Raine, with all those cabbage rolls he’s been eating he should know exactly where Ars is.

I feel like we need a little update on Schutzmeier...At least for the last 2 weeks of the war.

He has been doing fine, being basically left with the whole Jasta in his hands. He racked up almost 158 hours of flight in the past months, as the situation escalated and the air war became more and more frantic. The airmen had already realized the outcome of the bloody conflict, even if the top brass kept sending deluded letters and communications to everyone. Things boiled down, as much to Albrecht as to the others, to flying from a new point of view: they weren't fighting for their nation anymore. They were fighting as individuals, their main motivation being an ultimate confrontation that would've decided who was better at fighting. Reconnisance and bomber machines weren't their concern anymore, they were looking for other nimble scouts, the sole objective shooting them down. Jasta 27 moved back to the Flanders after a month, a new ace joined the squadron too (Frommerz, 30 kills). The skies are silent. They are just waiting for the end...

Oberleutnant Albrecht Bernhard Schutzmeier
Jasta 27, Lens/Mons aerodrome, Flanders
1st November 1918
13 confirmed kills

Today was rather sunny, although the mood couldn't be more gloomy. A sense of paleness lives within every one of us, even if nobody is ready to openly admit it. We know the "war supposed to end all wars" is over. It's over for us. Hopefully the Paulies and the Britishmen will be fair towards us.

First and only flight of the day

We took off as a single Kette for a run over the lines West of Cambrai. No machines spotted for the whole duration of the flight.

Cecil P Fawnsworth, DFC.MM. WOFF Wound Stripe.
Lt , Rfc, 54
Villa Du Cap. 13 Rue
De Ville Monte- Carlo,
France.


Nov 1 , 1918.

11 Victory Confirmed
7 Unconfirmed


Back to the Sqn, Hi Ho, Hi Ho.

Fullofit – Honestly, I am envious of your Fokker, you are a master of the thing I know, but it’s amazing to watch those twin machine guns hammer away with scarcely a pause. What a machine! Congratulations on some outstanding missions, and on leaving behind the 170 mark. Incredible record!

Albert – I’ll miss you during your brief absence, and will welcome you back for the grand finale of the campaign!

NotRelevant – Sorry to be missing you on the last leg of the journey. We’ll hope to see you join us for another go around sometime in the not-too-distant future.

Lou – No need to apologise. We know you will be here for the final round. It’s hard to believe how much water has slipped under the bridge since our three young pilots – yours, mine, and MFair’s – rolled up to the Curtiss School of Aviation at Long Branch near Toronto back in the summer of 1915. Those training missions in November and December of that year at Netheravon seem like yesterday.

Kebab – Wonderful to have you back and to know that Schutzmeier is still on the right side of the grass. Good luck the rest of the way.

Carrick – Another man forced to say farewell to the nurses and return to the front for the closing act. Best wishes.


Journal of Captain Robert Fergus Drummond, DSO, DFC
32 Squadron, Royal Air Force
La Bellevue, France

Part 20


"London spread out below my wings, the serpentine loops of the Thames sparkling in the sunlight and the smoke of a million chimneys blending into the morning mist."

Edie was quite certain she would be spotted slinking out of the Savoy with me in the morning so she insisted that I carry her suitcase through the lobby so that she could follow a distance behind, playing the role of an independent modern woman not at all accompanied by Royal Air Force officer. This charade lasted until we were a few steps along the Strand from the entrance. There was no time for breakfast; she had a nine o’clock train to catch and needed to pack and change into uniform. I left her outside the Carlton and we agreed to meet at Victoria station.

