Claims: Bridges; C2-5, C1-4, B1-2, BRF2b #17
Witnessed:
Anhiem #17, Bridges C1-4 & B1-2
vonSchtupp #16; Factory B1-2

After long hard work to get the crates flight ready, I took off with vonSchtupp (#16). Dropped a span of the bridge in C2-5 and went looking to join vonSchtupp but could not find him. Headed back to base and refueled. Headed north to #XX to see if vonStupp returned there and then to head for next target. Found vS and he took off to head for target with my landing. Met Anhiem inbound and went back to field and landed.

Sirens started wailing and ground spotters pointed out an enemy crate inbound to our south flying very low. I took off and went after it. I approached it, apparently unseen and opened fire. The Italian broke right and fired a rocket. I checked my 6 and high for an escort, but saw none. The Italian was fast, turned inside me, and got a good burst into me but we were very very low and he forgot this and trying to follow my jink he crashed.

Headed North again and joining vS and Anhiem, we set out for the targets. Anhiem and I each took out a bridge in C1-4 and we all returned to base.

We talked a bit while the crews refueled us and decided we would fly out to sea and hit Venice like Viking raiders!

Flying into B1-2 (like a scene from Apocalypse Now) Anhiem and I each hit bridges again, and vS went for the factory on the plateau. He was hit by a flak burst and fell to his death out of control, but I saw visible damage to one of the factory buildings when I passed over the factory.

Anhiem and I headed back to sea and then to #22 landing at approx. 2340 and leaving the game.

wounded

Kills : enemy #15

Planes status: Burnt to a crisp by enemy #13

Got my mission off late because I was fooling around with my late brother's girlfriend Inga. As soon as i entered myself and 2 of our 2-seater crews were beseached by enemy #15(Italian scout Hanriot?) and enemy #13(spad13). After a prolonged duel enemy #15 retreated with a damaged top wing and #13 left with him. I rearmed. Sick of the sirens and knowing the two enemies were skulking about looking to pick off the 2-seaters I climbed to 3K and went over NML to search them out. I found them 1 K lower and headed for our operating base.

I engaged the Italian#15 and the spad#13 climbed up to me fast, digusted with the spad I chased him off with a few bursts then turned on the Italian again after a few turns he broke pieces of his top wing from violent manuvers. I attempted to finish him off ...completely frustrated with them ALWAYS getting away. I ignored the spad on my ass FURIOUSLY pumping round after round in the italian. Finally I gave up knowing, it was futile and engaged the spad to defend myself. I got him circling a bit, then he got me from a surprised burst under me and had me leaking oil. So I solumnly made way for my base, which was only 3min away. I could really do nothing but take #13s shots as I made my way for it. Finally my engine went up in flames from the oil all over the dash just as i was landing, the mechanics put it out quickly but I guess the plane was a loss. Enemy 13 (the spad) seemed to have engine trouble caused from the smoke of my smoldering plane and limped home(he was ejected). I have since found out the enemy #15 suffered a simliar fate as myself only it was somewhere in NML. (I was given credit he must have flammed)

I respectfully request faster scouts as I am unable (even if i am the victor) to chase down a defeated enemy or disengage from a dogfight(even 3min from my own AERO!).

Claim: bridge, c1-1, bridge, c1-4, bridge, b1-2
Witness: bridge c1-4 by Uhlan, possible b1-2 factory by Von Schtupp
Brisfit downed by Uhlan near base 20

All the signs where there. The day started with ominous clouds rolling in and it wasn't long before the storm broke loose, pounding the aerodrome with heavy raindrops. Von Schtupp spent the better part of the day checking to see if we would catch a break in the weather. Uhlan and I paced the barracks, both thinking the same. The targets had to be hit, but unless the rain ceased there was no way we could get into the air. We found little comfort in knowing that the allies would be just as grounded as us. The burden was on the glorious Austrians to stop the horde from pushing in further.

The heavens must have heard our silent pleas, for only 30 minutes after the original sortie time, the clouds broke. Not the best weather to fly in, but far more managable than earlier in the day. However, time was now crucial.

