RMC (#6) claims #17. Roberts (#18) and Hudson (#11) claim force-down of #2.

Casualties:

Fuches (#8) KIA. Royce (#20) KIA.

Damage reports:

Factory at D2-2 destroyed by Roberts (#18) and Dawson (#12).

Combat reports:
27th:

Flint #3

Took off with #4 Hartney, #8 Fuches and #6 RMC. Patrolled for little over 30 minutes without seeing much of anything. A good thing too since my plane wasn't responding very well the whole time and I would of been easy prey for the huns. She finally gave out and I had to rtb. After a little work I was able to get back in the air for few minutes when the engine conked out again, seemly for good.

The mechanics worked overtime trying to get the problems straightened out and eventually she was purring like a kitten. I was able to get up for another 20 minutes desperately looking for my flight or some huns before I ran out of daylight. No such luck though and I ended the day back at base at around 23:11. Pounded my head against the wall until I fell into a blissful unconsciousness to end a very frustrating day.

Hartney #4 Claims witnessed: RMC (#6) kill of #17, Fuches (#8) KIA EA engaged: Yes

Took off with Flint, Fuches, and RMC. After extensive patrolling, Flint's engine gave out, and he was forced to drop out. I took over the lead, and we continued patrolling, putting down for petrol at around 2200.

The boys were "mad at the Hun", so I decided to take them into enemy territory. We crossed the mud west of airdrome #20 and turned south down the Austrian lines. At approximately 2230, I sighted four E.A. well below us. We circled for several minutes above them while I decided whether or not to attack given our disadvantage in numbers. I finally decided that the speed of our Spads more than made up for our numerical disadvantage, and so I gave the battle cry: Attack! Attack!

I dove down toward the enemy with Fuches and RMC close behind me. RMC brought down one (#17) almost immediately. I quickly became entangled with #11 and #12. They were worthy opponents. Each time I found an opening on one of them and made a diving pass, the other would pepper me as I climbed back up. My aim was not particularly good, and the odds were increasingly in the Huns' favor, so I finally decided to call a "disengage". I signaled to Fuches to break off. He saw my signal and fell in behind me, and we headed back toward the Allied lines.

I glanced back and saw #11 and #12 in pursuit. Their presence mocked my poor marksmanship, and I turned back to show them what I thought of that. Fuches followed my lead, and we were soon embroiled in another melee. To my horror, I saw Fuches' #8 loop around and crash hard into Austrian ground. My bad judgment had cost my wingman his life.

After a few more fruitless stabs at the enemy, I turned for home again. It was getting late. As I was crossing no man's land, sizzling tracers were suddenly zipping all around me. An Albatros, #1, had me cold. I dove toward the lines, and when I was safely away, I turned back to offer him a fair fight. This was not my day. I managed to stall my crate several times, I couldn't hit the side of a barn, and my foe hammered me with his bullets repeatably. I finally decided to cut my losses and get the hell out of there. I would seek out the Hun another day.

Verreuckter Fuches #8

KIA

RMC #6

claims: shot down Hun #17

Claims witnessed: #4 and # 8 were present but very busy

Squad leader #3 kept meching so #4 assumed the position of flight leader and #8 and myself followed. After approx 1.5 hours of patrol duties from xxxxxx xxxxxx to the N most hun drome along our sector. We ventured into nme territory at one of the Hun dromes along our sector. #4 spotted 4 nme pilots, and we dove to meet them and a very exciting dogfight began. Early on, I shot the German pilot #17 in the head and he died from his wound. The rest of the dogfight we spent clearing each other of the nimble Hun. My last NME contact was lining up on Hun #11 but unfortunately ran out of ammo just when the target was its most vulnerable. I then dove to the NE with two NME pilots chasing me for a short time. The Spad has no equal in a dive or a run to safety. When the two pursuers turned back I swung to the west past xxxxxxxxxxxxx to the home drome. I landed and exited 2 minutes after the order was given to land. I sustained very little damage to the fabric of my plane. There was no structural damage.