There was time when I got to the station for a cup of tea and some suspicious wartime sausages and eggs. I found the platform from which the train to Folkestone would depart and mingled with the crowd while the railroad porters at the end of each platform bellowed out the stops for their journey. After several anxious minutes, Edie and Lizzie appeared in their starched uniforms and capes, a smiling Major Freddie Abbott in tow. Freddie was sheepishly returning salutes from senior officers – a VC honour. I approached Edie but she and Lizzie leaned forward conspiratorially and told me that there were Red Cross matrons about who would report them if they were seen being too friendly with any man. It was not the send-off I imagined. A handshake and nod of the head had to suffice. Edie promised to write me at the first opportunity and I promised the same. Freddie stood below their carriage window and blew kisses. The girls cringed and hunkered down in their seats, giggling. The whistle blew, there was a crashing of couplings and a squeal of iron wheels, and they were gone in a cloud of smoke and steam. “Fine girls, Drummond. I do hope you and Edie enjoyed some time together.” I acknowledged that we had certainly got to chat a bit and see the city. I needed to be alone for a while and excused myself.

That final day of leave found me out of sorts and anxious to return to France. I took in Chu Chin Chow at His Majesty’s Theatre, just by the Carlton. I bought the tickets that morning. We had the record in the squadron mess and I had heard every song a hundred times, but it just didn’t seem right to be in London and not take in the show.

The next morning I checked out from the Savoy, not without regret. My orders from “Bolo House,” as we called RAF Headquarters, were to pick up a new Wolseley-engined SE5 at Northolt aerodrome in the northwest of the city. I had been given vouchers for the tube and bus but paid my own way by taxi. Packing my kit with my recent acquisitions into the SE was a bit of a job. I got everything sorted away and was airborne by eleven o’clock. The weather was lovely. London spread out below my wings, the serpentine loops of the Thames sparkling in the sunlight and the smoke of a million chimneys blending into the morning mist. My route took me over Tonbridge where Edie had grown up. I crossed the channel at 12,000 feet and made landfall just west of Calais. The engine hummed along flawlessly. I was on the ground at La Bellevue in time for a late lunch.

The squadron had done well in my absence. There had not been much contact with the Huns and even our newest men were getting somewhat practised. I flew twice on 28 October. In the morning, our patrol encountered a very large formation of Fokkers and I took some serious damage to my right upper wing in our first contact. Staying in the fight was pointless and I dived away through a cloud bank. In the afternoon, I was asked to lead a flight along the lines north of Arras and was very keyed up for the experience. The Germans, however, took the afternoon off and I returned to the aerodrome without any stories to tell.

On 29 October, I got to lead another patrol. The job was to take C Flight over the lines north of Monchy to drop bombs and shoot up a German marshalling yard and depot. We were intercepted over the lines by another large group of Fokkers and forced to release our bombs over the Hun trenches in order to meet the enemy. I picked out a red machine with a white tail and fired several long bursts into it until it fell out of control and crashed into the Hun lines. This one was confirmed as my 27th victory.

We flew again that afternoon and the following morning without encountering the enemy. An advance had begun in our sector, and I suspected that the Huns were being forced to change their aerodromes. On the afternoon of 30 October, we were sent up on short notice to chase off some high-flying Rumplers that were in the area. I took some damage from one of them and had to break away.

We were all upset that day when Captain Callender failed to return from a long-distance escort patrol that had gone nearly all the way to Mons. This gallant American from Louisiana had accounted for eight confirmed victories and been with the squadron for many months. Major Russell announced at dinner that night that I would be taking Callender’s place as B Flight leader and would henceforth hold the rank of captain, albeit a temporary rank at least for the moment. The promotion meant that I could move into the same height as Bud Hale and Edmund Zink, both good friends. Further, they had a splendid batman in Cpl Grierson; I discovered he had already learned of my appointment and had sewn the third Star of Bath onto each of my spare uniforms.

The last day of the month and my first day as B Flight commander saw me an overall charge of the squadron show up to the lines east of Bethune. I found a formation of eight Fokkers and, after carefully surveying the skies for any trap, led fourteen SEs down onto them. In the ensuing fight, I accounted for three Huns. The first was a mottled blue-grey job. The poor fellow wasn’t paying attention, and I pumped a long burst into him from very close range. The pilot fell forward and the machine dipped down, trailing a thin stream of smoke. It crashed into the mud near the ruined village of Thélus. Soon after I spotted another Fokker that had got itself isolated. My first pass ripped the fellow’s upper wing to shreds and my second pass sent him down to join his comrade. These two were both witnessed by Captain Zink and became my 28th and 29th victories. I downed another Fokker a bit further west on my way back to our lines – another rookie who didn’t see me coming. The crash remained unwitnessed, however.


