Jasta 18
3 von Blur
PilotStatus: WIA
Squadron: Jasta 18
Aircraft: Albatros D.III
AircraftStatus: destroyed
TimeIn: 1 hour+
Claims: #19 In Collision
narrative: Sortie 1:
pretty uneventfull experienced 2 mechs.
Sortie 2:
Took off with #16, #7 to patrol our area. Came across the rest of the J27 Squad at a base refueling. We then noticed
2 NME's over their territory and #16 Identified them as SPADS. A little while later J27 joined our formation. We then
were engaged by 2 Enemy Spads which we successfully were able to fend off. A bit later we were engaged by yet another
SPAD who stupidly went after my Wing Lead. I easily placed a few shots into his tailpipe and he promptly broke his attack.
Then I spotted yet another SPAD (#19) on an intercept course. I then turned to face him trying to scare him into breaking
off his potential attack on our 5 man flight. I planed with him head on and fired a few rounds which I think did hit. At
the last minute I started thinking this guy was nuts because he still came straight at me. I banked hard right but
unfortunately he got a piece of my lower wing and elevator.
The Impossible Landing...
The planes collided sending my craft into a vertical nose over tail spin at 4000. I fought with the plane hard almost
ripping my Stick out of the floor board. At roughly 3000 I managed to get the craft into a 45 Degree Spin with the tail
end facing the ground (ever see helicopter leaves). Unfortunately my Engine would not turn on, so I once again fought for
what seemed like forever to get my plane straight. Finally something miraculous happened. My Nose tipped downward but
still was in a Flat Spin at roughly 2000. Then with a hard push on the stick I managed to get my nose down. Finally my
engine kicked in at 1500. However due to my low alt and high rate of speed I could not Forcefully pull back on my stick
to level so I used gravity. I simply cut my engine and eased my craft horizontal again at 500. I decided to put down in
a field but I failed to notice the Mountain. I turned on my engine and pulled up hard clearing the mountain face by
inches. On the Other side I once again cut my engine and decided to put her down. The 2 front wheels touched the ground
gently then the 3rd. I coasted for a bit when I think I hit a pot hole. The plane then Spun, flipped nose over tail,
finally landing back on its belly. Then the plane rolled slightly right causing a gentle turn over which took off one
wing. Then the craft stopped leaving one wing intact. but on the ground.
5 Gewin
PilotStatus: ok
Squadron: Jasta 18
Aircraft: Albatros D.III
AircraftStatus: ok
TimeIn: 1 hour+
Claims: #14, #13 shared with #6.
narrative: left drome with 3 other Sq. mates flew our sector. #6 spotted 2 recon aircraft. after a short chase I put
several burst in #14 then finished him with a head shot. #6 shot down #17 too. we continued on patrol when he spotted
a low enemy machine, he gave chase putting several burst in him then broke off. I continued pursuit putting several more
burst in him when he finally landed on his side of the lines. I made several passes hopeing to damage his machine. On the
last pass I put a bullet in the pilot or the observer as I heard a loud grunt! We then flew back and refueled and rearmed
and continued patrolling our assigned sector with no further action.
6 Schwalbe
PilotStatus: ok
Squadron: Jasta 18
Aircraft: Albatros D.III
AircraftStatus: ok
TimeIn: 1 hour+
Claims: 17,13 shared w/5
narrative: We searched for enemy recon machines south of Armentieres and found the majority of their force sneaking
around our lines. Our first engagement we spotted two RE8 machines so I waved to my wingman to take the machine to my
lower right as I dove on the one infront of me. Both machines dived to evade us but I caught up with my machine early
and finished him off. He spun and slammed into a hill. I witnessed my wingman's kill as his fell just short of a river.
We continued our patrol and ran across another RE8 machine who had just passed our lines. We gave chase. I caught up
and fired a few medium bursts and tore the elevator. At that point I ran out of ammo and waved my wingman in. He shot
the machine serveral times and he ran out of ammo. However, we managed to force the machine down behind their lines
before he could get any photos or drop his payload.
7 Hpt. Ishmael
PilotStatus: ok
Squadron: Jasta 18
Aircraft: Albatros D.III
AircraftStatus: damaged
TimeIn: 1 hour+
narrative: Myself and #3 spotted a number of enemy contacts at low level - during first patrol. They disappeared
before we could engage. Fortunately, #6 and #5 were in the area and took out many of those same contacts.
Conducted a patrol of the front with members of J27. Engaged on two seperate occassions by two spads. Shot at and hit
both times. Escaped unscathed.
Due to lack of fuel, had to put down in a farmer's field.
