Jasta 18
6 Schwalbe
PilotStatus: ok
Squadron: Jasta 18
Aircraft: Albatros D.III
AircraftStatus: ok
TimeIn: 1 hour+
Claims: 6 shared with 15
narrative: Flying with 3 other gentlemen we encountered two spads near the front. My CO dived on a spad and I followed.
We both opened fire and hit the spad numerous times but do to the french plane's superior speed he escaped us. Later on
in the afternoon we escorted some two seaters as they went about gathering intelligence about enemy positions on the front.
We then saw two Belgian machines above us but they did not attack do to our superior numbers. However, a lone nieuport
machine tried to attack one of my wingmen. Our lead plane made a brief pass at him then waved me to begin my assault.
On my way down another gentleman from J27 joined the fight. I dove directly behind the machine and opened fire at tless
than 20 yards away. I struck the machine with a continuous burst which lasted no shorter than 3 seconds. He turned to the
right and dove and my companion opened fire as he came out of the dive. A tracer round struck the fuel line and the plane
caught fire and dove for the ground. I did not see the pilot but the plane landed a mile or two east of Roulers.
7 Hpt. Ishmael
PilotStatus: ok
Squadron: Jasta 18
Aircraft: Albatros D.III
AircraftStatus: ok
TimeIn: 1 hour+
Claims: None
narrative: Flew patrol as ordered. Encountered two enemy SPAD7s in hot pursuit of a flight from Fa5b. The Spads were
trailing an N17. Shadowed the spads for some time but when fa5b neared an airfield, my wingman and I turned to engage the
17.
I took one firing pass then let my wing #6 take over. He was joined by #15 from J27. The two of them shared in the
downing of the 17. I saw it crash but did not see if there were any survivors.
Later, on patrol of the front, saw two Spads dive, one after the other, on our two seaters and then attack some nearby
scouts. My wingman and I dove on one of the Spads and hit it very hard but it outran us before we could bring it down.
After completing our patrol, we returned to base, shadowed by two more enemies at high altitude. My wing and I landed
at the airbase and called it a night. No attack on the base was forthcoming.
All pilots performed extreemly well.
8 Gewin
PilotStatus: ok
Squadron: Jasta 18
Aircraft: Albatros D.III
AircraftStatus: ok
TimeIn: 1 hour+
narrative: took off with my Squad but soon experienced elevator problems, probally a severed cable from a previous hit.
After a total reboot and scan I continued on patrol alone. At one time I spotted 2 A/C headed in a line parallel to me
since it was on our side of the lines I thought it may be my SQ but then spotted 2 A/C hi above them as the first 2 a/c
got within visual i saw that the closest one was a HD2 as he flew past with out even trying to engage, it dawned on me as
I turned to engage that the 2 hi a/c must be hun and that was why these 2 did not engage and were running. I managed to
get a few burst in 1 of these HD2 but they ran and I was not able to slow them down. I landed at J27 drome to rearm and
continued on patrol with #18 . later on patrol a lone SPAD made 1 pass on #18 then took off into the wild blue yonder.
The rest of the patrol was uneventful.
9 Uhlan
PilotStatus: ok
Squadron: Jasta 18
Aircraft: Albatros D.Va
AircraftStatus: ok
TimeIn: 1 hour+
narrative: Took off with Jasta 18 and flew patrol. Wingman dropped with engine trouble and I had trouble getting the
D5 to climb with the CO's incessantly climbing D3.
Spotted a lone enemy attracting AA fire but he headed west and away. I got separated from the constantly turning squad
trying to track him. In trying to find them again came upon my wingman flying below me. Dropped on him and we went in
search of the rest of the squad who found us. My wingman vanished again soon after and I meched not long after myself.
(lost connect)
Waited out repairs (5 minute rule) and sirens sounded as I was looking at map. Spotters reported a contact and I got
it's bearing and took off. Turned out to be a Nieuport being chased by Jasta 18. The Newp flew right past my nose and
I gave it a burst as it went by then dropped onto it's tail. Tracers came over my shoulder, then Schwalbe's D3 slid in
front of me and some of my rounds hit him. I nosed up and Pendragon came by on the right. Backed off before I was eaten
by my own kind when the newp nosed up and his persuers flew under him and then he leveled off. I lined up on him and put
in a good burst when he seemed to halt in mid air (lagged) and I pulled up and left. My right lower wing was sheared off
and I went into a spin. None of the proper actions would halt the spin so I turned against it and it came out. I saw
flames go by my left, but I was too busy to notice because I was too fast, too low, and headed down so I cut the engine,
pulled up, bumbed the wheels, and got airborne again. The bump took off the other lower wing and actually made it easier
to control the plane. I no sooner turned to head for the field we were fighting near when the engine cut out and I had to
deadstick in. ("Out of Sync").
After griping at the CO for a few minutes we all escorted the BRs on a trench recon flight. At the front two SPADs
(18 & 19) dove on the BRs right in front of Pen and I. Both SPADs were given a mauling, but escaped. We flew the recon
and near the end of it spotted two contacts high behind us. The contacts shadowed us all they way back and continued
east. The BRs landed followed by Jasta 18 but I stayed up while Pen investigated the contacts. We lost them, but
spotted them again, or their twins, west bound this time. tracking them I saw a third beyond them by following AA
rounds up. May have been a BR they were escorting. Lost all contacts as they headed west. Pen and I finally dropped
and landed at Roulers.