"The pilot fell forward and the machine dipped down, trailing a thin stream of smoke."


"My first pass ripped the fellow’s upper wing to shreds..."

Heading back to La Bellevue, I passed close to our aerodrome at Camblain-l’Abbé, where I found a good-sized scrap underway between our machines and a very large group of Fokkers. These Huns had yellow noses and were clearly not part of the Jasta we had been dealing with a few minutes before. One of the Huns attacked me, and I managed to put some rounds into him during one of our head-on passes. He must have been damaged, as I was able to get on his tail easily afterward. This one fell out of control onto the fringe of the aerodrome below and unfortunately set fire to one of their sheds. I learned afterward that a Bristol fighter had been destroyed in the fire. That Hun was, however, claimed by gunners on the ground. So it goes.

It would have been a night for celebration, but I learned only after landing that we had lost Bodley from B Flight and that C Flight had been savaged in the scrap over Camblain-l’Abbé, losing four of their pilots who were caught while circling to land.

End of month stats -- October 1918

Capt Robert Fergus Drummond, DSO, DFC
32 Squadron, Royal Air Force
La Bellevue, France
SE5a Viper

107 missions
86.5 hours
55 claims
29 victories.

Kebab, good to have you for the finale.

Carrick, Cecil doesn’t seem happy to be back with his squadron. What gives?

Raine, I must admit Klaus doesn’t complain at lack of targets lately. They all seem intent to end him before the war ends.
So, a rather anticlimactic goodbye with his favourite nurse left Drummond pining for some action in French skies. A rather lopsided treatment by the Huns. Either overwhelming odds or no odds at all for our Canadian hero. Then a promotion and getting moved to the front of the line, which resulted in four claims right away. Congrats on all confirmed and unconfirmed kills. Unfortunately a steep price in pilots had to be paid for that successful outing. So it goes.

2 November, 1918 08:45
Montingen, Verdun Sector
Jasta 18
Rittmeister Klaus Gustav Raben RAO AO PLM HHO EK1 EK2
Fokker D.VII
174 confirmed kills

The episode in which Klaus gets irritated with a Bréguet.

Both SPADs from yesterday have been confirmed.
With the shortages of spare parts, fuel and ammunition, the mechanics were able to ready only four machines for today’s patrol of enemy front lines near Thiaucourt. Raben’s Fokker was one of the ready birds. The formation was nearing the Tronville Woods when they spotted an enemy flight above going the opposite way. These were large birds and Raben knew right away they were pitted against the Bréguets. He let them come and skillfully avoided the clumsy attack. He then continued on, letting his boys take care of the bomber. There was another one ahead and Klaus intended to do him harm. He approached it from below then pulled up and unleashed a devastating volley. The bomber went into a dive. Klaus followed sending more hate as he went, but had to relent when the airframe began to creak and his engine started to misbehave. He observed from above, waiting for the beast to pull up. He continued to wait but was worried another Bréguet would sneak up behind while he’s not looking. Raben looked around, but he was alone. When he looked down again, there was only a smoking crater where the enemy machine was falling. He didn’t think anyone could confirm this kill. He nearly missed it himself.

YouTube Link



What he didn’t miss was another Bréguet trying to sneak by to get back home. Klaus followed knowing well the large plane was much slower than his and he had a good chance of catching up to him even before reaching the Front. They were approaching the mud right now and the Bréguet pilot spotted his pursuer. He had his large plane in a bank allowing his rear gunner a perfect line of fire. The tracers went by the Fokker and Klaus had to duck under his target’s tail. He came closer. Closer. Now! His Spandaus greeted the French crew. The response was immediate and Raben took damage. He didn’t care. He was still on the German side and had the luxury of setting his plane safely down in friendly territory if it ever came to that. The Franzose had no such luxury and the rear gunner knew it well. His return fire was savage and Klaus had to relent. He regrouped and came back for another run. More bullets hit his machine.
“- Donnerwetter!” Raben was livid. The Franzose must go down. Another pass, this time from abeam. The wing came off. Klaus continued to fire and the second wing departed the stricken bomber. Raben watched with satisfaction as a sickening spin pulled the airframe down towards the ground. It smashed into the outskirts of the trenches. Klaus didn’t know if these were fresh or the old ones. Who could tell? He looked at the many bullet holes adorning the wings on his plane. All he needed now was to get into a fight with some SPADs. He quickly headed for the nearest airfield to have his machine looked over.

