.

Trooper - Agreed. As the Vaterland's highest scoring ace now, Rudi has a massive target on his back. Hopefully his flying coat covers it.

Fullofit - Rudi must have gotten a bit rattled in that one, it's most definitely not like him to mistake one of his own for the enemy. Very relieved to see that he made it down in one piece and escaped "The Curse", at least for the time being. Fingers crossed he can continue to do so. On the upside, it is a pretty medal.

Albert - It's always nice to get caught up on one's correspondence. Judging from that letter, Jacob seems a bit the philosophical sort. Let's hope he does not become a tormented soul, as so many of that ilk do after experiencing the traumas of war.

Raine - Glad to learn that Mac is on the mend. But he too appears to be affected by some deep and somber thoughts. Be wary of those hauntings, they can adversely affect a man's ability to fight and keep himself alive.

NotRelevant - Dud weather for Dean as well, eh? More time to catch up on reading all those month-old papers and magazines scattered about the mess. Smart on your man's part to take advantage of some of the down time by going over his mount with the AMs.

Epower and Shredward - What's all this talk of bugs and flu and such? Don't we have enough problems without having to worry about going all lavender as well? Alarmists, that's what you two are.

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30 April 1918
65 Squadron R.F.C.
Bertangles, France

Captain Frederick Abbott was able to take 'B' Flight up this morning for a flip down past Amiens, despite the rain and low-hanging clouds that persisted. His left leg was feeling considerably better than it had after the outing three days earlier, he having rested it since then as much as possible. While Freddy was still relying on the cane, his limp was subsiding with each passing day and he hoped it would be gone entirely by the time he returned to England.


Lifting away from Bertangles into a wet, gray sky. In all likelihood this would be the last sortie Abbott would be flying with his old mates at 65 Squadron.



Above the clouds the air was clear and visibility was excellent. Freddy led 'B' Flight towards the front lines southeast of Amiens.



As the King's own were approaching their patrol position the Captain spotted a large formation of Hun V-strutters, (with a pair of triplanes tossed in for good measure), well above and coming in fast. 11-to-5 odds, this could get ugly for the Camels.



One of the dreideckers immediately latched on to Freddy and attempted to get him in his sights, but it was not to be.



Abbott pulled the Boche pilot into a right-hand turning fight, and as the pair spiraled down, back into the rain, the Captain soon gained the advantage.



The enemy pilot broke and ran just as Freddy unleased the twin Vickers and perforated the triplane's upper wing. However, in the Hun's eagerness to escape he led Abbott directly towards one of the corkscrew-striped Albs.



The King's ace closed in on the new target in front of him while the V-strutter fleiger, unaware that he was now being hunted, continued his own pursuit of one of the Camels.



It was over in seconds, the enemy never knew what killed him, and Freddy watched as the Alb tumbled out of the frey and down into the mud below.



In the next instant another V-strutter crossed the Captain's path, this one sporting a black tail with white spots in addition to the spiral stripe around the fuselage.



The fight with this fellow ended fairly quickly as well when the Hun attempted to turn right with the Camel. It was no contest after that maneuver.



Freddy gave Herr Spots a fatal taste of the Vickers and this Boche too fell earthward, never to recover.



Yet another of the Albs presented itself and Abbott wasted no time in closing in on him, just as he had done with the previous pair.



This Hun did not even attempt to offer combat, choosing instead to dive and run. It was a fatal mistake and one that gave Abbott his third and final victory of the morning.



With no other enemy planes to challenge, the remainder now well across their own lines and running eastward at best speed, Captain Abbott collected his crew and returned home as well. He was one man short and would learn later that it was Lt. Gilmour; he had not been wounded but did end up crashing his plane trying to land near a friendly obs balloon position.



Once back at camp Freddy and the remainder of 'B' Flight handed their shot-up Camels over to the Ack Emmas, who would work their own brand of magic, while the fliers turned in their AARs and claims. Abbott put in for the three V-strutters, all of which were confirmed by late afternoon as all had fallen near the British communication trenches southeast of Amiens. The Tommies there had seen the whole show play out directly above their heads, cheering on the Camels as they managed to ultimately best the superior numbers of the Kaiser's planes. For Captain Abbott, the three V-strutters, along with the trio of triplanes from the 27th, now put him at 71 confirmed victories. A most respectable score to return to England with.

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