that morning. A celebrated Pilot had been shot down over the coast and a sea rescue was to be immediately launched for the rescue before he was picked up by English forces. Tilkowski made a quick call to the Eagle tandem unit, FF(A) 245 and spoke with Fwbl Uwe Seeler. “What do you mean do we have anything that floats?” Was Uwe’s initial response, “…we are not ducks!” Tilkowski explained the situation and that the High Command was expecting a rescue. Hans heard the hesitation in Uwe’s voice as he replied “ Ridiculous request” He was about to tell Tilkowski where to go and to give that reply to Command when he thought better of it. “The only plane we have on floats is an old prototype Gotha that was used early last year for testing and had since been used for torpedo practice! Luckily, the pilots aim was not good and it is still intact on a dolly at the rear of the compound.” Give me 30 minutes and I will get back to you on its seaworthiness”. So it was that the Eagle squadron with Ltn Horst-Dieter Hottges in a red/white Albatros D.III and Ltn Karl-Heinz Schnellinger in a Roland D.II were riding escort for an old Gotha WD4 (UWD) Ursinus Wasser Doppeldecker (Water biplane) piloted by Fwbl Uwe Seeler himself and front gunner/observer Ltn Siegfried Held. The rear gun position was empty ready to pick up the stricken pilot. The rough search areas had been defined where it was thought the pilot had come down, however the English defences were also alerted and three Sopwith Triplanes were also in the area and homing in on the escort planes from the Nothwest. The tandem, being at a lower altitude, rumbled on toward the initial search area, while the escorts and the English flight turned towards each other. It was then that Hottges in the Albatros tried test fired his guns and found one had a permanent jam, things seemed to be getting worse. For the English part, they were concentrating on the two escorts and had not noticed the large Gotha below racing lumbering across the sea. 2Lt Fred Hodgkinson in the lead triplane © closed and fired at long range on the Albatros, missing with his initial attack. Schnellinger attacking from his blind side at short range caused major damage to his rudder bar and smoke started coming from the lead Triplane. Hodgkinson had flown through the initial escort and with 2Lt Olaus Jones in the next Triplane (CDL) overlapping Schnellinger, it was left to 2Lt Harris in the third Triplane (Red Cross) to take a long range shot at the Roland which missed. Hottges was able to fire his single working gun on Jones for minor damage, while Seeler in the Gotha got close to his first search area. With a wide side slip, Harris was able to get a close range consecutive shot at the Roland without reply and was satisfied to see smoke coming from his enemy. Hodgkinson does a Split-S to face back towards the fray while other Scot’s manoeuvre for position. The huge Gotha stalls to allow it’s crew to undertake a search of the area, but they come up blank (d4). The Roland and Albatros turn back towards their enemies, while the Gotha turns to the next search area Hottges lines up on Harris at long range but misses. Meanwhile, Seeler has spotted the downed pilot (d2) in search area 2 so must circle round and lose height to land the giant beast. With all the scouts in a line no-one is able to get a clear shot. Seeler leaves the search area to begin his careful approach. Jones and Hodgkinson get themselves in all sorts of issues and collide while chasing the enemy scouts. Hodgkinson’s plane takes the brunt of the damage and must now return to base with extensive damage. Hottges again fires and misses at long range on Jones. Seeler dives to altitude 1 ready for his approach and landing. Jones hits Schnellinger at long range for minor damage and Hottges catches Harris at short range, also for minor damage. As the sun breaks out, the fighters all circle each other to gain advantage. Neither of the British have noticed the rescue plane yet. Harris goes nose-to-nose with the Albatros and sets it on fire. Both the Albatros at short range and Roland at long range miss their intended target. Hodgkinson is heading towards base. Meanwhile, Jones notices the large German machine ahead of him, albeit at a lot lower altitude and decides he must investigate (d1). The Albatros fire does damage and burns brighter. The other three scouts have flown through each other, narrowly