YouTube Link

Cecil P Fawnsworth, DFC MC. .MM. WOFF Wound Stripe.
Lt , Rfc, 54 Sqn



Nov 2 , 1918.

11 Victory Confirmed
7 Unconfirmed

Bit Irregular this day. Posted in late afternoon talked with the XO and was told I was awarded the Military Cross belatedly while out on Medical Recovery . The took up a reserve machine for Bombing Practice ( The Sqn is not known for hitting a target accurately } My
surprise was when one of the Practice Bombs went off with a Bang when dropped on the Bomb training Target. The Irk's had accidentally loaded a Live Bomb., No one hurt,but there will be a full investigation.

.

Well I've managed to get my man caught up through the end of October. He no sooner got back from his wonderful time in London when he was ordered by HQ to break camp and move the squadron twenty-five miles ESE to Bouvincourt-en-Vermandois. While this aerodrome had been practically at the front lines a few weeks ago it was now some thirty miles away from the retreating Hun troops. More long flights to find any action at all, but that's just fine as it means the Entente forces are at long last winning this bloody affair.


Here are Freddy's EOM stats:

Major Frederick H.B. Abbott, VC, DSO & 2 Bars, MC, Ld'H, CdG
Officer Commanding, 43 Squadron RAF
Bouvincourt-en-Vermandois, France
Sopwith Snipe
411 missions
496.16 hours
117 victories
190 claims

.

Later today I will work on getting a few gongs prepared for our remaining intrepid fliers. Keep up the good fight everyone, it's the home stretch!

.

Fullofit – Good job on those Breguets, but I can't help thinking that Klaus is taking some unwarranted chances. Best of luck the rest of the way.

Carrick – Nice to see Cecil back in the air!

Lou – Good to hear you're back and ready for the final chapter. Freddie has certainly amassed some impressive stats.

Journal of Captain Robert Fergus Drummond, DSO, DFC
32 Squadron, Royal Air Force
La Bellevue, France

Part 21


"The enemy machine immediately pitched down, flames emerging from the cockpit."

Major Russell called for a brief get-together in the mess after dinner. He’d returned from an afternoon at Wing HQ and wanted to share what he had learned about the current situation. We pulled chairs about in a circle and carried our drinks from the bar. The Major began with the time-honoured incantation to “Smoke if you have them. If you don’t have them, ask a friend. And if you don’t have a friend, pay someone.” He congratulated us on the day’s victories and commiserated with us on the day’s losses. After a week of poor weather, he said, the Huns were back in the air in force with orders to keep our machines from blocking the enemy’s line of retreat to Germany through Liège and Namur. By all accounts, the war was winding down. We could expect orders to escort bombing machines, or to conduct offensive patrols, along the broad corridor from Lille to Tournai to Ath. To the south of that line, the Canadians were up to Valenciennes, and we may also be called there for supporting operations. Now, he said, comes the big news. We were to begin immediately breaking camp for a move eastward, as the front line was now a full fifty miles away. Our new home would be the former Hun aerodrome at Pronville, just west of Cambrai. Major Russell told us we would be under canvas and would very possibly move again soon after.

We toasted farewell to La Bellevue, where the squadron had spent several months. Officers packed their personal kit and then worked together under direction of the Recording Officer to empty the mess of movable supplies and memorabilia. With that job complete, we were dispatched to take direction from the Technical Sergeant Major and assist the ack emmas and armourer in loading lorries. By shortly after seven in the morning, our machines were run up and we lifted off. I had the honour of flying the leader’s streamers and navigating to our new home. Fortunately, I knew the area reasonably well and recognised the Hun aerodrome at Riencourt from its nearby château and park, although I was surprised to see that the château had been burnt.

