“On the Flugplatz, anxious groups of Schwarzer Mann awaited the return of their Maschinen, and eventually five out of the eleven rejoined me. The other six rang up in the course of the morning.”

“Their reports were identical. “Impossible to find the Front, made ein Notlandung* where I could. Maschine more or less unharmed; hope to get back some time in the afternoon.”

“So, the General’s unreasonable expectations had halved the strength of the Staffel.”


* Notlandung – Emergency landing

“But now is the time to rub it in, I decided, and rang up A.O.K. to report that I had attempted to carry out the General’s orders but only succeeded in losing six good pilots. I talked freely from the liver,* quoting the fate of the englische Bomber as an awful example of attempts to fly on such a day.”

“den Chef des Generalstabes came to the telephone, but luckily he was in a more reasonable frame of mind. He replied that he would leave it to me to decide when it was possible to fly. “’Only Himmelherrgott. try to get to the Front as soon as you can!’”

“The news from the Front was bad. The Tommies had broken through the weakest part of the line after a short but intense bombardment. How far the offensive had penetrated it was impossible to say as yet, but the Felgrau were still holding Marcoing. “

“This meant that the enemy could not be more than 8 Kilometers from our Zuckerfabrik here. (Sugar factory). It looked like odds on we would have to move back to safer quarters if this push went on.”

“I enquired about the tanks, and received the reply that the Tommies seemed to have brought out a bigger and more effective type that could jump the widest trench and knock a stone wall down – there was positive evidence on that point.”



*to talk freely from the liver, in English this would be ‘saying how it is.’

“Meanwhile the Brothers* were giving hell to the poor Frontschwein in the trenches; no one knew what to do to stop them.”

“The General urged me, “’Try what your Fleugzeuge can do against them.’”

“This I promised to do, provided we could reach the Front.”

“After Mittageßen we took our six remaining Maschinen out in Paare (couples). We armed ourselves with Ph –Munition in one gun and K-Munition in the other.”*


*The Brothers – another term for the enemy, whatever their nationality.

*K or Kern ammunition - An armor piercing small arms bullet designed to penetrate tank armor.

* Ph ammunition - Phosphorus ammunition for igniting observation balloons.










“We flew barely thirty meters above the ground, taking as our guiding-line the long straight road between Le Cateau and Cambrai, which runs past here. As like so many French roads it is flanked by rows of poplars on either side, the tops were visible through the mist.”

“I lost Otto, who was my companion, but reached Cambrai, skirted the housetops and flew on towards the Front. The din of the artillery was terrific; below me the road was choked with batteries going at full gallop through the fog, munition transports following them at a slower pace and the fußlatscher (foot flops/shufflers) coming behind at the double. ‘A Hell of a mess on the ground,’ I thought. ‘fog or no fog. I’m better off up in the air.’ But the next moment I was forced to revise my opinion when ein Flugzeug streaked past me.”

“It came so close that the wings of our Maschine nearly touched, and yet I was not able to tell whether the other was Deutsch or Englisch. Several more followed at intervals, but I made no attempt to interfere with them and was only too thankful to escape a collision.”

“I saw the figures of advancing Tommies on the ground, and when I turned towards Flesqieres and Ribecourt, I could discern dark smears moving through the mist, which were obviously tanks. Then a thick blanket of fog rolled up and blotted them from my eyes.”

“It was hopeless to go on, so I turned and, more by luck than judgment, made my way back to Cambrai, where I had the poplar-flanked road to guide me to this Platz.* When I landed, I found that only two of the others had succeeded in reaching the Front, one of whom was Bey, may Gott rest his soul.* He attacked a tank with Ph –Munition, that left it an easy mark for the artillery. He served several others in similar fashion, which were then put out of action by the gunners.”


*An aerodrome is usually referred to as a Flugplatz and sometimes shortened to just Platz.

*Karl Bey, was killed three days later, on 23 November 1917 over Anneux near Cambrai.

