Mr. Wiggins: Having a E'LL of a time at the Front. The sky seems full of the Huns luirking behind each cloud and in the Sun.

Great Fun.

Another letter from Cam Fraser to his younger brother

Sunday, 19 November 1916
RNAS-5, Coudekerque, Flanders

Hi kid,

Still no letter from you! Let me know if you’re getting these from Mr Corrie. I have sent a letter to the “auld yins” telling them how we’re dutifully winning the war, etc. etc. So here’s the real griffin on what war is about. The big Somme push has fizzled out, and things are a little calmer than they were a while back, which I’m not too sad about. Life in the wing here is pretty comfortable compared to the poor sods at the front, but flying provides enough excitement.

Just after I dropped my last letter to you in the post on Thursday I was told to join Andy Jane on an artillery spotting jaunt. My observer, Capt Anderson, loaded on board a wireless kit with a mass of antenna wire he has to pay out behind us as we parade up and down over the Hun lines. He then sends Morse signals to our guns telling them where their shells are falling, and guiding them onto our targets. At least, that’s it in theory. In practice, no sooner had we reached the front just south of the flooded areas near Nieuwport when Andy stands his Strutter on one wing and disappears. I followed, nearly throwing Anderson out of the plane, as he had knelt on his seat to peer over the side. There was no obvious explanation for Andy’s move at first. Then Anderson fired a burst from his Lewis gun to get my attention. When I turned he was pointing to about eight of those fast Albatros scouts diving on us. I put the nose down more steeply and lost them in some cloud below us, then went home. I looked back and saw white AA bursts in the far distance as our gunners scared the Albatros jockeys off Andy's tail. We both arrived home intact. All in all, a short and exciting outing!

We tried the same mission on Friday in heavier cloud, this time with six Strutters and an escort of Sopwith “Pup” single-seat scouts from RNAS-3. This time we had time to deploy the antenna before the Boche showed up to spoil the party. Again we went home early, leaving the Pups to chase off the Huns.

Yesterday it “snowed and blowed” all day and all flights were cancelled. I went with Bertie Huskisson in the liberty boat(as we term our Crossley tender) into Bergues, an old fortress town near Dunkirk. We explored the fort (star-shaped, like the Halifax Citadel) and its moats, the old abbey of St Wino (must be the patron saint of RN pilots!) and some wonderful mediaeval buildings. Bertie has been with the Wing since the summer and brought me to an odd dining establishment run by a Frenchwoman and her daughter. Madame’s husband is a French torpedo boat commander, and in his absence she has turned the front room of their house into a restaurant. You go in, pay a few francs, and the menu is “thing in oven.” You get what she has, and in our case it was a wonderful beef and wine stew with dumplings and the best green beans I’ve ever tasted, plus a beet salad you would not believe! In the kitchen she has a massive wine bottle about three feet across and encased in wicker that she decants into clay jugs for us. One of the fellows at table – there were 11 of us for “tea” – suggested the big bottle came courtesy of the French Navy. For afters there was a delicate pastry with apricot and chocolate and truly excellent coffee. I must return. It was by far the finest meal of my life, spoiled only by walls painted hot pink and a morose painting of the Sacred Heart of Jesus looking down on us mournfully throughout our feasting and debauchery.

Today I drew early patrol, a bombing mission at first light deep into enemy territory. Weather was filthy and yesterday’s snow created a fine frozen mist. We flew at 12000 feet, and the cold was painful. Our woolen Balaklava masks became solid ice around the mouth and nose, and my eyes watered and froze so that I had to rub them constantly. Once I took off my glove for a moment to rub under my goggles, but then my hand froze instantly and I thought I was in serious trouble. I flew three quarters of the mission with the frozen hand pressed between my legs into my crotch, thereby freezing even more of me! We hit our target, but were chased by some enemy biplanes, probably Halberstadts, and dived away home.

Back in our cabins I got a warm wash-up and changed for Sunday divisions at 0930. I was Duty Officer (DO) today, so had to stay close at hand in case the boss had menial errands to run. We had a fine meal this evening: roast beef, Yorkshire, two veg, ice cream, decent wine. We toasted the King in port, then cigars were passed, a toast to Absent Friends, followed by a succession of increasingly nonsensical toasts, then beer and songs in the wardroom after.

I have asked father to send my bagpipes so that I can practice, but I may have to hide them from the rowdy boys here!

Kick the cat for me,

Cam



"I looked back and saw white AA bursts in the distance as our gunners scared the Albatros jockeys off Andy's tail."

