Jasta 18
4 Hpt. Ishmael
PilotStatus: ok
Squadron: Jasta 18
Aircraft: Albatros D.III
AircraftStatus: ok
TimeIn: 1 hour+
Claims: Witnessed 1 shot down by #18 and #5
narrative: First engagement went according to plan. All squadrons performed perfectly. Belgian tactics however were
most noticable for their absence.
Myself and #5 gave #8 N17 something to take back with him, but were unable to bring him down - despite adding a
significant amount of lead to his airframe. He easily outran us with superior speed.
We later formed up with elements of J27 and went on an offencive patrol. #18 and #5 shared in the destruction of an
enemy (#14?) who's aircraft was blown to pieces while he attempted an emergency landing. There we no survivors.
This last one could have easily outrun us if he'd only kept going - but for reasons known only to him, he decided to
try and bee-line underneath us. That was his last mistake.
As I write, I am awaiting fuel for the quick hop back to J18. I am unsure of our losses but reports along the front
indicate that they were minimal and I find this encouraging. it is to be hoped that we suffered few casualties.
5 Schwalbe
PilotStatus: ok
Squadron: Jasta 18
Aircraft: Albatros D.III
AircraftStatus: ok
TimeIn: 1 hour+
Claims: 14 shared with #18
narrative: Flying with 3 other gentlemen we encountered a huge opposing force between Roulers and Hooey Hoek. They we
pursuing J27 which flew directly under our flight. Two of my members then dove to give support as I scrambled to find my
CO in the fray. During the opening round of the fight I saw nieuport machine lose an upper wing. After that I saw my CO
line up another nieuport. He made his attack then I opened up with a burst tearing his elevator and rudder up. #8 then
managed to climb away from us and escapped. By this time my CO and I lost track of the fight. We then proceeded to land
and met up with our #18. After refueling we then took to the skies again over enemy territory. We engaged a belgian
North North West of Leffrinckhauke. Seeing us he made a gallant effort to dive towards his drome but #18 and I caught
up to him and unleashed a hail of bullets that separated his rudder causing the plane to spin out of control and crash
tumbling across the Earth.
6 Fuchs
PilotStatus: ok
Squadron: Jasta 18
Aircraft: Albatros D.III
AircraftStatus: ok
TimeIn: 1 hour+
Claims: 9, hit 13 a few times, and 18???
narrative: Took off from our base with a compliment of 4 J18s, Gewin joined late with the same number as myself.
After the confusion we headed on our patrol. Spotted two from j27 and then headed our way. A few moments later, we
spotted 9 and 18 Belgies in new spads, looked kewl. I attacked one of them, saw two more and thought oh uh not good.
A spad got a hit on me, and was able to target him, #9. Followed him for a bit, loaded half a chamber of bullets into
him as he was climbing. Then he stalled. I thought after a thousand feet he could bring it out. But I must have hit
him good. I kept looping and then diving into him, putting a few more rounds into his belly..and then watched as he
kept doing end over end flips. I sharply turned my alb to attack 18, and heard a sickening snap. Crap. There goes
another wing. I turned a little slower, looking for proximity of the enemy and the closest base to borrow some duct
tape. My Wingie pursued number 13 for a headshot...that was kewl....but we lost sight of 4 and 5. I landed waited
for the parts to my plane then caught up with Gewin at our drome.
After a debriefing, the two of us continued our patrol, hoping to catch up with 4 and 5 and not catch up with another
flight of Spads. No joy on either account. We didn't see anything.
S!Fuchs
7 Gewin
PilotStatus: ok
Squadron: Jasta 18
Aircraft: Albatros D.III
AircraftStatus: ok
TimeIn: 1 hour+
Claims: N17 with #6 Fuchs and SPAD #13 with unknown J18 pilot
narrative: late getting to drome but my mechanic had an Albatros warmed up so I hopped in an joined up with the SQ.
circling over the airfield there was some misstake on my part as I was flying the same SQ # as Fuches but we continued
on with the patrol anyway. We attacked a flight of N17s I put a good burst in #9 as I turned back I saw he had stalled
and followed him and put another burst into him, as I flew past I saw #6 Fuches dive in and put more rounds into him.