Jasta 27
15 Pendragon
PilotStatus: ok
Squadron: Jasta 27
Aircraft: Albatros D.III
AircraftStatus: ok
TimeIn: 1 hour+
Claims: #6(neuiport) shared with our 6
narrative: Flew my initial patrol alone. I decided it was very stupid to fly alone so i sought out the others.
Found the recon crew and they found 2+ enemies, we led them south and then to Wervicq where I hope J18 might bag
them. A fight did occur there. Somehow J18 missed the 2EA even though I could see them right on top of them.
Somewhat miffed I was stalking a Nieuport flying a bit higher. Then J18 attacked him, forgoing the Higher EA.
Well I was pretty po'd so I joined the attack even though it was already 2 VS 1. Got my bursts in the mess and after
the enemy bumped our #9 I poured a mean burst into the enemie's engine and he burst into flame. #6 was also on him at
that particular moment, well so was 9, I suppose we can cut cards for the claim.
Later we escorted a trench recon, 2 spads bounced the recons and myself and Uhlan. Well We gave it back good and I
thought surly high flying J18 would manage to intercept the wily spads. Nope blew their merge and the spads got away
too.
On the way home, 2 EA stalked us from above. We easily escorted the recons home. then I though would make short work
of the EA as they were still skulking about and pretty far in our territory and it was a 4 VS 2 as far as i could see.
Nope, J18 basically flew away while I was hoping to close their escape by climbing, then I saw them dive and land at
Roulers forgoing further operations. I flew about for a bit, after climbing nearly to their altitude, Uhlan spotted a
3rd plane. The other 2 followed behind the far one, and I can only surmise an enemy recon left the area unmolested.
Repsectfully Submitted in frustration.
18 Burkhardt
PilotStatus: ok
Squadron: Jasta 27
Aircraft: Albatros D.III
AircraftStatus: ok
TimeIn: 1 hour+
narrative: Took off from AF after having problems with one of my wheels. Just as I was going to see about what kind of
progress they were making,I noticed that they had wheeled my plane out of the canvas hanger. Just at that moment the
sirens started blarring and everyone started to go to action quarters. I deposited myself in a slit trench and scanned
the sky. I didn't see anything and after awhile they started wheeling my plane out again. I took off this time and headed
for the perscibed patrol zone. I patroled area and heard several sirens going off but was never able to locate anyone.
I returned to af for fuel and was assigned another patrol area. while I was there #8 of J18 landed. Just as I was
taking off the sirens again began to blast. I made good my take off and headed XX, climbing. After gaining sufficient
alt. I came back over the field and was able to then join up with #8. There was no signs of NME. We headed XX and was
at an alt. of 3K when from infront of us came a SPAD. It took one diving pass at me putting some holes in my pretty Alb
and proceeded on his way out distancing us. No further contact and I returned to land safely at my home AF.
Burkhardt
FA5b
1 Flugelmutter
PilotStatus: ok
Squadron: FA 5b
Aircraft: Rumpler C.IV
AircraftStatus: ok
TimeIn: 1 hour+
Claims: Trench Recon
narrative: Took off w/3,10 when j27 flew over on assigned patrol for 2 seaters, saw some con couldnt identify didnt
engage, saw some friendlys kept our patrol going spotted enmy cont high didnt engage drew them to the J18, landed at
XXXXX to refuel. 9 landed just after while waiting spotted con was friendly they landed we waited for them to refuel,
took off for trench recon, engeged enmy turned into the scout pilots, let them chase him off, returned to get my pix W/3
an J18 & J27 for cover on recon con of enmy high Signaled rtb had mt photos an RTB unharmed in need of a drink.
S! to all of the Pilots for Cover this day, We live Obl.Flugel
3 vonBlur
PilotStatus: ok
Squadron: FA 5b
Aircraft: Rumpler C.IV
AircraftStatus: ok
TimeIn: 1 hour+
narrative: Sortie 1:
Took off from our assigned base to recon/patrol our base line. Enroute we spotted 2 enemy craft high then after a few
minutes a 3rd. We altered course to our nearest base since we were no match for them also hoping we could find J18 or J27
to help us out. These guys followed us for close to 10 minutes. We then came close enough to one of our bases where we
decided it would be acceptable to shoot some flares in the hopes of grabbing a Jasta's attention. We lit up the sky.
Then we spotted J18 and I think J27 comming in from the distance and I knew we were ok. We landed and watched as our
fighter squadron took out an enemy N17....poor fellow. :)
Sortie 2:
Took off from our base and decided to patrol our front with the entire German Airforce. A few minutes after take off we
spotted an enemy craft high. He then dove to try to take out #1 but he must have not seen me since while doing so, he
managed to get into direct plane with me. I was flying #1's wing so there was no way I was going to let this guy take
out my wing lead. I fired a few rounds into the enemy craft making him break and giving the Jasta's a chance to take
over. Then another enemy craft dove in from the clouds directly into our Jasta and Bomber formation... Are these guys
suicidal? Our fighter escort successfully managed to get the nme's off our wing and repel them back to belgian airspace.
We landed and that was it...
10 Kugelfang
PilotStatus: ok
Squadron: FA 5b
Aircraft: Rumpler C.IV
AircraftStatus: ok
TimeIn: -1 hour