'Voss vs 56'

A mission for First Eagles + Expansion Pack 1 + either; Nov 08 patch or Peter01 FM's pack

without patch.

 

Bucky's Quick Mission No.9: 'Voss vs 56'.

 

Released 23/9/08. The 91st anniversary of the action depicted in this mission.

 

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Introduction:

 

This Mission is a re-enactment of an actual aerial combat that took place at about 6:30pm,

on Sunday, 23rd September, 1917, in the skies above Poelcapelle and Westroosebeke,

about 7-8 miles NE of Ypres, in Belgium.

 

The action involved seven SE5a's of 56 Sqn, the RFC's premier fighter unit, and Lt. Werner

Voss, a 48 victory ace and a holder of the coveted Ordre Pour Le Merite (Blue Max).

 

This epic encounter, arguably the most famous dogfight in history, has been the subject of

much speculation and controversy for ninety odd years now, and shows no signs of abating

any time soon. This is evidenced by the fact that even though the combat reports of all the

allied pilots involved (and other aircrew that witnessed it) still exist, there are some

historians and enthusiasts that think Voss had run out of fuel and/or ammunition, and even

that he was trying to surrender(!) before he was killed.

Whatever the truth of the matter, the allied pilots combat reports are all of the opinion that

the Fokker Triplane's excellent climb capability would have allowed Voss to withdraw from

the combat at any time with relative ease. Yet he chose to fight to the end... Maybe he just

had a little too much confidence in his own ability?

 

Werner Voss' life story in general, and his final combat in particular, make very interesting

reading. I highly recommend the book 'September Evening', by Barry Diggens' to anyone

who would like to read further on the subject. Apart from containing a detailed blow by blow

account of the combat, it also includes the complete combat reports of all the allied pilots

involved.

 

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To set the scene:

 

At this time Voss was Staffelfuhrer of Jasta 10, based at Heule, near Courtrai. He had

achieved his 48th victory that morning (23rd Sept) by shooting down a DH4. It was his first

day back on the front line since going on leave on 11th of September. Probably eager to

rack up his victory tally, he fatefully decided to fly one last patrol...

 

Voss took off at approximately 17:05, in the pre-production Fokker Triplane, serial No.

FI. 103/17 which he had been using since late August, and in which he had achieved his last

10 victories. At about the same time, thirty or so miles away at Estree Blanche, 56 Sqn

were leaving the ground for their final patrol of the day.

 

At 18:25, Voss encountered two SE's of 60 Sqn. The ensuing combat which lasted all of two

minutes, ended with both British fighters disengaging after being severely damaged.

Unfortunately for Voss, The flight of SE5a's from 56 Sqn, led by Cpt. James McCudden VC,

had witnessed the brief furball and were not slow in coming to the aid of their two stricken

comrades...

 

The infamous ten minute dogfight that followed is excellently summed up in this excerpt

from James McCudden's book; 'Flying Fury':

 

"The German pilot (Voss) saw us and turned in a most disconcertingly quick manner, not a

climbing nor Immelmann turn, but a sort of flat half spin. By now the German triplane was

in the middle of our formation, and its handling was wonderful to behold. The pilot seemed

to be firing at all of us simultaneously, and although I got behind him a second time, I

could hardly stay there for a second. His movements were so quick and uncertain that none

of us could hold him in sight at all for any decisive time."

 

Inevitably though, odds of seven to one were too great, even for a pilot of Voss' prowess.

And especially considering the high calibre fighter pilots he was up against. It was 2/Lt.

Arthur Rhys-Davids who eventually got Voss in his sights long enough to deliver the coup

de grace. Voss fell to earth just inside the British lines, NW of Frezenberg, at a place called

Plum Farm. He was 20 years old.

 

In homage to Voss, McCudden stated in his book:

 

"I shall never forget my admiration for that German pilot, who single-handed fought seven

of us for ten minutes, and also put some bullets through all of our machines. His flying was

wonderful, his courage magnificent, and in my opinion he is the bravest German airman

whom it has been my privilege to see fight."

 

High praise indeed.

 

The battle hardened 56 Sqn pilots that Voss faced that evening were all aces except for

Cronyn. Indeed, by the end of the war they had amassed 172 victories between them.

They are listed below with their total end of war victory numbers, the serial number, and

identification letter of the SE5a they were actually flying on 23rd Sept 1917.

 

Cpt. J.B. McCudden. (58) flew B4863 marked 'G'

Cpt. G.H. Bowman. (32) flew B2 marked 'M'

Lt. R.T.C. Hoidge. (27) flew B506 marked 'N'?

2/Lt. A.P.F. Rhys-Davids. (22) flew B525 marked 'I'

Lt. R.S. Maybery. (21) flew B1 marked 'K'

Lt. K.K. Muspratt. (8) flew A8944 marked 'H'

Lt. V.P. Cronyn. (4) flew A4563 marked 'L'

 

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Mission guidlines:

 

WARNING!