Jasta 27
16 Pendragon
PilotStatus: ok
Squadron: Jasta 27
Aircraft: Albatros D.III
AircraftStatus: ok
TimeIn: 1 hour+
narrative: Decided to run further south that HQ instructed, myself Marko and Fuches found 2 allied two-seaters in
southern territory. I made one pass at enemy #1 then allowed my men to each pick a twoseater and fire on it. I covered
as both worked wonderfully. Marko got enemy #7 and Fuches forced enemy #1 down behind his lines, we flew away with him
shaking his fist at us.
The rest of the mission my aeroplane had much mechanical difficulty but did not stop me from flying with Ish and one
of his men along with my own. We skirmished with a couple spads twice, then i meched again. Later i was contemplating
calling it a night, but sirens were sounding all over so I patroled our southern bases. I found Marko being chased by a
SPAD to St Margurite aero. I engaged and the spad let marko land. The spad was not content in just leaving he wanted to
fight and I gave it to him. He was quite skilled but the spad is not a duellist's weapon and he was pinged many times
and I heard some ripping, then he circled around and made his way back home. I landed shortly there-after.
19 Fuchs
PilotStatus: ok
Squadron: Jasta 27
Aircraft: Albatros D.III
AircraftStatus: ok
TimeIn: -1 hour
Claims: #1
narrative: Took off with Pen and Marko, to secure the mud. Right off the bat we came across two two-seaters.
I proceeded to attack one, shooting a few rounds into him, with Marko's help. Marko broke off and attacked 7 or 2,
not sure on number. I forced 1 down, his plane severely broke a wing and his landing gear on impact. I straffed a
few times, but he got out of his plane. Unfortunately we were in his territory. We finished off our patrol and Pen
had to return to base to fix some mechanical problem. Marko and I continued on, then landed to refuel. We took off,
as Pen, 7 and 3 were overhead and proceeded to catch up to them. Later in the evening we met up with 17 and 18, both
of which were toying with us. Someone finally collided with 17 putting him out of the picture. Marko, 7 and myself
continued to hary 18, or rather he continued to hary us. I was finally after a few passes of putting bullets into his
cowling forced to land. My fuel light indicator came on, luckily there was an abondoned airstrip to land safely on. I
found a farmer with a tractor and we hauled the plane back to our airfield.
S!Fuchs.
20 Marko
PilotStatus: ok
Squadron: Jasta 27
Aircraft: Albatros D.III
AircraftStatus: ok
TimeIn: 1 hour+
Claims: #7
narrative: Took off with 19 and 16 and patrolled area. Flight leader pointed out two dots down below so we engaged.
They were recon I believe and as I flew past 1 I put some good lead into him and continued onto the tail of #7. I stayed
on 7 until his plane burst into flames giving me the kill. 16 also had some bullets in #7. The other recon #1 was forced
down by 19 just on their side of the grass. :( A while later 16, 19, 3, 7, and me(2) engaged 2 spads. Quite a little
fight as we failed to gain the upper hand on the speed of the spad. Kept engaging these guys off and on for the next 30
minutes. 19 and I split off from other group and pursued one of the spads(18 I think) unless it was 10. I have a habit
of making that the least of my worries. We were engaged by the spad off and on for 10-15 min. We were low on fuel so
landing was eminent. I turned and headed towards base XXXXXXX, somehow losing sight of all friendlies. Unfortunately,
the EA SPAD still had his sights on me and aimed to cook my butt. As I was diving for base he used his speed to come
down right on me. We started circling around. I was able to get alt on him and decided not to engage since I was so
close to a base. I made a break for the drome and felt relief as I heard the drome AA start firing. I cut the engine
directly over the building and made a perfect landing on the field. Very exciting night as it was the first scout patrol
I have been on. S! all and goodnight.
FA5b
1 Flugelmutter
PilotStatus: ok
Squadron: FA 5b
Aircraft: Rumpler C.IV
AircraftStatus: ok
TimeIn: 1 hour+
Claims: 6 recon targets
narrative: Let XO have the reigns this Day not feelin well,1ST sortie flew to XXXX to refuel. Waited aloted time took off
for target area, Snaped 4 targets and 2 in another rtb without seein an enmy scout,Clear skies
S!
9 Uhlan
PilotStatus: ok
Squadron: FA 5b
Aircraft: Rumpler C.IV
AircraftStatus: ok
TimeIn: 1 hour+
Claims: 8 targets reconned
narrative: CO was under the weather and left it to me to make up flight plan for the day. The ever brown nosing XO, I
whipped one up. Flying solo, I slipped into enemy territory threading my way through the AA zones to reach my targets.