Pronville was a scene of desolation. The area about it was pockmarked with shell craters. Dead and decomposing livestock still lay in the fields about. The Huns had very wickedly destroyed everything of value and had even fouled the wells. We learned on landing that one of our men had been injured opening a booby-trapped shed door. The RO and the Disciplinary Sergeant Major marked our lines on the wet ground with mine tape and we began work setting up tents and digging drainage ditches and shell scrapes. Dinner that night was cold bully beef and War Office rum. A party of Royal Engineers were still engaged in clearing several nearby houses and outbuildings for use as the squadron office and messes.

By one o’clock the following afternoon, 1 November 1918, we were finally able to get back in operation. I led my B Flight, with Bud Hale along for fun, north and over the lines to bomb and shoot up an enemy aerodrome at a place called Baiseaux, southeast of Lille. I nearly missed the spot, noticing it off to my left only when I was within about a mile of the target. To our delight, we found a complete Jasta of red and white Fokker D7s lined up on the field. I dived at full throttle, turning to fly down the line of enemy machines and letting loose the four Cooper bombs I carried. As I pulled away in a zoom turn, I saw that my bombs had clearly landed amidst the Huns, and I believed at least two of them were destroyed in the blast. I came about to allow the rest of the flight to make the same approach and then circle down to machine-gun the Fokkers. By this time, two of the enemy machines closest to where my bombs had fallen were engulfed in flames.

A few Fokkers had missed our attention and were scrambling to take off. I dived on the closest and fired two long bursts into him from very close range. The enemy machine immediately pitched down, flames emerging from the cockpit. It crashed into a field of cows close to the aerodrome. Other Fokkers had somehow arrived on the scene and we had our hands full. I saw Bogart Rogers on the tail of one and flew to his assistance. I added a burst and the Hun rolled on its back and dived vertically into a field. Machine-gun bullets then tore through my right wings. I came about and found the culprit, another red and white machine. The pilot did not seem terribly experienced. It was a simple matter to get behind him, and I was even able to change drums while doing so. The fellow seemed to panic and straighten out. One long burst started his machine on fire and it fell.


"The fellow seemed to panic and straighten out. One long burst started his machine on fire..."

Everyone returned safely to Pronville, thank God. I made five claims – the two machines destroyed on the ground and the three in the air, although I conceded that the second of the three kills could be credited to Rogers as it was likely about to go down before I fired on it. In the end, the RO not only agreed but suggested also that the two ground kills should go to Lawson because they were not seen to burn until after Lawson had dropped his bombs in the same area where I had dropped mine. The first and third air kill were confirmed as mine, bringing my total bag up to 31. Quite satisfying for a day’s work!

Raine, taking risks is part of the job.
Looks like just like Lou’s pilot, yours is moving forward. It should cut down on transit time.
Fergie isn’t taking any chances and prefers to shooting ducks. Congrats on the well earned kills.

3 November, 1918 07:00
Montingen, Verdun Sector
Jasta 18
Rittmeister Klaus Gustav Raben RAO AO PLM HHO EK1 EK2
Fokker D.VII
174 confirmed kills
Awaiting two claim confirmations

The episode in which Klaus fights with one machine gun.

