Flint (#4):

Score claims: #2(headshot)

Claims witnessed: Rucker on #12(collision)

Had a little problem with the motor to begin with today, but quickly got it corrected. Fuches and I seemed the only ones able to make it today. We just started to take off on our patrol when Dawson came running out to his machine waving franaticly at us. I swooped down low over the field and waited for him to get airborne. Soon the three of us were on our patrol.

We headed out over the lines. I spotted a whole flock up north the last time out and thought to catch them as they headed over our lines. Unfortunately we saw nothing but flak and lot's of it. I zigged and zagged not wanting to get tagged like a few missions ago. We headed back over to our side and began making rounds of our installations. Just when I thought we would never see anything on this patrol I noticed sirens coming from a village and depot in C2. Heading further east I could make out tracers low over a village east of the depot. I signaled my sighting to Daw and Fuches although I don't know if they saw it. Soon I could make out 4-5 enemy machines. Most were low, but I spotted one at our altitude. Just as I was deciding what to do my engine cut out(ISP booted me). Never before has an American Airman uttered such vile language as I did at that time. Forced to RTB I could only hope Fuches and Dawson could take care of themselves.

Minutes later I had gotten my ship airworthy again and I raced to the seen of the fight. I only hoped I could make it there to get in on some of the fun. Nearing base 5 I saw a HD1 making a landing. Seconds later I met Fuches running north. This didn't look good to me, seemed the huns had us on the run. I noticed 3 EA following Fuches. They were far off, but seemed to spot me as I continued to the southeast and went around them. I figured the fight to be over and didn't want to take on 3 Austrians by myself.

After about a minute they seemed to grow tired of following or I just sped away from them. Either way they were no longer in view. Just then I spotted an Austrian plane low and in front of me. He was just crossing into NML and appeared to be heading home. I checked around, but saw noone else. I began heading towards him tipping my nose down to catch him faster. Soon I was on top of him and saw it to be the #2 Alb. I dove on him and began to fire then zoomed away. My aim wasn't very good and he simply made a complete turn and kept going east. I wondered if he wasn't out of ammo and quickly pursued. I made another attack run, but again shot poorly. This time he wheeled around and gave me a few bursts as I sped away. Suddenly I heard allied guns firing and to my surprise looked back to see RMC and the #14 HD1 Rucker.

#2 Alb began to climb it seemed at this point and I stuck my nose up to follow. I was on the verge of stalling when I opened up at him. I showered the cockpit and engine with a couple of long bursts and watched him spin into the ground, the pilot dead. I quickly lost sight of RMC, but Rucker was still in sight and the two of us headed for #16.

I spotted two aircraft low on the field there. They seemed to be just taking off. I swung back and signaled Rucker my findings and both of us proceeded in. As we came over the drome I was going to pull back away from it for the fight, but Rucker dove right in. Soon the two huns were all over him. I sprayed both several times, getting the most into #1. Neither seemed to feel any ill affects from it though and continued to pound on Rucker. After my last firing pass in the furball I heard a tearing sound and looked back to see the #12 Hun falling to the ground with wing damage. It appeared that Rucker and him collided.

I thought that we had the #1 hun dead to rights now, but within a minute of the collision Rucker pulled off the damaged wings in a tight turn. I thought he was a dead man or Pow, but he kept it up. I made a couple of runs on #1 keeping his attention from Rucker. When Rucker seemed clear I circled about waiting for the Hun to make a move on him. He didn't fall for the bait though and I escorted Rucker to base #7.

The flight back was long and nerve racking. Several times I thought he was going to crash, but somehow he kept her flying. Eventually he nursed into the base for a perfect landing and we ended the day there.

No report.

Status:wounded, A/C appears undamaged Entered enemy Territory: Yes

Had mechanical troubles and got out on the field late but saw Flint and Fuches circling overhead and I was able to join them. We patrolled behind our lines and then headed across the mud into enemy territory. We saw nothing and headed back across our lines patrolling likely enemy targets. Finally Flint spotted enemy a/c and we promptly lost him to mechanical problems. We continued on with Fuches spotting the enemy again but me having trouble finding them. Finally I saw firing and turned into the action. I made a pass through but was unable to get a clear shot at anyone. I turned and was passing again when I suddenly felt pain. My vision started blurring and I knew I had taken a hit. I was able to dive away and gain enough speed to get out of the firing line and I headed for the nearest base. My crate was performing flawlessly so I figured it suffered little damage. I landed at the first friendly field and was glad to see the concerned faces of the ambulance boys as they pulled me to safety.