avoiding a collision. The burning Albatros undertakes a Split-S and fires and misses at long range on Harris. The Gotha approaches the landing area. The other scouts try to get a bead on each other (Albatros took an A card (0) for an illegal straight move while on fire!) The Albatros takes further fire damage The Gotha dives to land on the water and stalls near to his downed pilot but is being chased by Jones who is high above, but diving. Hottges and Harris once again get up close and personal. The damage inflicted by Harris means that Hottges will need to return to base. However, his return fire sets Harris’s machine on fire, while Schnellinger looks on. The Gotha turns round ready for take-off whilst the downed pilot swims and climbs up onto the plane. The fires do no further damage to the planes With the pilot now in the rear gunner slot, the Gotha takes-off closely guarded by Jones in the Triplane. Schnellinger follows to provide cover. Both Harris and Hottges must return to base due to aircraft damage. Jones Immelmanns to harass the rescue plane and catches Schnellinger who is diving to provide cover but for no damage and jams his guns. Schnellinger puts himself between Seeler and his pursuer, luckily with jammed guns. Hottges and Harris leave the map to return to base. Jones dives, followed by Schnellinger as both tail the rescue plane at a lower altitude. Both dive again (now at altitude 1) and eventually overlap as they continue the chase. With Jones chasing the Gotha and just out of range, Schnellinger fires at long range, but jams his gun. The Triplane eventually gets into range of the Gotha and his fire wounds Held in the front gunner position. The rescued pilot returns fire but misses, Schnellinger is still jammed. With the next consecutive shot, Jones causes more damage and agin the rescued pilot misses. The Gotha leaves the mat into friendly territory and returns home. Jones Immelmanns and catches the jammed Roland by surprise but misses. After overlapping, the Roland is quicker to Immelmann and hits the Tripe for damage and momentarily jams his gun which frees itself due to having checked the bullets carefully before leaving. On his next consecutive shot, Schnellinger does more damage from long range. The Tripe Immelmanns and hits the Roland from long range for minor damage. Schnellinger misses with his return fire with an aim bonus. After overlapping once again and both pilots performing Split-S they turn to face each other in this even contest. At short range, both pilots fire their remaining ammunition, neither giving way, and the inevitable happens both planes explode and fall into the sea in enemy territory for Schnellinger, a mutual kill. Butchers Tally: Entente: 2Lt Fred Hodgkinson: Sopwith Triplane ©: FRTB-D / 0 kills or probables Rolled 2+3 = Landed safely 2Lt Howard Harris: Sopwith Triplane (red stripe): FRTB-D / 0 kills, 1 probable (Hottges) Rolled 1+3 = Landed safely 2Lt Olaus Jones: Sopwith Triplane (CDL): SD-EXP-SEA-FT / 1 kill (Schnellinger) C&W: Rolled 8 -3EXP -1SEA = 4 - Injured - Skip 1D6 scenarios, rolled 2 = Skip 2 Central: Fwbl Uwe Seeler:(P2) Gotha WD4(UWD): RTB / 0 kills - no gun - Successfully found and rescued downed pilot. Ltn Siegfried Held: (O/front gun) - Gotha WD4(UWD): RTB / WIA / 0 kills or probables C&W: Rolled 8 +1RTB -1WIA = 8 - Injured skip 1D2 scenarios, rolled 6 = Skip 2 Rescued Pilot: (rear gun) Gotha WD4(UWD): RTB / 0kills or probables Ltn Karl-Heinz Schnellinger: Roland D.II (Camo): SD-EXP-SEA-ET / 1 kill(Jones), 1 probable FRTB-D (Hodgkinson) C&W: Rolled 10 -3EXP -1SEA = 6 - Injured, skip 1D3 scenarios, rolled 6 = Skip 3 E&E: Rolled 8 -1EXP -1WIC -1BEL -1SEA = 4 - Captured and escaped, skip 1D3 scenarios, rolled 2 = Skip 1 Ltn Horst-Dieter Hottges: Albatros D.III (Red/white): FRTB-D / 0 kills, 1 probable FRTB-D (Harris) Rolled 4+2 = Landed safely Overall victory to the Eagles for rescuing the pilot (Ironically, May have to go back for Schnellinger who crashed in the sea!)

Hey Pete, a lot of flying there aiming for clouds and altitude changes. The xxx really hit the fan once they were in range of each other though. Well done on a good scenario and die rolls for a change, speak to you later. Got to spread REP around

It seems to go like that, periods of chasing each other, then 3 enemies on you at once with no way out. You can only hope they collide in their haste to get you!

Thanks Paul