27th: Flint (#9):

Score claims: #7 & #9 forced down. [Editors note:#9 landed under fire and was strafed, took off before 5 min were up. Austrian #9 is wounded and plane damaged]

took off with Fuches and Dawson. We patrolled our assigned sector for nearly 45 minutes without sighting a thing. I then experienced engine trouble and was forced to return to base. I got going again a few minutes later. The sirens began blaring and I checked out some targets to the south of me. Saw nothing and returned to the north. Just as I was about to check north targets Dawson and Fuches showed up. They had come from the general area and didn't signal a sighting so I decided to rtb since they were low on fuel.

Eventually we took off again. Fuches had engine troubles so it was just Dawson and me. Patrolled several installations until we finally reached the C3-7 area. Sirens were blaring all around and I could see damage on a couple of the targets below me. I wasn't sure if the huns had been coming or going through this spot so I decided to head out to a nearby hun drome. My goal was to pick up any hun bombers as they made their way home. Dawson and a #12 HD1 we had picked up followed me as we patrolled near the drome #14. Finally I spotted something low near the drome. I thought a hun bomber had gotten past us. I signaled my find and dived in without an attack order thinking the others would follow anyway.

I soon found myself engaged with the alb#9. He must of been at the drome already and had just taken off. He didn't seem to be eager to leave the nearby drome as I made a couple of passes on him. Dawson and #12 hadn't come down as of yet to help. Soon #9 must of decided not to continue the fight. As I circled high above the drome and attempted to get him away from it he landed. Slightly angry I went in and made a couple of strafing runs on his plane. I scored some hits on it and on my second pass he took off (before 5 minutes had passed btw) and came after me. obviously not pleased with my strafing runs:-). Dawson and #12 were nowhere in sight now. I don't know what happened to them.

With #9 following me firing at a distance I picked up Hun #7(2-seater) approaching the field. I headed for him and dropped on his rear firing. My first burst did some damage as I could hear my bullets ripping fabric. I went in for another pass hitting him some more before he was able to veer away and land the plane. At this moment #9 had caught up and began firing at me again. I looked back to see the #7 plane hastily leave the field. 9 began to get altitude and was well behind me as I began to head out to NML.

At the edge of NML I spotted another hun plane (#6 2-seater). I quickly headed towards it, but he had some distance on me. I fired from very long range( he looked like a dot to me) and when he got his plane down on the field I finally managed to get in range of him. I managed to get some bullets in him I believe, but possibly not. #9 alb again was coming for me and I thought better of pressing my luck low over the hun drome. I landed at base 8 and called it a day.

Took off with Vasconcells for a patrol of Allied installations. Shortly after takeoff, I heard sirens from a nearby airdrome, and altered my course to investigate, followed closely by Vasconcells. I then observed a small speck above the quiet village of Monte Grappa, and several smaller specks falling rapidly toward the village below. So, the Austrian dogs were out bombing churches today!

I signalled the presence of enemy aircraft to Vasconcells, and he waved in response. I put us into a steady, turning climb to get into position to attack this Austrian devil. As we got closer, I saw one then two more aircraft, presumably Austrian escorts. I set my sights on the highest and signalled, "Attack!"

The Austrian must have seen us, for he took off to the east back toward Austrian lines. Figuring it probably an attempt to draw us away from the vulnerable bombers below, I let him go, and circled around to decide how to dispatch the two below us. After another careful sweep of the skies, I put my Spad into a steep dive and lined up on the cockpit of the trailing Austrian below me, rapidly getting larger in my sights. As I got within range, I saw it was a 2-seater, and I let loose a volley of gunfire, scoring several hits, but none of them decisive. I pulled up into climb to come around for another pass, when I heard tears coming from the tail of my Spad!

I whipped around, only to see a *third* Austrian 2-seater square on my tail, not more than ten feet behind me! I had failed to notice him, and now I was going to pay the ultimate price. I put my Spad into a dive to try to put some distance between us, and turned toward a nearby bridge in the hope that the boys on the ground could help me out. The Spad is a fast machine, but it seemed to take a eternity to get away from this Austrian fellow, who was all the while hurling lead in my general direction and scoring hit after hit. Thankfully, none of the hits were decisive, and after what seemed like an eternity, I was finally away. Once away, I looked around me to find Vasconcells, but he was nowhere to be found. I hoped I hadn't gotten him killed.

I headed directly toward a nearby airdrome for repairs. My engine had taken several hits, and it was coughing and sputtering and belching thick, black smoke. I did not want to risk an engine fire. Being burned alive thousands of feet in the air is the fate most dreaded by all pilots. As I was making my final approach, my engine gave out completely, and I put down and rolled to a stop. I got out and kissed the ground, thankful to be alive.