Major James McCuddden of No 56 Squadron reported an Albatros D.V one mile east of Noyelles as "destroyed" at 12 noon Allied time on 23 November 1917. This is probably Vfw. Karl Bey from Jagdstaffel 5, who fell in an air battle near Anneux.
Karl Bey rests today at the war cemetery in Selvigny.








]






CAPTION: Das Propellerblatt Nr. 46; Mitwirkung der Flieger und Flak bei der Tankbekämpfung bei Cambrai; der erste erfolgreiche Tankabschuss durch einen Jagdflieger; von Rainer Absmeier

(Participation of the aviators and anti-aircraft guns in the tank fight near Cambrai; The first successful tank shoot-down by a fighter pilot; by Rainer Absmeier)

In this issue of Propellerblatt there is an excerpt from the letter from the commander of the aviators (Kofl) AOK 2 about the “participation of the aviators in combating tanks”, dated January 22, 1918. Here, in particular, Vfw. Karl Bey of Jasta 5 is mentioned in a “successful trial” against tanks on November 20, 1917. He was the first German fighter pilot to carry out a successful tank attack. –

This achievement was previously awarded to Obltn Robert Greim and Vfw Johann Pütz from Jasta 34 on August 23, 1918, who each disabled a Mark IV tank east of Proyart through a vertical attack from above.

CAPTION –

Does this photo of Bey look familiar?

Vfw. Karl Bey (center) with the crew of the Bristol F2b A7231, 2Lt E. Scholtz and 2Lt Wookey at the Jasta 5 airfield near Boistrancourt. Here the two Englishmen enjoyed the hospitality of the Jasta 5, but were later sentenced by a military court to ten years in prison. They carried leaflets in their “Brisfit”, the contents of which contained enemy propaganda. The Albatros D.V in the background could be Bey's machine but unfortunately shows no personal markings

Ten years is a pretty stiff sentence for delivering toilet paper, don’t you think?





The Albatros in the screenshot above, attacking the tank, is not Bey’s, his personal markings are unknown. This is a personal skin.

“The following day the fog showed no signs of lifting, but with the experience we grew better at finding our way to the Front. It was, of course, out of the question for us to look for our usual opponents of the air, but, flying low, we undertook the work of the Infanterieflieger,* and used our MGs with good effect against the advancing Tommies, besides engaging the tanks with Ph-munition whenever we sighted them.”

*The Contact patrol flyer “Infanterieflieger” had the task of watching the progress of an offensive and reporting to the staff by signals or wireless the changes in the front. As it was impossible to distinguish friend from foe when flying high enough for safety, the infantry were supposed to signal their positions by lights or by laying down strips of cloth on the ground. When circumstances prevented them from undertaking their regular work, the Jagdstaffeln were generally detailed to assist the Infanterieflieger. The fog must have rendered their tasks doubly hard in the Cambrai battle.






[img]https://SimHQ.com/forum/files/47017.jpg[/img

]

“But on the 22nd, the rain ceased and the fog blew off, so that Briton and German fought in the air again. The Staffel had four Luftsiege as a result of this day’s work.*”



*On 22 November, Jasta 5 had 30 aerial combats, with four confirmed Luftsiege. Josef Mai received credit for a Bristol at 0840 hours at Cantaing-sur-l’escault.

Otto Könnecke was credited with a DH5 over Anneux. This is believed to be 2Lt D.G. Clark from 60 Squadron who was killed in action at this time over Bourlon Wood.

Fritz Rumey claimed a camel at 0910 at Marcoing. This may have been a Sopwith Pup, B1747 of 46 Squadron, flown by Lt. T.L.Atkinson, who was made a prisoner of war.

Rudolf Matthaei claimed a Sopwith Camel at 1130 hours, SE of Fontaine-Notre-Dame. In Windsock’s ‘Jagdstaffel 5, Volume Two,’ G.K. Merrill states that there is “an outside chance that his victim was none other than Capt. Arthur Gould Lee, of ‘No Parachute’ fame, who was forced to land near this time and place, but escaped back to his lines. His captured aircraft was B2457 from No. 46 Squadron.




















