Jasta 18
4 Hpt. Ishmael
PilotStatus: ok
Squadron: Jasta 18
Aircraft: Albatros D.III
AircraftStatus: ok
TimeIn: 1 hour+
narrative: I witnessed two victories by #6 and #8, who worked as a team to down both aircraft.
I did force one enemy aircraft down but he landed safely at his airdrome. He almost hit one of his hangers but
good use of his rudder saved his aircraft. I saluted with a flare and rejoined my flight.
6 Schwalbe
PilotStatus: ok
Squadron: Jasta 18
Aircraft: Albatros D.III
AircraftStatus: damaged
TimeIn: 1 hour+
Claims: #6,#9 shared with #8
narrative: Flying with 2 other gentlemen we escorted our bombers to their target. On the way back a lone Belgian diving on one of our bombers. I pursued the
enemy machine and fired a medium burst on the tail of the machine. Suddenly one of machine swerved into my stream of fire as he shot the belgian. Unfortunately, I
struck his machine several times in the upper wing surface. Furiously waving at him to move he disengaged and I started my assault on the machine once more. I
shot his elevator surface and he spun out of control into the ground. He fell east of Ypres. Again escorting friendly bombers we encountered 2 enemy machine near
Coxyde. I dove on on machine and shot his rudder. As he tried to climb away he stalled and recieved multiple rounds from my wingman as he plummetted to the
earth. On his decent I again assailed him to make sure he fell. Another machine was forced down at his drome by my CO. On my way back one of thier machines
was idle on the field so I proceeded to strafe the neiuport. I made 3 passes and left as I apparently annoyed the gentlmen in the machine gun nests for their accuracy
was getting better.
8 vonBlur
PilotStatus: ok
Squadron: Jasta 18
Aircraft: Albatros D.III
AircraftStatus: ok
TimeIn: -1 hour
Claims: Shared Kill on #6 with #6. Shared Kill on #9 with #6
narrative: Sortie 1:
We went to escort bombers to a northern enemy area when I spotted 3 Enemy Aircraft. I notified #5 about this which agreed they were EA. We however did not
pursue so we could provide cover for our bombers doing their bomb run. After a few minutes we noticed an EA attacking one of our bombers. #5 and #6 went in
to a dive and I followed. We were able to get the enemy (#6) off our bomber and made him go on the defensive. #5 then broke high and I stayed with #6 as his
wing attacking in an alternating wing formation. We pounded some lead into the enemy craft while alternating, finally shooting him down. We then gained altitude and
returned to base.
Sortie 2
We once again went to a northern enemy area escorting our bombers when we spotted 2 enemy craft attacking one of them. Once again we formed up and got into
the fight. #5 went after one craft while once again both #6 and I used an Alt. Wing Formation to take the second (#9) down, which we did. Unfortunately the other
enemy craft evaded #5 and managed to land at his drome. #6 then went in for a strafing kill. I did not join on this one and decided to gain altitude and provide
overwatch since we were over an active enemy drome. After a few attempts by #6 we formed up. Met with #5 and RTB.
Sortie 3:
We still had some time left so we decided to go on a bomber hunt. #5 was experiencing some Mechanical Problems with his rudders and joystick so we split up.
Both #6 and I went on a deep patrol into enemy territory. We had met up with #17 (J27) and he joined our formation. While on patrol we spotted 2 more J27
members and were told about 2 SPADS in the area. We searched but could not find them.
The game then ended and we were RTB.
S!
Jasta 27
16 Pendragon
PilotStatus: ok
Squadron: Jasta 27
Aircraft: Albatros D.III
AircraftStatus: ok
TimeIn: 1 hour+
Claims: 1 RE8 shared w/Spatz
narrative: We finally found the two seater after chasing the sirens a while, saw the
flak and I very quickly spotted him at a distance. I engaged and spatz
supported me while fuches flew top cover. The re8 went down low an then I
killed the gunner, hearing the scream I broke off momenarily performing a
half roll then returning my attack when I saw the plane was still controlled
and unleashed a hateful stream of lead with took out the pilot and seconds
later lit up his engine...too bad the stinking belgie didn't feel the
flames. They've killed so many of my friends, the bastards.
Second sortie flew to assigned rendezvous point and spotted "something"
nearby, it flew sw and then I picked up two fast moving enemies coming our
way, so I altered course(was just me and Fuches, spatz had to get his engine
overhauled) and took off. We ran into the spads(i think) a couple more
times but i never engaged thinking it futile to fight something that can run
so easily and possibly get trapped down low. On way home saw J18 and
signaled 2 ea to the west. I doubt they got them...
17 Spatz
PilotStatus: ok
Squadron: Jasta 27
Aircraft: Albatros D.III
AircraftStatus: ok
TimeIn: 1 hour+
Claims: 1 RE8 shared w/Pendragon
narrative: First sortie we encountered we encountered NME two seater #2 who we chased down to the deck and Pen shot down.