There was no news of Raben’s latest claim confirmations. Klaus didn’t expect any to come through.
The rain returned overnight and continued throughout the morning. It was light enough to continue with the operations. They’ve received a call from the forward observers that a formation of enemy planes was heading for the Doncourt aerodrome and their orders were to intercept them.
They’ve reached Doncourt just in time. They easily spotted the approaching enemy. A flight of Bréguets loomed above them and it was up to them to initiate the first move. Only some decided to come down and entertain, while the rest remained above and continued on to release their gifts onto the airfield. Klaus was pursuing one of the bombers soon enough and punishing it with his Spandaus. He was so preoccupied with the target that he failed to realize one of his guns was jammed. He had the beast smoking and diving for cover. Another Fokker took over and most likely finished the job. Raben was already tracking another battle overhead. The Bréguet and the two Fokkers didn’t stay high for too long and Klaus was finally able to join the fun. With his one gun he pummelled the enemy. It was only after a prolonged attack that he realized he was fighting with one machine gun only. As the bomber slowed down from the onslaught, Klaus took the opportunity to circle around and clear his jam. The Spandau was easily cleared and he could now renew his attack. He could see another bomber down below attempting to return home. Klaus made a mental note and went after his target. After several volleys, the French machine caught on fire and went down quickly, but Klaus was already searching for that enemy plane he had just seen only seconds ago. The Flak showed him the way and Raben quickly closed the distance between himself and the smoking target. He could see the stationary propeller as he went by it. The gunner was still banging away and Klaus had to approach his prey carefully. A well aimed burst sent the Bréguet diving upside-down, but the enemy pilot recovered just in time. The Flak was exploding all over the place. Klaus lined up for another diving attack when he noticed another red and white Fokker dive on his bomber. Raben was sure the idiot would collide with his target, but this idiot was lucky and missed the bomber. Klaus renewed his attack and sent a burst into the engine compartment. The enemy bomber started to burn and immediately went down to land. Klaus watched with interest as the Bréguet set down on a field and rolled to a stop. He was sure they would be hosting a pair of captured aviateurs tonight, but as soon as the machine came to rest the petrol tank exploded with the fire consuming the entire plane in one instant. Another French toast.
After landing and making his reports he was told by his mechanics that his Fokker sustained too much damage to take part in the afternoon patrol. Many other pilots were in the same situation and the afternoon mission had been scrubbed.

YouTube Link

thanks Raine, It looks like u r racking up ur score.

Cecil P Fawnsworth, DFC MC. .MM. WOFF Wound Stripe.
Lt , Rfc, 54 Sqn



Nov 3 , 1918.

11 Victory Confirmed
7 Unconfirmed

Escort to the far reaches of flight limits. Beastly Sitter, Escorting 1 Rcon with a full Sqn. No Contact. Up Pond landing the X.O. filled me in on the Bomb Accident. Seems the Irk's we told to grab 4 Practice bombs, Not being able to tell which was real or not a mistake was made. The Commandant decided to call a friend at HQ and the Irks were shipped off to 40 Sqn Rfc. All is well that ends well.

Carrick, I need to catch up. Bomb incident? Sounds like fun to me

Just amazing. Now that I get back to the fun I have errors with my DID pilot save. Anyone mind taking a look in the Technical issues page and see if they know what's going on with my poor game?

Just a brief catch up from me as I'm still away, probably until Sunday.

Fullofit - Klaus is nearing 180 now, those Breguets are getting no easier I see.

Raine - Fergie finished his enjoyable stint in London with some fine food. A shame about Edie having to act all coy. The pressures of a society still obsessed with 'appropriate behavior'.

Lou - Freddy enjoyed his time in the old smoke as well and should enjoy strutting around with that VC ribbon.

Carrick and TWK - Good to see your pilots back.

.

Achtung!



It is the Kaiser's Royal and Imperial command that the following individual be recognized for his valor:



******************************************************************************************************************



Citation to the award reads as follows:

Fw Rendel distinguished himself while flying ground attack aircraft low over enemy lines. While doing so, he managed to destroy six hostile aeroplanes. He was then selected to fly single-seat scouts, and there he once again covered himself in glory, destroying twenty more enemy machines including ten in less than a week. He is an example to every loyal German.
Awarded the Goldenes Militär-Verdienstkreuz on 4 November 1918.

You make the Vaterland most proud.

.

.

Achtung!



Ernest Louis, Grand Duke of Hesse and by Rhine, commands that the following individual be recognized for his valor:



Citation to the award reads as follows:

Rittmeister Klaus Gustav Raben, during his exemplary service at the front, has given an accounting never before achieved by any other German pilot, having destroyed more than one-hundred-and-seventy enemy flugmaschinen in aerial combat. His outstanding bravery and determination in reaching such success are an example to all.
Awarded the Ludwigsorden mit Schwertern on 4 November 1918.

