Bombing Major Raymond's Geraniums.

Briefing from Major Raymond, Air Intelligence.

Settle down chaps, light up your cigarettes, I'm on Raw Turkish rollups this week.  Good for the throat.  Also refill my gin glass, horse's neck if you please.
As you know the Hun have a new Circus moved in over at Vagraines.  Once again it's a mix of Albatros and dirty three wing Fokkers.  They are making a push on our Artillery observation planes.  You gentlemen will stop them.
Your new Squadron Leader will delegate the operations.
Be brave gentlemen.

Operations Briefing
Squadron Leader James Quigglesworth.

What ho chaps.
What we have always done to counter this sort of thing is the old two patrols a day routine.  It's served us disastrously in the past so I see no reason to change anything now.

Dawn Patrol, and Algy will lead A flight with Ginger in formation behind.  Maximum ceiling gentlemen but from the look of that cloud it will be 8000.
Bertie and Smithy will go this afternoon, same routine, doesn't do to surprise the Hun.

The SE5 boys next door will be sending up a single flight to assist.  Old Tudor Davies will be leading them, probably with Donnie Estelle as his second.  A nice kite but not a patch on our Camels.

Remember if the Hun get on your tail, a snap turn will shake them off, but watch out for those damn Fokker Triplanes, they can pull the same trick. If you see any of those damn Rumpler or Halberstadts down them quickly in case they are on bombing runs.  Major Raymond's Geraniums have never been the same.

June 1917, The Dawn Patrol.
Algy with four Camels
Ginger with four Camels
Tudor with four SE5 A
Young Charles FE2B in spotter roll.

The hexless turning circle.  Using the A track may pull your wings off...

The Stereotype Hun Briefing.
Jawoll mine Herren,
Pass the sausages and beer steins.  Let us get up there and shoot down the Englanders (and any other nationalities that may be taking part in their operations).  Swamp them with the scouts on high guard, and pass the two Halberstadts through at lower ceiling to bomb the target.
Major Raymond's Geraniums are doomed!

The Pumpernickel Staffel
Six Fokker Triplanes
Six Albatros
Two Halberstadt
Two balloons and six AA batteries supporting.

In the Air

The blinds move forward

The cunning Hun have those bombers at low level.

The grand melee breaks out.  The Fokkers dominate the SE5.

With a single Fokker escorting the Halberstadts close in.  That lone Camel is shot down.

The Hun focus on the mission and bomb the Major's Geraniums.  A win for the Pumpernickel Staffed.