Took off with high hopes today. Got news of reinforcements arriving to the front which lifted my spirits. Also welcomed Hartney back to the squadron. He had been on leave visiting his newborn daughter and wife. I thought how cruel war could be to see him forced back to the front so soon. Then I wondered if he didn't prefer dodging hun bullets over dirty diapers:)

Took off on patrol with #6 Dawson, #5 RMC. We patoled the installations in C2 and B2. Sighted nothing. I crossed NML and patroled between hun dromes 16 and 18. I had hoped to catch a hun flight coming back home, but no such luck. Finally we entered hunland, flying over #16 drome. Had reports of activity here and I wasn't disappointed. Below me I spotted 3 EA very low.

I circled them and waited to see what they did. To my surprise none tried to land and I wondered how many might be scouts. They began to head east and we followed. I was beginning to think we might have some 2-seaters here or at least one 2-seater with a couple of escorts. We were getting very low on fuel now, about at 50 pounds. I finally gave the order to attack and began my descent on the last plane in the formation. A half second later I could see the distinct shape of three Alb DIIIs. I quickly ordered the attack off and to RTB. My hopes for a 2-seater didn't pan out and three on three against albs wasn't good odds for us. We also were deep in hun territory now and low on fuel. A fuel line hit would doom us to a POW camp for the duration. So we sped off for home and quickly left the huns behind us.

At base #7 we met up with #1 Roberts. He and Hartney had been assigned to patrol elsewhere today, but Rob had engine trouble and now was on his own. I was glad to have him for as soon as we fueled up I planned to go back for the three huns.

We got under way with 4 spads now, Roberts, Dawson, RMC and myself. We headed east over the lines climbing all the way. Halfway over the lines I spotted 2 EA low(1000meters) and to my left. I thought these had to be 2-seaters as low as they were. I gave the order to attack and dove in on the rear plane. I quickly identified the #6 and #2 Albs, but again no 2-seaters. We began our attack runs and it was quickly evident our numbers were too much for them. I got behind #6 and lined up for a long burst. Instantly the pilot slumped over dead and I flew by, now intent on getting #2.

#2 Wisely began heading back for his lines, getting lower and lower all the time. I figured he was going to try and land it rather than risk being killed by such greater numbers. Nearly all of us made firing passes on him, but I finally caught him coming out of a turn flying rather straight. I opened up on him with a couple of long bursts until I was mere feet away. I let off my trigger when I saw him burst into brilliant flames. At this time I noticed Dawson to my right and behind and above me. He had been firing at the same time. No telling whose bullets actually caused the fire. #2 quickly descended and got his plane on the ground inside his own lines. Then some mysterious hun secret weapon gave our entire flight engine trouble at the same time forcing us to RTB.

After discussing the recent battle I decided there was enough daylight to do one more patrol. I still had an itch to get me a hun 2-seater. RMC and Roberts bravely volunteered to join me and off we went. We crossed the lines and flew over drome #20. I spotted nothing and time was getting short. We began heading north when RMC had to drop out with engine trouble. little did I know then that we would sorely miss him.

Minutes later it appeared our Patrol was for naught. I began heading us towards our lines when I spotted a hun plane low below me. Surely this was the 2-seater I had been looking for! Just as I began to go down for him another plane appeared. Again flying very low and obviously a 2-seater it seemed to me. Then another one appeared from NML. What Luck! I smiled wickedly to myself thinking of the havoc we were about to unleash. My only concern was if we had enough ammo to do the job justice. My smile quickly turned to a frown though. Three more planes appeared. I felt certain these were the escorts and cursed my rotten luck. I signaled Rob and started to head home. I kept my eye on the hun planes hoping for a opening even as we headed over NML and were about to depart the area.

Suprisingly an opening came. Two of the planes headed a little Northeast and didn't seem to be going directly home. These two then became seperated leaving only one by himself. I knew full well it was a scout, possibly foolishly attempting to hold us off. I chuckled because I had no attention of fighting till they seperated themselves from the rest. Now I had the oppurtunity I wanted. I turned us around and Rob and I entered hunland once again. I looked around as we approached as it entered my mind it could be a trap. Not seeing anything to cause me concern I gave the order to attack and we quickly approached our target. I made him out as the hun#12. I opened up, scoring a few hits. I quickly overtook the plane though and had to pull up from my dive and zoomed over and past him. I could hear Rob's guns pounding away behind me then suddenly a horrible shredding sound. Looking back at the hun, I could see the parts of a Spad fluttering to the ground then an explosion. It seemed Rob was down to a collision.

