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#4597502 - 04/20/22 08:33 AM You call these things bombs? WoFF Recon Wars  
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 2,712
33lima Offline
Senior Member
33lima  Offline
Senior Member

Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 2,712
Belfast, NI
It's 2nd July 1915 and I - Leutnant Reinhard Hardegen - am slated for my second operational sortie - you can find a report on the first one, here - with Bomberstaffel 2, flying my observer Hauptmann Alvensleben to drop some bombs onto the heads of the Tommies in their trenches south-east of Nieuwpoort. A second Aviatik B.I is coming with us, and the first Kette is on the job too, though flying separately. We're bringing between us a grand total of eight 5 kilogram bombs, two per aircraft. Those Tommies won't know what's hit them...I'm being sarcastic of course as even at this stage in the war, we'd learned not to expect much from such tiny weapons. Apart from the bombs, we are unarmed - roll on the C-types fitted with an MG; proper warplanes, those.

[Linked Image]

Here we all are, on the grass at Ghistelles. Our bombs are carried internally; and are probably chucked over the side by the observer, trying not to lodge one in the lower wing.

[Linked Image]

And off we go. These early Aviatik B.Is don't so much take off, as gradually float into the air. She's a pretty bird to my eye, but very underpowered, and decidedly tail-heavy.

[Linked Image]

The climb out is equally leisurely.

[Linked Image]

At least the weather is fine, though somewhat cloudy.

[Linked Image]

In the front cockpit, Alvensleben appears relaxed. He'd be somewhat less so, if he knew what was coming.

[Linked Image]

...to be continued!

Attached Files Ger brief 2 July 15.jpgShot04-19-22-22-42-55.jpgShot04-19-22-22-43-41.jpgShot04-19-22-22-44-00.jpgShot04-19-22-22-44-55.jpgShot04-19-22-22-45-57.jpg
Last edited by 33lima; 04/20/22 08:59 AM.

SimHQ Battle of Britain II screenshots thread
CombatAce Mission Reports
"Everything we hear is an opinion, not a fact. Everything we see is a perspective, not the truth." (attributed to Marcus Aurelius)

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#4597515 - 04/20/22 12:26 PM Re: You call these things bombs? WoFF Recon Wars [Re: 33lima]  
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 2,712
33lima Offline
Senior Member
33lima  Offline
Senior Member

Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 2,712
Belfast, NI
On our way up, we pass our friend the observation balloon, once more.

[Linked Image]

In this sector, the shelled area is very wide and we've a good distance to travel before we reach No Man's Land.

[Linked Image]

Anyhow, there's the seaside! Or more accurately, the Channel coast. The port of Ostende is just right of the big lagoon.

[Linked Image]

We alternately climb...

[Linked Image]

...then circle back...

[Linked Image]

...to climb again. We've a long way to go to reach our assigned altitude, and I'm thinking I'll probably settle for going in lower - say, 1,500 metres or so.

[Linked Image]

With all this climbing and circling, we're still very close to where we started - our base at Ghistelles, which is thankfully close to the front.

[Linked Image]

The cloud base is around 1,500 metres and so I settle for that height, the better to see what we're bombing. As we run in, the flak starts. Not too much, at first.

[Linked Image]

I'm able to identify what I think is the target - infantry in trenches - and order them attacked. I let fly myself, but our little firecrackers fall beyond the target - I think that's them going off at the bottom of the next pic. I don't much care - a hit would probably have done little more damage. Next time, though, I'll go a lot lower and take my chances with the ground fire.

[Linked Image]

Now what? The other Aviatik is no-where to be seen; likewise the other section which is supposed to be in on the show.

[Linked Image]

For want of anything more clever to do, I start to orbit, awaiting developments. These duly develop, in the form of an outbreak of flak tracking another aircraft, higher up and coming my way. This could be interesting...

[Linked Image]

...to be continued!

Attached Files Shot04-19-22-22-48-38.jpgShot04-19-22-22-50-09.jpgShot04-19-22-22-54-01.jpgShot04-19-22-22-55-27.jpgShot04-19-22-22-57-22.jpgShot04-19-22-23-03-03.jpgShot04-19-22-23-03-41.jpgShot04-19-22-23-04-52.jpgShot04-19-22-23-05-08.jpgShot04-19-22-23-05-49.jpgShot04-19-22-22-49-13.jpgShot04-19-22-23-00-31.jpg
Last edited by 33lima; 04/20/22 12:39 PM.