It has to be said that it's almost impossible to survive this mission, (well, for me anyway!)

and for that reason I hesitated to upload it at all. But with the 91st anniversary of Voss'

demise approaching, I decided to go for it.

I created it using the latest 'Peter01 FM's pack', 'Very Hard AircraftObject.ini', and

'70% GunData.ini files'. Consequently, I haven't lasted more than a minute during the

mission testing! I'm no great flyer though, so with a bit more ability, or without those

mods?...

 

When the mission begins, you'll be flying at approximately 6,500ft. We'll assume that the

encounter with the two 60 Sqn SE's has just ended, and the 56 Sqn flight is winging its way

towards you...Utilise your height advantage, and don't fly straight and level for more than a

few seconds!

 

The 56 Sqn pilots were all amazed at Voss' aerobatics...You'll have to be equally agile to

have even the slightest glimmer of a chance!

 

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Compromises and game limitations:

 

I had a go at including the legendary 'red nose Albatros' that featured briefly in the furball

that fateful evening. However, it only distracted the SE's from giving you (Voss) their full

attention. And seeing as it only played a very small part in the combat, I decided not to

use it.

 

The 56 Sqn SE5a identification letters used are all correct for the pilots involved in the

combat (See above for pilot/ID list). However, on 23/9/17, 56 Sqn were still using a dumbell

marking on the rear fuselage. This was changed to the more familiar white rear fuselage

band on 25/9/17.

 

The actual combat between Voss and 56 Sqn commenced at about 6:30pm, but I've had to

set the mission time at 5:30, otherwise you'd be flying in the dark.

 

I've also used a bit of artistic license regarding height advantage and the order of events,

but essentially it's you (Voss) against seven enemy planes, just as it was for him.

 

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Mission requirements:

 

To fly this mission as intended, you'll need the following mods and skins:

 

Flanders terrain.

By Edward.

To be found in the Combat Ace, Downloads, 'Maps/Terrains' section.

 

Werner Voss skin for the Expansion Pack Fokker Dr.I.

By Gumpy.

To be found in the Combat Ace, Downloads, 'WWI Aircraft Skins' section.

 

SE5a 56 Sqn, RFC, 1917 Squadron Markings.

Two versions by dhasdell.

To be found in the Combat Ace, Downloads, 'WWI Aircraft Skins' section.

Make sure to use the 'letters' version.

 

Many thanks to all the above artists for their most excellent contributions to this great game.

 

Although not essential, for extra realism and immersion I would recommend the following

mods, available from the Combat Ace, Downloads site:

 

'Thicker, Fuller Clouds'.

By ShrikeHawk.

Found in: 'Maps/Terrains'. 'Environmental Mods'.

Excellent mod that greatly improves the "cotton wool ball" clouds effect.

 

'FE Sounds'.

By yours truly.

Found in: 'Sound Mods'.

 

For maximum realism I would also recommend that this mission be played with all gameplay

settings set to 'Hard'.

 

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Installation instructions:

 

Install the mission by unzipping the downloaded file to the following path:

C:/Program Files/Thirdwire/WW1/Missions

 

Alternatively, you can drag and drop the unzipped MSN file directly into your 'Missions' folder.

 

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I hope you enjoy flying this mission and find it both challenging and enjoyable enough to play

it more than once. I've tried to make it as historically accurate and authentic as the game

will allow.

Feel free to change any of the parameters as you wish.

 

I would welcome any suggestions or general feedback, good, bad or indifferent, via any one

of the FE forums.

 

Viel Glueck!

 

Bucky. 23/9/08.

 

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References used in creating this mission:

 

'September Evening'... B. Diggens.

'Werner Voss'... D. Hylands.

'Flying Fury: Five Years In The Royal Flying Corps'... J. McCudden VC.

'High In The Empty Blue'...A. Revell.

'Under The Guns Of The German Aces'... N. Franks & H. Giblin.

'Who Downed The Aces In WWI'... N. Franks.

'Above The Lines'... N. Franks. F.W. Bailey & R. Guest.

'Above The Trenches'...C. Shores. N. Franks. R. Guest.

'The Jasta War Chronology'... N. Franks. F. Bailey & R. Duiven.

'The Sky Their Battlefield'... T. Henshaw.

'Royal Flying Corps Communiques 1917-18'... C. Bowyer.

'The Fokker Triplane'... A. Imrie.

'Fokker Dr.I Triplane: A WWI Legend'... P. Leaman.

'Fokker Dr.I Aces Of WWI'... N. Franks & G. VanWyngarden.

'British Aviation Squadron Markings Of WWI'... L.A. Rogers.

 

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