Carrick - So Sergent Dubra got himself lost, that's not difficult when the sky is full of clouds and no clear views of the ground. Best to head for home in that circumstance. He was lucky he was in a SPAD when he bumped into that Dr1 with no ammo left. At least he could put his nose down and run.
NR - Yet another ground pounding sortie for Cunningham, at least this one wasn't so costly for the squadron. A shame there was nothing but empty skies on that first sortie, a rarity indeed in 1918.
Flugmeister Jacob Kühn, EK2 Marine-Feld-Jagdstaffel 1 Jabbeke airfield
10 confirmed kills (1 awaiting confirmation)
22nd April 1918
Morning sortie
Oberleutenant Saschenberg had called the entire Jasta and ground crew into a briefing prior to the morning's sortie.
"Meine herren, I've called you all here to bring some bad news, well.... terrible news to be frank. However, I wanted you to hear it from me rather than hearsay or gossipy tittle-tattle" he began.
"Rittmeister von Richthofen is missing, presumed dead. Although there has been no official word from our enemies, he did not return from his last sortie yesterday morning and was last seen across the enemy lines and flying close to the ground." Saschenberg continued.
"I received a call last evening as you know and further conversations this morning with HQ, they have authorised me to brief you now". Saschenberg stopped there to allow the group to take it in.
There was stunned silence from everyone there, this developed into mutterings and chatter which Saschenberg stopped with a wave of his hand.
"I know you are as shocked as I am, but we must carry on. We have a duty to our fatherland and our Kaiser, and this loss, terrible though it is, cannot get in the way of us all doing our duty" Saschenberg continued
Saschenberg finished the briefing and told the pilots from Kette Zwei to return here in an hours time in full flight gear.
Jacob and the rest of Kette Zwei duly returned and were told they would be flying over to the lines south of Nieuwpoort. Oberleutenant Saschenberg emphasised he didn't want any thoughts of revenge, but instead he wanted a steely determination from us all to push any advantage to the maximum.
Blind rage would only lead to mistakes.
The weather was perfect, with clear blue skies, as Jacob and the others took off and formed up near Ghistelles. They climbed up and Jacob watched the skies above carefully.
They reached 4000 meters and headed off west towards the lines.
About ten minutes in, Jacob noticed several dots ahead and above. He wondered what these were as they were not in arrow formation, or indeed any formation, but rather spaced out and turning. The next moment he saw flak bursts near the dots which could mean only one thing.
As the dots grew larger he made out they were enemy two seaters. By now the rest of Kette Zwei had seen them too and the Kette climbed up towards the enemy aircraft.
A few moments later Jacob was startled to see the two seaters diving down towards them.
He now saw them for what they were...... Brequets.
Jacob avoided the rather clumsy initial attack but as he turned right to get above the enemy, his Albatros was rattled by bullets from one of the rear gunners.
Jacob rolled and dived down onto one of the French machines and fired a burst into him, just then another Albatros fired into the same aircraft. The Brequet, now being hammered from two sides, disintegrated and burst into flames. Jacob watched the burning wreckage falling and smiled.
He looked for another enemy and duly saw one off to his right. He dived down under the Brequet and came up behind the two seater. He aimed at the gunner and took him out. The Brequet dived for the ground but Jacob went with him.
He lined up the enemy aircraft and put a devastating burst into him. The Brequet headed down and tried to land but hit the ground hard and burst into flames.
They were well over the German lines and Jacob levelled off. He saw nothing but Albatrosse as he climbed back up. They formed up and headed home.
On landing Jacob went over to the huddle forming around Oberleutenant Saschenberg. "Excellent work Herr Flugmeister, that Brequet was burning beautifully!" confirmed Saschenberg.
The Oberleutenant confirmed that five French bombers had been brought down and although several Albatrosse had taken hits none were lost.
Although Jacob could have justifiably entered a claim for the first Brequet he'd fired on too, he decided to allow Flugmeister Hansen, who had been the other attacker, to claim it instead, it would be his first kill after all.
Jacob went to clean up, get some lunch and complete his report before the afternoon sortie.
Afternoon sortie
Oberleutenant Saschenberg was leading the whole Jasta on the afternoon sortie. He'd explained that they would be heading south west towards Ypres.
The weather was still excellent, a few more clouds around but nothing too serious.
The Jasta took off, formed up and climbed towards Aertrycke airfield. They'd only reached about 5000 feet when they noticed several aircraft directly above them. The Jasta watched as the aircraft, now identifiable as Camels, dived down onto the Albatrosse.
Jacob kept his cool and rolled left and avoided the attack. He climbed slightly and looked behind before selecting a target. He spotted a Camel straining to get on the tail of Oberleutenant Saschenberg.
Jacob rolled and dived towards the Camel who seemed to be getting the better of the Oberleutenant. Jacob fired into the Camel who now dived away.
Jacob stayed with him and could hear the wind screaming through the wires of his Albatros as he dived towards the enemy aircraft.
The Camel leveled out and rolled right to try and get at Jacob but the Flugmeister was ready. They turned against each other but Jacob had speed after his dive and got a bead on the Camel. He put a burst into him and the Camel leveled out. Jacob hit him again and the Camel nosed down with his engine seized and crashed into the ground near Aertrycke airfield.
Jacob now saw the remaining Camels running for home and the Albatrosse heading for home. He joined up with Leutenant Heinrich and headed back himself.
They landed without incident and Jacob walked over to Oberleutenant Saschenberg as he climbed out.
"Danke meine freund" said Saschenberg as Jacob approached.
"I was in trouble there with that Camel. I watched you bring him down" explained the Oberleutenant.
Jacob was called to the Oberleutenant's office later that evening. "This has been a day for news here Flugmeister, terrible.....and excellent" Saschenberg began.
"I'm not sure I understand here Oberleutenant" said Jacob.
"You have two claims confirmed from today by me personally......and a local infantry Captain confirmed he saw your aircraft from yesterday crash, your claim from yesterday, is confirmed as well Herr Flugmeister" explained the Oberleutenant.
"That's 13 confirmed kills Jacob and I have confirmed this in my report to headquarters as well as mentioning your actions today which I believe warrant notice" finished Saschenberg
"Now, accompany me to the kasino if you would. The atmosphere is somewhat subdued after the news of von Richthofen but with the superb performance of the Jasta today, and you in particular. I think a celebration is in order" confirmed Saschenberg.
"......and Jacob.....thank you again" said Saschenberg
"What for Herr Oberleutenant?" asked Jacob
"Saving my life Herr Flugmeister" finished Saschenberg as they walked out of the office.
"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."