Twice I had contacts high above me that flew on unseeing. I turned over my target area, scanning for contacts I knew
would be drawn by the immense amout of archie I was drawing and snapping my pictures as I went. I was amazed to exit
the other end unseen and unscathed! I then decided to go for my last target on the way out. I took the picture and
turned eastward, again scanning for the enemy planes that were bound to be attracted to all the flak in the air. They
were. I saw two contacts headed north and very obviously turn east in line with me - I was made! I bungeed the joystick
and concentrated on the approching objects hoping they would be a pair of Albatros. The tracers confirmed they were not,
but were if fact 2 SPADs. I went into a shallow dive to gain as much speed as possible and ran for the front, weaving and
ducking the SPADs fire while the gunner popped away with little effect back at them. Half the elevator was shot away,
the rudder was hanging by the control lines, both the gunner and I were grazed by bullets, and there were several tears
in the wing covering when the SPADs broke off the attack and turned west. I turned toward the closest base and turned
over my photo plates while my Rumpler was being stiched back together.
After the repairs and some fuel for myself and my aeroplane, we flew to our base and met with the CO and Burckhardt
there. The CO had completed his mission and went to the hospital ward to get something from the doctor. Burkhardt
wanted to go after a target the enemy had chased him off of. I accompanied him feeling he'd be safer with someone to
cover him. We were crossing the front when I spotted a contact moving eastward at my 10oc high position, then another
at my 11oc high. We turned away, but the lead contact must have spotted us and gave chase. We turned again for friendly
territory with the contact now diving and gaining on us. I had lost the second contact and while we we running from what
was now obviously a Nieuport machine, I kept watching for his friend and could not find him. Our visitor had expended
some ammo at long range on us and being on our side of the lines I ordered "Attack!" Burckhardt and I dueled with the
Belgian for at least 7 minutes and I think were gaining the upper hand as the Belgian was very low on ammo, when Burkhardt
stalled his machine and it crashed before he could recover it. The Nieuport followed him down and gave up trying to climb
to me and turned for home giving me a wave, which I returned, but began following him with a mind to dive on him and
avenge Burkhardt. Scanning around before making my move I saw a contact high up and dead ahead. It could only be this
Belgians partner from before seeking him out, so I turned away and landed at the nearest aerodrome.
10 Fw. Burckhardt
PilotStatus: KIA
Squadron: FA 5b
Aircraft: Rumpler C.IV
AircraftStatus: destroyed
TimeIn: 1 hour+
Claims: 1 Recon
narrative: During preflight I learned that we were to take up a Rumpler today instead of the trusty Roland. Even
though I hadn’t had too much flight time in a Rumpler I was excited because of the speed difference it had over the old
Roland.
I took off with #1 and we headed XX for a while until it was time for me to turn XX. It was nice flying with 3 more
pairs of eyes. We reached our first target with no problems and snapped off the pics. We headed to the next and were just
lined up for the run when I heard the banging on the fuselage and new we had company. My rear gunner had put down the
camera and was cocking his gun when I turned for home. Sure enough as I turned I caught sight of a Neup., with a big #8
on his wing. He proceeded to line up for a shot but I had put some distance between us and he only had a long range shot.
I headed toward the lines with all that this sleek beauty could muster. I put her in a shallow dive all the time jinking
just a bit to throw off his aim. By the time I reached the front he was closing distance so I put the nose down a little
more and this gave the gunner a better shot. I think he hit the NME several times. The NME turned back at the front and
I proceeded across. I continued on climbing back up and headed back to AF. On the way I heard sirens at a near by depot.
I saw tracer fire and heard the AA. What ever it was, was low. Thinking it must be a bomber I turned to investigate. I
never managed to get a visual of it as by the time I got there the AA had stopped firing and I never was able to see it.
I patrolled the area for a little while but didn’t see anything. I then headed home and landed. Upon landing I inspected
the damage the Neup., had done to my bird. He had chewed almost the whole left elevator off. As it was it was useless. I
had the mechanics get on it right away replacing it. After my tea I again decided to go back and get the rest of the pics
that, that Neup had driven me off of. We took off and climbed back, and then over the front. Only to have the damn
elevator cable give way once we had reached NME territory. Being over NME territory I cut the engine back and eased
it toward to our AF. (Net drop). I waited again until they fixed the problem and had it out with the head mechanic.
By this time, #1 and #9 crews where there. #9 and I decided to go back and get that pic. We decided two would be better
than one. So we took off and headed XX. Upon reaching the mud we headed XX, when all of a sudden #9 signaled me that he
had some contacts. We headed back toward our lines as another Neup., dove on us. This one had a large #6 on its wing.
We had a good head start but he was taking long-range shots and scored some hits on my plane. #9 signaled to engage and
we turned and I was able to get a raking shot on him. We traded off taking shots. With him not being able to stay on one
of use for very long with out taking punishment. The battle lasted for more than a few minutes in this fashion. He had
just turned from attacking me when I saw an opening. However, being unfamiliar with the plane, when I turned this time
to gain his tail, I failed to keep the nose down enough. I ended up in a stall. I immediately turned the engine off and
tried to get the nose down but the crate didn’t respond and we fell to the mud below.
S! Burckhardt