A proud people thank you for your sacrifice and service.

.

Albert, very true - those two-seaters are the würst.
Congrats on Werner’s latest decoration. Looks like it may be the last one.

Lou, Klaus doesn’t know what to say. Such an honour! I don’t think I’ve seen this one before. The Gong Fairy outdid himself this time.

4 November, 1918 09:00 morning mission
Montingen, Verdun Sector
Jasta 18
Rittmeister Klaus Gustav Raben RAO AO PLM HHO EK1 EK2
Fokker D.VII
178 confirmed kills

The episode in which Klaus can’t find a dance partner.

Finally a bit of luck, the two SPADs from the day before and the two Bréguets from yesterday have all been confirmed.
The job for today was to patrol over NE junction of Verdun railyard.
The enemy formation appeared on their second circuit of the patrol area. The SPADs had the altitude advantage, but were reluctant, most likely low on fuel by this point. The engagement commenced and Klaus had no partner. He kept chasing fights already in progress and it was only after one of the enemy planes overshot him from a poorly executed diving attack that he could finally sink his teeth into. And his teeth were sharp. The Amerikaner that managed to get in front of Raben’s Spandaus was treated brutally with the plane getting shredded to pieces and falling lifelessly to the ground. Klaus looked around for more, but there were no more to be had. As suspected, the rest of the SPADs retreated at a rapid pace with little petrol in their tanks. Klaus and the rest of his Schwarm did the same. Their petrol tanks haven’t been full for quite some time now.

YouTube Link

4 November, 1918 14:20 afternoon mission
Montingen, Verdun Sector
Jasta 18
Rittmeister Klaus Gustav Raben RAO AO PLM HHO EK1 EK2
Fokker D.VII
178 confirmed kills
Awaiting one claim confirmation

The episode in which Klaus has too many dance partners.

In the afternoon, for their second sortie of the day, the Schwarm was sent to patrol enemy frontlines between Thiaucourt and Pont-à-Mousson.
Schwarm Eins in their three-ship formation raced ahead and were soon caught in a furball with a bunch of SPADs. When Klaus arrived with Schwarm Zwei, they had the enemy already at their level and easy to get their hands on. Klaus picked a solitary machine which started to run when he noticed he had a Fokker on his tail. The wind buffeted his Fokker and made it difficult to place an accurate shot, but somehow, more through dumb luck than skill, he was able to hit something on that SPAD that sent it spinning down all the way to the ground. Klaus quickly found another target to play with and along with a second Fokker made the enemy pay for his indiscretion.

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When Klaus was done with this foe, he looked around, but there were no more enemy planes in sight. In fact there were no friendly machines either and he decided it would be best to return to base. As he was getting close to home he noticed behind another plane following him. He made nothing of it, thinking it was one of his wingmen trying to rejoin, but the plane in question was approaching too quickly to be a Fokker. Klaus decided to investigate and turned his plane around. As he did that, bullets started to fly from the plane that followed him. A SPAD! Raben wasn’t worried, he’s dealt with these flying bricks many times before. The enemy was rather agile for a flying brick and Klaus had difficulty catching his opponent. The Franzose kept his height advantage and had no problems with turn fights. There was another issue. His friends arrived to join the games. All five of them.
“- Scheiße!”
Klaus had six SPADs in total to deal with and no wingman in sight. His only choice was to bring the fight as close to the ground as possible. He scored a few hits on one of them, but had to quickly disengage to avoid the rest of his friends trying to latch on to his tail. It was all civilized. They didn’t trip over each other to get at him, like his wingmen usually do. He was in trouble, he definitely was up against the Experten. His fight was becoming desperate, when one of the SPADs finally made a mistake. The Frenchman lunged at Klaus and went by with little altitude to recover. His plane stalled and smashed into the ground.
“- Ha! Only five to go.” Klaus was congratulating himself even though he didn’t shoot him down. When he looked around he could see the rest retreating. All of them. They were probably low on fuel and rather deep into enemy territory.

