Volume 36, Number 8
Ethan Dominates Season Opener, Ben Survives Every Mission
October 12, 2024 Gaming Report
Fall gaming kicked off on October 12th at Stephen's 1917 Room in Union City. There was plenty of action on the table with five kills being scored in three games.
Game 1
The first scenario matched the Pfalz DIIIa's of Ernst Reichensberger (Jonathon, 3/0) and LTN Nathanael Spadinger (Stephen, 11/2) against the French Nieuport 17's of Achilles de LaCroix (Ethan, 5/1), Martin Boulee (Rick, 19M) and Benjamin's yet-to-be-named 2nd mission Frenchman.
Ethan Dominates Season Opener, Ben Survives Every Mission
October 12, 2024 Gaming Report
Fall gaming kicked off on October 12th at Stephen's 1917 Room in Union City. There was plenty of action on the table with five kills being scored in three games.
Game 1
The first scenario matched the Pfalz DIIIa's of Ernst Reichensberger (Jonathon, 3/0) and LTN Nathanael Spadinger (Stephen, 11/2) against the French Nieuport 17's of Achilles de LaCroix (Ethan, 5/1), Martin Boulee (Rick, 19M) and Benjamin's yet-to-be-named 2nd mission Frenchman.
Ethan's Nieuport pilot put up a good fight until he absorbed his 3rd engine hit, after which he escaped into the clouds. The lone casualty of the game occurred when Stephen's 11-mission Pfalz pilot rolled three critical hits in the same turn. He managed to limp back to his home field only to die in a landing crash. Rick's 19-mission Nieuport pilot rolled a reduced chance at confirmation and was awarded the kill.
Game 2
The second game appeared to favor the Germans who flew two Albatri (Rupert Dunzel, 21/5 [Rick], Hans Schnickelfritz, 1/0 [Ben]) escorting a DFW CV two-seater (OBLTN Julius Fieseler, 9/0, LTN Garthibus Poss, 7/1 [Stephen]) . They were opposed by the single-gun Sopwith Pups of Scottie Bloodworth (Ethan, 4/1) and Jon's unnamed rookie.
Stephen's DFW flew to his target unchallenged where he successfully completed a visual recon mission after which he suppressed AA fire and rejoined his wingmen who were dogfighting the British Pups. Ben's Albatros had just put 6 hits into Jon's Sopwith when the Britisher dove on the DFW and opened fire. Rick's Albatros ace came to the rescue while the DFW's observer returned fire head-on, scoring two hit factors to complement the 10 that Rick scored. "My plane was shot full of holes and my right wing was shot off," Jon said of his stricken Pup. His pilot miraculously survived the fall (see photo sequence below!) only to be captured for the duration of the war.
Ethan, the lone remaining Sopwith, stayed in the fight and littered Ben's fuel tank with bullets. The Albatros lost power and force landed in German lines where he returned to his squadron safely, while Ethan was awarded the kill.
The second game appeared to favor the Germans who flew two Albatri (Rupert Dunzel, 21/5 [Rick], Hans Schnickelfritz, 1/0 [Ben]) escorting a DFW CV two-seater (OBLTN Julius Fieseler, 9/0, LTN Garthibus Poss, 7/1 [Stephen]) . They were opposed by the single-gun Sopwith Pups of Scottie Bloodworth (Ethan, 4/1) and Jon's unnamed rookie.
Stephen's DFW flew to his target unchallenged where he successfully completed a visual recon mission after which he suppressed AA fire and rejoined his wingmen who were dogfighting the British Pups. Ben's Albatros had just put 6 hits into Jon's Sopwith when the Britisher dove on the DFW and opened fire. Rick's Albatros ace came to the rescue while the DFW's observer returned fire head-on, scoring two hit factors to complement the 10 that Rick scored. "My plane was shot full of holes and my right wing was shot off," Jon said of his stricken Pup. His pilot miraculously survived the fall (see photo sequence below!) only to be captured for the duration of the war.
Ethan, the lone remaining Sopwith, stayed in the fight and littered Ben's fuel tank with bullets. The Albatros lost power and force landed in German lines where he returned to his squadron safely, while Ethan was awarded the kill.