The six of us raced out to our machines, which were being rolled out onto the field. Von Schtupp's and Uhlan's gunner jumped in as they were preparing the planes for take off. As Theo and I neared our UFAG, one of the ground crew stopped me short. Some bolts had come loose on my gear! Had I taken off and tried to land, it would be very possible that Theo and I would have found the afterlife. The Leutnant and Uhlan apparently didn't know of my problems, as their planes roared out into the sky.

I stood over the maintenance men as they rushed to resecure my gear. I gazed out to the horizon and my wingmates were already gone from sight. The cloud cover had lessened visibility greatly. I barked for them to finish now, though in retrospect I am happy they took the time to do the job right. I would find later that my plane would be pushed to her limits and didn't need a fatal flaw hanging over my head.

The dampness of the air made starting the engine even harder than usual, which only added to my tardiness. Finally, with a loud backfire, the prop began to turn on her own. With no hesitation, I gave her the throttle and we rolled down the wet grass. In the back of my head, I wondered if the gear would hold up.

The nose gently lifted upward and the bouncing ceased as the ground fell away from us. I turned toward our designated targets, hoping that I might catch up with them as they were conducting their attack. Theo scanned the sky as we crossed the now muddy no man's land. Small shafts of sunlight pierced the blanket of grey to light up patches of the landscape below. I was glad the clouds were there actually. They would help obscure me from the normally high flying spads of the Amerikan pilots.

I drew closer to our targets and still no sign of any aircraft. Ahead of me a bridge and staging area come into view. This was the spot to attack. I flew an orbit nearby and both targets looked clean. Where had they gone?? My only choice now was to attack alone and hope to meet them at the refueling base.

I dropped down and lined up. I raced up the engine knowing that at this low level only speed was my friend. Tracers reached out for us from the small MG nests around the bridge. Evidently the weather hadn't discouraged the gunners from their post. I jinked the bomber around trying to through off their aim, but saddly couldn't sway too far for fear of losing my mark on the bridge.

My plane screamed over threshold of the span. A few sharp pings warned me that the MGs were getting their act together. It was too late for the bridge though. I release my bomb and hit her square. The force buffeted my plane some as I realized I was perhaps a bit too low. Exiting the other side of the bridge, I in fact went even lower knowing that to climb now would make me a nice slow silhouette for the MGs to practice on. Theo, whom I really must recommend for R&R of some sort, was leaning over the side cursing at the gunners in our mother tongue. He made a gesture I had never seen before (he would later state he saw it used by some Italian prisoners). I glanced back once to make sure of my work and was satisfied to see a big gaping hole where once there was wood in the bridge.

I turned on a heading towards our refuel base (XX) and kept her level for the sake of expediency. Flying only a few hundred feet off the ground, we tore into NML like maniacs. My sudden presence startled the Italian infantry, who gathered enough sense to take pop shots at us with their inferior rifles. I nearly jumped clean out of the plane when Theo's spandau rang out. Had an enemy gotten the advantage on me? Could I have been so lax? No. He was firing back at the guys on the ground, still cursing. I reached back, smacked him in the head, and turned around promising to myself to give him a quick kick in the seatcushion for scaring years out of me I could ill afford.

Back in friendly territory I neared the refuel base. I spotted something in the air over it and figured it friendly since the AA was silent. When I lined up for landing, I found it was Uhlan! I had found them! My wheels touched down as I caught sight of Der Leutnant's plane sitting on the runway, the crews just finishing her servicing. Uhlan settled back to earth aside me, so we could discuss our further plans while my plane was rearmed and fueled. Evidently Der Leutnant had changed the original flight plan because of the look of the sky to a more southernly target. It was then the sirens went off. Our spotters reported an enemy plane just south of us, and very low to the ground. Uhlan immediately fired up his plane and took off to check on the contact. It made sense. If this was an allied scout, he was a fool for being so low. And if it was a bomber, he needed to be stopped.

Finally finished, I got my engine started and took off to support Uhlan. The UFAG might not be the best bomber, but she has teeth. I yanked south and shot off level to catch them. In the distance I could see shots fired. It didn't last long for me, for after just a couple seconds the white plane that had engaged Uhlan found earthen doom. Theo cheered and I swung back around to hook up with Der Leutnant.