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Klaus made an attempt to follow, but it was a lost cause. Or was it? He spotted one of the enemy machines high above and behind. Raben quickly raised his nose to gain height. It wouldn’t be enough to get on his tail, but it would get him close enough to take some potshots. He watched the SPAD overtake him overhead. He then pulled up even more and sent a series of bursts into the enemy. He either hit him, or caught his attention with near misses. The SPAD came around. Klaus was waiting for that and would not squander his chance. Whatever he did, he would make sure to stay as high as possible in case the enemy decided to run. He took a few shots at the enemy. He seemed to make progress and finally the SPAD went down. When Klaus looked up he had to swerve out of the way of another SPAD coming right at him. Did he also come from behind, or did he turn back to help his wingmate? In either case he was too late. Klaus went after, but the enemy was already too far ahead. Even sending more volleys his way did not entice the enemy to turn back and fight. Klaus was satisfied with his results. Now, only if he could find witnesses for his claims.

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Oberleutnant Albrecht Bernhard Schutzmeier
Jasta 27, Lens/Mons aerodrome, Flanders
2nd November 1918
13 confirmed kills

An usual work day for Albrecht and the others at the Jasta.

Morning flight

A silent patrol supporting our ground troops. Nothing notable seen. I'm always more in love with this bird.


Oberleutnant Albrecht Bernhard Schutzmeier
Jasta 27, Lens/Mons aerodrome, Flanders
3rd November 1918
13 confirmed kills

The slight dread that was within each pilot soon began to rise as the news came that Austro-Hungary had signed peace with the Italian Kingdom. Germany was now alone.

Morning flight

We headed to the front and looked for some opportunity kills, without success sadly. The front really became such a peaceful place: no more artillery battered No Man's land...The barrages keep getting quieter. It's like we were in the eye of a cyclone.


Oberleutnant Albrecht Bernhard Schutzmeier
Jasta 27, Lens/Mons aerodrome, Flanders
4th November 1918
13 confirmed kills, 2 pending

What seemed like an usual morning got fierced by the siren blowing.

SCRAMBLE!

We rushed in our crates, as we noticed a numerous flight way above us. I could see they were all 2-seaters, although 2 different planes. They were around 12. As we took off, half of them dived down on us, and we realized they were Bristols. We fiercely engaged, and boy are they tough! I emptied both my Spandaus. I managed to bag one that dived a bit too aggresively on us, but the gunner managed to rip some of my fabric. A second one soon followed, and as I was engaging - I felt a bolt going through my chest. That bloody gunner had wounded me. In the meantime I noticed that Neuenhofen's aircraft was on the ground, smashed and fuming. Like I used to do already when wounded, I just kept on the back of that plane. Maybe hit by surprise, since he didn't expect me to keep following him, he didn't get to hit me a second time. I sprayed and prayed on that machine, until it started blowing black slowly veering into the ground. I landed in a field next to Neuenhofen and with the few forces left I rushed to check on him. He was unconcious, but had no wounds. A little medical carriage rushed from the aerodrome, and helped us.


Oberleutnant Albrecht Bernhard Schutzmeier
Jasta 27, Lens/Mons aerodrome, Flanders
4th November 1918
13 confirmed kills

Schutzmeier's been hospitalized since yesterday and, to his annoyance, his claims were rejected. In the morning he was able to read that several mutinies were going on in the Navy, and that Wilson would've probably forwarded Entente's peace conditions to Germany.


P.S: Since I already know how the war will end for Albrecht, are there any plans on starting another campaign anytime once this one is over?

Kebab,

Good to see Schutzmeier back. It's unfortunate for you (and probably fortunate for him) that the war will end with him in a hospital bed. I suspect there would be a number of takers for another DiD campaign, particularly if we took a break until after Christmas and started up a new campaign in January 2022/1916. I'd like to stay involved but am reluctant to take on the role of campaign moderator for the next three years as I am dealing with a diagnosis of ALS and somewhere down the road it will affect my ability to use the computer. It seems like tempting fate to make such a long-term commitment, although I'm willing to take it as it comes in a secondary role. Are there any others interested in giving DiD IV ago once this campaign wraps up?