NOTE ON THE SCREENSHOTS: Rumy’s 3rd Luftsig is listed as a Camel in ’Above the Lines.’ In Windsock’s ‘Jagdstaffel 5, Volume Two’ G.K. Merrill noted that this may have been the Pup listed above. I decided to go with the Pup and used the WOFF skin for Normon Dimmock of RFC 46 because I liked the yellow nose, which is unusual a British aircraft.

Mattaei’s Camel is the WOFF Camel skin for Arthur Gould Lee, but not the one he was shot down in.

The Infanterieflieger DFW ‘Delila’ is an ace skin I made for Paul Wetzel to fly when he was with FA 23 Lb. It is in the Two Seater Mod.



The weather used is BB Large Saturated Cumulus Clouds from BuckeyeBob’s Optional Clouds Mod version 5.0. He was assisted by ‘Panama Red’ in the completion of the Mod.

“We had fought against odds, but that evening we were joined by eight Maschinen from Staffel Fifteen, and Richthofen motored over to see what further reinforcements we needed.* But meanwhile the fighting on the ground was turning out badly for us, and the foremost of the Tommies were less than five Kilometers from our Flugplatz. I was certain that our hangars were bound to be destroyed as soon as they were spotted for the enemy’s heavy artillery, which the Englisch Arbeitsflieger would be certain to do if the weather remained clear. Tomorrow we would have to make a move.”


*Richthofen took command of the fighter aircraft in this sector.

“But, on the next day the fog came over again and concealed the position of the Flugfeld from prying eyes.”

“Once more our war birds joined the Infanteriefliegern for contact patrol work, and those who survived the day were surprised to find themselves still in their old quarters when they returned. Every moment we expected the order to pack up, for despite the reinforcements that had reached us, the Feldgrau in front of us could barely hold their own. It seemed impossible to hinder the Engländer from effecting a complete break through.*”


*Flashar omitted that on 23 November, he was nearly shot down when 3 Camels got on his tail. He was saved by the intervention of Rumey and Könnecke,.

“On 24. November, the offensive came to a standstill, much to the surprise of us all. We could only presume that the bad weather which favored its early stages, subsequently prevented the victors from fully exploiting the advantage they had gained. And so, we the defenders hung on for another six days until the German counterstroke was delivered and our Komerad Felix down there at the end of the table, and his friends came to help us out.”

Later, Schwester Erna comes over to where I’m speaking to her brother and I am introduced.

She has been eyeing me curiously since before Flashar pointed me out during his story. She asks me which Staffel I fly with and a number of other questions of the usual kind.

Then she says, “You are not a Saxon yourself are you? You certainly don’t sound like one.”

Myself; “No, I just happened to volunteer into a Saxon Infantry Regiment.”

She; “Where are you from then?”

So, I pull out my most recent cover story.

“I was born in Deutsch-Ostafrika (German East Africa), my father was a bit of an adventurer, I lived in many places.“

“I see,” she said, but then continued, “and so how did you come to be in Saxony.”

I was prepared for this question as well, and this time with the truth. “I crossed over the border from the Österreichisches Reich (Austrian Empire).”

She; “You were living in Österreich (Austria) at the beginning of the war?”

This was beginning to be annoying, “I sailed to Österreich from Algerien (Algeria)”

She; “ Algerien, that’s very exotic! What were you doing there?”

This goes against the stroke to me*, it is going it a bit too far* and I wish to tell her to mind her own business, but I’m a guest of the Flashar Staffel and I am here with hat in hand. “I was serving with the Légion étrangère.“

She; “You were in French service!?”

Myself; “No, in the Légion, we swear allegiance to the Légion, not to France.”

“And to answer your next question, I deserted and took ship to the Österreich so that I could enlist in the Kaiser’s Army. I am, after all, a legal citizen of the Kaiserreich and my loyalty lies here. Did you think you had caught a spy?” I laugh then.

I have embarrassed her, “Oh no, of course not!”

This does not discourage her and she continues to pepper me with questions about Algerien, Ostafrika and myself. It’s lucky that I have actually been to these places recently, but it’s difficult to present a coherent life story. I have a nearly photographic memory, but I have my limitations.

