Flugmeister Jacob Kühn Marine-Feld-Jagdstaffel 1 Jabbeke 9th April 1918
Morning sortie
Jacob sat ready in his aircraft as the rain soaked the shoulders of his flying coat. 'What a difference a day makes' he thought as the rain splashed his goggles.
Oberleutenant Saschenberg had called a briefing the previous evening and told them that Kette Zwei would be flying an early morning sortie, down towards Ypres. He said that supremacy in the air was paramount at this time and keeping it was even more so. He then stated that MFJ1 was a vital part of keeping it.
He confirmed that Leutenant-zur-see Bertram Heinrich would lead the patrol.
Kette Zwei took off in the squawling rain and formed up around Ghistelles airfield west of Jabbeke.
Jacob was nervous, especially in this weather as visibility was poor with the thick grey clouds and driving rain. He scoured around as they climbed but thankfully saw nothing
The Kette moved off towards the lines as they reached 4000 meters and thankfully Jacob noticed they'd climbed above the rain.
All was quiet until about fifteen minutes in when Jacob saw dark spots ahead. As they neared he saw many more and realised they were flying into an ongoing melee.
Kette Zwei broke up and joined the battle. Jacob picked his moment. He saw a Camel drop down below him and make for the lines. Jacob stayed with him and looked around but he was in the clear.
He dived down onto the unsuspecting Camel and opened fire. He watched as tracer tore into the enemy aircraft.
The Camel rolled and dived for the ground but Jacob followed. He lined up and put another good burst into the Camel and watched as it rolled again but this time straight into the ground.
Jacob drew breath for the first time in what seemed a long time and looked around. He was well over the German lines but saw no other aircraft nearby.
He therefore decided to make for home.
As he climbed out of his Albatros he saw others now approaching the airfield. He went to clean up and file his report. It later transpired that two Camels were claimed as destroyed by Kette Zwei without loss.
Leutenant Heinrich was able to confirm Jacob's fight but no one saw the Camel crash. Jacob would have to rely on ground units for confirmation.
Afternoon sortie
Jacob and the rest of MFJ1 sat in the briefing room. They'd had some breakfast and had dried their flight gear and were now listening to Oberleutenant Saschenberg go through this afternoon's sortie.
"Kameraden" he began. "We will be flying west to the lines south of Nieuwpoort and patrolling there. Again control of the air at this time is vital and we will attack any enemy units coming across the lines" Saschenberg continued.
"Both Kettes will be airborne and I will lead Kette Eins whilst Leutenant Heinrich will lead Zwei." He concluded
Jacob and the others were airborne a short time later and climbed away from Jabbeke.
The weather had improved a little but was still grey and rainy as they formed up near Ghistelles once more.
They climbed to 3500 meters and then moved west. All was good for the first fifteen minutes or so. Jacob was busy scanning the skies as best he could with the enormous clouds around.
Then Leutenant Heinrich signalled and pointed up. Jacob could now see a trio of dots getting larger. He focussed his eyes and could then see flak bursts. He watched as they got closer and recognised them as RE8's.
Just as he was about to climb up towards them he looked beyond the RE8's and saw another, larger formation above the two seaters....'Verdammt, they have escorts' he thought.
As he stared up to see if the escorts were going to dive down he instinctively looked to his left, and not a moment too soon as two Camels came swooping in to attack him.
He rolled into the incoming attackers and down. The agile Camels came around quickly onto his tail and Jacob dived for his life.
He glanced around and noticed one of the Camels had given up but the other was still chasing Jacob.
He now had a plan, he flew through a large cloud and then levelled out and flipped around as the Camel emerged from the cloud too. Jacob fired and hit the Camel who dived for the ground.
Jacob smelt a chance however and went with him. As they neared the ground the Camel realised his predicament and tried to flee but Jacob turned west with him and fired into the engine and cockpit area of the Camel.
Jacob put another accurate burst into the enemy and watched as the Camel burst into flames and crashed down.
Jacob levelled off and looked around, he saw two other Albatros scouts nearby and joined with them. Together they flew back as they had all taken some hits.
As they landed Leutenant Heinrich bounded over to Jacob as he climbed out. "Gut gemacht, alter Seemann!" the Leutenant shouted as he shook Jacob's hand.
Leutenant Heinrich confirmed he'd seen Jacob's victory and both men went to clean up.
"Flugmeister, I have some news, some good, some bad, such is life in this war it seems" explained Oberleutenant Saschenberg later on.
"Your claim this morning cannot be confirmed, no ground forces were able to state what happened with any clarity. However, your victory this afternoon, witnessed by many, well that's a different matter" confirmed the Oberleutenant.
"Good start Herr Flugmeister, more where that came from, if you please!" The Oberleutenant smiled as he spoke.
"A great deal of an aeroplane could be holed without affecting its ability to fly. Wings and fuselage could be—and often were—pierced in 50 places, missing the occupants by inches (blissfully unaware of how close it had come until they returned to base). Then the sailmaker would carefully cover each hole with a square inch of Irish linen frayed at the edges and with a brushful of dope make our aircraft 'serviceable' again within an hour."