Status: Alive...a little shaken....but alive...don't ask about my drawers though....

Plane Status: Operational, smells in the cockpit though...nothing that ammonia won't take care of

Score claims: 0(did put a bullet in 12, but one bullet is all)

We left, Flint and I, a little after start time. We waited for the rest of the squad to arrive. As we circled to gain alt, Dawson rolled his plane out of the hanger and joined up with us. We flew north for about 5 minutes then headed south in hun territory to catch some bombers or anything. Once we reached our furthest point south we headed northwest to check out some potential hun targets. As we were heading that way Flint's plane starting smoking badly, oil sprayed out of one cylinder. He signaled us that he was returning to base and we proceeded onward. As we were flying over b2-4 I noticed a tracer shots below and signaled to Dawson. We circled around for a bit to catch a solid glimpse of what lay beneath us, the shots disappeared. As we headed north, I saw behind us two dots level with us. Again signalling to Dawson the situation. We proceeded north, I was waiting for the signal to turn back and then saw Dawson circle back. I followed. We engaged in a brief combat with 12, 17, 1, I believe and 14. Bullets were exchanged and at one point I was trying to juggle the dreaded 12, and 1 together. I saw 17 or 14, and released a few bullets into his shell only to hear a few tracers tearing the skin of my little rookie plane. Enough I thought, I couldn't see Dawson, all I saw was albs so I thought: RUN FOR YOUR SCRAWNY LITTLE LIFE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!...so I did. I put enough distance saw the two fearful huns break their attack and I saw an allie swooping down on one of them. Well this doesn't work...I turned around and pursued the closest hun. I pulled my trigger and let fly with a miss aimed string of bullets, one or two hit and then it happened...out of nowhere, three ugly bastiches chasing me. The tears pierced the hum of my engine as I saw the clothe tear on my fuselage. THIS IS NUTS!!!!...I did why my flight instructor told me to do....extend...like there is no tomorrow. And Flint gave me enough room to pull away. as the lumbering albs disappeared behind me, I glanced at my gauges and panicked. I was low on fuel. Flint pulled up beside me for a few seconds, I signalled I was returning to base and headed home. He pulled a high bank and pursued the enemy. I thought to myself, Flint you are one noble, brave soul, I want to grow up like him. If I make it back.

I landed and refueled restocked my bullets, changed pants had a cup of coffee loaded with scotch, not the good kind. It would be nice if we could get that at our base. I then climbed aboard my spad and headed south to catch up with Flint. And maybe catch up with some huns. (I think that was the scotch talking) I didn't sight anything except maybe the flying elephant ( I know that was the scotch). I then headed west to make sure huns weren't making a second or final run on the targets. Nothing. I then headed northeast and was planing to cross nml when time was called.

Another mission, another night by the fireplace and out of tune piano. Another night waiting for morning to come so we can climb back into the cockpits we call home and soar into the open skies looking for a shimmer of a hun. Another night that I can say I made it.

Vasconcells (#15):