I extricate myself as soon as is possible, I have plenty of excuses since I am, of course, on a mission for the Staffel. I cannot afford to have a curious female making me delve deeply into my fictitious past and possibly exposing me to suspicion.



* Das geht mir gegen dem Stritch - Literal translation:this goes against the stroke, English equivalent: “I don’t like this.”












ENDE

138




Dienstag, 29. Januar 1918

I’m awakened by the crowing of a rooster this morning, our rooster, well before the Bursch knocks on the door.

When he enters I am enjoying the sweetness of the day’s first cigarette, the rich tang of nicotine on my tongue, contemplating with anticipation upon the delicate delights of the latrine.

I’ve been extremely busy with the tasks required to get our supply situation in order. There’s still much to do, but we’re in a much better position now. We have decent food, chickens enough to supply a few eggs and occasional meat, a few sheep, three milk cows. Has it only been four days since I arrived?

The Kasino is now stocked with wine, beer and other alcoholic beverages of sufficient quantity and quality. So, we were able on Sontag to celebrate the Kaiser’s birthday in some style. Though we did not have the usual champaign.

We toasted his portrait, which hangs in the Kasino, with the inscription, Geschlagen wird der feind unter allen Umständen - The enemy will be defeated under any circumstances.

After the toast, der Kaiserhymne was sung. “Heil dir im Siegerkranz!” Though there were some sour looks from a few at our table, particularly from Preiss.*

I’m afraid I’ve never been able to find the Supreme Warlord of the Germans particularly inspiring. His youngest child, an only daughter, Prinzess Viktoria Louise, now the Duchess Consort of Brunswick after her marriage, however, I find quite inspiring, I have a photo of her from a magazine hanging in my quarters, it’s greatly admired by all my visitors.


* "Hail to Thee in the Victor's Crown," literally translated as Victor’s Wreath, but the meaning was the same as crown. The melody of the hymn was derived from the British anthem ‘God Save the King.’ It was the anthem of the German Empire up until the Armistice and was the Royal Anthem of Prussia. It was never recognized by the southern German states including Bavaria, Württemberg and Saxony for that reason. It was a sore spot for some of the troops from those states.

All these improvements in our comfort were not achieved by my efforts alone. Miltner and Klink are not incompetent, they only needed my advice and access to the right people. They did quite well, though neither of them have ever held a position such as the ones they hold now, and neither has been with their respective Staffeln for a month.

I am treated more like an officer than I was in Eighteen. I don’t have my own Bursch, but then no one does, except the Staffelführeren, of course. We share four of these conveniences. There are only a few of them at present, men who aren’t fit for frontline service and the criteria for that is becoming much lower.

So, I get my hot water delivered to me in the morning and don’t have to polish my own boots or shine my brass,. I don’t use the Burschen for much, I don’t want someone puttering about in my room. But, I tip them, as is my habit, with the things they want or can trade, good tobacco and liquor, hard to get food items. They’re another group that it is wise to stay on the good side of.

As soon as the Burschen come in, all the dogs in the Sachsenheim set up an unholy racket at this threat to their territory and then bark at each other as well.

The Brusch that usually serves me is Bauer, a Bavarian with a perhaps exaggerated limp. He brings in some hot water so I can wash and shave in the old steel mirror I have carried through a number of wars. I’m able to use my American Gillette now, thanks to a little side trip I made during my ausweiss.(leave)

As I leave my room and close the door, I see Erbguth’s Bursch set down the boots and hot water before he knocks on the door and opens it.

As soon as the door opens, Elsie leaps out the door at him in greeting, and they must wrestle before he can continue with his duties.

Her growling and barking sets off all the other dogs in the Sachsenheim again. Then Rammkeil’s cat escapes his room and Elsie goes scurrying along the polished floor after her. It’s quite a show.

As Elsie has gotten to know me, we play as well, she likes to wrestle and tug of war, she will chase a ball, but only if Erbguth throws it.

We Ketteführeren, despite the fog, have been able to take our Jungvögel up in our three Albatrosn a few times to evaluate their flying skills.