The mechanics spent the next hour pulling lead out of my engine and fuselage (meched repeatedly). Vasconcells came in for a landing during this time. Not only did he survive, but he reported that he had gotten one! Apparently, he had not seen me break off the chase on our first target, and had pursued him all the way into Austrian territory. I was very happy to see him alive and well.

I finally got back into the air at about 2230 hours and took off lone wolf. As I was taking off, I saw Fuches. We hooked up and did a quick sweep of Allied airspace. The patrol was uneventful, and we put down at 2300 hours and called it a day.

Began the day with a patrol mission lead by CO Flint. Fuches and I followed all around the northern area with no sightings. Late in the mission Flint had engine problems and had to RTB. Fuches and I continued the patrol working our way back to base. At some point I noticed tracers being fired by guys protecting a bridge and signaled Fuches and began circling to get a better look. I was having trouble finding enemy aircraft so dropped altitude. I would still occasionally see some tracers but was unable to locate the enemy planes. Fuches seemed to be having the same trouble. We were near our base so I started heading back that way to pick up Flint again and sure enough he came flying out of a cloud right toward us.

We returned to base to refuel and started out on another mission. We lost Fuches to a mech and picked up Royce who followed along with us. We found nothing on our side of the mud and Flint decided to take us across to the Austrian side. Near a Hun base Flint signaled a sighting and began heading down. There was no "attack" order and his intentions were unclear so I began circling and dropping alt to get a better idea of what was going on. I could see Royce circling as well and then it appeared that Flint had engaged an enemy.

Here things got confusing as I continued dropping alt and made a pass by Flint and the ea. I was unable to line up a shot and I was trying not to go directly over the enemy field and have to face those AA guns. Flint apparently had no such reservations and was following the enemy home and strafing the field.

I had lost Royce and time had been called a good while earlier. I wasn't sure about the rules of engagement at this point. Flint seemed to be in no hurry to go home and I thought the only enemy had landed. I headed for home confused and feeling somewhat guilty that I had let my squad leader down.

Shot down Austrian #16

Gee, it was a beautiful day. I began a patrol with Hartney in our shiny speedy Spads. Moments after we took off, the sirens started wailing and Hart signalled for me to follow to the east. Moments later I spotted two Austrian ships, heading our way and a bit above our altitude. Hart swung out to the south, then turned to attack the leading Austrian crate. Knowing how good he is, I decided to take the one that was lagging behind (#16). Turned out to be a good choice for me. I put some slugs into him and went around for another pass. In the distance I saw the tracers from Hart's guns. I decided he didn't need any help, so I focused my beady eyes on the yellow bomber. He quickly turned and headed east. I lost him for a while, but got some altititude and eventually spotted him in the distance. After that, I made pass after pass on him. Each time he pulled some excellent maneuvers, zigging and zagging and swooping, making it hard to get my shells into him. One time he made a quick turn and I ran right past his guns, whereupon he sprayed me, though there was onbly ripped cloth. Eventually, I could see that he was going to land at an abandoned drome. One last pass, well throttled back, I pumped all I had into his engine. I heard a crack and saw his crate breaking into pieces on the turf. Whew! He made me work! I salute him, he's a fine pilot. Or was.

The trip back home was uneventful, and I stopped for ammo, petrol and a cold drink. Just then Hudson came in. We chatted a while, and since Hartney's machine wqas down for good, I decided to follow Hud on his run to blow a bridge. He passed in an eastward direction, well before I strated. Eventually I wene t that direction too, trying to get well above him. I bever saw him! But nearly to his target I spotted a crate well below me, that turned toward we and clearly was climbing. Hud wouldn't have done that, so I figured it must be an Austrian. Sure enough, it was, for I watched him and saw that he was climbing rapidly. Well, I was mainlky concerned about Hud, but decided to hit the alb (#1) a few times and so divert his attention from my more fragile little friend. we exchanged a few shots, but I decided I had better get back, so I waved goodbye to #1, and soon was back at base. Hud was already there, which was a relief!

We decided to try it again, Hud heading for another Hun brige. This time I started soon after him, and followed him at a distance, and high overhead. What do you know? I soon saw firing in the distance and then flare after flare from Hud. I was far enough away that it took a couple three minutes before I reached him. As I arrived at the scene, the Alb (my friend #1) made a firing pass at Hud, and turned boradside to ne. I gave him a good raking, and I'm sure he was a tad surprised. Hud didn't take this laying down, either. He turned well against the alb, and I heard his guns firing repeatedly. After I madew a couple more firing passes at #1, and Hud hit him several times, he suddenly began using the climbing ability of the alb, and began circling above us. The danged Spad isn't a great climbver, but I circled in a climbing turn, and made a pass or two at him, firing for all I was worth. All the while Hud was gettingt shots in, too. Eventually # 1 mustv have decided he had had enough, for we heard his cries and thought he was wounded. He dove for earth, and I watched, hoping his wings would come off. No such luck. We followed him in to base, and raked him several more times, but soon he got under the unbrella of the aa fire at base, and Hud and I decided we needed to be someplace else. We had forced him down, but into the arms of his comrades, unfortunately.