We proceeded to the second target area. The flight there was calm and uneventful. The skies had cleared a bit more letting us see better. No contacts in sight at all. This would be easy. Two bridges and a staging area just ahead. With practiced ease, Herr Uhlan and I split to get the bridges while Von Schtupp took aim on the gathered troops. A quick pass by both UFAGs and the bridges were made short work of. Again though, the MG nests were trying to claim us. I heard a tearing sound from behind and thought of Theo. I looked to the rear and my jaw dropped. Two rounds had punched through the small space between us. Theo was ranting now, cursing such that even I blushed. How he did it, I will never know, but the next thing I see is Theo lifting one of his boots from under him and throwing it overboard at the ground gunners.

Uhlan and I rejoined Der Leutnant, who was pounding the soil around the panicked troops. Though viscious in his attacks, nothing critical was hit it seemed. Von Schtupp signalled us to return to base, though he hadn't finished his runs. His restraint was smart. To remain over a target too long is to ask for trouble. If only we had kept that restraint later on.

We landed at the next scheduled base (XX). Theo remained in the plane (I suspect he didn't want to get his sock wet) while the rest of us evaluated our next step. Given the late start the sun was now close to setting and would soon rob us of what light was left. Our previously planned targets would be obscured now and to attack them might prove futile. The only chance we might have would be a risky attack on a target that would provide the illumination we would need. And only one fit that bill. It was daring, bold, and foolhardy. And yet for some unknown reason, we all decided to give it a go. If we could pull it off, not only could we damage some vital Italian industry, we would strike a morale coup against the olive skinned demons. And so with the plan laid out, we took to the skies and headed for our target..Venice herself.

Von Schtupp led us out to sea thereby avoiding the watchful eyes of the inland AA nests. The sunset ahead was erie as it set fire to the horizon. To the north we saw great flashes of lightening and below the water was an abyss of near blackness. Were the whole experience not so enthralling, I would have probably chickened out and flew home from fear of the mere sight around me. We held close to each other, always keeping the coast just in view to our left. To get seperated now could be fatal. Austrian compasses are reknowned for their accuracy (we are told so..has to be true...no?) but nature can play tricks on the mind.

The wall of night was closing in behind us when we spotted lights inland. Von Schtupp pulled gently south and Uhlan and I followed. At our altitude, the denziens of Venice would indeed be surprised by our sudden dropping in on them. Below us we could make out the two bridges Uhlan and I were to hit. We peeled off and dove while again Von Schtupp droned on. Up ahead was a nice factory, all lit up and just begging to be taken.

The small lights around the bridges started to move erratically. Probably Italian lovers in their silly little boats who suddenly realized the danger they were in. I leveled out just short of the bridge and readied my present to our most upset hosts. I suppose the Italians never expected us to pull something like this, as the bridges were completely unguarded! I slowed to enjoy the view as my plane soared over the bridge, the great flashing explosion behind me telling the story of structures lost. To the west, another beautiful explosion as Uhlan announced himself as well. I circled once to view my handy work, since nobody was there to shoot at me this time. Theo was laughing, casting slogans down at the terrified nightgoers who ran for any shelter they could find.

Confirming my victory, I met Uhlan between our bridges and set out to get with Von Schtupp. Now it was the Italian's turn to surprise us. Where Uhlan and I had found nice peaceful targets that just screamed for dispatching, Von Schtupp found Hell. The sky around the factory was alive with flak bursts. So thick was it that the very clouds were lit up with each crack. Uhlan and I, still rather low, steered around to keep away from the deadly air, but brave Von Schtupp hammered on. It was as if he was locked in a fight with the factory herself. She would lob her shells at him, to which he would answer with a thunderous bomb of his own. Flames raged below. I was awestruck and actually wished I had my camera, for there was an obscure beauty in all this.