Most of them are adequate, though they don’t have the experience that was once usual in a Jagdflieger, of having flown Arbeitsmachinen at the front before being assigned to Jastaschule. Everything is being rushed now.

One problem with these Anfängeren is that they were not taught that they must fly curves, nothing but curves.* This should have been instilled in them at the Jastaschule. Rammkeil, as I was told earlier, is particularly bad about this.



Johann (Behneke), who is his Ketteführer became so angry about this when he and Rammkeil landed that he called him Grüner Bengel. (green brat, an insult)

Rammkeil being a Leutnant, took umbrage with this and so Erbguth had yet another headache to deal with. The two of them are at least on speaking terms now, but it is Herr Leutnant und Herr Offizierstellvertreter, rather than Rammkeil and Johann. They’ll get over it.

Our Staffelführer has assigned the members of each Kette in this way:

Ideally, he wanted a mix of NCO and officer pilots in each, so that there will be no officers against the enlisted men competition. This he was able to accomplish, except for Seewald’s Kette, which was unavoidable.

Also, he placed the Gustavs in different Ketten and Rammkeil and Gulle are assigned separately as well.



I have Preiss. I requested this in order to work with him myself, try to adjust his attitude, avoid conflicts.

Behneke has Gfr ‘Gusti’ Schwind and Ltn Benninghoff, ‘Rammkiel.’

Häm Matzke has Uffz’ Methusalem’ Rincke and Ltn Gustav ‘Augi’ Bürck

Amsel Seewald has Ltns ‘Gulle’ Nissen and Gustav ‘Muck’ Ecke



*This is what Richthofen, rather forcefully, told Joachim v. Schoenebeck after he had evaluated his flying as an inexperienced pilot.

This is the first morning for our exerzieren (drill.) All pilots and ground personnel who are not occupied with other tasks are required to participate. The two Staffelfuhrern, who will be participating when they can, stand in front of the formation as der Ober has decided that it would be good for his men as well.

It will be good for me also. I have become a bit flabbier than is good for me from sitting in a Flugzeug or sitting about playing cards and drinking, eating good food on a regular basis.

It’s nothing too taxing for this first session. A half hour of calisthenics and a short run in formation.

We have good weather for it, mild and slightly cloudy, though there is still snow on the ground. After Frühstück (breakfast) Fifty-Six will be practicing formation flying and Luftkampfübung (mock combat).

After roll call, der Häuptling calls me forward to turn the formation over to me. I salute, take ten paces forward, about face. As I do this, Erbguth and Ober also about face.


I address the gathered Staffel:

“Ground hats, coats and tunics, you will not need these encumbrances and soon you will be warm enough, I promise you!”

There are a few groans. der Speiss from the two Staffeln scream. “Who was that! Take their names!”

I add, “Of course, if there are any ladies present, you may keep your tunic on, for comfort and modesties sake!” There is some expected laughter, which is allowed.

I remove my own hat and the Drillchjacke which I use while working on my Maschine, revealing a swimming suit top despite the snow and cold.

This reveals my arms and a portion of my torso, covered in scars. Some of these are centuries old and are no more than thin white lines, some more recent. There are several very livid ones I have carried for 2,000 years, inflicted during my contest with my progenitor, the one on my breast is partially hidden by the swimming suit.

From the looks on the faces of the men standing before me, the scars on my body have the desired effect.

Erbguth forgetting himself, breaks discipline and says quietly, “Kruzfix Felix!”

“I hope this does not mar my beauty for you too much Herr Leutnant.” He grins.

These scars serve the same purpose as the medals I wear on my tunic. The evidences of my many battles. They establish my authority.

I go into the usual type of monologue I have used in training men for centuries. I call them ladies and all the usual banter used in these situations. I put particular emphasis on the pilots in my speech. “You need to be in top shape to fly Jagdgflugzeugen and survive, and if you find yourselves on the ground, im Niemandsland, (in no man’s land) you need to be able to run. I can tell you that from experience.”

After warm ups and a vigorous set of calisthenics, comes the run.

unser Häuptling runs with the formation for a short while but must drop out. His Bursch stays with him, handing him his cane. He walks behind with a few others who are unable to run.