Second sortee we were heading over behind NME lines when I cleared my flu muddled head enough to notice that the planes
looked wrong. I was flying the wrong FM. Exited and reentered and flew solo for a bit till I hooked up with two flyers
from J18. We were on offensive patrol till the end of the the session and encountered no NME
19 Fuchs
PilotStatus: ok
Squadron: Jasta 27
Aircraft: Albatros D.III
AircraftStatus: ok
TimeIn: -1 hour
narrative: Flew sortie, ran into a bomber, Pen, and other member of flight shot it down. Returned to refuel.
Lost wingee in bad mech..as we were flying...We spotted several enemy but as they outnumbered us, we didn't pursue.
Returned to base. left session
FA5b
1 Flugelmutter
PilotStatus: ok
Squadron: FA 5b
Aircraft: Rumpler C.IV
AircraftStatus: ok
TimeIn: 1 hour+
narrative: bah humbug!
9 Uhlan
PilotStatus: ok
Squadron: FA 5b
Aircraft: Rumpler C.IV
AircraftStatus: ok
TimeIn: 1 hour+
Claims: 170, 4, 10, share 249 w/Flugelmutter
narrative: Took off with squad leader and J18 flying high cover. Headed for Ypres and bombed the town while the CO bombed the bridge. Got the church on the
second pass and watch the CO beat all the parts off the bridge without a span dropping. In all the buzzing around I lost the CO and flared J18 to head for home.
On the way, still scanning for the CO I saw a dot where he might have been. When it was close enough to look like a plane I tried the F key on him but it weren't
none o mine! I began shooting rockets and flares and fire my guns to get J18 to come down for this fella, #6, which they eventually did.
Back at base we got new assignments and headed off to bomb some aerodromes. I was assigned Coxyde and dropped two bombs on it flaming one hanger and
visibly damaging the next. Turning for Leffrinckhauke so the CO could make his mark, we flew head on into a pair of N17s. Again flares and rockets went up to
warn J18 of the enemy presence. Both 17s got on my six and pounded my plane into a bale of garbage. Every round that struck seemed to be accompanied with
by the sound of cloth tearing, but the engine ran on! After an enernity J18 came from the heavens and gave my attackers their just deserts. Unable to find the CO
now, I turned my battered crate East for home. Looking for the CO I spotted a Nieuport at 8 o'clock low being chased by J18. I turned on him firing to slow him
down, and in avoiding me turned back towards his pursuers. I returned to my homeward course. Just crossing into friendly territory the engine finally gave up
(meched) and I glided into Ghistelles.
Some tape, wire, poprivets, and chewing gum got me into the air again, but over the front the engine choked again. (4.56 FPS) Another few hits with a hammer and
she roared into the sky and we were off to bomb Leffrinckhauke!
On the approach I could see no damage so commited to the bomb run. The sight must have been thrown off some, and it took several passes to finally destroy one
of the hangars. I then made a bee line for Roulers, scanning for the inevitable Nieuport to come blazing away at my rickety old crate. He never did.
Fueled up at Roulers with some more twine and tape on the wings and we were ready to fly. Off to Ypres to see if the CO managed to finish off that bridge. Time
was short and I flew for Ypres at a shallow climb to keep up my speed.
I couldn't make out any further damage to the bridge so I tossed one of my eggs at it, missing and spraying the thing with water. Passed over the town and came
about. Dropped two down the length of the span causing the whole thing to collapse into the creek.
I flew back to Roulers and collapsed myself-into a cot.
10 Burkhardt
PilotStatus: ok
Squadron: FA 5b
Aircraft: Roland CL.II
AircraftStatus: ok
TimeIn: 1 hour+
Claims: Trench-line Reconnaissance
narrative: My bird had developed engine trouble, right after they ferried her in as a replacement. I knew the mechanics, were going to be working on her when the
rest of the flight went out, so I was able to get a little more sleep. By a little after noon, they had her ready and HQ was on the phone asking for some recon of a
stretch of trench-line. We took the job. At least we would be close to the front and our side of the lines incase something went wrong with the engine. We took off
and proceeded to our section of the lines. We finished up with out one incident except for seeing a flare somewhere W of Ypres. We returned with out a problem
and the engine was running beautifully. While we were fueling we saw the XO come in and he gave us another mission. This time we were to bomb target #XXX.
We looked at each other and banged on the side of the new bird for good luck. Off we went. It was late when we started and by the time we reached the target the
light was already beginning to go. We made one bombing run and I made the decision that we had to go now if we were going to find our way home. We managed
to find the AF in the waning light. We were coming in for another perfect landing when the engine just quit. Luckily we were in the last stages of approach just short
of the wheels meeting the earth. We glided on in for a very soft touch down. We looked at each other and again patted the side of our bird. Good thing it hadn't
happened over the target or on the way home.
S! FW. Kurt Benzler