Accompanied Hudson on his first and second bombing run on Austrian bridges beyond the lines. Colton took off with us but soon turned back with mechanical difficulties. Saw Hudson damage each of the bridges. No enemy aircraft were sighted. When we returned after the second sortie, the sirens at base were wailing. Hudson landed to refuel and rearm, but I stayed high to cover him and watch for the Austrians. After several minutes, Hudson took off again, heading north abn then east. I saw antiaircraft fire coming up in the direction we were heading. Gave me the willies. After a while, as Hud was climbing up to my altitude, I spotted an aircraft dead ahead and low. Since he was directly in Huds path, I signaled to him that I had spotted a crate, and then dove directly toward the guy. Within seconds I could see that it was a Hun machine, and I fired a burst at it as it passed under me. It was firing at Hud at the time. Looking back, I saw not only Hud and the Austrian crate, but several others! I think there were four of them, maybe five. I turned my airspeed into altitude, and made a climbing right 90 degree right turn, all the while keeping my eye on Hud. I thought he would run, his machine being a swift one, but instead he turned back toward the enemy and gave battle. He was still below me, and I could see an Austrian beast cloising on him nearly head on. I did a right wingover and passed by the enemy, firing for all I was worth. Suddenly I was in the midst of a whole beehive of those bastards, and got off a series of snap shots and I dove through them. In the corner of my eye I could see another enemy machine high above me and turning my way. If I didn't fly smart, he would be on my tail in an instant. Given the enormity of the odds -- several Austrians to us two, I decided to use discretion, that is, to get the hell out of there. A couple of Austrians were close behind me by that time so I turned away from to a north heading and turned my altitude into airspeed in a gentle dive. I figured that Hud could use his fast and nimble crate well, and break off when he wanted. One Austrian followed me for a long time, firing at long distance. It didn't worry me, from that distance he couldn't hit a flea with a bb anyway. My airspeed indicator pegged out as I dove down to 500 feet, and I could see that I was leaving the Austrian behind. My plan was to draw him away from the others, and engage him at low altitude after I had gotten in the clear. Give me even odds and I'll gladly take on any one of 'em! Well, he was a smart one, all right, because I watched over my shoulder as he turned back toward his buddies, leaving me to go my way. I won't say I wasn't relieved, I was. But on the other hand I was eager to put my crate through its combat paces, especially over here on our side of the mud.

I proceeded to a nearby Allied base, landed, mopped my brow, and went into the bar for a cold Italian birra. I did sit there, feeling good, but worried about what happened to Hud. I decided that the best I could do was drink one to him and his saftety, then another and another. Then, having a very early assignment tomorrow morning, I headed for my cot and some shuteye.

Score claims: #7(share with RMC), #12(collision)

Claims witnessed: RMC on #7(shared with me), Flint on #2(headshot)

I came in late, I got up and headed XXXXX. I found a ally friend, RMC in his XXXX. I signaled to him to follow me to east into enemy territory. We were over the hun # XX when, what a luck, #7 was just taking off!

I signaled to my XXXX friend to follow me. I XXXX my XXXXXX XXX and went after him in a steep dive. Lol he must have not saw me for that he didn't expect us to be here and high above him. I must thought that he was surprised to see me in a HD1 diving very steeply for that he high tailed it back to his base very quickly. We kept firing on him and he crashed right on his base! Unfortunetatly, the hun gunners didn't take kindly to me for downing their comrade. They riddulced my plane and nipped my head. I signaled to #5 that I had to rtb. I made back to the home base #XX and they bandaged up my plane and my head. Then I heard from the base telephone system that a group of huns had just destroyed a village near to XXXXX. I quickly signaled my XXXX friend about this report and we took off to XXXXXXXXX. We formed up with several guys and came across a small force that must matched us in term of numbers. I was in a brief dogfight with 3 Hun planes, I broke off and retreat back to my home base with Hun #2 hot on my tail. Dam@ the gunners had to go to bathrooms at the wrong moment!!! I fought him for several min when to below me at the base there was a Bris being readying to take off and help me out. Suddenly both arielons snapped off!!! But I managed to sailed in to the base below me. I waited as the move the damaged into one of the hangars and prepped another HD1 for take off. I saw a XXXX over head, the markings told me that it was RMC who was with me before. I yelled at mechanics to hurry up! Finally I took off and followed him to the XXXX. I noticed gunfires on the Hun lines of the nml. I rushed in and fired too long range at a Hun plane. The friend that was with me earlier vanished off to XXXXXXXXX. I followed another XXXX, it was Flint. We headed to a possible base that the plane, he downed earlier, was probably headed to. To our surprised we got two Hun plane low. I went in firing at them. Another furball followed. Suddenly I collision with #12 he went into a death spin and I was in a spin but I recovered just above the ground. Then I fought the remaining Hun who was #2. In a tight turn I lost both my arielons, not again!! I quickly retreated back to my home base. It was nerve whacking for me as I was deep in enemy territory and no arielons! I try everything I could to keep her in the air for what it seem an eternity. I finally came across the nml, then in the sight of the fellows at my home base, I nursed her into a perfect landing at the base with no arielons at all!! The flight back was long and nerve whacking. I crawled out of my cokpit and fainted. Seem to me all those problems I had were life threateningtold me that the Death was nipping at my feet the entire campaign! So the Death got it in for me. Better bring some lucky charms next time to ward him off!

