Carrick, missed opportunity then. Oh well, maybe next time?

@ everyone...I have a lot of catching up to do here on this thread, but I wanted to post my latest adventure:

Antön Otersdorf
Jasta 32
April 1917
Morchingen Aerodrome
Alsace Front

30 April 1917. One mission today...a balloon busting mission just south of the front lines, southwest of Luneville.



As B flight leader, I headed the charge. Some of my rounds hit the balloon, however, my wingmate Rudolf Windisch (HA) scored the coup de grâce and will be given credit for the destruction of the target. I did take a few hits, but not nearly as badly as my last mission.



We all made it back to base, although my wingman Fritz Laue took a wound to the leg. Not too bad he tells me as it was more of a flesh wound and he should be at it again soon.



Upon returning to base, we received word that my claim was denied...oh well, I expected as much since no one witnessed it!







-----------------

Regards,

Jeff

Henri Dupont
Sergent
C-17
Toul, Aerodrome. DECEASED DECEASED killed off.


Sep 3, 1915.

I made a rather bad mistake on the 1st light Aerodrome attack. Overeager to get hits, I went low level in a 2 engine machine. The results: Shot to bits then crashed into a fence as the power gave out.

Albert Earl Godfrey

Pertaining to the mission of 3 May 1917:



6 May 1917 @ 05h01 Attack on Roucourt aerodrome

Scott had assigned “B” flight to the mission. There was no top cover support.

The flight was told to expect wind of 3 kn from the SW and clear skies with only a hint of cirrus at 12,000 ft. It was another good day and there had been so few of them in April.

“B” flight formed up north of the field as usual, and after attaining an altitude of 7300 ft., they set a course ENE towards Vimy at 04h37.

They arrived at Vimy and crossed the lines at 04h43, on a bearing ESE towards Marais de Saudemont, south west of Arleux. Things were quiet on the front.

They were harassed sporadically by Hun flak as they passed by Oppy and on towards the rail junction SW of Vitry-en-Atois, and again passing over the factory installations on the way to Marais. At 04h50 flying at 9900 ft., they reached Marais, and then set a new course NNE towards Roucourt aerodrome. Again they encountered flak from the factories and installations around Arleux.

Half way to Roucourt, Godfrey spotted two flecks about 2000 ft above them and then he noticed about 6 to 8 more to the rear of the two specks. He watched them intently looking for an indication that the escort wanted to play. He was pleased to see that “B” flight was either being ignored, or not noticed possibly due to the lull in the flak activity. Godfrey carried on towards Roucourt, bringing his flight ever lower. Just as they were in position to begin an attack run. Godfrey noticed two specks high above that also ignored them. Godfrey took his flight down, trying to skirt some heavy cloud cover that was lingering over the airfield. It was then he noticed a flight of Albatros DIII’s circling the field in landing formation. It was 05h10.

Godfrey continued his attack run loosing his rockets at the storage sheds behind the hangars. The machine gunners loosed a hail of lead at him for being so impudent and he banked into a port turn and climbed out listening for any indication of damage done but everything seemed fine for the moment. At this point he took advantage of his position to attack two DIII’s in the landing circle while he was still down reasonably low. He forced the two down under his heavy fire and could see debris flying off their craft on each attack. He felt that this effort was worthwhile in drawing any fire away from the rest of the flight who were In the process of making their attacks on the airfield.

Godfrey then gave the signal to form up and return to base. They climbed out south of the field and having reached an altitude of 4500 ft. at 05h20, and then set a course for Filescamp, ever watchful for enemy scouts.

“B” flight all landed safely at Filescamp at 05h48. Lloyd, having had to nurse his craft in due to damage taken during the attack on Roucourt. They all reported in on the results of the mission. Godfrey did not lay claim to the two DIII’s he shot up, as he did not see them crash. Both Clinton and Lloyd felt that they had missed the mark with the rockets and resolved to await any further analysis by OP. Godfrey felt sure he had damaged some of the DIII’s lined up on the field.

Here is the report of last week's activity.