I broke off my attack as I knew there were more enemy around and as I leveled off saw tracers in the distance. I flew
towards the direction of the tracers and saw a J18 aircraft and a SPAD. It looked like the J18 pilot had things under
control so I pulled up to get some alt in case I was needed. It was at this time that I heard a load crack. I rolled my
aircraft over and saw the SPAD still in one piece but slightly damaged. Fearing the worst that the brave Hun pilot had
sucumbed to the Albatroses weak lower wing I dove in on the SPAD and on my second burst hit the pilot at which time his
machine rolled and dove the the earth. I flew for my side of the line since i was low and vunerable to any Allied Pilots
that might still be in the area I reformed with #6 Fuches at the Drome got in the right # aircraft and took off on the
second patrol which went uneventful
Jasta 27
18 Pendragon
PilotStatus: ok
Squadron: Jasta 17
Aircraft: Albatros D.III
AircraftStatus: ok
TimeIn: 1 hour+
Claims: #10 Forced down(Hanriot), #16 N17(down in flames), #14 N17, destroyed-Shared with Schwalbe
narrative: Well The man's plan payed off in full. I lead myself and Burckhardt on our assigned patrol. I went into
J18's patrol area, just to make sure...then back to mine...
Well I found many enemy contacts and immediatly flew to J18 and then under them. To my horror I had 3 on my tail...
they completly ignored j18. I could not turn fight the hanroits...nor run from the spad. So I dove for Roulers.
Now they decided to no blow their alt on me and broke off, but I was minus my rudder...all torn up. No good for the
fight as i rely on it a lot. I scanned around and picked up an enemy fleeing the battle heading nw. at my lower
altitude, and gave chase. I forced this hanroit(#10) down on our turf. As i moved back to the battle I saw a one
winged n17(#16) coming my way trying to flee to his territory and pounced on him, shooting him down in flames.
Though I wasn't able to help much in the fight I am proud to make sure of a couple belgies whom might have gotten away.
Then landed and hooked up with Ishmael, who got me to lead a patrol. We lead a very deep patrol in belian territory
finally finding a lone n17(#14) in the north, he tried to run then made the mistake of angleing back to land at an
aerodrome...we cut him off and shot him down before he could make it.
Was hoping to intercept some 2 seaters on their way home..but no luck then my engine sort of went to pot and landed
at one of the emergency aeros.
19 Viktor Burckhardt
PilotStatus: KIA
Squadron: Jasta 27
Aircraft: Albatros D.III
AircraftStatus: destroyed
TimeIn: -1 hour
Claims: I have no idea.
narrative: Took off from AF with flight leader. Headed to assigned patrol route. After a short time we met up with a
flight from J18. Waggled wings and continued. It wasn't long till we again spotted some planes. It was again J18 but this
time there was NME there also. Flight leader engaged and I was caught in a head on attack by two planes. One dove and took
off my left elevator. I continued to fight and was fairing well. I drove several NME off wingmen’s tail. I finally was
able to get in a good position behind a SPAD. I was too excited and failed to get the ID on the plane. I followed him
down pumping lead into him. He went into a step dive and I stayed high, following him as he zoomed back up. We started
scissoring and he again went into a steep dive only to zoom back and ram me taking with him my wing. I watched helplessly
as the ground came to me as I slowly flat spiraled into it. I'm not sure but I think he flew on after the collision.
Fw. Viktor Burkhardt
FA5b
1 Flugelmutter
PilotStatus: ok
Squadron: FA 5b
Aircraft: Rumpler C.IV
AircraftStatus: ok
TimeIn: 1 hour+
Claims: 4 targets reconned
narrative: Took off to refuel area w/10 and 3, 10 flew cover 3 had mech problems turned around and rtb, 10 an I
pressed on got pix of 4 targets, engaged enmy, so we tried for another target but i decided it was to dangerous, gave
the order to return to base touched down at active Drome w/10 turned in pix,9 showed was going to fly w/ him but had
meched off the run way didn`t want to chance it again.
2 Marko
PilotStatus: ok
Squadron: FA 5b
Aircraft: Rumpler C.IV
AircraftStatus: ok
TimeIn: 1 hour+
Claims: 6 Reconned Targets
narrative: My flight mate kept getting grounded from some mechanical problem so I kept on my route to designated
targets. I didn't encounter any problems at all besides my engine belching and starting to throw a huge fit near the
end of my flight mission. I was getting very nervous that the pictures would never reach their destination. I landed
at the drome and took a small beer break since I saw a pub. Took off a second time and completed all my assigned
missions. The only plane I saw tonight was #3. S!
