We cross over into
Ententeland at 1700 and approach Ypres, passing over Zonnebeke at about 4,000 meters. There are ten of us, Berthold, myself, Paul Strähle, Vater Turck, Runge, Otto Shober, Seppl Veltjens, Johannes Klein, Alter Herr Dingel, Sigi Keller.
Paul is the guardian angel above and behind us all.
The weather is starting to be cool now. Today it’s 9 degrees on the ground so I bundle up well, put on my new sheepskin boots which everyone admires so much and smear beauty cream on the exposed parts of my face.*
Klein has taken the second Pfalz and is flying it on its first combat mission.
*Anti-frost ointment or really any type of grease available.
A formation of the new SE types drops out of the clouds behind us.*
One of the SEs picks Berthold as his target and latches on to his tail, firing continuously. He goes straight down until I lose sight of him.**
*A Flight, Number 56 Squadron RFC, Cpt Gerald C. Maxwell, MC leading, then a twenty victory ace. “Iron Man, Rudolf Berthold” by Peter Kilduff
**Maxell reported that he “Dived on several and fired a drum of Lewis and about 100 rounds of Vickers at very close range. E.A. went down very steeply and I lost sight of him..” Although not credited with a victory on 10 October, Maxwell is believed to be the most likely to have shot down Berthold. “Iron Man, Rudolf Berthold” by Peter Kilduff