Hud went on to a nearby bridge, and dropped a section of it, and then we flew merrily home. Nice day!S! Vasconcells.

No report.

Rowland (#11):

claims witnessed: Roberts 1st bombing run

I took off alone , all the other pilots where having engine problems. I think the 76th has a bad batch of fuel!

I escorted Roberts behind enemy lines on his bombing mission.It was very scary being so far behind their lines for what seamed like hours following that SLOW bomber! BTW those bomber pilots are NUTS ,flying through the AA in those big and slow crates! I was very busy scanning the sky for EA, but saw none. We returned to base # xxx and after refueling my engine would not start ,due to that Damn contaminated gas. Our HQ has to do something about the fuel problem that the 76th is having! We stand to lose an entire mission if we can't get more planes in the air.

Brief narrative: Arriving at field late, I jumped into the HD1 that was waiting and took off South to Patrol area between X and X. After several minutes of gaining altitude, my machine began giving me mech. problems and I returned to base to have it looked at. The field mechanics, fixed her up and I took off again on the same patrol. At approx xxxx feet I was crusing and scaning, but all seemed quiet. I went to check out a factory just north of drome#X when suddenly to my left and 500 feet below I spotted two machines heading in the opposite direction. I turned to get my sights on the lead plane and really hoped that they were ours; as I was outnumbered and they appeared to be moving faster then I was. After a brief "heart pounding" moment I saw a Spad come into view. It was #9 and #3. Glad to have friendly company I tried to keep up with the Spads as they headed over the lines to patrol over Austrian drome 14.

After a few minutes I noticed one of the Spads I believe it was #9, our very own CO Flint, dive down on the field. Having limited view from my HD1(no additional key views), I tried to keep watch on the ensuing fight below and get positioned toi help. Using the field as a focus, I tried to get down and help #9, but I wanted to be sure not to get disoriented. Just then or mission was up and I began to head West back to base #X (Royce now re-reading the end of mission rules in full detail ;>) I put down without incident. Don't know what the outcome of the drome fight was. Also lost sight of #3 after #9 straffed the Hun field. END REPORT

Hudson (#17):

Score claims: 3 bridges down D2-6 west bridge, d2-6 north bridge, d1-1 south bridge share hun #1 with Vascon(7)

Took off from home drom and headed toward my target in a BRF-2b. Wished luck to Roberts as he took off in a Handley Page. Flew to my first target, the west bridge in d2-6, and dropped 2 bombs which had direct hits. Went to an allied drom and got some more bombs. Saw Vascon there, Hartney was having engine trouble and Vascon planned on following me if Hartney could not get his plane going. Went and dropped 2 bombs on the northern bridge in d2-6. Returned to base to get more bombs. Vascon landed and said he could not find me, but found an Alb D3 near the bridges I had been bombing. I was feeling lucky that I had not came across the hun. Took off again, this time with Vascon high above me in a spad. I was nearing my third target in d1-1 when I heard gun fire behind me. A hun Alb d3 was on my tail and firing all his guns at me. As I yelled at my gunner for not seeing him, I started firing my rockets to let Vascon know I needed his help. I'm sure the hun did not see the Spad high above because I could not see him and I knew he was there. Hun #1 and I went around for a short time and then Vascon got in on the action. I think the hun's face turned white when he saw the spad. The hun was using his climbing ability well, but he did not realize that I use to be a fighter pilot and I was wise to his tricks. I think he was surprised that I was able to stay somewhat close to him. I just didn't want him to get on my tail, and was giving Vascon time to get in some good shots. Twice when I swiped him with bullets I heard a yell, but could not get that darn headshot. He ran to drom 19 and landed before we could finish him off. I was aware of the huns excellent AA gunners and pulled off to finish my bombing run on the southern bridge in D1-1. Vascon and I returned to allied drom and called it a night.