Colton (#19):

Pilot Staus: KIA Aircraft / Status: N24 / Destoyed

Sir,
It seems tonight we were greatly understaffed from base #-. Only myself and Rucker took off from there at app. 2100 hours. It seems our base mechanic has been busy with "NETtie" lately. I meched (timed) out twice in the first 10 minutes or so.

After bribing the mechanic with a case of my finest ale to lay off of NETTIE and get my plane running, I was finally able to get going. By this time, sadly enough, I was hopelessly disconnected from our meager squad. I decided it best to patrol the mud rather than risk flying alone into hun territory.

Flew all the way to base - hoping to meet up with anyone. No luck. Refueled there and continued patrol over mud between bases - and - at about cloud level. (1900-2000 ft) At app 2154 hours I observed a "backfire" type smoke trail at app 3000' over C3_8 heading East. Tried to follow it but started experiencing some AA after a while and decided to patrol mud a little more near there to see if there were more planes in the area. Then climbed above cloud layer and proceeded towards base 14. Seemed the smoke trail I saw might be headed there.

At app 2210 hours I saw three light colored planes on runway at base 14. Circled back over mud before I could be detected. 3 - 1 are NOT good odds. One more quick pass a short time later showed another plane on runway of base 14. This one appeared darker in color. Decided it was best to get the hell outta enemy territory. 4 - 1 even worse odds.

As I was patroling mud high in that general area I caught a quick glimpse of a plane headed NW from possibly base 14. I was unable to determine if it was a hun, but it sure seemed like he may have been flying from 14.

At app 2225 hours, curiousity got the better of me and I returned to base 14 and observed a dark colored hun plane alone on runway. After scanning for others and finding none, I proceeded down from high alt and straffed hun plane #14 on runway. I came under heavy AA fire and swung out wide to avoid it. I had bloodlust to take advantage of this lone hun plane on runway so I swung back around to base to discover he was taking off. Some shots were exchanged but due to my low speed coming out of banking turn, I was unable to successfully avoid collission with him.

Alas, we both went down near base 14.

Being new to the squad, I don't know all that you do. However, it seems to me that there is much activity from base 14. And judging from what I have seen, looks as if huns are staging recon from there. (more?)

Hudson (#17):

Status: hot but alive. Was ground running when flamed and landed proir to exiting.

Plane Status: flamed (Hun #2 gets credit)

Score claims: 2 bridges, the one north and one east of drom 16

Took off from our base and went to meet the 76th, which was going to escort me to bomb hun targets. We were greatly outnumbered and had 2 brave pilots providing escort. Colton was having engine problems and had to return to base. Vascon and I pushed on. We hit our first target and returned to base, then hit our second target. When we returned to base sirens were going off. Vascon stayed in the air while I landed and got more bombs. When I took off, I realized Vascon was moving north and I figured he must be seeing something. Then I hear gun fire, but could not figure out where it was coming from. Then I saw 2 huns on Vascons tail. I swooped down and placed some bullets into hun #12 (I think). I then think I saw another 2 huns totaling 4!. I could not find Vascon and started to run, then I saw a friend. I thought it was Vascon, then realized it was a spad! I tried to lead the spad to where the huns were. I fired my guns in the air to let them know where they were, then returned to base to prepare to go on another bombing run. I was no match for the huns and the Spads/Hanroit would have to hold there own. I was just about to be refueled (5 minutes) and I saw a hun chasing a Hanroit to the field I was sitting on. I could only watch until the mechanic got out of the way, then tried to help my friend out. The hun turned his attention to me and the Hanroit landed. Now I was in trouble. I had no altitude to use. I tried ground running to the north where the spad were. The hun must have sparked some gas fumes from my recently refueled plane. I burst into flames, but was just above the ground. I jumped out and rolled around. Hun #2 gets credit for the flame.