76th:

Vasconcells #19

Claims witnessed: observed destruction of enemy factory

Royce and I departed base on schedule and rendezvoused with the three noble bombers of Squadriglia 36, ably led by Sottotenente Roberts. We proceeded, in good order, eastwards, far into the belly of the enemy. There we had the good fortune of watching our bombers demolish a factory of our foe. No enemy sighted, though I spotted a crate far below me at one point that might have been an enemy. We returned to base and enjoyed a moment of jubilation, and passed around the whiskey to fortify ourselves for the next foray into hunland.

We took off again, aiming to protect Roberts and Hudson. Unfortunately my little machine was weak, or tired, and I had trouble keeping up with them as they climbed eastward. Minutes after we had taken off, I heard, well above me, the baritone chatter of a hun mg. I struggled upwards, and then spotted, high above me, a hun machine. What to do? I felt terrible that I was there to help them against their heartless foe. So on upwards, slowly and slowly, I crept, knowing a hun was in the vicinity, but not where. Suddenly machine gun fire, an the ripping of cloth, and I spun around in a dive, seeing a hun crate plunging above me, a hun machine. What to do? I felt terrible that I was there to help them against their heartless foe. So on upwards, slowly and slowly, I crept, knowing a hun was in the vicinity, but not where. Suddenly machine gun fire, an the ripping of cloth, and I spun around in a dive, seeing a hun crate plunging t me! I believe it was #18. In the distance, above him, I thought I saw a second one. I turned and turned, and tried to gain altitude, but the diabiolical hun wisely used his superior climbing power, and I was never able to get a shot at him. I consoled myslef that I was keeping their attention, and that would give our bombers a chance to get away and go destroy another hun target. In any case, I took several more slugs through my crate, as they boomed and zoomed me, and at last decided that I had better get the hell out of there. So down I plunged, thinking I had kept them busy long enough, and headed back to base to get the damage repaired. When they didn't follow me down, I wiped the sweat from my brow.

Thanks to my able mechanic, I soon repaired and took off again. Climbing to xxxx meters, I patrolled the region between our base and the mud, hoping to intercept any incoming enemy, and give protection to our returning bombers. There was no further action, but upon landing, Hudson and Roberts were there and they shared their most recent adventure, forcing down a hun, as well as the sad news of Royce's downing. A hun pursuit plane forced down by bombers! They ought to get a medal for that!

Rucker (#16)

No Report

Royce (#20):

Was KIA on his second sortie, while engaging the enemy (#2) in a fight over friendly territory while escorting #18 and #11. This was after returning from escorting #18 and #12 two-seaters along with #19 scout over enemy territory on bombing mission. This first sortie was successful and resulted in an Austrian factory being destroyed. The engagment that resulted in #20's downing lasted several minutes, as EA#2 held off two bombers and #20. EA#2 flew extremely well and earned his victory.

36th:

Roberts (#18):

score and claim One factory at d 2 3 shared with Dawson #12

A force down of Hun # 2 over nml shared with Hudson #11

witnessed Royce # 20 Shot down by Hun # 2

We all sat on the field getting ready for take off. After some last minute question we rolled off the line and made for our rondevue alt. We were escorted by the 76th deep into enemy territory to the factory at D 2 3 . In route to the factory we Lost Hudson to machanical trouble,we pressed on.

Over the factory I made a pass at 7000 feet and droped a bomb ,at the alt there was no way I could tell if I got a hit . So I dove down to a respectable altitude for my bombing runs . After three passes I had only started a couple of fires , So Dawson jioned me in my efforts . So now we were both bombing the heck out of the factory . I watched Dawson drop a couple of eggs ,then I made a couple more passes ,my last one I did see a direct hit and the factory blew up . It is sure Hard to get that Pomilio lined up for bombing runs with its noted High speed. I signalled Dawson that we should return to Base ,and away we went . I started a real steep climb ,to help get out of the aa range . During my climb I lost sight of Dawson all together ,when I signalled return to base He wasn't gona mess around . I made about 3500 and found my escorts waitting for me and they followed me all the way back to base . I was sure they were gona run out of fuel it was a very long Mission . Dawson was waittting for us on the field when we landed ,Hudson must of followed us back ,because minutes after I landed he came in. We got fuel and re-armed with our bombs and took of for our secound sorty . shortly after take off Dawson developed engine trouble and had to turn back . We started to form up when my engine started cutting out on my so I had to return to base.