IN FRANCE,


There was an out pouring of grief for Hemi Dupont

https://giphy.com/gifs/benglabs-vintage-sad-Pvc2f2LyVVpGE/fullscreen

https://giphy.com/gifs/emma-stone-crying-eating-sVZwCKdihacRW/fullscreen

https://giphy.com/gifs/mrw-vacation-fridge-v1DCXf9AEYUSI/fullscreen

BUT On the other side of the Lines

https://giphy.com/gifs/cbs-dance-happy-2-broke-girls-3o85g2cRAMwUTuPfGM/fullscreen

Henri Dupont. We barely knew you!

6 May, 1917 Halluin
Jasta 18

It was a long flight to Ghistelles aerodrome. The orders were to intercept enemy flight in the area. Frankly, Aldi was skeptical they'd be able to catch anyone. By the time they'd get there. The enemy would be long gone, but orders are orders. He was proven dead wrong when they ran into a gaggle of seven Dreideckers near the aerodrome.



This is one machine they're not equipped to fight on even terms. On the other hand, he should be glad the crumpets haven't come up with a Vierdecker yet. Aldi gave the order to attack and the fight commenced. Schwarzkopf kept taking potshots while the world spun around. Finally one of the enemy machines that stayed too long in front of Aldi's guns took serious enough damage to disengage from the melee.



Aldi was all over him like sauerkraut on bratwurst. This Tripe had a red diamond on the white vertical stabilizer and kept on squirming in front of Schwarzkopf's guns.



In the end Sopwith's engine started to smoke and the pursuit slowed down considerably.



Aldi came closer to finish off his foe. He took careful aim and said his final goodbyes.



The twin Spandaus acted as the translator of the German colloquialism for "Auf Wiedersehen." The blast ripped two of the port wings off.



The triplane, or more precisely the two-and-a-half-plane started to spin instantly and crashed directly below near the observation balloon. Aldi looked for stragglers but at this instant his own engine begun to sound rough. He quickly headed for Ghistelles and entered landing pattern. Some of his flight mates were already on the ground awaiting others to join them. The rest was in the process of landing. Schwarzkopf's engine lost all power as he touched down. He rolled half way along the field and skidded sideways to one side to make room for the rest of his Schwarm to land. He switched off the engine, pulled the goggles off his face and exhaled deeply. It will be some time before they'll be able to get back home.

Alast easy come easy go sad for Henri.

Helmut von Hammer
Jasta 4, JG 1.
Marcke, Flamders.

Sep 4 1917.



Reported in and went to work on repainting my plane , as requested by Herr Hauptman, along with 2 riggers. I am on the board for an afternoon patrol tomorrow. Its still wet but looks ok. Rumor has it that Jasta 18 has a live wire knocking down planes.

Helmut von Hammer
Jasta 4, JG 1.
Marcke, Flamders.

5 Sep 1917.

Rain Heavy down pours.

7 May, 1917 Halluin
Jasta 18

Today was an exceptionally special day at Jasta 18 aerodrome. The intercept mission proved to be particularly fruitful. Aldi, von Bülow, Strähle and Wiessner caught up with a pair of Fees just crossing the lines.



Aldi and Wiessner went after the leader, while Walter and Paul engaged his wingman. After initial pass the two pushers split up and the two groups lost sight of each other. Aldi damaged the Gitterschwänze while over the enemy territory, but it was Wiessner who dealt it the death blow. The bomber spiralled down and exploded into thousands of splinters upon impact. Meanwhile, von Bülow and Strähle took a different approach. Their target moved toward Halluin and Paul's fuel tank was hit on the first pass. He immediately disengaged and turned for home. Walter was more careful and stayed behind and below. He eventually hit the compression chamber of the cylinder bank on enemy's engine, which ceased immediately and the Fee was forced to land at Halluin aerodrome still with its bombs attached.



