Thanks chaps for the very nice comments about my paint-work! It was great to be able to spend a couple of hours on it yesterday and a bit more today!

MFair, Sounds like a hard fought victory. I've not yet met a Pup either (I think) in this play through and not looking forward to testing myself against their particular strengths. I already have a fear of Tripes!

Fullofit, Just want you to see the difference between Paul Strahle's Axe and my hammer so you know which one your shooting at!

carrick58, I just managed to avoid a tangle with your squadron (I think) as I was flying home, alone, with a coolant leak. "It was squeaky bum time" for sure!

Sebastian von Toombs
Jasta 18
Halluim /Rekkem
14 Confirmed Kills
2 Claims Pending

"...I missed fresh air of the kind that can only be found 3000 meters up!"

22nd Feb 1917

Yesterday it was glorious to be out flying again, if only for 10 minutes. After the best part of a week stuck inside, shivering from the cold and wet. Worse than the rain or the cold was the cabin-fever, it set in about the third day. Initially we had fun and tried to make the most of it, but after a particularly rough football match played in the mess, in which three tables and eleven chairs were destroyed the Kommandant threw an absolute fit and ordered us to behave like gentlemen or face charges. After which we played cards for hours on end, smoked and filled the mess with an airless deep blue fug of tobacco smoke. Every once in a while a window would be opened, allowing fresh air in, and a brave soul his neck out, hoping to see an elusive break in the weather. All the while the constant pounding of the artillery landing a mere kilometre from our huts gave us a thumping headache. I missed fresh air of the kind that can only be found 3000 meters up!

Today promised to be fine for flying and it was we were up and breakfasted by seven thirty and in our planes by eight. Our mission was close air support escorting DFW C.V.s fromFA33. Almost immediately as we joined up with our DFWs I spotted two BE2c two-seaters flying below us. I thought to swoop upon them and them climb and rejoin the Jasta’s mission

About 0845 I attacked two BE2cs flying at low altitude near lens. I attacked the one closest to me at an altitude of 200 meters. After about 120 rounds the BE2 started to smoke and flames poured out of its left hand side. It twisted to the right and crashed into the front on the outskirts of Lens close to the BU road crossing and 600 meters East Northeast of the Lens Observation Ballon. 4km Southwest of the Lens Railyard. His number was 7631 and he had a full load of bombs.

"...After about 120 rounds the BE2 started to smoke and flames poured out of its left hand side."

I attacked the second BE2c who put up much more of a fight. The enemy aircraft was twisting and turning, ducking and diving. Most of the air battle took place at an altitude of between 50 and 200 meters. His observer managed to get a number of good shots off and my fuel tank was hit. After 300 rounds shot at fairly close range I forced him to crash land our side of the lines 1000 meters Northwest of the burnt-out factory on the western outskirts of Lens. He made a rough landing sinking nose down in the recently drenched waterlogged mud. His number was 7631 and he had a full load of bombs.

I was leaking fuel and coolant so made for Haubourdin airfield which was approximately 6-7 Kms Northeast of my location. As I approached the airfield I encountered a number of Tripes and some Nieuport scouts. I was in no condition to fight so dived low, skimming the hedgerows. Only one Tripe seemed to notice me and flew to intercept me as he flew at me I gave him a five second burst of my machine guns and he left me alone.

My engine gave out before Haubourdin and I made a smooth touch down in a field 500 meters Southwest of the airfield. With only light damage. I did miss my old DII today. The DIIIs higher wing position makes it much harder to see above the pilot, and this made it difficult today in taking down the two-seaters, where I find the only safe place to tackle them from is below.

I’ve put in two claims today. Both BE2cs
To Be Continued ...