Marko
3 vonBlur
PilotStatus: ok
Squadron: FA 5b
Aircraft: Roland CL.II
AircraftStatus: ok
TimeIn: 1 hour+
Claims: 1 Recon Targets
narrative: Sortie #1
I took off with #2 and headed along our territory towards another one of our bases for refuel before embarking on our
Recon trip into enemy territory. #10 met up with us enroute and landed safely. Then we took off towards XXXXXXXX.
En-route I experienced some mechanical problems and had to head back to base.
Sortie #2
After taking care of my craft. I returned to base to find myself alone not knowing what my orders were (The Flight
Scheduler went out for Coffee or something) I decided to randomly pick Recon targets that were on my original Orders
sheet for Sortie #1. I flew past a few taking pictures along the way. I went over XXXXXXXX and got some pics but
unfortunately was hit by AA. Plane had minimal damage and was still in Flyable condition. I proceeded towards XXXXXXXX
where I also took some pics and was being shot at by AA. (No damage received). I then proceeded towards XXXXXXXX where
I spotted a Dot in the distance. Not wanting to find out whether or not it was friendly. I changed my course back to
base. As we got closer I realized that my "F" key was not tracking it therefore I knew it was an enemy. Probably a
Bomber but I was hoping he didnt see me. He did not engage, neither did I. I just kept flying home. Upon returning to
base I met up with #2 also returning. On his landing I heard an explosion then his plane flipped. He had his wings still
intact and was shaken a bit but otherwise ok. I landed successfully, turned in my film, and returned home to my wife.
S!
9 Uhlan
PilotStatus: ok
Squadron: FA 5b
Aircraft: Roland CL.II
AircraftStatus: ok
TimeIn: 1 hour+
Claims: 1 Trench recon, 1 Artillery spotting
narrative: Took at off behind #3 who didn't see me at first, then turned and formed with me. I didn't know where he
was heading, in fact I was in a hurry so didn't read the long orders HQ dropped on FA5b. Instead, I opted to first run
a trench recon and then try to get in an artillery spotting job. Broke off and headed for the trenchlines of choice.
3 came after me, figured out I was off on a tangent, and headed on his own way-probably scratching his head.
Reconned my 4 trenchline squares and turned for the nearest friendly drome. In my turn a glanced someone high and to
my south, but couldn't find him again. I heard the bell at Armentieres and later the sirens at St Marguerte, but never
saw anyone.
After dropping my film, refueling, I talked with Kugelfang and Flugelmutter for a very short time. Klug had his crate
put up for the day, and Flugelmutter accompanied me on the artillery spotting job, or tried to when just after take-off
his Rumpler began belching great clouds of white smoke and he landed. I continued on.
The first 2 squares of the spotting area were quiet and AA free, but as I turned south I had to fly right over
Leffrinckhauke aerodrome which made the greates din it could. Just after passing the drome I spied a plane closing
fast on my 2oc and slightly higher. He came close enogh for me to see the number 8 and that it was a Nieuport, probably
from Bierne. I held course to get my last picture, looking over my shoulder at the apparently oblivious Nieuport when
he very obviously turned toward me. I snapped my shot and turned SE to head for home, but away from #8 as well. I lost
track of #8 and figured he may have turned east to find me when the AA fire ceased. The AA at bridge 244 opened up on me
and I was sure #8 would get a fix on me for sure, but I never saw him. When the AA slacked off I altered course for an
active drome and landed with my pics intact.
10 Kugelfang
PilotStatus: ok
Squadron: FA 5b
Aircraft: Roland CL.II
AircraftStatus: ok
TimeIn: -1 hour
Claims: 4 B/R targets photographed
narrative: Lovely map. Far too much info in orders. No time to analyze. Performed recon mission with Fluggelmutter
and von Blur. Didn't have time to discuss the finer points of poetic literature with von Blur as Fluggelmutter seemed
to be in a hurry. CO overrode HQ orders and gave us a legitmate mission. We all took off but vB had an emergency and
had to leave. FM and I continued on mission. As we were on our last leg out a HD1 (#12, I believe) came up behind us.
We had a running gun battle and took some damage to my rudder. Once we got over the mud the HD1 retreated. Whether he
was damaged or not I do not know. Pictures of targets are available if FM's do not turn out.