Determined not to let him die in vain I resumed my attack. The Hun seemed extremely slow and began descending. I wondered if he hadn't been damaged in the collision. Soon he landed, a few hundred yards from the nearby hun drome. I strafed the plane a few time in anger, but quickly saw it pointless to continue and returned to base. If only we had a few more Spads in the air we would of handed the Austrians a crippling blow this day. As it was they day turned out well. My engine troubles seemed corrected and finally I saw something of the enemy. My joy was tempered by the loss of Roberts and the damage we could of caused.

No contacts. Patrolled with Roberts until Roberts had to return to base due to mechanical problems. Then patrolled alone for some time. Observed large number of machines on ground at airdrome #-. Landed. Found 76th just taking off to pursue enemy formation sighted near ---. After refueling, took off and tried to catch them, but found neither friend nor foe.

RMC (#5):

No report.

Dawson (#6):

accept share of #2

witness Flint on #6 and #2

Started out from base and patrolled our lines and installations with Flint in the lead and RMC and myself bringing up the rear. We saw or heard nothing and I though that the Huns must be in defensive mode today and staying behind their lines. Flint must have been thinking the same because he took us over the mud and into enemy territory and located a flock of enemy birds. When he saw they were all Albs he didn't want to commit to a long fight with us low on fuel and over hostile soil so we returned to base for refueling.

We did a second sortee with Roberts along and ran into some enemy aircraft low over the mud. Flint called the attack and we all began diving on the Huns below us. Flint took out #6 right away and was going at # 2 when on my second dive I was able to get some shots into #2 as well. Flint generously offered me a share in this kill which I admit, sadly, I'm not too proud to accept. Suddenly the exhilaration of the combat must have caused me to suffer temporary memory loss because the next thing I knew the fight was over and I was sitting safely on the runway of my home field.

Roberts (#1):

KIA, plane gone

helped force down Hun #2 had a coll with Hun # 12

witnessed Flint #4 shoot down Hun #6?

Hatney and I took off heading for our rondevu point when Hart had mechs and turned back I wasnt that far from base so I went back for him . Once we under way again we patroled for a good 45 minutes when I meched out . I restarted at --- base , stated looking for Hart I never saw him again till after I landed to refuel. I waited on the field for about 15 minutes before the rest of the patrol showed up . Flint,RMC and Dawson where talking about the Huns they ran accross a while before . I got rather excited about that. We soon took offf in serch of those Hun dogs . Flint spotted them over the mud and passed on the info to the rest of use and soon I whatched flint yell ATTACK and we proceeded to down these two . Flint got his hun rite away I was diving on Hun # 2 but he had no chance there were four of us working him over now Flint jioned in the fun I putt severall rounds into him myself ,as I turned for a nother pass he flamed and then WELL ever one had to restart. Back at the field we all soom took off Hart and Dawson had mechanical problems and did not jion us . Flint RMc and I took of heading to patrol the northern hun bases. After we passed Hun Base # 20 Flint Saw somthing ,shortly after that RMC meched and returned to base .The patrol went on ,then Flint found them three huns flying low he passed them up and kept going I asumed to get a better angel for an attack . A few minutes after that He spotted what I thought was the same group and called for an attack. I only saw the one Plane HUN #12,I dove down on him off to his rightmaking a good fireing pass, and just getting ready to pull up for a nother .The Hun # 12 turned rite into my plane I hit the ground and blew I guess

Rowland (#11):

Took off from our base to meet up with the 36th bombers.Vas,Colton and I took off at 9:00 , Rucker was having mechanical trouble and met us over the front. We flew in the enemy territory as we tried to escort the bombers. Colton had engine problems and was forced to RTB. We were able to pick up only one bomber on his way back to refuel. After we landed ,Vas told us that he saw a number of EA heading deep in to our territory. We then took off looking for the EA. We landed about 30 minutes later seeing no EA. I was forced to retire for the night due to engine trouble (work)

Vascon (#15):

Accompanied bombers into enemy teritory together with Rowland, Colter and Rucker. Observed a large flight of presumed enemy machines flying southwest over the mud, but lost sight of them as we performed our duty as shepherds. Returned to base and quickly refueled and went with the other guys in search of the Hun invaders. Lost Colt after a while, who had to land due to mechanical difficulties. After much searching on our side of the lines, landed at a friendly base, gassed up, then had to return to base myself because of mechanical problems. Seems like the allied suppliers of petrol must be war profiteers, nearly everyone was having problems with their machines. Eventually able to get my crate going again, then flew north, where I was joined by Colt and Ruck. We turned east over the mud, looking for targets. Shortly before time was up, spotted a crate below us. I went down to investigate and saw that it was Hudson, returning from attacking some Hun bridges. I never was able to catch him, but it seems I frightened him something awful. He thought I was a Hun hawk trying to drop on his tailfeathers. We had a good laugh about this in the bar afterwards.