Von Bülow followed the bomber all the way to the landing field and parked beside it. Paul Strähle, who was already out of his plane, observed the action from the ground. As soon as the Fee touched down on their field, Paul took out his pistol, ran to the enemy machine and fired a warning shot to make sure the aviators wouldn't burn the plane. He was all too familiar with that practice, which cost him a few trophies. The pilot Lt A. W. Martin and the gunner Pvt W. C. Blake of No 20 Sqn disembarked their machine - serial number A5149. Strähle tensed up and aimed his Luger at the pilot when he reached into the pocket of his flight jacket. Lt Martin slowly removed his hand from the pocket and handed the German his calling card. At this moment von Bülow arrived after parking his Albatros. He put his hand on Strähle's gun to lower it down and addressed his captors in excellent English that they are guests here and no harm will come to them. Walter took the "guests" inside, while Paul begun to inspect the enemy's craft. Eventually the Fee's engine was repaired and Strähle took the pusher for a test flight but was shelled heavily by the German Flak, despite the cockades being overpainted with black crosses. Later still he installed a moving picture camera in the plane and used it to make aerial movies. Von Bülow's guests were eager to converse with him and answer all his questions. They eventually were transferred to a POW camp once agents from Abteilung IIIb paid Halluin aerodrome a visit.

Von Bülow with Lt A. W. Martin and Pvt W. C. Blake

Carrick, sorry to hear about Henri buying the "ferme." Fullofit, you continue to amaze. Story and photos are outstanding. Stljeffbb, keep it coming. I love the detail. Too bad about the claim. Looks like you were vulched! And Robert, I had a good two-hour go at catching up on all your videos that I've missed. You are a very smooth flier and it's no wonder you've been Hun-proof for so long in both campaigns.

Franz Holzhauer had a quiet week, but despite some downers it ended well...

The Holzhauer Papers

Part 5: 3-8 May 1917

It was all over for the French on the Aisne and we knew it. The enemy escadrilles, so active and aggressive only a month earlier, made fewer trips to see us these days even as the weather turned beautiful.[1] They were quiet times. Many days we flew only one patrol and spent the afternoons lounging in the courtyard of our manor house. The walls were covered with ivy and roses, beds of hydrangeas lined the gravel path, and a nearby field sent us wafts of lilac. I’d never been one for flowers and gardens, but this place was becoming special. It smelled of life and warmth. We slept on soft beds, ate well, smoked Wolff’s fine cigars, drank Branntwein and champagne, flew aeroplanes and sent the bills to the Kaiser. I played chess with Feldwebel Ehms every spare hour. He won every game, but I was clearly improving. This war was a grand thing!

Now we chattered about taking over the offensive before the enemy could catch his breath. The British were on the offensive up north. Our fellows would hold them and then we’d strike back down here. We laughed lewdly at imaginary stories of what we’d do in Paris.

I thought I had destroyed an enemy machine on the 3rd. The Rittmeister took a large patrol up to chase off an observation aircraft reported over La Selve, just to the west of our home at Saint-Quentin. We saw nothing of the two-seater but we noticed two French scouts heading home at 3000 m. We gave chase and one of them turned straight at me. I fought him, a Nieuport type, down to the ground and Wolff and I took turns peppering him. Then as I fired he began to spin. Rittm von Brederlow insisted that Wolff had been firing on the machine from above and he stated that Wolff’s rounds were all about the cockpit, so our Jasta’s venerable old man got the credit.

On 4 May we flew twice, but saw nothing.

On 5 May we flew a Sperrflug south along the lines towards Reims. All the French traffic was far in the distance, and most of the enemy aircraft simply headed home as soon as they saw us. Ltn der Reserve Gros led us this day, and he grew bored so he let us chase some Spads back to Lhery, west of Reims. Spads are annoying because if they don’t want to play they can put their noses down and get away from you easily, especially when you’re in an old crate like the one I’m flying.

That night I finally beat Ehms at chess and gave the entire Kasino a fair impression of an Indian war-dance. Drinks were on me. Ehms wanted a rematch and I insisted I was retiring from the game. I would glue the pieces to the board and mount it on the wall with a brass plaque, I said. The drinks for the onlookers cost me half a week’s pay!

