3 Nov 1916
Loki Duselldorf
Jasta 5


I was impressed. Went out on a Jasta 5 Sqn patrol and encountered Fe2b,s. The schwarms made a long port turn then the fireworks began. Knocked down all 5 Tommy machines. I got off 2 long bursts missed then stalled.


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Thursday, April 5 1917. First patrol with Jasta 11 using the "Aces DIH" mod. This mod, based on the work of SOGriffin and OldHat, has no Allied aces and only a few select German aces. Mission is a Line Patrol near Cambrai.

Morning flight to the front with Kette Zwei led by MvR. Typical early April weather, cold and grey, and we lose Kette Eins in the murk. Never saw them again.


At the front we circle and fly around, see some distant specks, but nothing for a while. Just when I think it is going to be a no contact patrol MvR dives onto a group of about 7 enemy aircraft that I didn't see until our patrol leader did. All of a sudden there are several formations around but I don't know if they are friend or foe.
The Kette dives for the attack. DH2's! Despite all my April Jasta time this is only my second or third encounter with them ever.


As I remember the old pushers are quite maneuverable, and he is, but not quite enough to save him. I land a few hits, nothing major, but either killed the pilot or blew out his controls as he plunges to his doom just behind the Britisher main trench line. Huzzah!


See LvR shoot one down out of control that I was also making for as he was on the tail of a comrade. Also saw a unknown flamer that was probably a DH2 as there were two Albs behind it.
Circle around to join up and I see LvR make a beeline for a friendly airfield apparently damaged. Notice MvR and another chasing some unknown foe straight west but, being an old hand now, do not join in the target fixation that may go on for miles. Set a course for my field and see, off to my left, another DH2 being chased by German flak bursts but he is a little higher then me and going hell for leather so I continue on my way. While enroute back the normally reliable Mercedes suffers a breakdown. Check my map and make for a unknown friendly field. Just as I am getting ready to turn into the final approach, and quite low, the engine fails all together! Only have one chance to get this right and luckily I do.
"Good Morning comrades. Am I too late for breakfast? Okay how about some coffee?"


Finally get back to base after coffee and a repair and file my claim. MvR gets two (he was behind flamer) and another Kette mate, who was killed, got two also. LvR does not claim his so I may have been mistaken about who the victorious pilot was.
Out of our six member patrol two are killed and one is reported missing and still is by the time of the afternoon patrol. My claim is pending.

That's cool to be in a furball with aircraft flying everywhere. I'm amazed you didn't get hit by indirect fire.

I'm thinking of making another version of a transparent label where it will be visible at around 100 meters. My reasoning is that pilots maybe could identify if the craft was friend or foe at that distance (or maybe further??)

Much farther I beleive if I understand your question.
I am currently using no Labels but am considering trying Robert_Wiggins "Friendly only" Label mod since most everyone is in the same skin.

On that subject so I don't light up every Friendly in a 15 mile diameter I have to look at the Workshop Settings to limit Label range to something where I would realistically see a friends face, cap, jacket, or distinctive quirk on his plane.

And now that I typed that is that what you were referring to above?
If so, to average out the above things you would be looking for I would guess 100-150 meters?

What a ghastly sight that would have been for the lower flying DH.2: the lot of the Red Baron! ...
Great shots,Duke!

Duke, sounds like we have awakened a modding beast in OldHat. Btw, great shots and if you want your DIH mod made into a JSGME compliant mod just send me the files.

Thank you for the offer sir but it is already done along with your beautiful skins.
Stay tuned because 56 Squadron DIH will be along shortly to dazzle all with incredible feats of aerial skill and bravery!

Oh yea thanks for reminding me SOG. And the more "mod monsters" we have the better IMHO.

If you need a tester for your "Friendly Only - 100 meters or less" mod OldHat I'll be your huckleberry.
If I read your intentions above correctly.

Thanks Olham. High praise coming from the club president.
BTW - how is the Jasta 5 fix working out?

Great pics, and good story telling. Well Done

Saturday, April 7th, 1917. Using SOGGriffins "No HA" mod.
On 56 Squadrons first patrol in France I am assigned to lead three others as the leader of B Flight on a DOP at 1330. The weather is nice but the clouds can sometimes be a little heavy.
Enroute to the front. I like my guy's "bullet proof" mustache as it looks like the one I really have.
Sorry SOG. In this first flight I forgot to enable your DIH skin! Probably need a victory first so I really deserve it. Luckily the Huns will soon oblige.