SimHQ Battle of Britain II screenshots thread
CombatAce Mission Reports
"Everything we hear is an opinion, not a fact. Everything we see is a perspective, not the truth." (attributed to Marcus Aurelius)

#4597524 - 04/20/22 01:45 PM Re: You call these things bombs? WoFF Recon Wars [Re: 33lima]  
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 2,712
33lima Offline
Senior Member
33lima  Offline
Senior Member

Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 2,712
Belfast, NI
I'm pretty certain the newcomer isn't my other Aviatik. But on an impulse, I climb up towards him. What I'll do if he turns out to be an Englishman, I'll decide at the time. Say hello, perhaps, since we're unarmed.

[Linked Image]

I can't make it to the other aircraft's height, but as he runs in over us, I notice the German markings - and from the cut of his wings and tailplane, he's another Aviatik.

[Linked Image]

I watch him go. He's definitely not my number two, and makes no effort to formate on me. If nothing else, he's drawing some of the flak away from me.

[Linked Image]

I tootle around for a while longer while issuing the recall command, and my other aircraft finally turns up.

[Linked Image]

I set course for our side of the Lines and proceed at full throttle. The Tommies aren't going to let us go without a further effort, however. The flak suddenly increases in ferocity.

[Linked Image]

One of the shells seems to burst noisily right next to us. I'm wounded and my machine is damaged. It's a miracle we weren't blown to kingdom come, there and then.

[Linked Image]

Thank goodness we're just across No Man's Land. I push down the nose for home and turn off the engine, fearing a fire. I need to get down quickly, before I pass out or something else bad happens.

[Linked Image]

Just as I'm levelling out for a forced landing amidst the shell holes, something odd happens. The mission ends and I'm taken to the results screen, as if I'd quit the mission. There, for the second time of late, I find I haven't been wounded after all, just shaken up. We didn't hit anything and my number two seems to have brought his firecrackers home, but I don't much care. I'm lucky to be still alive!

[Linked Image]

For all that they are a different kettle of fish, these two-seater missions in Recon Wars I'm finding every bit as immersive as any flown in scouts - great stuff!

Attached Files Shot04-19-22-23-06-33.jpgShot04-19-22-23-06-41.jpgShot04-19-22-23-06-53.jpgShot04-19-22-23-08-41.jpgShot04-19-22-23-09-36.jpgShot04-19-22-23-11-17.jpgGer brief 2 July 15 debrief.jpgShot04-19-22-23-07-42.jpg
Last edited by 33lima; 04/20/22 01:51 PM.

SimHQ Battle of Britain II screenshots thread
CombatAce Mission Reports
"Everything we hear is an opinion, not a fact. Everything we see is a perspective, not the truth." (attributed to Marcus Aurelius)

#4597553 - 04/20/22 04:45 PM Re: You call these things bombs? WoFF Recon Wars [Re: 33lima]  
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 936
VonS Offline
WWI Flight Sims on a Mac
VonS  Offline
WWI Flight Sims on a Mac
Member

Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 936
Nice reports Lima - pleased to see Bosta 2 and Ghistelles being advertised in BH&H2. One of my favorite haunts and fairly close to the lines - makes for convenient trips across Dixmuide and down to Ypres in a Fokker E.II and then back again for lunch and a nice game of cards in the mess. Beware the balloon that is immediately south of Nieuwpoort, however - good Archie there - and watch the winds around that balloon further down from the one next to Ypres. Some interesting crosswinds there, especially in poor weather. Speaking from the perspective of a (virtual) friend who frequently flies from Ghistelles. biggrin

Cheers and happy WoFFing,
Von S smile2

Last edited by VonS; 04/20/22 05:10 PM. Reason: Edited post.

~ For my various FM/AI/FPS/DM Mods. for First Eagles 2, WoFF, RoF & WoTR, and tips for FlightGear, recommended is to check over my CombatAce profile (https://combatace.com/profile/86760-vons/) and to click on the "About Me" tab while there. ~
#4597744 - 04/23/22 07:41 AM Re: You call these things bombs? WoFF Recon Wars [Re: 33lima]  
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 2,712
33lima Offline
Senior Member
33lima  Offline
Senior Member

Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 2,712
Belfast, NI
Thanks for the tips OvS, as a newcomer to this sector it's always good to get a few pointers from an alter Hase!

Last edited by 33lima; 04/23/22 09:27 AM.

SimHQ Battle of Britain II screenshots thread
CombatAce Mission Reports
"Everything we hear is an opinion, not a fact. Everything we see is a perspective, not the truth." (attributed to Marcus Aurelius)


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