It turned out that perhaps I had indeed retired from chess. On the 6th we were to patrol down to Soissons. The Rittmeister led us first northeast to Vaux-les-Rubigny, where we climbed in circles before heading south. No sooner had we reached altitude than we ran into some marauding Spads. These were good pilots, too. I threw my machine around the sky and yet was unable to get more than some snap shots at the speedy scouts. We must have fought for fifteen minutes. Julius Buckler and I chased one Frenchman down from 3700 m to treetop level, but when the fellow had enough of us he merely turned up the wick on his machine and waved good-bye. I landed with Buckler after the others had already touched down. Von Brederlow ran to my machine shouting something. I couldn’t hear until I switched off and removed my helmet.

“Was Ehms with you?” he was shouting. I shook my head.

My old friend had not returned. The boss’s brother, the adjutant, stayed in the office all evening until 9 pm, calling nearby units and waiting for news. Around 9:15 a dispatch rider appeared at the door. I met him. He handed me Ehms’s blood-stained Soldbuch [2]. Ehm’s Albatros had come down near Montcornet, a few kilometres north of us. He was already in the ground, buried without ceremony by a Feldgendarmerie unit there. Etappenschweine! [3]

A mournful silence came over the Kasino for a long while. Then Buckler said “I suppose that’s the last time anyone will want to play chess with you, Holzhauer.” Not in good taste, perhaps, but we all laughed.

It was the boss who brought us back to normal. “I was going to wait and announce this at the inspection parade tomorrow, but this seems like a good time for good news. I have here a letter of congratulations from General von Boehn himself. [4] It seems that we have the honour of being in the company of the Empire’s newest officer. Come up here and let’s get a look at you, Leutnant Wolff.”


Ltn der Landwehr Jakob Wolff

There was hearty applause and a murmur of surprise. Wolff, 48 years old, a rich man who had been a pacifist all his life but who had gone to war in the air, a Jew to boot – was an officer! He had confided to me a few days ago that he had applied for a commission at the end of his compulsory military service in Bavaria, but had been rejected because of his religion. And he wasn’t even particularly religious. Converting, however, would be hypocritical and he served without complaint as a Vizefeldwebel. Now he was a Leutnant der Landwehr – and there weren’t many of those at the front! [5] We celebrated until after midnight and tottered off to our virtuous beds praying for rain.

The orderly got me up at 3:15 am. Yes we had rain, but no, we weren’t able to sleep. The sound of aeroplane engines had been reported to the west of us near Laon. I was to lead a patrol to investigate.

The black of night was just turning to a dull grey when we lifted off at 4:10 am. Visibility was terrible and I really didn’t expect to see a thing over Laon. Avoiding collision would take all our energy this morning. I was hung over, but ten minutes in the air fixed that. Over the forest of Saint-Gobain I fired a flare just to get everyone’s attention before beginning a turn. There was no way I wanted to risk joining old Ehms for another game too soon. We slowly turned left and, out of the mirk there emerged four silvery blurs bobbing and weaving their way eastward: Nieuports!

I wanted to surprise the Frenchmen, but they soon spotted us and dived. One dared not take one’s eyes off the target. A moment’s distraction meant the thing would be lost in the rain and darkness. Twice another Albatros rose up in front of me, perilously close. I fired at the Nieuport from too far away. This was one machine I did not want to lose. Ltn Günther was with me, dangerously close at times. We both hammered away. Every time we scored hits the Frenchman would turn on us. He was good, but we were as good. Finally I got within twenty metres and fired a long burst. The Nieuport tilted to the left and dived straight down into the forest below. Günther confirmed the kill, and it was close to our field at Chambry. We landed at Puisieux Ferme nearby. I had used more than 800 rounds to bag this kill. Günther and I commandeered a car to drive to the crash scene. The fat driver didn’t like it much for we made him tramp through bush and ferns and push through low-hanging, dripping branches until we found the still-burning wreck. I took a souvenir, the serial number from the tail, carefully avoiding any glance in the direction of the cockpit. I had my second confirmed kill.