Elsie runs with the Staffel barking and circling the formation, then coming back to Erbguth for reassurance before taking off after us again. Since she has gotten to know me better now, she usually jumps on me whenever she has the opportunity. Usually she is aiming for the crotch, so I have to be on my guard.

Sissi and Pepo join the run for a while but become more interested in a game of their own after a short time.

Our Speiss is among those who walk behind with der Häupling. I meet him after the run. He is Feldwebel Hermann Uhlig. He’s known as dicke Uhlig, but not to his face, of course.

Like many office bound senior non-commissioned officers he’s quite chubby. Speiss is quite pleasant and has a reputation for being very good at the job. I think he’s a man I can work with.

I like the title Speiss, which is used for the Sergeant-Major in this army. The meaning is ‘Pike’ which reminds me of the similar title Primus Pilus (First Spear) in the Legions.

With him is an equally fat Dachshund name Lilly. She’s quite friendly and quite old. She stays close to dicke Uhlig, and defends him fiercely whenever any of the other dogs comes anywhere near her property.

Later in the day, the teams that have been assembled for the Sportsfest competitions between the local commands will conduct practice. These are tentatively scheduled for 01. März and will be held at Boistrancou
rt again.

Our Staffel will field a fußball team and Behneke will be competing in the Dax Boxen. Staffel Fifty-Six will compete in Track and Field while Klink will represent them in das Fechten.(Fencing) Evidently he belonged to a Schlagenden Vertdinung*at Potsdam. This would explain the small scar on his forehead, above the temple.

Miltner, who is in charge of organizing these things, asks me if I wished to compete in any of the events. I ask him if there was a drinking event.

“No.”

“Smoking?”

“No.”

“Nap taking?”

“No Felix.”

“Hurerei?”

“No.”

“However,” he says with a grin, “I think there has been some discussion about an einhandsegeinturnier* team. Gell? I am certain you would do well in that. Gell?”

I laugh as he walks away.


* Schlagenden Vertdinung - student association with ritual dueling

* einhandsegeinturnier One handed sailing.




For our Frühstück after the morning drill, we have good Kartoffelpfannkuchen (potato pancakes) and Bratwurst. Coffee is proving difficult to acquire, but we have tea in abundance. Also there is plenty of sugar and cream.

There is now fresh pork and beef, good potatoes. There aren’t enough eggs being produced yet for meals, but that too will come. Everyone is much happier now.

I hear Klink complaining at Fifty-Six’s table. He doesn’t like having to participate in the morning drill, being treated like a common soldier. I’m tempted to make it extra hard on him in the morning, but it’s just not worth the effort. It’s not like I’ll make an actual soldier out of him.

The emphasis of the training will be on a general state of fitness, I’m not trying to make them fit for infantry duty. He can suck it up.

He’s also upset because Schleiff is requiring him to do some flying on top of his other duties. It’s rather to be expected. There are only six pilots in that Staffel at this time.

He’s not particularly liked, which is a considerable drawback for an officer holding his position, for both himself and those he is expected to care for. They call him Seine Exzellenz (his Excellency) to his back. It fits, he certainly has that air about him. He claims to be descended from an old Junkers family, though the men of his branch are not ennobled with the ‘von.’

Since I’m familiar with the area from my time with Eighteen when we were at Boistrancourt in late November and Dezember, after Frühstück, I lead Erbguth and Johann in an orientation flight.

After this flight, I will begin taking all the others up for the same tour. Each time the flight will consist of the Staffelführer or a Kettefürher and one Anfanger. It will be a busy day for me.

I notice Erbguth’s gloves, they’re RFC gauntlets which can be used as either gloves or mittens. During the preflight briefing, I say to der Häuptling, “Nice gloves. A trophy?”







NOTE: I have found no picture of these gloves. I simply chose this style because I thought it was interesting.

He replied, “I forced down an Engländer in a Camel near Wevelghem back in September. I landed next to him and saw that he was unwounded, so I offered him a cigarette and had him brought to Phalempin to be the guest of the Staffel for the rest of the day.”

