Albert, yes the mechanics were given the spiel regarding their workmanship but somehow I’ve got this tingling feeling they didn’t listen well. So, Kevin jumped head first into a Schwarm of Fokkers and quickly realized his mistake. Good thing that SE is a proper machine and was able to outdistance them all except that one that was meant for Kevin’s scoreboard. But the price was high, two pilots gone. Then a romp to a local railyard to drop some bombs. Why is it that only Kevin gets to carry bombs? Are the rest not worthy? And then to wind it all down, a quiet patrol and grim recovery of Ackerman’s body. And to put the nail in the coffin, as it were, the Fokker gets rejected. Some days are just not meant to be.
Then today, the Hannovers coming for a slaughter. How nice of them. Kevin didn’t even have to go looking for them. This already looks like a better day than yesterday. Then the afternoon action. What did I say? Two more two-seaters fall to Kevin’s guns and he didn’t even have to try. They just came, flew straight and level and then went down. How easy was that? So, nearly a 100. It’s going to be some kind of party.
Adger, glad to have you for the ride. Now, buckle up! It is always a bumpy ride here.
NR, I’m positive any captured pilots were relieved of their belongings, probably their flight gear as well, so a Dollar here and a Dollar there could probably be scrounged. Out of the misfortune of having a failure the fortune was to have it near the aerodrome, true. There is always a silver lining. So, Baptiste is finally getting his recognition in form of confirmed kills. Well done. Soon, he’ll be getting promotions and visits from vicious one. Beware! A boring mission in the morning seemed like a start to a normal day for Baptiste, then the afternoon came and with it the Albatroses. What a mess! Planes everywhere but the most important one was sitting on his tail. Good thing Leanders was able to wear him down. Then a bit of concern with the new planes arriving and in the end realizing they’re here to help. Baptiste could concentrate on his fight with the Boche, who must have adopted the same strategy that Leanders used some minutes ago. It didn’t work this well for the Hun and Baptiste had another claim. Congrats on making it stick. You owe Lieutenant Risascher a bottle of champagne.
This morning it was another patrol over Mars-la-Tour aerodrome. Klaus was following Schwarm Eins again. He liked to do that recently. There was a reason for it and that reason was that if they were ever to be attacked by the enemy, Eins would bear the brunt of it. This time the Bréguets came down and went after Schwarm Eins ahead. When Raben arrived with help the other flight was already engaged. Klaus went after one of the bombers that was harassing one of the Fokkers. He made a slashing attack from above and watched the beast dive for cover. Klaus wasn’t about to follow. Instead he attacked another Bréguet as it passed by. He fired at it and went for another pass. When the bomber came into view, there were two of them. Raben wasn’t sure which one was his intended target, but it didn’t make any difference. He attacked one that was coming at him nonetheless. Another Fokker was already pursuing it, but that didn’t deter the German ace. He fired from behind and then went for another pass. He’d noticed the bomber was now smoking and desperately trying to get away. Fat chance. Klaus fired at it again and again. Now the Bréguet went into its favourite position - upside down. This made the rear gunner a better shot. Klaus fired one last time and watched the two-seater slowly spiral down to earth. This was also the rear gunner’s favourite position and he took potshots at Raben’s Fokker. Some of the bullets even connected. The two seater then levelled out and was going to get away unless Klaus had something to say about it. He swooped down and opened fire. One of the wings came off, then the other one and the large plane was on its way down. Klaus was now about to reform with other flight mates. He found one near and was getting close. He then realized this was no Fokker as the plane continued to grow in size as he was approaching it. A Bréguet? Unmolested?! That will not stand. Klaus was already attacking. He fired from below, made a loop and came up behind again. He then fired again and made another loop, to find himself behind the Bréguet. More fire and now the two-seater was diving and already close to the ground. Klaus made one final pass and watched the bomber land on the side, slide along the field and erupt in flames. This time there were no more enemy planes around. Klaus was ready to get back to base.
12 August, 1918 13:35 afternoon mission Montingen, Verdun Sector Jasta 18 Oberleutnant Klaus Gustav Raben PLM HHO EK1 EK2 Fokker D.VII 68 confirmed kills Awaiting two claim confirmations
In the afternoon the Schwarm was sent to support ground forces south of Pont-à-Mousson. There was no contact throughout the entire mission. Only during their approach to the airfield did they get surprised by a high flying group of SPADs. There was a single one that attacked first, then the rest joined in. Klaus picked the one that came down first, but after following him for a while he was chased away by another SPAD who attacked from behind. Raben went after the new attacker, but this new SPAD appeared to have had enough of excitement for one day and headed for the lines. Klaus followed for a bit but decided to return to the main fight. After rejoining the main event, Klaus targeted a high flying enemy and fired from a nearly vertical position. This was too much to ask of his Fokker and he stalled the plane. He went into a dive to recover and to look for another target. He found one flying all alone and engaged it. The Frenchman was too busy following another Fokker to notice Raben approaching. Both men fired. The SPAD at the Fokker in front and Klaus at the SPAD. Needless to say the SPAD came off worse from the engagement and was now actively trying to avoid Raben, but it was too late. The damage had been done and the SPAD was now spiralling down to smash into the ground. All other fights were over as well and the Schwarm was allowed to finally land at their base.
"Take the cylinder out of my kidneys, The connecting rod out of my brain, my brain, From out of my arse take the camshaft, And assemble the engine again."