"Ltn Günther was with me, dangerously close at times. We both hammered away."

Back at Saint-Quentin-le-Petit we received congratulatory calls from army HQ. It seems that I will be putting up an Iron Cross, Second Class. I made plans to accompany Wolff to a tailor in Rethel, where he’ll get a new tunic and we’ll both be getting our pictures taken.

Historical notes:

[1] The Nivelle Offensive had failed, yet more attacks were ordered. But this was the time when the first mutinies were infecting the French Army.

[2] Every German carried his Soldbuch, a personal record form which was necessary if the holder was to draw pay while away from his home unit. The soldier was responsible for keeping it up to date and was required to carry it on his person at all times.

[3] Etappenschweine = rear area pigs, the German equivalent of the modern US term REMF (rear echelon mother’s friend, or a similar concept). The Feldgendarmerie were military police.

[4] General Hans von Boehm commanded the 7th Army on the north side of the Aisne.

[5] The Landwehr were the militia, second line reservists generally older than the front-line troops. Most Landwehr were 35-45. Wolff was already 48 when he received his much-deserved promotion.

Fullofit, Aldi's report of the 7th was amazing in screen shots and graphic details. Cudos on that one sir!

Carrick, sorry for the loss, and look forward to a new pilot to provide entertainment for my morning coffee.

Stljeffbb, as the new comer to this DiD, I hope you are enjoying it as much as I am enjoying your contributions.

Raine, Franz seems to be doing well and hopefully will go the distance. He should be due for a DIII shortly I would presume!

Best Regards to all...

Mr. Wiggins: Thanks, I will start another early pilot,but the reports will be over in the Reports from the Front section instead of here. Humor is always best with the morning Coffee.

Helmut von Hammer
Jasta 4, JG 1.
Marcke, Flamders.


Sep 6, 1917.

Blame it on the Rain or maybe an extra case of wine, but the riggers and I repainted the plane. I manged to get in a test flight before the Rain and mud closed the flying field.

Albert Earl Godfrey

8 May 1917 @ 06h01 Escort RE8’s for Troop Movement OP Near Monchy le Prieux

Scott called the briefing to order and quickly identified the importance of the early morning mission. He stated “General Gough’s Fifth Army is curently undertaking flanking operations of the German positions, around Bullecourt. Four experienced Australian divisions of I ANZAC Corps are taking part in this operation and it is imperative that the OP be carried out and the reports sent in as to the strength of the German troops in this area.”

We were advised that the wind would be 8 kn from the NNW with possible showers, heavy cumulus from 3300 to 6000 ft., and hot humid weather.

The flight formed up north of the field at 06h14 and having achieved an altitude of 4800 ft, set out on a heading towards Mont St. Eloi. A few minutes later Godfrey spotted the two RE8’s over Camblain-l’Abbe and took up a covering escort position.

At 06h21 the OP and the escort crossed over the lines near Athies at 7100 ft, and were over Monch le Prieux at 8000 ft at 06h24.

Godfrey’s flight shadowed the RE8’s as they cruised Along the Hindenburgh line to Bullecourt, Breant and then back again taking notes. No enemy craft were spotted during the flight as the heavy cloud cover made detection difficult for both sides and additionally hampered the OP.

At 06h35 the RE8’s signaled completion and began their flight back across the lines towards Ablainzeville. They were at 8000 ft.

Once they crossed the lines they headed NW towards Arras, arriving there at 06h48 still at 8000 ft., and then “B” flight broke off the escort duty and headed towards Filescamp, landing safely at 07h07 with no losses.

Godfrey reported in a successful mission and headed to the mess for some breakfast.

nicely done

Robert and Raine. Thank you for the praise. I'm just trying to keep up with you Gentlemen.
Raine, looks like Franz is keeping busy. Great read before going to work this morning. And Robert, same with you - had a good report to go through after work. You guys just make my day!
Carrick, what's with all the paint jobs? Helmut can't make up his mind?

Robert,

Loved the takeoff scene!

Thanks Raine. I am trying to find detailed new points of view,