Game 3
Rick's 3rd mission SPAD 7 pilot had his hands full trying to defend a French balloon against a pair of German aces. HPT Dolf Meinhart (Ethan, 19/8 in an Alb DIII) and LTN Johannes Kahle (Stephen, 18/5 in a Roland DIIa). Stephen's ace lightly wounded the SPAD pilot, then Ethan's Albatros jumped on his tail. Rick's only option was to use his SPAD's superior dive. "I was able to go up two tables because I was an ace and because I had a successful tail," Ethan said after scoring ten hits into the SPAD. Ethan tailed his opponent down to 50 feet where the Frenchman passed out from his wound and died in the crash, with the cut for credit going to Ethan (for Meinhart's 8th kill).
The Germans were then able to shoot down the balloon in a single pass with the credit going to Stephen (for Kahle's 5th kill). His pilot was then awarded a promotion to Hauptmann.
Rick's 3rd mission SPAD 7 pilot had his hands full trying to defend a French balloon against a pair of German aces. HPT Dolf Meinhart (Ethan, 19/8 in an Alb DIII) and LTN Johannes Kahle (Stephen, 18/5 in a Roland DIIa). Stephen's ace lightly wounded the SPAD pilot, then Ethan's Albatros jumped on his tail. Rick's only option was to use his SPAD's superior dive. "I was able to go up two tables because I was an ace and because I had a successful tail," Ethan said after scoring ten hits into the SPAD. Ethan tailed his opponent down to 50 feet where the Frenchman passed out from his wound and died in the crash, with the cut for credit going to Ethan (for Meinhart's 8th kill).
The Germans were then able to shoot down the balloon in a single pass with the credit going to Stephen (for Kahle's 5th kill). His pilot was then awarded a promotion to Hauptmann.
36th Armistice Day Championship Set for November 9th
The Indy Squadron's marquee event is to be held at Nelson Skinner's house in Lewisville IN at noon on November 9th. Ethan is the defending champion and is expected to return to defend his title and vie for a third Victory Medal. A buffet of fun foods will be served (please bring $12/person if possible to help cover costs). Other probable competitors are Jonathon, Benjamin, and former winners Rick, Dory, Bob, Kevin and Stephen.
The Indy Squadron's marquee event is to be held at Nelson Skinner's house in Lewisville IN at noon on November 9th. Ethan is the defending champion and is expected to return to defend his title and vie for a third Victory Medal. A buffet of fun foods will be served (please bring $12/person if possible to help cover costs). Other probable competitors are Jonathon, Benjamin, and former winners Rick, Dory, Bob, Kevin and Stephen.
Restored and Colorized: SPADs, Sopwith's and More in France, 1918
Superb New Book on Dreadnoughts
Veteran WWI author Chris McNab is back with a new title from Casemate books, "Dreadnoughts and Super-Dreadnoughts," covering the class of big-gun warships dating from 1906 through the World War I period. This book is a tremendous resource for constructing naval Dawn Patrol scenarios that include warships of all types. It is also well written, informative and profusely illustrated with over 200 images (many in full color). Of particular interest is the chapter on the USS Texas, which saw action in both wars and is today undergoing dry dock restoration.
The book is hardcover, printed on acid free stock and is published in a handy size for travel. This is truly a superb volume and should interest any World War I gamer, enthusiast or historian. It is available through Casemate Books.
Veteran WWI author Chris McNab is back with a new title from Casemate books, "Dreadnoughts and Super-Dreadnoughts," covering the class of big-gun warships dating from 1906 through the World War I period. This book is a tremendous resource for constructing naval Dawn Patrol scenarios that include warships of all types. It is also well written, informative and profusely illustrated with over 200 images (many in full color). Of particular interest is the chapter on the USS Texas, which saw action in both wars and is today undergoing dry dock restoration.
The book is hardcover, printed on acid free stock and is published in a handy size for travel. This is truly a superb volume and should interest any World War I gamer, enthusiast or historian. It is available through Casemate Books.
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