Total horror drained my soul and ripped away any visions of false visions of loveliness. One large burst lit up the entire sky and I was witness to the terror of seeing Von Sctupp's plane suddenly spin like a top. Uhlan and I circled, helpless as we watched his Hansa tumble like an autumn leave. His plane disappeared into the darkness below and my heart sank. I turned to Uhlan and signalled to return to base. Fuel was rapidly becoming an issue and in the dark we would couldn't risk not having enough to find home.

Going back out to sea we flew in silence back to our lines. In a stupor, we somehow found the base and landed. The groundsmen ran out to greet us, but we four went past them. Our solemnness spread as they realized that we were short one crew. With nothing said, no mention of the tragedy, we walked off the field and into the pasture just beyond. Our glory had been dimmed in one flash of light. We strode into the darkness, aching within, to pay homage to our fallen brothers.

Sebastian Anheim, Feldwebel, Flik24k

Status Alive

Score Claims:2 RR Yards C3-7S,B3-8, 3 Bridges-C3-7E,C3-7W,C3-7N Claims Witnessed 0 Enemy Aircraft Engaged? 1 Enemy Territory Entered? Yes IN Server One Hour? Yes

This damned flu seems to have brought us all some temporary relief from this god forsaken war. We cannot get even half of our pilots and observers into the air.

We lifted off late, and had just begun our climb out West of the field when Walter began signaling frantically for a return to base. I released what was wrong when he taxied directly over to the latrine and vaulted out of the cockpit and into the sheds. It would be funny if we haven’t seen the same act half a dozen times over the last three days.

By the time Walter was ready to fly, we were alone. Walter seemed determined to make the best of it, and he flew hard and fast back and forth across no man’s land as if determined to be on the ground and in the latrine at least once each half hour.

Staying low on the way over and attacking from close contact altitude turned out to be a rewarding combination. Either we surprised all the gunners guarding the targets, or the allies were also imprisoned in their outhouses. We romped over the targets, damaging three bridges, and one depot. It was when we ventured into sector B that we seemed to attract attention. The great news is that we must have hit a ammo supply in the depot itself; it went up like a volcano and took out two rail cars sitting nearby. Regrettably, one gun emplacement dreamed of vengeance, got our range and hammered away, drawing blood and canvas. Walter flew like a madman, diving and turning and twisting until I was hanging over the gun ring puking up breakfast and cursing Walter’s passion to keep us whole.

It was the aromatic barnyard fragrance the reeked up out of the pilot’s bay that suggested that flak was not the only reason Walter was burning sky towards our base. Photographs of our damage are included.

Status Wounded
Plane Status Damaged

Score Claims None.

Enemy Aircraft Engaged? Yes (#15)

Took off for rendezvous airdrome at 2130 alone. During approach to airdrome saw friendlies in the area and on the field. But was soon attacked by EA #15 and forced down at 2140. Very humiliating but ego will survive to serve the emperor another day.

Respectfully Yours

Helmut Boehme, Leutnant Flik_105

Came in a 9:30 and found the war just starting. Took off and and flew south toward the bomber base. Spotted a bomber heading out but heard bells and sirens so went looking for the intruder. No luck. Meched at 9:55 and restarted at home base. Flew patrols north and south until running low on fuel at 11:15.

Landed,xxxx refueled, waited the requisite 5 minutes and took off again. Base sirens and AA started going off as I was climbing out. Then bombs started exploding on the base. Looked around and spotted an aircraft quite high and not even over the base. Either it took a long time for his bombs to get down or someone else was even higher and had pretty damn good aim. Tried climbing up after him and meched again.

Restarted and hauled back toward 18 hoping to cut them off on their way home. No luck

Spatz

Missed mission, drunk and passed out in barracks.

Excerpt from a report by Austrian foot soldier on patrol in trenches.

It was a very quiet day, I did notice one of our planes with a #16 painted on it fly over twice. Looked like a medium bomber, and I thought it was a little unusual to see a bomber fly un-escorted.

Message from Austrian members of the resistance within enemy lines.

Austrian medium bomber HB C2, with a #16 painted on the side was downed by flak at a factory that was being bombed. Bomb managed to hit factory before plane fell to earth. Searched reckage, no survivors. Pilots personal affects are enclosed.