The Mechanics worked fast to get me back up with in five minutes. I took right off after our guys and started looking for them when the air raid sirens went off. I started looking around for a sign of trouble and the sirens shut off ,about that time I saw a plane and started climbing ,it turned out to be Royce ,he scared the hell out of me. My escort came back for me , or did he . He started circling below me for some reason ,and I lost sight of him . All of a sudden I heard mechine gusns open up , what the heck is going on here. I looked over my right shoulder just time to see an Albatros shooting at me . Some how he missed me and flew by headding strait . I watched him head right for Royce . As he and Royce engaged I saw a nother plane cross in front of me .It turned out to be Hudson, Boy was I glad to se Him. I turned back toward royce , I planned to watch Royce shoot this Hun down . To my surprise the Hun was doing a good job of zoom and boom and royce . I could not let that Happen So I dicided to make an attack on this hun, mabey throw him off a little. Hudson followed My lead and helped with the attacks on this hun. Royce was very low to the ground ,when I heard the sound of a plane crack up ,I never saw Royce afterr that. I had a lot of distance between myself the hun and Hudson . I decided I would go after the hun that shot down my escort . Hudson decided to do the same ,we were both pursuing this Hun ,Hud had the lead . As soon as hud opened up on him he turned Right into my line of fire and I opened up an him to. This went on for a while , we wandered over the mud when the hun had enough and made a landing in NML. Hud broke off the attack right away ,I had other ideas . I started making strafing attack on him ,getting greedy,and out for blood. On my last pass I almost cashed do to my greed and decided to head for the barn . Hud and I landed , Pleased with out attack and forced down hun,When I heard and enging getting closer , it was a distinctive sound from a Np,It was Vasconcell coming in for a landing. WE exited after that

Dawson (#12):

We took off from our base with Roberts in the lead and me following Hudson. We climbed to 2000 meters and met up with our escort for the bombing run. It seemed like it took forever to get to the target and it was difficult following the leader especially after we lost Hudson to a mechanical problem.

At the target I watched as Roberts started bombing from high altitude. I was unfamiliar with this type of bombing and my sight was calibrated for lower altitudes so dropped to 1000 meters and began taking runs at the factory. I could see that our bombs were having an effect and there seemed to be no enemy presence. When it was clear that the target had been neutralized, I stopped bombing and looked for my escort or flight leader. Unable to find them, I headed back alone, slowly climbing to gain some altitude while over enemy territory.

I got back to the base first and when the others arrived, was pleased to hear that the mission had been successful.

Hudson (#11):

Score claims: shared force down on hun #2 with Roberts #18

Claims witnessed: Roberts #18

Took off with Roberts #18 and Dawson #11, we circled climbing alt and waiting on our escorts (the 76th). We headed to the huns side to bomb a target and I had engine trouble (lost connection to internet hmmmm). When I got back I headed toward the target again and saw that Roberts and Dawson had already hit it. I went to a second target and just missed the south west building on first pass. I lined up for a second pass and heard bullets flying by my head. I first thought it was AA, then I looked over shoulder and saw 3 huns smiling at me and firing bullets. I checked the map and dove away from AA and the huns on my tail. I finally got away from them and returned to base.

I met the others at the base and let them know to watch out for the huns. We took off again. Hun #2 quickly found me again and hit my plane with a couple bullets. I dove down to allow Vascon #19 a chance to help out. They engaged each other and Vascon had some heavy damage so he RTB. #2 started following me again. I started heading north to fine some Spads to help. #2 was determined to get me and was following right behind. Then I saw Roberts and Royce #16. Royce was engaging, but the alt advantage was on the hun side. Roberts and I tried to distract the hun to allow Royce to get some altitude. Royce went down and the hun started to follow us, then he disengaged. I thought he was out of ammo so my gunner yelled at me to follow him. Roberts and I followed taking turns popping him will our BB gun. Hun #2 landed on his side of no mans land. Later found out that he had a fuel leak. Roberts and I returned to base and landed safely.