The continuing service of Albert "Mushroom" Ward:



20 Nov 1916 @ 09h17 Patrol behind our lines to Coudekerque aerodrome

I lead the flight with Mulock and Travers accompanying. We had heavy cumulous between 4000 and 9000 ft with clear layers between. It was bitter cold with heavy snow throughout the mission. Shortly after leaving our field I spotted two specks high above us but was unable to ascertain whether they were enemy or ours. Approaching Coudekerque I took the flight high to 9000 ft. in a circling of Coudekerque aerodrome. It wasn’t long until two Albatross DII approached us at 10000 ft. They passed us and then circled and I gave the signal to attack. One seemed bent on saying hello to me so I circled tightly to gain advantage. The other DII departed the scene and Mulock gave chase. In the melee I lost sight of Travers but had my hands full with the Albatross pilot. He was very good at zigzagging out of my line of fire and I expended quite a lot of rounds on him. I had many hits but none vital and I drove him down and forced him to land safely. I landed safely at St-Pol-Sur-Mer where Travers joined up with me in landing. Mulock had been slightly injured with his craft written off. I reported in the the C.O. that I had one claim, an Albatross DII over Coudekerque. He smiled and said he knew. The C.O. at Coudekerque had already reported it to him and that the pilot was captured by his men and that the pilot was none other than Max Ritter von Muller .
He told me to consider my claim approved. I asked permission to take a car to Coudekerque to meet up with this illustrious German and he gave me the ok. I took Travers along for the ride and brought a bottle of my finest single malt. When we arrived at Coudekerque I went straight to the C.O.’s office where I discovered him interrogating Muller. I snapped to attention and saluted him and he did likewise. I shook his hand and explained to him that he was a very worthy opponent and that I was glad he survived the combat. I asked the C.O. if he would mind if we all christened my rare bottle of single malt which I pulled out from my inner coat pocket. He took the bottle and looking at the label raised his eyebrows and smiled. “You have exceedingly good taste Ward, for not being a Scot! It has been a long time since I have had the pleasure of a Balvenie of this vintage.” He called the orderly who quickly produced four whiskey glasses and set them down on the C.O.’s desk. The C.O. said “This vintage really deserves a Quaich, but we will have to make due, things being what they are these day!.” I asked him to do the honours and pour the first round which he did rather joyously. Muller seemed unfamiliar with our tastes, but willingly joined in and exclaimed “Fur ihre gesundheit!” and having downed it, held the glass up to his eyes and exclaimed “Ausgezeichnet!”. Our orderly who spoke some German indicated that he toasted our health and then exclaimed that he had enjoyed the whiskey. Muller explained that it was uncommon for his German flyers to come so deeply into our territory and that they had got somewhat lost in the heavy clouds and snow. We all had dinner in the mess that night and he met some of our pilots. He was then shipped off as a prisoner of war, but somehow managed to escape. I wonder if I will run into him again?

YouTube Video:

Welcome back in the slaughterhouse, Fabian Fair (MFair)!
Sounds like you had much the same things happening on 19 November as I had seen:
1 wingman running into a Fee, then you get attacked by a single Nieuport.
Maybe WOFF gave you the same constellations as to me on this sortie?

Nicely compiled detail also in Cam Fraser's letters to his "little" brother, Raine.
The description of the "cuisine de la madame" made my mouth water - you know about good cooking
and dinig, I see! I had a similar experience when I was in France; she showed me round the pots
and pans in a kitchen built of huge grey stones. It looked like it wasn't renovated since the
days of the "Three Musketeers" - and it probably wasn't.


You possibly will, Robert!
Jasta 2 is not going up that far north usually in these days, but they will move further up in 1917.
Max Ritter von Müller looks like a friendly, warmhearted type on the photo in THE AERODROME.
But like so many others, he will fall later in the war.

http://www.theaerodrome.com/aces/germany/muller3.php

Thank you for the welcome back Raine and Olham. As good as the Frenchie was i thought it was going to be a short stay! I was relieved to see him become a dirt dart.
Love reading your reports Raine. You should be an author, if not already. By the way, if you ever shoot me down and host me in the mess as Robert did with Muller, I am allergic to red wines. A good beer please Sir.

I have almost 40 hours now in the Halb. I have requested a transfer to Jasta 6.

Lots to catch up on. Welcome back MFair. What is Jasta 6 currently flying?

Hass: Excellent report of Niemann Sir! I look forward to each edition.
Raine: Cam's adventures are book material for sure as well.
MFair: von Fair seems to be clearing the skies and doing very well.

Gentlemen keep the reports coming, I love reading them in the morning with my coffee! Great stuff!!