Scores claims as follows: rail yard C3-2, bridge C3-2, RR bridge C3-2, Bridge D3-1, RR bridge D3-1, bridge D3-3

I took off from my home air field as soon as i got the mechanics out of the motor. I wish Hud the best of luck ,then headed strait for my rendevous point to meet up with my escorts, to my surprise there was only one when I was told I would have two. My escort and I proceeded to our refuel base #-- refueled and headed east toward my target area . AS i came up on the target area the church bells started to ring so i decided to make a run at them I missed the church ,then turned north toward the bridge at C-3-2 . I had a hard time lining up on the bridge after attempting the church. Once it looked like i was lined up, I decided to let a bomb go, about that same time the plane made a funky turn and I missed. So I turned east again and headed for the railroad bridge. Came upon the railroad bridge, lined up and direct hit. I turned NNW headed directly for the rail yard, couldn't seem to get lined up on it properly, let the bomb go, overshot the target train again - I missed. Frustration, I turned south toward the bridge. Lined up on it really well, dropped my bomb and missed again. Not sure what the heck was going on, I decided to make a really wide turn and head for the railroad station again. This time I gave myself plenty of time to get lined up, and got a hit on what looked like the boxcars. Feeling good about the wide turn, I made another one for the bridge. I got a little more time to line up on it, and dropped one of the spans on it. Seeing my work was done, I signaled to my escort that we would return to base. Not sure he had seen me, I let go a couple of rockets. Landed safely at dorm X. Upon landing, my escort's motor wouldn't start. I decided to go lone wolf, and hit a couple more bridges. I took off, climbed steadily for X amount of altitude, headed over to hunland again. It was 8:20MST that I took off. My flight to the target was long. I managed to stay clear of all the ack ack till I got to the target. As I neared my target, something was amiss. Recon photos must have been botched. I found a set of railroad tracks and followed them all the way to a bridge. I couldn't have asked for a better lineup, dropped 2 bombs, and got 2 direct hits. Before I knew it, I passed right over a rail yard. Who put this here?? I banked slightly to the left, lined up on my original first target bridge, dropped one bomb, direct hit. Proceeded to my second target bridge. Lined up on it, botched my lineup. Never dropped an egg on my first pass. Figured I better make another long hard banking turn and line up for a better run. Got lined up, dropped a bomb, got a direct hit, dropped the span. I looked down at the time clock, saw there was only 7 minutes to go, so I decided to only make a couple more passes at her. Wound up with 2 good solid hits. Decided to return to base. At 9:15 MST, Die Eule called out "shutting server in 5 minutes." I replied "too far from home, need 20 minutes!" Hadley page is a very slow plane! I landed without incident, exited the game.

Designated Targets: 3, Targets Destroyed: 2

Sir,
After being given my initial orders, I scrambled to gather ANY/ALL information needed to carry out my mission. As I had NEVER before performed a bombing run prior to today, I cussed to my mechanic to make damn sure he had everything ready for the mission. (fortunately he was done with NETtie as well,....LOL) After lots of consultations and adjustments yesterday as well as this morning, I felt I was ready for tonights bomb run. My GREATEST thanks to my consultants, you know who you are!!!
That said, on with the report......................

Took off from base #- alone at app. 2105 hours. I proceeded NE from there to try to squeeze in undecteted betweed Hun base #18 and the depot just to the North of there. Flying at app 2400 meters, just getting over mud (C2_9), I observed what appeared to be two Hun aircraft travelling W by NW well below me. I didn't take the time to see if there were more. Traveling solo, I decided to keep speed and alt and proceed to 1st target. I may have been detected by one, not certain.

My trip to 1st target (D2_4) from there was uneventful, aside from moderate AA fire. As I approached target #1 (railyard) I observed that there are actually TWO railyards situated EXTREMELY close to each other. The Southern most one was a "dead end" type yard, and the Northern one was a "waypoint" type yard. (tracks extended from both sides) I opted to attack the "waypoint" railyard. I managed to destroy it on my second pass. (no witnesses, but "Railyard Destroyed" did appear on screen). I then proceeded to back-track my route to RTB. At app 2130 hours over D2_5, I did unexpectantly, take a few rounds from what appeared to be a lone Hun. Needless to say, I got outta there ASAP. He appeared to follow me for some time until I lost him.

Landed/ refueled at base #- as per mission orders, at 2153 hours. At 2157 hours Air-Raid sirens started but I did not see any aircraft at all. Took off at 2158 hours and proceeded Due East at 3000 meters over mud. Experienced HEAVY AA fire all the way to 2nd target. (D2_3). Took me 3 or 4 passes to destroy 2nd target at app 2230 hours. (railyard, ...again, no witnesses but "Railyard Destroyed" did appear on screen.) I then headed directly back to base #7 at app 3000 meters. Again, HEAVY AA fire all the way until I crossed into mud territory.

Landed/ refueled at base #- at app 2140 hours. Decided that there was not enough time to hit 3rd designated target (D2_9), so I patroled the general area around base #- until the end of mission. Negative results.