Nearing the front I observed two specks. At first they look like they are going to close with us and, as they near, I see they are V-strutters! It was hard to really tell but it seemed, once they saw we were 4 they tried to turn away. Well well these aren't DH2's Mr. Hun and, as we close the gap, and I order the attack.
Just out of firing range my target turns to engage. This was actually a tough fight and my opponent was quite skilled. It became a series of about 5 or 7 offset head-on passes and I managed several 1 or 2 second bursts scoring some hits. Damaged and losing his nerve he tries to run.


I turn behind him and cut my throttle and let him have a full dose of Vickers and Lewis. He begins to smoke and, a couple of seconds later taking more of my .303 pounding, he blows up shedding pieces everywhere. I dive and jink a bit to avoid his trash.


I guess he is not going to manage a good landing this time. He goes down about 1 1/2 miles behind the Hun wire. S!


I circle a bit seeing no other planes in the sky. After a few more lazy circles, gaining height, I see two specks and then another and tense because I do not know who they are. After another minute, circling to try and stay behind them, I recognize the shapes of Se's and it is B Flight. They join up and I lead us back to base.
I put in my claim for one and my wingman (Capt. Ethelston) claims another. All of B Flight returned safely but A Flight loses Lt. Hainsworth crashed and killed apparently after an engine problem as they never fired a shot. Claim is pending...as is the DIH skin!

Loki Duselldorf
Jasta 5


7 Nov 1916.



In the operations tent we were told Hq Army badly needs information as to enemy locations on the front lines. The Jasta will put up 10 machines as escort to 5 Aviatik C type a/c. With such a large formation , no one would bother us. Over the target, we spotted e/a to the west of us but no one bothered us. RTB.


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Here we have the last photo of Oberleutnant Reinhold von Schneidewind as he is heading out on his last mission. He ran into a flight of Nieuport 23s and failed to return to base.




Here we see his younger brother Leutnant Theodor von Schneidewind leaving on his first mission in his attempt to gain some revenge and solace for the loss of his dear older brother. Only time will tell if Ernst will follow in his brother's footsteps.

Great pics.

Just getting ready for the SE 5 / Fokker D-7 Event.


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Friday April 6, 1917 on a dawn patrol with J11. Assigned to drive away enemy artillery machines at the front. First flight with new GTX 970.
Arrive there and see distant AA bursts but nothing close and no engagements.


Flying back to base and we are about 5 miles away when more AA erupts to our left. 5 specks are closing with us and our Kette leader turns to engage. Closer I see they are Sop 1 1/2 Strutters. Tough opponents.
I single one out but two or three others are sniffing around my rear. Having just read Dicta Olham I break contact, leave the fight and come back in finding my original target. I am also flying quite "tactical" for a change and avoiding the observers fields of fire. Come up under his tail and let him have it.
Can't miss.


Good shooting for me and bad luck for him.


After watching him crash I see another far to my rear I guess trying to catch up. I oblige him and close up. In a turn fight, with about 3 firing passes, again avoiding the observer, I bring him down out of control about two miles inside friendly lines and he crashes in a plume of dust.


Avoiding much air activity, based on all the AA fire, I get (or maybe sneak is a better word) back to my base and land.
Of the 5 flight members 1 is reported missing (Brandt) but the rest land - two with damage including me. I file claims for the two Strutters (will be victories #2 and #3 if confirmed) and another Kette mate (named Kurt Hammer appropriately enough!) also files a claim for one. Kette Eins does not have combat.
The war continues.

Holy cow! If I had been where you were in that second picture behind a strutter, I'd have been shredded or dead! Salut, sir!

Thanks Rick!
The picture is kind of deceptive as it was after my firing pass under his tail was over. He dove a little and to the right and I pulled up and away to the left to minimize exposure. That, and the little delay in getting to the Pause button, makes it look worse - frozen in time - then it really was. A second or two later he lit up.
Gotta give the observer credit though; when I pulled along side for the flamer screenshot he still had some fight in him and fired about 5 rounds before I decided I might be too close!

I've been hit by a flaming frying rear gunner, both plane and or pilot. Be careful!

Nice to read these good reports guys.

25 Sqn RFC, April 1916, photo recon.

One of about a dozen trench photos taken.




After finishing the shoot, Phil spots something barely visible in the clouds and aims his upper wing gun ready for an ambush







A turn fight begins.... Phil scores the hit.... and it's all over.




Back at Lozinghem in time for lunch