I'm beginning to think that I must be flying with an invisible Hunshield. Other than the presumed gaggle of 'em I saw far below me early in the mission, they seem to be few and far between. Can't wait to get my chance at a close-up!

Rucker (#14):

No report.

Colton (#19):

Sir,
Our squad took off from base #7 at approximately 2200 hours. We had an uneventful flight to base #XX where we rendezvoused with our bombers. Team then proceeded to designated target, where Hudson reports successfully striking target. The team then returned to base #5 for refueling.

At approximately 2150 hours, myself and several others took off from base #XX to patrol and at approximately 2155 hours I was timed out of the server in mid-air. When I attempted to re-enter the server, it did not appear on my list. The server did not reappear on my server list until approximately 2245, by which time I'd pulled many hairs from my head in confusion. LOL

2245-2300 - Brief, uneventful patrol with Rucker and Vascon.

Fuches (#12):

KIA

17 and myself left the runway to meet with our escort above our base. Once we met them we headed northeast until the mud then headed east into enemy territory. Our mission was to destroy two bridges. After some time I noticed 5 enemy aircraft on the ground mentioned it to 17. We proceeded to our targets. Sighting my target, I dropped down to empty my bomb rack, missed. I circled around, looking for 17, found him and followed. He was having better luck than myself. At that point, I made a strategical error, other than climbing into the plane in the first place. I noticed my alt was low at the same time I heard the Archies piercing the side of my plane. I headed west with what I thought was minimal damage, my plane flew erratically, took that for the pilot flying it though. I approached another bridge. As I was banking to attack, my plane lost control, and again the mother earth and I met, along with a house and dog. I am beginning to hate these bombing runs, or at least the high command should be...I think I am inintentionally costing them a small fortune.

Royce (#16):

Score claims: RR at D2- 2 (??)

Arrived at the field about 45 minutes late after a four day leave. Mechanics had my Pomillo loaded with four bombs and I jumped in the machine and off I went Eastward. Climbed to XXX meters and headed X for approximately 15 minutes before turning X toward my target. I had no escort due to my late departure, so I scanned the sky constantly for any evidence of Austrian machines.

Over target I came down to 1000m for my run, and let go with four eggs, on two passes. I heard the bombs explode over the target, and must assume damage was incurred..although I could not visually confirm that.

As I started to turn for our lines I saw below me a single machine heading toward the target. AA was going off like wild, although flak in area was light. I took this for an Hun scout attracted my the noise and AA; and so I dived a bit for speed and then ran for home checking my tail all the way.

After refuel I took off for a second sortie, again unescorted (which I felt uneasy about), and headed East. Over the trenches, I realized that the mission would end shortly and I could not reach my target and return in time, so I swung back to the field and landed. There I encountered #17, #19, and I believe #14. We talked a little about our flights and then headed for the sheds. END REPORT

Hudson (#17):

Score claims: 3 bridges
D1-1southern bridge 1 span down
D2-6 northern bridge 2 span down
C2-3 2 span down

Took off from home drom with Fuches and the 76th providing escort. Fuches mechanic must have added special fuel to his plane, I could not keep up no matter what I did. I lined up on my target and could not get the pin out of the bombs. (was hitting G key instead of B) Finally got one bomb dropped and it was a direct hit. That was close. Saw Fuches just north of me and he looked like he was flying close to AA then I could not find him again. Hope he made it. Returned to base. The 76th saw a group of huns planes they wanted to follow. Hartney landed with a spad just as they were taking off, so I quickly briefed him on their plans. I bombed the second bridge uneventfully. Was feeling greedy and headed for a third target and had mechanical problems as lining up with target (massive boot). Took off and flew at ground level hitting a third bridge. On way back to drom I glanced over shoulder and saw a plane closing on me quick. I about had a heart attack until I realized it was Vascon. Good day all the way around.