Your videos go well with am coffee too Robert

They are flying the Alb. Jasta 1 does not get them till next year. I don't think I would last that long!

They do! He's awesome.

You flatter me Hellshade and I thank you but oh what I would give to have your talent Sir!

Off. Frank Enfurter
Roland C.II; Kasta 14
November 20, 1916

Just a few brief words as I'm on the wing, so to speak.

As you may be aware, earlier this month I applied to join the newly forming Jasta 20. Their response was curiously delayed, though I imagined my stint in the hospital after defeating that SPAD was a factor.

Actually, according to my CO, Leutnant Scheller, it was downing that SPAD that caught their attention.

On the 16th and 17th Scheller took me up alone for artillery spotting missions, and each time we had fighter escort. On the first day it was five Albatros from Jasta 20, the second five Halberstadts from Jasta 8. The former flew in perfect formation throughout, though one had trouble at the last minute and had to land at Proville aerodrome with us, so his mates landed as well. The Halbs...well, one had trouble earlier on, and they seemed puzzled how to rebuild their formation. In the end they landed at Proville too.

It occurred to me that Scheller might be trying to 'show me off' with different Jasta commanders, or perhaps give me an idea of what their lives were like.

Any warm feeling or tendency to stay with the Kasta was gone on the 19th however. Scheller once more took me up, but this time we were alone and 3 Nieuport 17s stopped by. Scheller was content to simply fly away and let them catch us. I veered away hoping to seperate our enemies, and soon only one remained on my tail.

What followed was chaotic, not in the least part because I tended to bank too hard and spin out. In short, I did my best to turn into him, and yet I couldn't find him to save my life. He must have been right above me. I steadily lost altitude through these maneuvers, and at about 400 feet, maybe 100 AGL, I had to level out without ever seeing my quarry.

That's about when he opened fire. Two barrages worth talking about, no serious damage and perhaps most importantly no damage to ME. My observer fired a burst as we force-landed in a field to no effect. As luck would have it we landed parallel to a fence just off our right wing to avoid disaster.

I cheated on the 20th. Well, not really as one could not know the consequences. See, almost every time we took off we'd fly right over a locomotive, and I do love the trains. Today I abandoned poor Leutnant Bowski to his fate and broke formation. I escorted (buzzed..) the train to its nearest railyard then turned and flew home.

Upon arriving I went straight to the CO's office to claim 'engine trouble' and Scheller had this strange smile as he listened to my explanation. When I finished he handed me my new orders.

I'm now in Jasta 20. I will be flying Albatrosses. Now the hunted becomes the hunter!

CatKnight, all the best with Jasta 20 and the Albatros!
(I never flew with that Staffel; I'll check where they flew and which aircraft over the time.)

*** *** ***

Today, short after taking off, we were attacked by some Airco DH.2 pretty low - maybe 500 m.
Both our flights took them on, and we outnumbered them by 4 : 9.
We sent down 3 of the pushers.

What had never occured to me before: an Airco pilot can survive a "flamer" with some luck -
he is sitting in front of the fire, which is getting blown rearwards.
Mine was so low, he could perform a crash landing.




Just went through my victories (in the pilot book) and checked the "Remarks" (by hovering the
mouse over the word), and there I saw I had shot down three aces!
Robert (and others with many victories) - it might be worth checking all your "Remarks" -
you may have shot down many aces by now.

Here is my list, which I intend to grow:

Good Job Olham !

Never made a list, mine would just be on paper. I still suck at photoshop type programs.

I've noticed that my pilot often encounters the same enemy HAs in a rather short period of time. Some have been shot down more than once.

Today we ran into Nieup 11s




This wasn't as lucky as the Airco pilots

Catnight, Frank Enfurter goes to Jasta 20 eh! I would have thought he would be piloting a Hun sausage with a name like that!

Interesting thought Olham! I have on occasion, looked at some but I have never gone through all of them so you probably are correct. I usually only check when I have found an opponent was unusually good.







[/quote]

MudWasp and Olham, you are setting a trend for flamers!

That's why I looked in there again today.
One of the DH.2 was fighting me extremely tight, and so I thought it might have been
Lanoe Hawker. But he wasn't the one I shot down in the end.
But then we mixed so much, that I may have shot down another Airco,
and the nimble one escape or fell under someone else's guns.

Nicely done, Robert! Just got back from a client, and you've successfully kept me from work for 15 minutes. Now I need to get a coffee and see what the other Woffers are up to! Oh, and go back to work, too.

I am in awe of your success in this career. And by the way, I suspect that Muller's Albatros wasn't disabled. It merely settled to earth due to the weight of lead in it.