“His name was Cooke. We got him quite drunk, of course. When the Kettenhunden* appeared to take him away, he gave me his flying gloves with the words ‘good luck.’ I have used them since.*”

“What about those?” He says, pointing at my hip boots.

“Barter with ein Irländer who landed at Harlebeke. Very warm they are, but not so good for running, especially if you get them full of water from a shell hole..”

“I can imagine not, perhaps you will demonstrate for the Staffel soon. “Gell?”

“Yes, we will all have some fun soon, it will make me even more popular, I am sure.”


* Kettenhund -chained dogs, military police, so called because of the gorget they wore.

*Erbguth used these gloves through the entire remainder of the war and took them home with him. So I guess they brought him some luck. This information was obtained from Otto Fuchs by Bruno Schmäling. It can be found in Bruno Schmäling and Winfried Bock’s, “Royal Prussian Jagdstaffel 30, Aeronaut Books 2014.

Erbguth pats the boot* of one of the Albatrosn and says, “I would just as soon we get more of these rather than the Pfalz.”

About the Pfalz the Staffel will be receiving, he says, “It’s all politics. The Bavarian government wants their Pfalz-Flugzeugwerk in Speyer working at full capacity. So they applied pressure to have not only the Bavarian Staffeln equipped with them, but the Saxon, Württemburg, and even some of the Prussian units as well.”

“They should have been made to retool their workshops and produce the Albatros Dva instead. But die Bazi think only of themselves. Look at the way the Amerika Programm is being implemented, again a Bavarian idea, pulling good pilots and crew out of existing units, so they can have their own separate, regional Staffeln.”

I smile but say nothing. I am happy either way.

By the time we’re ready to take off, the ground haze has cleared to some degree but we have to fly under 1,000 meters to see the lay of the land properly.

The Fliegerbeobachtungoffizieren report that enemy air activity is reported as very low this morning.


*Boot = Boat – euphemism for fuselage.

Schleiff is taking his pilots up as we prepare. Our Jungvögel stand enviously watching them roll down the Flugfeld and take off.

I saw Seine Exzellenz Klink as he was going to the flight line. He looked like he was going to his execution. I’m told that his only flying experience anywhere near the Front is from being a ferry pilot. I have been told that he hates to fly. I suspect that he’s ein Hosenscheißer.

Once we’re in the air, we pass over the other Flugplatz in our area, Briastri, Inchy, Bertry, where during one of my excursions, I had the opportunity to see and photograph one of the new Halberstädter, the Halberstadt CLII belonging to Schusta 4. These Dopplesitzer are designed to be ground attack Maschinen[/i ,




NOTE: The Halberstadt CLII, III and IV, do not yet exist in WOFF, though they are allocated on a number of [i]Schusta und Schlasta recruiting screens.


EDITORIAL: I’m going to digress here for a moment and say that, personally, this aircraft is at the very top of my personal wish list.

It was an excellent little dogfighter and very effective in the ground attack role and I would love to fly the thing in WOFF. Of course, my other motive is that it would provide the opportunity for creating a large number of beautiful skins.

For it to take its proper place on the battlefield in the ground attack role would probably take some significant changes in the groundfire and explosive delivery programing, as it often attacked entrenched infantry, and even tanks head-on at low altitude, and dropped grenades on their heads.

As the war progressed, ground strafing became more and more a part of the landscape, particularly among the Camel flying clubs as well as the Schalachtfliegern.

In my opinion, the ground fire is much too strong and these aircraft would never survive long enough to accomplish very much before they turned into a torch. If you haven’t attacked a trench head-on or even from the flank, try it. It’s a little better when you attack from the rear. The machine guns in the trenches don’t fire to the rear, but once you pass over you catch Holy Hell. There are, however, MGs that are in the Anti-Aircraft role among the nests on the front, so you will get fire from them whatever direction you come from.

From the purely business aspect of such changes, I don’t know whether it would generate enough income to make it worth it to the Devs, and people tend to like to fly fighters.

There’s also the issue of credit. Players like to see the credit for their ground attack successes and get something for them. At present, they’re acknowledged, but not tracked in the Sim.